Cornwall Birding

A busy date for rarities with a Squacco Heron at Towednack in 1992 and a Red-footed Falcon at Croft Pascoe in 1988. Also in 1988 there was a Subalpine Warbler on the Lizard and a Great Reed Warbler at Crowan Reservoir. A Broad-billed Sandpiper was on the Hayle Estuary in 1980 and two White-winged Black […]

An Iberian Chiffchaff was at Dunmere Wood, Bodmin in 2000, remaining until 5th June. Two Bee-eaters were at St Erth in 2002.

Little Bitterns were at Sithney in 1964 and Bude in 1958 and a Squacco Heron was at Drift Resrvoir in 1994. A Long-billed Dowitcher was on the Estuary at Hayle in 1970 but by far the best rarity found on this date was the NORTHERN ORIOLE at Bodmin Moor in 1968.

A White-winged Black Tern was at Tamar Lakes for three days in 1993

A Spotted Sandpiper was at Upper Tamar Lakes for seven days in 1987.

Very little in the way of rarities on this date with just a Red-rumped Swallow at Lands End in 2003.

A Laughing Gull was at Polperro in 1990.

A Ballions Crake at Stithians Resrvoir in 1995 was the first county record of this species. We still await the second!

A Subalpine Warbler was at Sennen in 1992 and a Purple Heron was at Marazion in 2003.

A Red-rumped Swallow was at Nare Head in 1980 and Subalpine Warblers were at Skewjack in 1984 and Lands End in 1994. A Black Stork was over the Hayle Estuary in 1989.

A Little Bittern was at Falmouth in 1964 and in the same year a White-winged Black Tern was at Melancoose Reservoir. The Hayle Estuary held a Black-winged Stilt in 1988 and a Boneparte’s Gull was at Marazion in 1994.

A Subalpine Warbler was at Nanjizal in 1994 and a Red-rumped Swallow was at Lands End in 2002. No less a rarity in Cornwall was the Stone Curlew on the Lizard in 1997.

Incredibly, no rarities have been found in Cornwall on this date!

Three Black-winged Stilts were at Marazion in 1983 and a Boneparte’s Gull was in the harbour at Penzance in 2001. A Little Bunting was trapped and ringed at Sennen in 2003 and a 1st summer Laughing Gull was at the Heliport in Penzance in 2006.

An Alpine Swift was over The Lizard in 1990 and a Night Heron was nearby at Croft Pascoe in 2001. Nanquidno had a Corncrake in 2004. In 2006 there was a Red-throated Pipit on the coast path between Nanjizal and Porthgwarra, and a Kumlien’s Gull and Common Crane were reported from the latter site.

Porthgwarra held a Great-spotted Cuckoo in 1978 and a Little Shearwater flew past Gwennap Head in 2005.

Subalpine Warblers were on The Lizard in 1987 and 2003 and a Night Heron was at Penzance in 1987.

Swanpool provided another Little Bittern in 1970 and a Whiskered Tern was at Ruan Lanihorn for four days in 1968. A Cattle Egret was at Mawgan Porth in 1999 and two first summer male Red-footed Falcons were at Nanjizal in 2004.

Little Bitterns were at Nanquidno in 1988 and at Lands End in 1999. Two birds were at Swanpool in 1976. A Subalpine Warbler was at St Levan in 1988.

An Alpine Swift was at Gunwalloe in 1978 and a Great-white Egret at Marazion in 2004 was probably yesterdays bird from Grumbla.