A Wembury Walk and a Plymouth Yellow-browed Warbler

It's been nearly 4 weeks since I last visited Wembury and with a dry but cloudy day forecasted for Monday 16th December I decided to head out there on the bus for a walk. I caught the 9:05am bus as the earlier buses at this time of year would see me arrive at Wembury in darkness and with my recent bone graft and tooth implant placement I'm still feeling a bit sore, tired and not firing on all cylinders so I had a bit of a lie in instead.

It was very quiet at Wembury as is usual pre-Christmas and there were only a few walkers, dog walkers and runners along the coast path despite the dry and occassionally sunny conditions. It also wasn't too muddy along the coast path either so my new walking shoes had a gentle baptism before the full quagmire horror of a winter Wembury path arrives.

Wembury Church View

Moody and Gloomy Wembury

As the bus headed down into Wembury village the skies above the nearby fields were full of Woodpigeons, easily 1000+ birds were present, but on the return journey not a single Woodpigeon was seen. 

It was good to be out birding at Wembury again after a bit of a break, the usual birds were seen but again it was no less enjoyable for it. A look around the village gardens on the walk down to the main beach was productive with a female Blackcap, a male Pheasant and a Grey Squirrel noted while on the walk back a Chiffchaff, 7 Long-tailed Tits, a female Bullfinch and a Coal Tit were seen with 2 Jays and a Great Spotted Woodpecker also heard.

Ongoing clearance at Wembury

It was quiet offshore with 4 adult Gannets seen but it was good to see around 20 Fulmars back on the nesting ledges on The Mewstone after their autumnal feather moult.

Along the beach on the ebbing tide were 2 Turnstone and a Curlew feeding with the Oystercatchers, Mallards including 2 male farmyard types, a Little Egret and 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls but a surprise sighting was a single Dark-bellied Brent Goose out on the rocks looking a little lost and forlorn (presumably the same bird as reported on Birdtrack on the 14th December).

Along the footpath the usual Cirl Buntings and Stonechats were seen while overhead 3 Buzzards noisily displayed and a Sparrowhawk was mobbed by a very vocal Black-headed Gull.

Stonechat

I walked back along the beach from The Point as the tide was low, I carefully checked all the Pipits feeding on the washed up seaweed but failed to find a Water Pipit amongst the Rock and Meadow Pipits present. A Song Thrush feeding on the seaweed mass with the Blackbirds was an unusual sighting.

Rock Pipit

It was a very pleasant walk indeed and probably my last visit to Wembury this year as Christmas stuff takes over and Wembury becomes overrun with Christmas visitors. I've finished my year list for Wembury on 108 species, 6 less than last year but still a pretty good showing and I'm looking forward to what next year will bring.

With news of a Yellow-browed Warbler at Efford Marsh Local Nature Reserve in Plymouth reported on Sunday 15th December I decided to head out there for a look on Tuesday 17th December. It's been a while since I last visited the site so I had to do some research regarding buses and access points but I managed to get there easily enough. It was a grey and claggy day with a few brief sunny spells and with rain forecasted from 1pm I arrived at the reserve at just before 10am with fingers crossed.

Efford Marsh

As I walked back and forth along the footpath through the reserve I kept my eyes and ears open for any feeding flocks of small birds in the trees and bushes. The light was poor and there was a constant noisy hum of traffic from the nearby A38 but I regularly encountered groups of birds although they were very active and mobile amongst the branches. Amongst the Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits present were a few Coal Tit, at least 3 Chiffchaff, a Firecrest, at least 3 Goldcrest, a Nuthatch and 2 female Bullfinch but there was no sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler. I thought I did hear it call once but I put it down to wishful thinking as I carried on my search.

There's a Yellow-browed Warbler in there somewhere

Along the stream I saw a male Teal, a Little Egret, a Kingfisher, a Grey Wagtail and a Moorhen while a Water Rail was heard squealing away. A Jay, Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens and Magpies were also seen around the woods along with quite a few Grey Squirrels.

The skies were beginning to darken and spots of rain were beginning to fall so I decided to concede a dip and began my walk back to the bus stop but just as I started off I found the Yellow-browed Warbler feeding in the Willows just a few metres away from me where it gave some great views despite not keeping still for a second. It was very bright and smart looking (and silent) but after a few minutes it headed off deeper into the Willows and was gone and I just managed to get to the bus shelter as the rain properly arrived, very jammy indeed.

