Identification Articles and Photos

Below are two record shots of a Flycatcher thought to be ‘Taiga’ Flycatcher which was at Tregeseal, St Just on 6th November 2009. News didnt get out until the 7th and the bird was not seen again. Thanks to Lisa Williams for providing the images.

Below are three photos kindly supplied by Sue and Tom Carson of the Olive-backed Pipit at St Levan on October 29th. Sue says, “It was first sighted in a tree by the drive with the white railings near the turning circle.(Leading to the Grey Gables house), before flying down into the grass, where it foraged for several minutes. It took off and gave a soft call in flight, before turning back on itself and landing somewhere behind the church“. An excellent record and well done on capturing the bird on film. Thanks to the Carsons for allowing their use. (click to enlarge images)

Heres one we’ve been keeping for an appropriate moment and seeing as there isn’t a great deal to photograph at the moment now is that time! Thanks to Mark Halliday for this superb shot of a Black-tailed Godwit taken from the causeway bridge at Hayle in September.

Here’s a selection of Spoonbill images from around the region over the last few days. Many thanks to Mark, Ash and Andrew for kindly submitting them.

CLICK HERE to watch footage taken by Bob Flood of the recent Black-browed Albatross off St Mary’s IoS.

This gull was on the Estuary at Hayle on August 6th 2009. The jury is out as to its definate ID. Any thoughts? Please ‘comment’ at the bottom of the page. Read more »

Read Steve Rogers account HERE of this sought after seabird as it passed Porthgwarra on Sunday infront of just 14 lucky birders.

Just to show that Herring Gulls dont just eat McDonalds and Pasties in Cornwall, this photo was captured at Park Head by Racheal Theakerand shows a Herring Gull eating a MOLE! Thanks to Rachael for submitting the images.

Here  is a photo of the Snowy Owl seen at Falmouth on 7th February (kindly supplied by Odette Wills). The Sperris Quoit bird was seen on the 6th Feb and then again on the 11th. It was looked for on the 7th but not seen (per H.Cook) The Falmouth bird was seen briefly at 16.00hrs before it flew off having been mobbed by gulls. The bird has also been seen (and photographed) at Men-an-Tol and near Geevor Mine.

Here are some superb images of the Glaucous and Iceland Gull currently frequenting Newlyn Harbour (and a GN Diver for good measure!) Thanks to John Johns for submitting the photos.

Here are a few shots of one of the five Grey Phalarope in Mounts Bay. This individual was very obliging and seemed oblivious to the RSPB group and photographers (some with very wet feet!) stood just a few feet away. With the weather predicted over the next few days, it will be worth keeping an eye out in the bay for more of these Arctic, storm driven visitors. And no sign of a marauding Buzzard either!

Photos:P.Freestone (c) Cornwall Birding Images 2009

A cracking Grey Phal was on the main pool at St Gothian Sands NR, Gwithian up until 16.oohrs this afternoon. Unfortunately it met an untimely demise at the talons of a Common Buzzard!! Witnessed by a gobsmacked Tim Twiggs and Paul Freestone, both agreed they had never seen a Buzzard do that before! Here’s few shots of the poor birds end. Thanks to Matt Sallis for adjusting the shots in Photoshop.

Photos:P.Freestone

Finders report and photographs kindly supplied by Martin Bonfield.

Having arrived in Cornwall late on Saturday 4th October, I spent the first 2 days of my holiday working the valleys around Lands End. With only a couple of Pied Flycatchers to show for my efforts I decided that on Tuesday I would head over to the Lizard for a change of scenery. However, when I saw the weather forecast late on Monday evening predicting strong Westerly winds, I changed my plans and decided instead to go to Pendeen where the conditions should be good for seawatching. Read more »

Here are a selection of photo’s from the Cornwall Birding trip to Scilly last week. More photos in the Isles of Scilly Bird Gallery.

….will probably reign for ever more unless the bird is trapped. Could it even be Acadian? Information from the USA’s Cornell Lab of Ornithology states:

Alder Flycatcher is difficult to distinguish from the Willow Flycatcher by any feature other than voice.

Song is the only definitive way to tell them apart. However, measurements of crown color with a colorimeter, together with other measures of wing shape, bill and tail, may be able to distinguish birds in the hand that are not calling.

Willow and Alder flycatchers do not respond to playback of recordings of each other’s songs, even where their ranges overlap.

Willow Flycatcher has a thin white eyering which may be lacking. (The Nanjizal bird has a very obvious one)

The distribution/migration maps show Alder Flycatcher to migrate only on the eastern side of America to its wintering quarters in Nothern south America, whereas Willow, migrates south across the whole of central America to winter in central and southern America.

The photos below all show WILLOW Flycatcher. I have trawled through 100’s of photos of Willow and cant find many that show (a) as bold, bright wingbars as the Nanjizal bird and (b) as prominant an eyering as the Nanjizal bird? On the other hand all the literature states they can only be seperated on call.

Paul Freestone (c) Cornwall Birding 2008.

For those of you who don’t know, there is an ‘acro’ at Nanquidno that appears to be causing a few ID headaches. The views of many birders who have seen ‘it’ are varied. Some are saying its a Marsh, some Eastern Reed Warbler and others just a Eurasian Reed Warbler. Read more »

Below are a few more images of the Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Davidstow Airfield yesterday. Many thanks to Steve Rogers (SW Optics) for submitting them.

With the bulk of the Seawatching season over and birders eyes now looking towards rare and scarce landbirds, we thought we would share with you these excellent images taken by Steve Rogers from August’s Scillonian III Pelagic, capturing the Storm Petrel in its hostile environment.

Heres some more superb shots of the Juvenile Osprey currently on the Estuary at Hayle. Thanks to regular Cornwall Birding contributor John H Johns for submitting them.

Osprey on the Hayle Estuary 27/08/08 (Photos:JH Johns)

Unfortunately this well watched male hasn’t been seen for two days so below are a few stunning images taken by Mark Halliday to refresh your memory!

For copies of these or any of the images on Cornwall Birding please contact us.