It showed very nicely albeit a bit distantly as it constantly dived away, leaping into the water in a very Shag-like way and indeed when I first glimpsed it diving I almost dismissed it as such! It was covering quite a large area and was difficult to keep track of but it eventually stopped for a quick preen and then flew off across the Lake and out of sight, flashing its white upper wing markings as it went. (Interestingly a Red-necked Grebe was reported on The Plym on BirdTrack that day too, no time given but maybe the same bird or maybe there are 2 birds?).
The usual birds were also present but mostly on the opposite shore - Turnstone, Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Wigeon, etc. - and amongst a large distant flock of Canada Geese roosting out on the water were around 20 Brent Geese of unassigned race and the White farmyard type Greylag Goose.
I haven't heard anything back as yet about the ringed Pale-bellied Brent Geese I've seen at Torpoint on my recent visits but somebody has posted some details about them on the Cornwall Birds website - both birds were ringed in Iceland, 4C was ringed on 18/5/14 and LC was ringed on 19/5/09, and both have regularly been reported from Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.
4C and LC from 20/1/24, Torpoint
With the Red-necked Grebe being seen and the wind and mizzle increasing I decided to call it a day and headed home before the mudflats became properly exposed on the lowering tide but it had been an enjoyable couple of hours despite the conditions.
It was grey and claggy again on Wednesday 31st January as I headed off to Bowling Green Marsh with Mavis for a day's birding. It wasn't too breezy and there were very brief glimpses of blue skies and a bit of sunshine but it was mostly dull and sometimes mizzley as well.
We arrived at the hide fairly early at around 09:00hrs just as the tide was reaching its highest point and there were plenty of birds already roosting out on the Marsh with pride of place going to a pair of juvenile Spoonbills fast asleep amongst a sea of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits.
Spoonbills - both awake at the same time!
Spoonbill, Avocet and photo bombing Jackdaw
The Spoonbills occassionally awoke for a bit of a preen and a shuffle about before returning to their slumbers and even after the tide had headed out and the waders had flown over to the estuary they remained behind to continue their dreaming.
Spoonbill
Some of the Black-tailed Godwits were sporting coloured leg rings but I never managed to get a full look at the combinations as they jostled for position in the large flock. A single Bar-tailed Godwit was also present amongst them with Redshank, Dunlin, Snipe and Lapwing also seen along with a Greenshank and 2 Curlew.
Snipe
It was good to see 3 female Pochard out on the water, an increasingly rare bird in Devon, and also present were Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Shelduck, a male Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Moorhen and a Coot.
Shoveler
Shoveler
Teal
Brent Geese regularly flew over, gently honking as they went, and Psycho the Lesser Black-backed Gull regularly caused panic amongst the roosting birds as it tried to make a meal of an unwary bird. A Buzzard had the same effect as it flew over but the highlight were 3 Marsh Harriers which also drifted over, an immature male and 2 female-types, all causing panic too and getting grief from Carrion Crows.
Brent Geese
Grey Heron
Black-tailed Godwit
Black-tailed Godwit- feeding well despite a very damaged left leg
We also had a look off the Viewing Platform and The Goatwalk and added a Kestrel, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, Golden Plovers and Turnstones to the days list while getting more good views of waders and wildfowl and some great close up views of feeding Avocets.
Brent Geese
Avocet
A great day out with a nice selection of sightings and some good views too and a nice end to January with my year list now on 118.
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