Christmas Lights at Saltram and Plymouth Scoters

The Christmas madness is now in full swing but as per last year it is all pretty much just happening around me as I impatiently wait for it to all be over and the New Year to begin. That's not to say that we aren't indulging in Christmassy things and so it was that we headed off to Saltram on Wednesday 11th December for a walk around the estate, some refreshments in the cafe and a look at the Christmas lights display in Saltram House.

It's been a few weeks now since I've done any proper birding so it was nice to be out and about with my binoculars around my neck again. Bird wise it was all much the same but no less enjoyable for it with the highlight being a Great Northern Diver busily diving away out on the river off the Amphitheatre before seeming to just disappear. Later it (or another) was seen downriver near Laira Bridge. Also seen along the river were 3 Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a female Goosander and a Shag with a male and 2 female Goosander also present on Blagdons Meadow, busily diving away in the small pool by the sluices despite the tide not yet being high enough to enter through the gates. A Turnstone was also seen on Blagdons Meadow amongst the usual waders and there had been a noticeable increase in Dunlin numbers since my last visit.

Mandarin, Saltram

Around the Park 5 skittish Redwings were seen along with a Kestrel, 2 Song Thrush, 4 Stock Dove, around 50 Meadow Pipits feeding almost hidden in the long grass near the Wet Wood, Mandarin Ducks, 2 male Pheasant and the usual noisy Ring-necked Parakeets. Sadly there were quite a few trees down or damaged around the Park following Storm Darragh last weekend.

Robin, Saltram - looking for snack crumbs

A Casualty of Storm Darragh, Saltram

After a cup of tea and a slice of cake in the very busy cafe we headed into Saltram House where the Christmas lights were very good, much better than last years display, and it all looked very festive in a very beautiful setting.

Saltram Orangery

Saltram Dining Room

There had been news of a Velvet Scoter at Warleigh Point in Plymouth while we were away on holiday in Germany, an interesting record of a bird I've not seen in the Plymouth area before and a bird I also don't see very often. It was found on the 3rd December and was still present the next day and then there was the usual radio silence until 10th December when it was reported again and my interest was repiqued. Further reports came through but it wasn't until Saturday 14th December that I finally had some free time to go and look for it.

It was a sunny day for a change as I headed out on the bus to Tamerton Foliot, it felt cold especially when rain showers rattled through on the strong breeze but it was pleasant when out of the wind. As I walked out to Warleigh Point from the bus stop in Tamerton Foliot village there were small birds feeding in the sheltered hedges with 2 Goldcrest, a Chiffchaff, a Coal Tit, a Song Thrush and a female Bullfinch seen amongst the Blue Tit, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird, and Great Tit also present. A Buzzard was heard mewing overhead and a Grey Wagtail was seen feeding around a large puddle in the road before flying off.

It was breezey at the exposed Point and my eyes kept watering in the cold wind but I quickly found the female type Velvet Scoter feeding out in the main river channel of The Tamar, it was distant but scope views were very good as it regularly dived away and brought up Crabs to the surface to eat. A surprise sight was a female Common Scoter loosely associating with it too and making it a 2 Scoter day, a very rare event in Plymouth.

The Scoter View at Warleigh Point, Plymouth

Avocets, Great Crested Grebes and Black-tailed Gowits were also of note amongst the usual ducks and waders but there was no sign of yesterday's reported Barnacle Geese amongst the Canada Goose flock in the nearby fields.

Munich and Prague

Back at the beginning of 2020 we booked up a Christmas trip to Munich and Prague little knowing what was yet to come. The trip was ultimately cancelled and monies returned due to the dreaded COVID pandemic but we have wanted to rebook the trip ever since and so it was that we finally headed off to Heathrow Airport on Saturday 30th November with fingers crossed to enjoy the holiday we were originally meant to have 4 years ago.

We flew out to Munich on Sunday 1st December, there was no snow but it was frosty and misty and very bracing. Munich was very interesting as usual, we have been here twice before, and the Christmas markets were much improved since our last visit here back in 2012.

