Local Dips and Hits

With a hoopoe being reported daily from Monday 2nd September at Millbrook in Cornwall just across the River Tamar from Plymouth I decided to go and have a look for it in Friday 6th, my first free day. However it was a grey and cool day with a strong breeze and spots of rain and with the hoopoe being seen in gardens and fields in the bottom of a valley I wasn't too hopeful of seeing it and so it was to be. Viewing was difficult due to the topography of the land with viewing points difficult to find amongst the hedges, walls, buildings, trees and hills and after 90 minutes of wandering around I gave up and headed home, seeing just a fox, swallows and house martins for my troubles.

Fox, Millbrook

Fox

Saturday 7th September and I was supposed to be working a long day but had to phone in sick due to a disturbed nights sleep and some "gastric distress". I started to feel much better quite quickly and with the sun shining I caught the bus to Wembury for a quick walk.

An orange swift was found on the floor of the men's toilet which was a bit stunned from having been stepped on but I moved it to a safe spot outside although a snout resting on the ceiling was too out of reach to rescue.

Orange Swift, Wembury

Butterflies were flitting about in the sunshine but despite searching I couldn't find any clouded yellows. I did however see a small copper, 2 red admirals 2 painted ladies, a few male common blues, 2 speckled wood and lots of small whites.

Speckled Wood, Wembury

Speckled Wood

Whitethroats, blackcaps and chiffchaffs were seen along the coast path with swallows overhead and the usual stonechats on the tops of the bushes and cirl buntings skulking in the hedgerows.

Along the beach 8 turnstones were feeding on the seaweed mass with a dunlin while at The Point 63 oystercatcher were roosting with 5 curlew and 7 little egret.

A few gannet were picked up offshore while on the rocks 10 Mediterranean gulls were hiding amongst the roosting black headed gulls.

Mediterranean Gulls with Black-headed Gulls, Wembury

Mediterranean- and Black-headed Gulls

Mediterranean Gulls

I had hoped to see some yellow wagtails but was out of luck although a grey wagtail was a nice find along the beach with the usual alba wagtails along with a few meadow pipits amongst the rock pipits.

And so a nice walk despite not feeling great but I was very glad to get back home to lounge about on the sofa.

Sunday 8th September and I decided to continue the local theme and took a walk along the River Plym and around Saltram Park on another sunny day. It wasn't too busy with people either and I had a very productive walk.

The tide was heading in and on Blaxton Meadow there were 31 curlew, 5 oystercatcher and an adult lesser black-backed gull roosting with Canada geese, little egret, grey heron and black-headed gulls.

Walking around Saltram and I could hear ring-necked parakeets squawking in the trees. Stock doves were regularly seen flying over along with a single house martin and a flock of around 30 feeding swallows with the adults feeding the youngsters mid-air.

A juvenile whinchat was a nice find feeding from the top of a large bramble bush with 3 stonechats which were surprisingly quite tolerant of it.

Whinchat, Saltram

A juvenile wheatear, blackcaps and chiffchaffs were also seen and a firecrest in the usual spot above the folly was a good find, giving itself away with its call and showing very briefly amongst the ivy.

I had a look amongst the cattle for yellow wagtails with no joy but I did find 2 clouded yellows which showed very well along with a comma, painted ladies, meadow browns, a red admiral, 2 speckled wood and small whites.

Clouded Yellow, Saltram

Clouded Yellow

Painted Lady

Comma

A male and female roe deer showed well before running off into the trees and a few darters were dashing about which I think were common but could have included ruddy. The toad seen last week was still hunkered down under the same plastic sheet too.

Common Darter, Saltram

Common Darter

And so a nice weekend of local wildlife watching despite the dips and not feeling well but it shows what wildlife can be found not far from my front door.