Porthgwarra, Stithians Reservoir and Barton-on-Sea

Where better to start September than Porthgwarra? A pleasant stroll around Porthgwarra with Liam featured two Pied Flycatchers, a pair of Chough, a Garden Warbler, two Tree Pipits, three Wheatears, a Swift, four Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin, three Fulmars, two Little Egrets, a Peregrine, two Ravens, a House Martin, 80 Swallows, a Willow Warbler, a Rock Pipit and three Grey Wagtails. At least eight Buzzards started to make use of the thermals late morning, as did the roaming flock of 21 reintroduced White Storks, although these u-turned after deciding that a jaunt to Scilly wasn't such a great idea after all.





We popped in to Stithians Reservoir to twitch a Cattle Egret, which was showing nicely, along with the juvenile Wood Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, five Curlews and two Lapwings.

 

On the way back east, I stopped at Barton-on-Sea, where it was too late in the evening for the Icterine Warbler to show but I was gobsmacked to hear one or two Water Rails calling from the vegetation on the beach.

Stithians Reservoir and Falmouth pelagic

An early check of Stithians Reservoir produced a Wood Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper with two Redshanks, as well as a Snipe, a Greenshank, two Common Sandpipers, a Curlew, a Mediterranean Gull, a Raven, a Sand Martin and a Swift.



The rest of the day was spent on a boat with AKK Wildlife out from Falmouth. It was a beautiful calm day and a fun way to spend the day but not the best conditions for seabirds. We did, however, manage a Balearic Shearwater, a Puffin, three Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies, five Guillemots, three Common Terns, three Fulmars, hundreds of Gannets and Manx Shearwaters, four Kittiwakes and eight Shags.

adult pale morph Arctic Skua during the Falmouth pelagic

Durleigh Reservoir, Devoran and Stithians Reservoir

On the way down to Cornwall, I couldn't resist adjusting the route to include a stop at Durleigh Reservoir, where the juvenile Purple Heron was easily seen, enjoying the sun in the trees near the manor house, along with two Great White Egrets. 43 Great Crested Grebes were almost entirely at the same end of the reservoir, including several young; I'm not sure I've ever seen such a breeding season congregation. Four House Martins, two Sand Martins, two Little Egrets and a family of six Mute Swans were also seen.





I met up with Liam in Penryn and we headed over to Devoran, finding three juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, along with five Knot, a Whimbrel, three Ringed Plovers, 81 Curlew, 23 Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Dunlin, 16 Oystercatchers, a Teal and a Little Egret.



Stithians Reservoir in the evening offered a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 13 Little Grebes, two Shovelers, two Wheatears, a Willow Warbler and two Little Egrets.

Pendeen Watch and Dawlish Warren NNR

I wasn't initially planning on spending a second night but Liam, Matt and I thought we'd give Pendeen a casual go in the morning. Unfortunately, we played it a little too casual, getting there at 8.20am: just after the main action had finished. Still, we had three Balearic Shearwaters, two Sooty Shearwaters, 20 Storm-petrels, roughly 20,000 Manx Shearwaters, two Chough, an Arctic Skua, a Bonxie, a Knot, a Sanderling, two Ringed Plovers, a Redshank, 25 Dunlin, 12 Sandwich Terns and a Wheatear.





On the way home I called in at Dawlish Warren, where, fortunately, after a few hours gone to ground, the Melodious Warbler with a damaged eye afforded a couple of fairly brief views. A Willow Warbler and a couple of Stonechats were in the same area.

Porthgwarra, Drift Reservoir and Stithians Reservoir

Anticipation was high and the car park at Porthgwarra was rammed with optimistic seawatchers - up to 80 of them - almost all of whom went up to Hella Point. Liam, myself, Matt Doyle and a few others went for the thinking-man's option of the cove, where the level view and proximity to the cafe suit me fine. While it was monumentally quieter than we had hoped, highlights for me included a fairly close Cory's Shearwater, four Balearic Shearwaters, a Sooty Shearwater, a Storm-petrel, a couple of thousand Manx Shearwaters, four Whimbrel, two Curlew, 70 Fulmars and a Common Scoter.