Munich Glyptothek

The Aegina Marbles, Munich Glyptothek - I assume Greece is also requesting these to be returned to them

The Aegina Marbles from the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina (which we visited back in September this year)

The Temple of Aphaia, Aegina

Horus, Egyptian Museum, Munich

Ibis, Egyptian Museum, Munich

I didn't take my binoculars or camera with me as it was very much going to be a city break holiday but I did have a few interesting sightings. Roe Deer, Carrion Crows, Kestrels and Buzzards were seen on the train journey from the airport to the city centre and Blackbird, Feral Pigeon, Great Tit and Carrion Crow were seen around the city centre itself. A day trip on the (very expensive!) train to nearby Ulm on Monday 2nd December also gave sightings of a Grey Heron, distant Swans (presumably Mute) and more interestingly 4 Great White Egrets.

Ulm Church with the highest church steeple in the world

Inside the steeple - unfortunately these last set of steps to the top were closed for repairs

Goat Gargoyle

Ulm Christmas Market

Wednesday 4th December saw us leaving Munich and travelling by train to Prague for the second part of our Christmas holiday. The journey was very pleasant and I added Mallards and a male Goosander to my trip list on the 5+hour journey along with more sightings of Grey Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Blackbird, Carrion Crow and yet more Great White Egrets. 

We first visited Prague back in 2004 on a trip to see the Christmas markets, unfortunately we hadn't done our homework and flew home on the day they opened! We didn't make this mistake again and the Christmas markets were open this time, they were very good and looked amazing but mostly consisted of food and drink stalls with a few Christmassy ones dotted about here and there. 

Prague Christmas Market 

Prague is a very beautiful and interesting city with some stunning buildings and architecture but it was also incredibly busy with people, much more so than on our visit back in 2004.

Prague

Prague

Thursday 5th December was our first full day in Prague and it was cold, sunny, still and beautiful as we wandered around admiring the sights. We crossed over the River Vltava and walked up to the castle through Petrin Park, unfortunately the funicular railway was closed for repairs so it was a slow walk. I also wished I had my binoculars and camera with me as there was wildlife to be seen with Coot, Cormorant, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Magpie, Nuthatch, Treecreeper Sp.(presumably Short-toed), Green Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Rook, Jackdaw, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay and 2 Coypu and a Red Squirrel all added to my trip list with more sightings of Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Blackbird and Feral Pigeon too.

Prague from the top of Petrin Hill

Sadly the following day was wet and claggy but we made the most of it and I managed to add 8 Collared Doves in a park in the Jewish Quarter to my trip list.

All too soon it was Saturday 7th December and time to head home but unfortunately Storm Darragh had arrived in the UK and the flight home was delayed by an hour and a half which wasn't too bad considering the much longer delays others were experiencing. The drive back to Plymouth from Heathrow was rough but we arrived home safely having had a very enjoyable time away before all the Christmas nonsense begins in earnest.

A Cold Snap

The high pressure system eventually moved away and the wet weather duly arrived followed by the colder temperatures and it was dry and bright and crisp as I headed out to Wembury for a walk on Wednesday 20th November. It was wet underfoot though and the coastal footpath at Wembury was again becoming its usual quagmire, it was also finally cold enough for me to wear my big winter coat for the first time this season.

It was all very much the same on the bird front with the usual Wembury species seen, the highlights being 15 Turnstone, a Curlew, 3 Little Egrets and a Grey Wagtail along the beach, a single Gannet offshore and 2 Firecrest (1 in a village garden and 1 or possibly 2 along the riding school lane).

Meadow Pipit

There was some clearance work going on at the back of the wheatfield, I'm not sure if it is the National Trust doing it but the trees are being thinned out and cut back and the branches are then being piled up along the ground. It may make for some more interesting habitat but I think the Sparrowhawks are going to love hurtling through there after a meal.

Wembury Wheatfield Hedge Clearance

We actually had some of the white stuff here in Plymouth on Thursday 21st November, it was very cold and wet and for a brief time in the morning we had some sleety snow before it reverted back to rain. Dartmoor had some proper snow though and my mate Mavis sent me some lovely photos after it had cleared through and the sun had appeared.

