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.

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 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.

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

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.

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...

Marazion, Hayle Estuary, Porthgwarra and Stithians Reservoir

An aspiration to find a rare wader or two was much of the motivation for the Cornish trip, and as such we started at Marazion beach shortly after dawn. Visibility was terrible but we marched up and down a decent stretch of the beach, though we only found four Sanderlings, 10 Ringed Plovers, 14 Turnstones, 11 Mediterranean Gulls, a Dunlin, a Rock Pipit and an Oystercatcher for our efforts.

Hayle Estuary was next up. A Water Rail showed for a long time right out in the open. The five juvenile Knot were still present, while an adult Spotted Redshank, two juvenile Ruff, a Common Sandpiper and 85 Dunlin were the most notable among the other waders. Teal numbered 140, a Rock Pipit flew over and a few Mediterranean Gulls were around.

Water Rail at Hayle Estuary

Ruff and Knot at Hayle Estuary

A seawatch at Porthgwarra for just over three hours around midday was worthwhile, not least for the 43 Great Shearwaters seen, almost all of which were in a spectacular single flock! I also noted 31 Balearic Shearwaters, eight Sooty Shearwaters, three Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies and 10 Common Scoters. The usual Gannets, Shags, Fulmars, Manx Shearwaters, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and Rock Pipits featured, as they did on each visit.

I enjoyed a visit to Stithians Reservoir later, although it was a bit gusty to view comfortably. A 1CY White Wagtail, Greenshank, 30 Curlews, 12 Dunlin and four Ringed Plovers were the highlights.

1CY White Wagtail at Stithians Reservoir

Hayle Estuary and Porthgwarra

With the weather looking promising for Cornwall and a few days with no real commitments, I seized the chance to head down to Falmouth to stay at Liam's new flat for a couple of nights. Arriving mid-afternoon, we headed first to the Hayle Estuary, enjoying five Knot and a Ruff - all juveniles - as well as a Kingfisher. A few Teal and Wigeon (the latter numbered 55)  were among the other birds logged. With some daylight to spare we thought it was worth a short evening seawatch off Porthgwarra, scoring 18 Balearic Shearwaters, five Sooty Shearwaters and a Bonxie. We also heard a Chough over the car park.

juvenile Ruff at Hayle Estuary

Porthgwarra

Liam and I pulled up in the car park down in the cove shortly after 05:00 then trudged our way up to Hella Point in the pre-dawn. We were eager to secure a comfortable, sheltered position and the 03:00 alarm paid off as we claimed prime position behind the sheltering rocks. Anticipation was high as the rough sea came into blearly vision. It wasn't long before the first Great Shearwater came into view, and once the lights were fully on we were treated to a steady stream of shearwaters between squalls. Many were close in, with some of each species even visible with the naked eye.

Things went to another level when a shout came from the opposite end of the 25-strong crowd, declaring 'Fea's!'. I found it remarkably hard to compose myself, especially as we weren't hearing any kind of useful indication as to the bird's position or behaviour. Failing to get on the bird in a couple of wide and frantic scans, I resorted to getting on the Runnelstone (near the right-hand end of my view) and clapped eyes on the creature as it slided around the back of the buoy. However, our prime positioning next to the rocks backfired and I only got the most fleeting of views as it vanished out of view - just enough time for the bird to jar with my expected image of Fea's, but still fit well with a Pterodroma petrel. Just then, Martin Elliot started declaring to the crowd that it was a TRINDADE PETREL! It made sense from my extremely limited viewing time, and it did too to Liam - who had it for much longer than I did - and to everyone else present. Good descriptions and field sketches have now emerged online from observers who were lucky enough to be watching the bird for up to a minute as it passed.

It took a while to simmer down and re-focus on the seawatching as the shearwaters hadn't stopped going through! Indeed, it remained a busy watch till around 14:00 and we kept going till 18:00. My personal totals included 13 Cory's Shearwaters, 64 Great Shearwaters, 38 Sooty Shearwaters, 16 Balearic Shearwaters, 18 Storm-petrels, four Arctic Skuas, 10 Bonxies, 10 Mediterranean Gulls, four Kittiwakes, a Guillemot and good numbers of Manx Shearwaters. Shags, Gannets and Fulmars were of course also noted. Around the point was a showy juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, a Peregrine and a couple of Rock Pipits.

A day to remember...