We moved on to Drift Reservoir, where the adult SPOTTED SANDPIPER was picking along the opposite bank. Then we caught up with a juvenile Wood Sandpiper at Stithians Reservoir...

The Lizard

A mini-break in Cornwall, visiting Liam and seawatching, kicked off with an evening seawatch from Bumble Rock, where a cracking juvenile Long-tailed Skua, a Great Shearwater, six Balearic Shearwaters, a Sooty Shearwater and a trickle of Manx Shearwaters kicked things off.

The Lizard and Porthgwarra

A few hours around The Lizard was fairly uneventful, though two high-flying Great Northern Divers, four u-turning Mistle Thrushes, a Chough, a Firecrest and a Raven featured, as well as singles of Siskin and Grey Wagtail.

Great Northern Diver over The Lizard

A quick visit to Porthgwarra secured nice views of the Pallas's Warbler which had been found in the sallows by the car park. A Firecrest, two Ravens, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Sparrowhawk were among the other birds logged during our short visit.

Penzance, Scillonian crossing and St.Mary's

While Ian, Phil, Mag, Paul and I waited on the Scillonian III, we enjoyed a summer adult Red-throated Diver fishing just off the boat. A Grey Wagtail and a few Shags were around, then we set off. The way over was quiet, but there was a Sooty Shearwater, three Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie, as well as decent numbers of Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and Gannets, and a couple of pods of Common Dolphins.

adult summer Red-throated Diver

Our first day of birding on St.Mary's saw us eventually connect with the BLUE ROCK THRUSH on Peninnis Head after what felt like a painful foreverness, and a couple of near-misses, but in reality we were very lucky compared to others who have truly struggled to see this bird. We connected with no other rarities or scarcities by sundown, but a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a small number of Wheatears and Stonechats were around, and at Lower Moors in the evening we heard three or so Water Rails.

1cy Blue Rock Thrush on Peninnis Head

The Lizard

I met Dick Filby off the M25 and we pressed on through the night for my third attempt for Brown Booby in Cornwall over the last few days - every other day I'd made the journey! After the two failed attempts, I was very much hoping this further sleepless night would have a positive result. It wasn't quite a case of hoping for a 'third time lucky' as, insanely, the Lizard bird was a clearly younger and different individual to that which had so far evaded me (despite the species never being seen in Britain before a couple of weeks ago).

The odds were more favourable for this trip, the bird having been seen to settle at the back of its favourite rock the previous evening, though much like the moon the far side of this particular rock could not be seen from terra firma. It wasn't seen again by dusk but it was assumed, as it hadn't been seen leaving, that it was roosting out of sight.

Our first hour-and-a-half on site was anxious, and the inevitable sense of dread at the thought of another dip built up with every passing minute. It was such a moment of relief and joy, therefore, when just after 8am the 2cy BROWN BOOBY launched itself from behind the rocks and performed a couple of close fly-bys, delighting the crowd! It almost settled in view on one of the nearest rocks then had another fly-around before resting more distantly, but in perfect view with a scope.

Brown Booby

A flock of seven Chough was a real treat, and the sea had a Sooty Shearwater and good numbers of Manx Shearwaters and Gannets. Two Ravens flew over.

Gwithian

Dipped again. At least this time I had company - in fact we were oversubscribed at one point...! I was joined by Garry Bagnell, Ian Jones, George Kinnard and John Lees, ensuring a lively journey to Cornwall and back. Indeed, the whole trip ended up more of a social occasion as, naturally, the booby was having yet another off-day or had cleared off altogether. A summer-plumage Great Northern Diver which flew in to the bay - about the range of the streams of Manx Shearwater - was the clear highlight, along with a flock of five Ravens. A Wigeon flew past and Kittiwakes and Guillemots were seen, but otherwise it was ditto Friday.

Gwithian and Trevescan

I travelled alone overnight and joined Liam, Toby, Gethin and the rest of the crowds assembled a little way northeast of the Hayle Estuary mouth. Long story short, the Brown Booby never put in an appearance. A Knot, a Whimbrel, a Sand Martin, four Swallows, a Rock Pipit, two Ravens and a basic assemblage of seabirds including Manx Shearwaters, Shags, Gannets and Fulmars, plus several Mediterranean Gulls, were feeding out in the bay. Eight Sandwich Terns were on the sand and Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Oystercatcher were also present.