Dartmoor Snow by Mavis

Dartmoor Snow by Mavis

It was bright and cold when I headed out to The Plym for a walk on Friday 22nd November, I had planned to be up and out early but the house was cold and my bed was just too warm so I didn't arrive at Marsh Mills until around 8:45am. It was frozen underfoot and very slippery in places but I managed not to fall over before the sun gradually lifted the temperatures a little and the ice melted. It was lovely to be out and about though in such fresh conditions for a change, it's rare that we get such frosty cold weather these days in Plymouth.

A Dipper showed very well at Long Bridge as I stepped off the bus and also seen along the walk down to Blaxton Meadow were a Grey Wagtail, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Grebe and a male Goosander.

Dipper

The sluice gates at Blaxton Meadow were clear and water was flowing in on the rising tide and out feeding/roosting on the gradually diminishing mud of the Meadow were Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin, 9 Greenshank. 2 Snipe and a Knot. I had hoped that the cold snap may have moved something in to The Plym but the Knot seems to have been the only bird likely to have arrived due to the weather. Also present were 52 Wigeon, a pair of Teal, Shelduck, Mallard, a lone Canada Goose and a female Goosander and amongst the Herring and Black-headed Gulls were 2 Common, 3 Great Black-backed and a Lesser Black-backed.

Around the Park the highlights were a male Stonechat, 2 Green Woodpecker, a Raven, a Kestrel, a Stock Dove, 2 Chiffchaff, skittish Redwings, a Sparrowhawk and 5 Ring-necked Parakeets. A Grey Squirrel in the trees at the main car park and 7 Roe Deer out in the fields nearby were also seen.

Green Woodpecker

Roe Deer

Roe Deer

The cold spell came to an end on Saturday 23rd November as Storm Bert arrived and exerted his influence. It was wet and windy although we didn't get the full brunt of the storm here in Plymouth but the temperatures certainly lifted and it was back up to 14°c!

The rain had eased mid-morning so I headed up to The Hoe for a look about, it was still blowing a hoolie though and the sea was rough and I hoped for Leach's Petrels, Grey Phalaropes, Little Auks and Pomarine Skuas - of course I was very disappointed but amongst the Herring, Black-headed and Great Black-backed Gulls and Cormorants whizzing around in the strong winds I was pleased to pick up a single adult Kittiwake and I also saw a lone Brent Goose flying past Drakes Island and heading towards the River Tamar.

The gales and heavy rain continued overnight but by first light on Sunday 24th November the wind was beginning to ease and so I headed up to Plymouth Hoe again for another birding-slash-torture session. It was still wet and windy and the sea was rough but again there was very little to see with the highlights being an adult Mediterranean Gull out in The Sound and a Great  Northern Diver in The Cattewater.

Azorean Gull

With news of an adult Yellow-legged Gull of the Azorean race (Larus michahellis atlantis - Azorean/Atlantic Gull) being found at Newlyn Harbour and with it sticking around and showing well I decided to head down to Cornwall for a look on Saturday 16th November. Yet again it was a grey and claggy day but mild and with no breeze and I kept my fingers crossed on the 2 hour train journey to Penzance that the bird would still be there as Gulls can be very fickle and very mobile.

Gulls delight and frustrate me in equal measure and I very much have a love to hate to love to hate relationship with them. It can be fun trying to pick out a rare or unusual species amongst a large flock of Gulls or it can equally be a total nightmare and the range of plumages Gulls can exhibit can be totally baffling but fascinating. The photos being posted on the sightings pages of the Azorean Gull showed it to be smart and distinctive looking bird and I was keen to see it for myself and with Herring, Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls having been fairly recently split from 1 to 3 species and with the current trend of Macronesian birds being upgraded to full species there may be a UK armchair tick in the offing someday in the future for me.

I arrived in Penzance at just after 9:30am (the train ticket was just £9.35 return with my £12 a year Devon and Cornwal Railcard) and news had already been posted online to say the Azorean Gull was still present and showing well so I headed off straight away along the coastpath to Newlyn. As I neared the village I scanned across to the fish quay roof and easily picked out the Azorean Gull asleep amongst the assorted Gulls present and so I was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

On arriving at the harbour it was still present on the roof and I enjoyed some nice views of it as it wandered around and occassionally settled down for a nap. It was a typical Yellow-legged Gull, mostly keeping itself apart from the other Gulls but also being arsey and aggressive, any nearby Herring Gulls mostly moved out of its way and those that didn't got a peck on the butt although it very wisely avoided any of the nearby Great Black-backed Gulls. 