Great Shearwater

Balearic Shearwater

Sooty Shearwater

Cory's Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

juvenile Yellow-legged Gull

October 18th-26th 2014

October 26th 2014

Leith Hill

Pheasant	Present
Red Kite	1
Buzzard	3
Herring Gull	Present
Woodpigeon	Present
Tawny Owl	1
Green Woodpecker	1
Great Spotted Woodpecker	Present
Kestrel	2
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Goldcrest	Present
Firecrest	1
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Coal Tit	Present
House Martin	2
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Treecreeper	1
Wren	Present
Blackbird	Present
Fieldfare	3
Song Thrush	3
Redwing	50
Mistle Thrush	2
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Pied/White Wagtail	Present
Meadow Pipit	1
Chaffinch	Present
Greenfinch	Present
Linnet	Present
Lesser Redpoll	2
[Redpoll (Common/Lesser)]	1
Goldfinch	Present
Siskin	Present
Reed Bunting	1

 
October 25th 2014

Banstead Woods 

Greylag Goose	2
Black-headed Gull	Present
Herring Gull	Present
Woodpigeon	Present
Green Woodpecker	1
Great Spotted Woodpecker	1
Ring-necked Parakeet	Present
Magpie	Present
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Goldcrest	6
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Coal Tit	1
Skylark	5
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Nuthatch	3
Treecreeper	1
Wren	Present
Blackbird	Present
Song Thrush	6
Redwing	40
Mistle Thrush	1
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Meadow Pipit	3
Chaffinch	Present
Bullfinch	3
Greenfinch	3
Goldfinch	2
Siskin	1

Beddington Farm

Mute Swan	Present
Canada Goose	Present
Gadwall	Present
Teal	Present
Mallard	Present
Shoveler	Present
Pochard	4
Tufted Duck	Present
Cormorant	1
Grey Heron	Present
Little Grebe	Present
Sparrowhawk	1
Water Rail	2
Moorhen	Present
Coot	Present
Lapwing	7
Black-headed Gull	Present
Common Gull	Present
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Present
Herring Gull	Present
Great Black-backed Gull	1
Feral Pigeon	Present
Stock Dove	1
Kestrel	1
Magpie	Present
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Skylark	2
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Chiffchaff	1
Wren	Present
Starling	Present
Blackbird	Present
Song Thrush	Present
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
House Sparrow	Present
Pied/White Wagtail	Present
Meadow Pipit	4
Chaffinch	Present
Goldfinch	Present

October 24th 2014

Porthgwarra

Pheasant	Present
Herring Gull	Present
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	1
Kestrel	1
Magpie	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Raven	2
Chiffchaff	1
Wren	Present
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Grey Wagtail	1
Pied/White Wagtail	Present
Meadow Pipit	Present
Goldfinch	Present

Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Porthgwarra

October 23rd 2014

Leith Hill

Pheasant	Present
Red Kite	1
Sparrowhawk	2
Moorhen	2
Herring Gull	28
Stock Dove	Present
Woodpigeon	Present
Tawny Owl	1
Great Spotted Woodpecker	2
Kestrel	3
Ring-necked Parakeet	2
Magpie	Present
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Raven	2
Goldcrest	Present
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Coal Tit	Present
Marsh Tit	1
Swallow	1
Nuthatch	Present
Wren	Present
Blackbird	Present
Song Thrush	5
Redwing	75
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Pied/White Wagtail	1
Meadow Pipit	18
Brambling	9
Chaffinch	Present
Greenfinch	Present
Goldfinch	39
Siskin	8
Yellowhammer	1

 
Beddington Farm

Mute Swan	Present
Canada Goose	Present
Gadwall	Present
Teal	Present
Mallard	Present
Pochard	1
Tufted Duck	Present
Little Egret	1
Grey Heron	Present
Little Grebe	Present
Sparrowhawk	1
Water Rail	2
Moorhen	Present
Coot	Present
Lapwing	1
Snipe	1
Black-headed Gull	Present
Common Gull	Present
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Present
Herring Gull	Present
Great Black-backed Gull	1
Feral Pigeon	Present
Woodpigeon	Present
Magpie	Present
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Goldcrest	1
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Wren	Present
Blackbird	Present
Song Thrush	Present
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Pied/White Wagtail	Present
Meadow Pipit	Present
Chaffinch	Present
Greenfinch	Present
Linnet	Present
Goldfinch	Present
Reed Bunting	1

Sutton

Peregrine

1

 
October 22nd 2014

Sheepcote Valley

Sparrowhawk	1
Black-headed Gull	Present
Herring Gull	Present
Feral Pigeon	Present
Stock Dove	1
Woodpigeon	Present
Collared Dove	2
Green Woodpecker	1
Kestrel	1
Magpie	Present
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Rook	3
Carrion Crow	Present
Raven	1
Goldcrest	1
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Skylark	20
House Martin	1
Long-tailed Tit	10
Chiffchaff	4
Wren	Present
Starling	Present
Ring Ouzel	3
Blackbird	Present
Song Thrush	9
Robin	Present
Stonechat	2
Dunnock	Present
Pied/White Wagtail	2
Meadow Pipit	10
Brambling	1
Chaffinch	Present
Greenfinch	10
Linnet	3
Goldfinch	75
Siskin	1
Yellowhammer	5
Reed Bunting	1
Corn Bunting	5