I gave up just before midday and headed to Trevescan, though didn't search for the Western Bonelli's Warbler for particularly long at all before making my way back home.

Porthgwarra and Withleigh (Tiverton)

Round two. I was set up with the other early risers around 6am but for what seemed like a couple of hours, no seabirds other than Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Kittiwake, Fulmar and Shag were seen, and things began to feel rather desperate! It was a huge relief when at last a Sooty Shearwater went by, and we then ended up seeing a few Balearic Shearwaters. I finished on just eight (and three Sooties) by the time I packed up late morning, though. A Guillemot was the only other notable seabird. A Rock Pipit called. A pair of Chough flew over the car park, where a Willow Warbler was calling.

seawatching at Porthgwarra

I meandered back towards home and stopped off to visit friends in Withleigh near Tiverton. The garden was impressively busy with birds on the feeders, including Siskin.

Porthgwarra

I intended to get to Porthgwarra for dawn but hit a complete (figurative) wall on the overnight drive and only ended up arriving in the car park mid-morning. Despite the assembled crowd of seawatchers, it was clear that the weather was not delivering the goods. Despite the slow-going, I spent a few hours enjoying the steady procession of Manx Shearwaters, with the occasional Balearic (seven) and Sooty Shearwater (two) thrown in, along with a Storm-petrel, an Arctic Skua, five Bonxies and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull. Fulmar, Gannet, Kittiwake and Shag were abundant offshore, as always.

Bonxie

Telscombe, Hayle Estuary and St.Gothian Sands

I started the day at Telscombe, in search of the recently reported Quail. A couple of singing Corn Buntings and Yellowhammers, along with a fair few Skylarks and a handful of House Martins and Swifts were among the birds noted. However, my quest was cut short by news of the American Royal Tern's reappearance, this time on the Hayle Estuary in Cornwall.

Things were quickly shifted around and I set off west. News on the bird was positive till late morning and by the time I arrived at the Hayle Estuary at 4pm it had not been seen for over five hours. I wasn't quite sure how to play it but scanned the estuary for a short while, with three Whimbrel, five Wigeon and seven Little Egrets the most noteworthy observations, before taking a punt on looking off St.Gothian Sands, despite the bad light.

At St.Gothian Sands, there was of course orange-billed tern offshore but a steady procession of Manx Shearwaters went by, along with smaller numbers of Fulmar, Gannet, Kittiwake, Shag, Guillemot and Razorbill. A Reed Warbler was singing in the reedbed and another was gathering nesting material nearby. The main pool hosted Little Grebe and 15 Sand Martins, while a Meadow Pipit was in song on the slopes.

Deciding I wasn't in a fit state to drive back home, I crashed out at the Penzance YHA, getting a dorm to myself for £15, perhaps the biggest win of the day.

Lizard Point

A full 10 hours of scanning the sea, following eight hours off Porthgwarra yesterday. The only notables offshore were five Red-throated Divers, a Bonxie and five Shelducks, with only Fulmars, Gannets, Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Razorbills making up the numbers. An adult Mediterranean Gull and 50 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were offshore. Two Chough and a Raven flew over, and two Rock Pipits kept us company, one occasionally bursting into song.

Porthgwarra and Hayle Estuary

With news of a Black-browed Albatross off Lizard Point the previous evening, the first morning of my weekend in Cornwall at Liam's started at Porthgwarra. We felt pretty optimistic that it might well pass through, and a Sooty Shearwater (plus another seen by others) early in the morning further inspired us. I logged a surprising seven Manx Shearwaters - and this was only about half of the birds called - as well as a Great Northern Diver, a Bonxie, four Curlews, and of course Rock Pipits, good numbers of Fulmars, Gannets, Shags, Razorbills, Guillemots and Kittiwakes.

