St. Levan, Porthgwara, and Nanquidno

Definitely chose the wrong day to spend a full day birding. Blowing a gale and pouring with rain! Started at the Minack Theatre car-park at Porthcurno and walked in to St. Levan. Just the usual stuff.

I then parked the car at the top of Porthgwara and did a long circuit. A flock of thirteen Greenland White-fronted Geese was a good find (my first ever in England). The Richard’s Pipit had again been reported on the moor. I don’t know how as I could hardly stand in the gale-force wind and torrential rain. Hardly saw a bird there, and to make it worse, the Pastie-shop was shut!

So on to Nanquidno. Where for a long time, I had not very much. Soaked (despite waterproofs) and cold I was about to give up, and just checking through a final flock of Goldcrests when a Chiffchaff emerged, followed by a Yellow-browed Warbler. Some reward for my efforts at last!

Marazion and Portgwarra

Went with the family to St. Michaels Mount in the morning followed by cricket on the beach and a decent lunch in the pub overlooking they bay. Seven Brent Geese were present. Then, spent half an hour or so at Marizion, never having been before; usual stuff; Cetti’s Warbler etc.

Then went with Tom for the last couple of hours of light to Porthgwara to try for the very elusive Richard’s Pipit. I had what I was sure was a large – non-calling – Pipit in flight (presumably the bird) but we could not re-find it. Fortunately a frustrating couple of hours was partially saved by a flyover Lapland Bunting last thing.

Mousehole, Pendeen, and Kenidjack

 

A late start to the day. Not because of my oversleeping, but because of the weather: Chucking it down. Got out mid-morning and just birded around the village. Then, after dropping the family in St. Ives, I birded Pendeen (including a sea-watch), and then Kenidjack. Nothing. All day! Lots of Blackbirds and Goldcrests promising something more exotic, but no. Scenery beautiful though, and had a good time trying.

Porthgwara and Lamorna Cove

Day one of a week’s break in a cottage in Mousehole, Cornwall, with the family. After a late night last night we all awoke late and went for a late morning walk at Porthgwara. A Richard’s Pipit was reported, but couldn’t be found, a female Merlin being the best bird for me.

We then went to Sennen Cove for a long Sunday lunch. A Rock Pipit and adult Mediterranean Gull were noted there.

Dropping the family off at Mousehole a couple of hours before dusk, I went to nearby Lamora Cove, a place where I’d never visited. A lovely setting but the drizzle turned into something of a downpour and I decided to retire to the pub in Mousehole instead.

Porthgwara
28 October 2012 11:05 - 13:05
Overcast with light showers 10C 12W
Robin, Wren, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Buzzard, Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Shag, Rock Pipit, Gannet, Song Thrush, Goldcrest, Merlin, Magpie

Lamorna Cove
28 October 2012 15:27 - 16:13
Heavy showers 10C 12W
Blackbird, Robin, Cormorant, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Jay, Herring Gull, Redwing, Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Black-headed Gull, Rook, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Wren

Holme

Was sitting at home working when I got news from the BTO that radar had detected a huge arrival of birds overnight on the north Norfolk coast. Being my birthday I thought I’d take the day off and see what there was to see. I didn’t set out until 10am and needed to collect Michelle later, so decided to concentrate on the nearest bit of coast at Holme.

During my four hours I saw at least 500 Blackbirds, and good numbers of the other common Thrushes. Although I found no rarities, the best find being a female Ring Ouzel, it was a good way to spend the day, and I enjoyed a birthday lunch on the windswept beach on my own!

Starlings

A great display of over 500 Starlings performing at dusk, with a Sparrowhawk joining in at the end. Not a lot else except for a couple of Gadwall.

Barn Owls

Went with the family to a foggy Fowlmere at dusk to see the Barn Owls. Fortunately all three juveniles were perched outside the box, with the larger one flying away now and again. About two-hundred Starlings were roosting in the reeds around the mere.

Fowlmere

Two visits. Both quiet. A flock of about 300 Woodpigeons over, and a Shoveler being the “highlights”.

Fowlmere

No birds. Just a nice sunset. That’s all.

Amwell

Amwell was as quiet as it gets. A Yellow-legged Gull showed it's legs nicely out of the water, and a couple of Little Egrets, but otherwise pretty uninspiring.

Norfolk

Was in the area, so birded the east coast of Norfolk from Yarmouth to Waxham, from late morning until dusk. It was extremely quiet with no migrants at all apart from a couple of Redpolls that were probably migrants at Winterton. Highlights were several Red-throated Divers and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls.

Fowlmere

A nice male Stonechat was found by the horse paddocks early afternoon.

HB?

Arriving at Fowlmere on a pleasant afternoon, I decided to take the anti-clockwise route, and soon after crossing the small bridge over the Shep I noticed a raptor that I instantly thought was a Honey Buzzard. Views were appalling as I was looking directly into the sun, but I fired off a few shots which I tried to brighten later…

I sent the following message…

I think structurally it looks OK, though some images look more convincing than others. My first impression was that it wasn’t a Common Buzzard, hence the series of awful photos shot into the sun. I’ve tried to lighten them up to get some plumage features. If it is an HB, I would guess the lack of a dark trailing edge would make it a juv. and it appears to have dark secondaries, though what is shadow and what is plumage is hard to tell. – Toby

Anyway, also noted were 20+ Skylarks heading south, 13 Pied Wagtails on the mere, and the first Redwings (around about ten). Two Cetti’s Warblers were also singing simultaneously and an Barn Owl managed to catch five small rodents in the space of 45 minutes, returning the prey to the youngsters (of which there are apparently four). The wacky Water Rail was also photographed.

Edit (11/10/2012): After much discussion, it seems the bird is actually a juvenile Common Buzzard with a (very) long-looking tail. Head-shape seems to be the main problem with Honey Buzzard. See birdforum for some of the discussion.

Jay

A Jay landed in the garden next to the feeders mid-afternoon. A new bird for the garden. A quick walk with Sam to the hide at Fowlmere at dusk produced both Barn Owl and Tawny Owl.

Fowlmere

A dull evening, only made slightly brighter by a couple (maybe three?) of Barn Owl chicks in the nestbox.

A Barn Owl was also seen flying over London Road, Fowlmere, much later on in heavy rain. I’m guessing this was one of the adults from Fowlmere, having to hunt to feed the chicks.