A very interesting bird and one I had to do some reading up on when I returned home that evening which is something I always enjoy doing, everyday's a school day with birding.

Azorean Gull

Azorean Gull

Azorean Gull

Azorean Gull

Azorean Gull

After enjoying some good views of the Azorean Gull at the harbour along with a Kingfisher and a Grey Wagtail I walked back to Penzance and along the way I found a group of Turnstones feeding on the beach with 8 Ringed Plovers and 4 Purple Sandpipers.

Purple Sandpipers

I then walked out along the coast path towards Long Rock to look for a Snow Bunting which has been present along the beach here for a while now but there was no sign of it, however just as I had given up and was heading back to Penzance I found it and enjoyed some great views as it fed just a few metres away from me with 2 Meadow Pipits for company.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting

I then caught the train back to St.Erth and walked down to the causeway bridge over the River Hayle where there were plenty of birds present on the low tide. I quickly found the reported Avocet, only my second sighting of one here, and also of note were 3 female Goosanders, 100+ Golden Plovers, a Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Bar-tailed Godwits amongst the usual birds.

Curlew

Little Egret

Teal

There were plenty of Gulls out on the estuary mudflats, mostly Herring Gulls with Lesser and Great Black-backed, Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls amongst them. I couldn't find any Common Gulls but I did notice this Gull below, distant views before it flew off and I hadn't brought my telescope with me. It had a very white head and breast and a dark eye and bill and was giving off Caspian Gull vibes, it was also keeping itself very much to itself within the throng of nearby Herring Gulls. I think it was just an odd looking Herring Gull although with Caspians propensity to breed with Herring Gull it could be a hybrid bird? Who knows? And this is why I love to hate to love to hate Gulls!

Gull Sp. - but probably Herring Gull

All too soon it was time to head down the estuary towards Hayle to catch the train back to Plymouth. I had a quick look at the Carnsew Pool along the way and found the returning juvenile Spoonbill from last winter busily feeding away and still sporting its green leg ring. There were also 8 Little Grebe out on the water or so I thought, a closer look revealed a smart Slavonian Grebe amongst the 7 Little Grebe. 

Slavonian Grebe and Little Grebe

I thought that the Slavonian Grebe would be a nice end to my day but as I was waiting for the train at Hayle station 4 Pink-footed Geese flew over in the fading light towards Copperhouse Creek to finish my day off properly.

It was bright but breezy on Sunday 17th November and with the weather forecasted to become wetter and colder in the coming days I decided to make the most of the sunshine and headed out to The Plym for a look about. I didn't arrive at Marsh Mills until around 12:30pm and I only walked a quick lap as it was very busy with walkers, cyclists and dogs also enjoying the good weather but I did have some interesting sightings along the way.

A Dipper along the river at Long Bridge was a nice sighting until it was flushed by a dog jumping in to the water but a nearby Grey Wagtail was less nervous and stayed put. I headed down towards Blaxton Meadow and found a Firecrest in the trees by the footpath near the sewage farm outlet, it showed very well although it didn't stay still for a second as it moved through the remaining foliage on the trees. Further downriver 4 Little Grebes, a Moorhen, a Common Sandpiper and a pair of Teal were seen, the Teal were hunkered down in the seaweed covered rocks and fast asleep and I almost overlooked them. A flock of 47 Wigeon were also roosting further downriver along the mudbank by the waters edge and were almost as easy to miss.

It was low tide but Blaxton Meadow was a lake as the sluice gates are blocked yet again and there was no sign of the recent Brent Geese or for that matter anything else here. I also had a look at the roof of Saltram House but there was no sign of the Black Redstarts either. However the Wood Duck was back on the duck pond amongst the Mandarins, it seems to be commuting between here and Plymbridge as the Mandarins also do.

Wood Duck

Wood Duck and Mallard

And so a nice end to a busy birding week with some interesting sightings had in dry and mostly sunny weather, I don't think next week will be quite so good with the forecasted rain but the colder temperatures may move a few more birds down to the south west for the winter.