We felt safe enough to leave at about 3pm to look through the gulls at Hayle Estuary, picking out the regular 3CY Caspian Gull and three Yellow-legged Gulls (a displaying pair of adults and a near-adult). Also there was a Greenshank and 220 Curlew, plus Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Wigeon, etc.

Trevescan, Drift Reservoir and West Worthing

An overnight drive with Ed and Gareth - who did a magnificent job of keeping me alert despite their own sleep deprivation - saw us arrive in the grassy car park field at Trevescan just after dawn. To our delight and huge relief the first-winter GREY CATBIRD (Britain's second) that we had travelled to see showed nicely on three occasions during our visit in the scrub just northwest of Treve Moor House. The surrounding area was busy with small numbers of Redwings, Song Thrushes, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Siskins flying over, as well as a heard-only Chough, a Snipe, a Grey Wagtail and a couple of Reed Buntings.

Grey Catbird at Trevescan

Unfortunately we didn't have a huge amount of time on our hands so we left after about three hours to fit in a pit-stop at Drift Reservoir, seeing the reported three Ring-necked Ducks distantly from the road.

Back home and after dark, four Redwings seeped their way over my West Worthing garden.

Penzance, Scillonian crossing and St. Mary's

Ian, Mag, Phil and I set off in the early hours to meet with the Scillonian II at Penzance, a day later than planned due to rough seas the previous day. A drake Eider in the harbour was a nice send off from the mainland but the crossing was quiet with just singles of Bonxie and Manx Shearwater featuring alongside the usual Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Guillemots and Gannets.

adult drake Eider at Penzance harbour

After a very quick drop-off at our digs up on St. Mary's at Buzza, we got straight into the birding, connecting with the Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the airfield (distantly with two Golden Plovers) then the first-winter Barred Warbler at the bay end of Porth Hellick. Two Yellow Wagtails dropped onto rooftops in Hugh Town and other bits logged during the day included two Water Rails, seven Greenshanks, eight Snipe, a Kingfisher and two House Martins.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the airfield

1CY Barred Warbler at Porth Hellick

Greenshank at Lower Moors

Stithians Reservoir, Devoran and Porthgwarra

Getting some work done in the morning, we then headed out to Stithians Reservoir, where we had to shelter behind some trees to view out of the wind. A few more waders were present than on the last visit (though nothing scarce/rare). These included a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, three Greenshanks, two Ruff, 21 Dunlin, six Ringed Plovers and 26 Curlews. At least a couple of White Wagtails were among a few Pied/Whites and 20 Meadow Pipits.

Twitching Devoran again for the juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs, we were successful this time and I enjoyed nice views of my third example of this species in Britain. Also present was a Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit, along with the Spotted Redshank, 85 Curlews, five Dunlin, 27 Black-tailed Godwits, five Mediterranean Gulls, a Sandwich Tern, a Grey Wagtail and 44 Teal.

My visit concluded with a late afternoon seawatch from the cove at Porthgwarra, the highlight of which was picking out a Grey Phalarope as it tracked west. A Black Tern went the same way, along with 30 Balearic Shearwaters, four Bonxies and two Sooty Shearwaters.

juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs

Porthgwarra, Pendeen and Devoran

Among about 30 observers gathered at Porthgwarra first thing were myself and Liam, along a few other familiar faces. Anticipation was high but after an hour or so it couldn't be denied as a damp squib. An adult Roseate Tern picked out by Liam was by far the bird of the day, while a juvenile Little Gull was also a highlight. Other bits included four Great Shearwaters, five Balearic Shearwaters, 14 Sooty Shearwaters, a Common Scoter, reasonable numbers of Kittiwakes and Sandwich Terns, a flow of Manx Shearwaters, an Arctic Skua, eight Bonxies, an Arctic Tern, a Common Tern, a Raven and a Grey Wagtail.

Mid-afternoon news from Pendeen - and more-or-less straight westerlies - had us heading straight there but we had only four Balearic Shearwaters of note before getting fed up and heading to Devoran to twitch a Lesser Yellowlegs. We dipped. However, nice views of an Osprey were had, along with a Spotted Redshank, 10 Black-tailed Godwits and a Kingfisher heard...