Ring Ouzel at Sheepcote Valley

Brambling at Sheepcote Valley

Yellowhammer at Sheepcote Valley

Raven at Sheepcote Valley

Leith Hill

Pheasant	Present
Woodpigeon	Present
Great Spotted Woodpecker	Present
Magpie	Present
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Goldcrest	Present
Great Tit	Present
Coal Tit	Present
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Nuthatch	Present
Wren	Present
Ring Ouzel	1
Redwing	Present
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Chaffinch	Present
Greenfinch	Present
Goldfinch	Present
Siskin	Present

Beddington Farm

Mute Swan	Present
Canada Goose	Present
Egyptian Goose	1
Gadwall	Present
Teal	Present
Mallard	Present
Garganey	1
Shoveler	Present
Tufted Duck	Present
Grey Heron	Present
Little Grebe	Present
Water Rail	2
Moorhen	Present
Coot	Present
Lapwing	5
Snipe	1
Black-headed Gull	Present
Common Gull	Present
Herring Gull	Present
Stock Dove	Present
Ring-necked Parakeet	Present
Magpie	Present
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Goldcrest	1
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Chiffchaff	1
Wren	Present
Starling	Present
Blackbird	Present
Song Thrush	Present
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Pied/White Wagtail	Present
Linnet	Present
Goldfinch	Present
Reed Bunting	2

 
October 20th 2014

Sheepcote Valley

Black-headed Gull	Present
Herring Gull	Present
Feral Pigeon	Present
Stock Dove	1
Woodpigeon	Present
Kestrel	1
Magpie	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Great Tit	Present
Skylark	2
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Chiffchaff	2
Wren	Present
Starling	Present
Ring Ouzel	1
Blackbird	Present
Song Thrush	8
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Pied/White Wagtail	4
Meadow Pipit	10
Greenfinch	2
Linnet	1
Goldfinch	5

October 18th 2014

Warham Greens

Pink-footed Goose	1
Brent Goose (Dark-bellied)	Present
Shelduck	1
Wigeon	50
Mallard	1
Red-legged Partridge	1
Pheasant	Present
Cormorant	2
Little Egret	11
Red Kite	1
Marsh Harrier	3
Sparrowhawk	1
Golden Plover	5
Lapwing	30
Curlew	3
Redshank	Present
Black-headed Gull	Present
Common Gull	Present
Herring Gull	Present
Feral Pigeon	Present
Woodpigeon	Present
Kestrel	1
Jay	Present
Goldcrest	15
Blue Tit	Present
Skylark	Present
Long-tailed Tit	2
Chiffchaff	2
Blackcap	1
Wren	Present
Starling	Present
Blackbird	Present
Song Thrush	1
Redwing	4
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Meadow Pipit	Present
Rock Pipit	2
Brambling	1
Chaffinch	Present
Greenfinch	Present
Linnet	Present
Goldfinch	Present
Yellowhammer	10
Reed Bunting	4

Red Kite at Warham Greens

Holkham Pines

Pink-footed Goose	Present
Cormorant	Present
Little Grebe	3
Marsh Harrier	1
Buzzard	2
Lapwing	20
Curlew	Present
Redshank	Present
Black-headed Gull	Present
Common Gull	Present
Herring Gull	Present
Woodpigeon	Present
Kestrel	Present
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Goldcrest	Present
Firecrest	1
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Coal Tit	Present
Skylark	Present
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Treecreeper	Present
Wren	Present
Redwing	1
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
Grey Wagtail	1
Meadow Pipit	Present
Brambling	1
Chaffinch	Present
Greenfinch	Present
Linnet	Present
Goldfinch	Present
Siskin	Present

Titchwell RSPB

Brent Goose	Present
Shelduck	Present
Wigeon	Present
Teal	Present
Mallard	Present
Shoveler	Present
Tufted Duck	Present
Pheasant	Present
Cormorant	Present
Little Egret	Present
Grey Heron	Present
Marsh Harrier	1
Sparrowhawk	1
Moorhen	Present
Avocet	Present
Golden Plover	Present
Lapwing	Present
Curlew	Present
Black-tailed Godwit	Present
Bar-tailed Godwit	21
Knot	1
Ruff	102
Spotted Redshank	Present
Redshank	Present
Black-headed Gull	Present
Common Gull	Present
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Present
Herring Gull	Present
Yellow-legged Gull	1
Woodpigeon	Present
Kestrel	Present
Jay	Present
Goldcrest	Present
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Cetti's Warbler	Present
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Wren	Present
Starling	Present
Blackbird	Present
Robin	Present
Pied/White Wagtail	Present
Meadow Pipit	Present
Chaffinch	Present
Goldfinch	Present