MONTHLY BIRD REVIEWS

On the 1st of the month there was no sign of the dark-rumped Petrel sp. seen off St Ives on the last day of November. A Med Gull and two Black Redstarts in the area were scant consolation! Read more »

Swallow, Merlin, Black Redstart and two Chiffchaff were at Sancreed on the 1st and the GREENISH WARBLER was last seen on this date at Church Cove. Read more »

The Woodchat Shrike was still at Nanquidno on the 1st and a Ring-Billed Gull was in Sennen Cove late afternoon. A Wood Sandpiper was at Stithians and the Garganey remained at marazion Marsh. Read more »

On the first, the Citrine Wagtail continued show sporadically at Marazion and remained there until the 7th. The Pectoral Sandpiper was again at Maer Lake, Bude and a Baird’s Sandpiper was on the Airfield at Davidstow, although the news didn’t reach the masses until the 3rd. Read more »

Away from the seawatching August was predictably quiet but a few decent scarcities kept the ‘land lubbers’ ticking over. These included a Hoopoe at Windmill Farm and a Roseate Tern at st John’s Lake on the 2nd. Read more »

An exceptional seawatching season even by West Cornwall standards started on the 1st August with five Wilson’s Petrels seen from a shark fishing boat 20 miles NNW of Padstow. Read more »

A wholly unconfirmed report of a White-crowned Black or Black Wheatear was recieved on the 1st. The bird was apparently described by a non-birder at Pentreath Beach on The Lizard on the 30th June but there were no further reports. Elsehwhere on the 1st, a Glaucous Gull was at Sennen and six Common Scoters were in Carbis Bay. Read more »

As usual, a very quiet month in the county’s birding calendar. Read more »

An Osprey flew over Windmill farm reserve on the 1st and sixty-five Whimbrelwere at Downderry. Read more »

After it went missing and presumed ‘never to be seen again’, the Great-spotted Cuckoo was refound on the 1st at Bartinney Downs near St Just by F.Currie, who found the bird nine days earlier at nearby Chapel Carn Brea! Read more »

Just noticed that we havent had a monthly bird review since March 2009! This will hopefully be rectified shortly. Apologies for any inconvenience.

The long staying Snowy Owl was reported sporadically throughout the month from Sperris Quoit and at least one Hawfinch remained in the Upper Fowey Valley until the 19th. The Ring-billed Gull lingered all month at Helston boating lake and Iceland and Glaucous Gulls were reported daily from Newlyn Harbour. Read more »

Lingering rarities included the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling at Henver Road, Newquay and Glaucous and Iceland Gulls were reported every day at Newlyn Harbour. The Ring-billed Gull remained at Helston boating Lake and the Bittern was seen sporadically throughout the month at Marazion. Read more »

The SNOWY OWL continued to delight the crowds on New Years Day and despite being harassed on the odd occasion it remained in the area until the 24th. Elsewhere, there were Cattle Egrets at Halsetown (2) and Sancreed (3)  and the Ring-billed Gulls remained at Helston. Read more »

Lingering rarities from November included the Ring-billed Gull and Lesser Scaup at Helston and Rose-coloured Starling at Newquay. Read more »

A Cattle Egret was at Saltash briefly on the 1st before relocating to Landulph Marsh. Elsewhere, Nanjizal Valley held a Pallas’s Warbler and no fewer than seven Firecrests. Read more »

This months review, although slightly later than normal, is well worth a read. What an incredible Autumn we’ve had in the County! The month got off to a good start with a probable Little Shearwater flying past Rumps Point. Sabine’s Gulls were seen off St Ives, Pendeen and Trevose Head and the Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Davidstow. The possible Azorean Yellow-legged Gull was still at Sennen on the 2nd and remained at the months end. As did the two Pink-footed Geese at Hayle. The 3rd saw a FEAS PETREL fly west past Pendeen early morning and Porthgwarra held Wryneck and Melodious Warbler. Read more »

The Melodious Warbler remained faithful to 60 ft cover, Porthgwarra and it (or another) was still there at the months end. An Osprey showed well in a dead tree at Ruan Lanihorn on 2nd and five Grey Palaropes flew past Pendeen. Seawatching on the 3rd produced a Great Shearwater at Porthgwarra and Sabines Gull at Pendeen. Read more »

A Ring-billed Gull was a nice find at Loe Pool on the 1st and seawatching at Sennen produced a Great Shearwater a bird showing characteristics of Yelkouan Shearwater. Read more »

July started off where June finished, being quiet. A hobby was at Clapper Marshes on the 1st and the drake Scaup remained at Stithians Reservoir. The first Cory’s Shearwater of the season was seen off Goran Haven, St Austell on the 3rd and a Green Sandpiper was at Clapper Marshes. Read more »