Avocet and Lesser Black-backed Gull Details

I have recently heard back from Graham Giddens with details of the colour ringed Avocet I saw at Titchfield Haven on the 12th September and Paul Veron with details of the Lesser Black-backed Gull that I saw at Davidstow on the 5th October, and so as promised here they are.

Juvenile Avocet, Titchfield Haven NNR - 12th September 2014

The Avocet (green/blue-white/light green) was ringed at Needs Ore Point as a chick on the 14th July 2014. It was first recorded at Titchfield on the 7th September 2014, when it was recorded feeding with other juveniles. Graham informs me that out of 19 chicks colour-ringed, 11 have been sighted away from Needs Ore and all 11 of them have gone to or passed through Titchfield Haven at some point. Graham is gaining some interesting data which suggests that the Haven may be an important post-breeding/moulting site for Avocets.

Adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, Davidstow Airfield, Cornwall - 5th October 2014

The Lesser Black-backed Gull was first ringed at Chouet Landfill, on Guernsey in the Channel Islands on the 21st May 2012. It was aged as an adult (four or more calendar years old) and sexed as a female. On the 15th September 2012 it was recorded at Davidstow Airfield, Cornwall, England. It was recorded in France at Champteusse sur Baconne, Maine et Loire on the 15th November 2012. The next sighting was on the 12th September 2014 at Davidstow Airport again, where I recorded it on the 5th October 2014.

If you ever find a colour-ringed gull you can check out which scheme it is from by checking the European colour ringing site http://www.cr-birding.org and if a bird turns out to be one of Pauls birds you can enter details yourself on his site, which is http://birdrings.digimap.gg/Default.aspx.

Birding in Cornwall - October 2014

This last week I have been on a family break in Cornwall. I was hoping to connect with some good birds whilst down here, and at the very least see some migrants. We were based at St Merryn, on the north coast and within walking distance of Trevose Head and the Stepper Point/Crugmeer area. 

Booby's Bay - Cornwall

The first spot I birded at was Booby's Bay, which is located on the Trevose Head peninsula. There was limited bush cover on the headland itself, but there was plenty around Booby's Bay and the nearby golf course. Birding was tough and there were very few migrants to be found, in fact the most numerous species was Northern Wheatear, with four birds present one evening, otherwise it was just a scattering of Chiffchaffs.

Northern Wheatear's - Booby's Bay

Around 30 Oystercatchers, a Curlew and a Turnstone were feeding regularly on the rocks in the bay and Northern Gannets were present offshore. Whilst scanning over the bay I noticed a dead seal pup being washed in on the rising tide. On closer inspection it appeared to have been in the water for a while as fur had started to lift from its skin, particularly around the head and face. Blood was still present from what appeared to be its umbilical cord, suggesting that it might have been still born. Looking at the head shape it looked like it was a Grey Seal pup.

Dead Seal Pup - Booby's Bay

The Crugmeer/Stepper Point area was my favoured birding area. The meadows were full of Meadow Pipits, Linnets and Skylarks, and there were plenty of Stonechats present. A small wooded valley that leads to Harbour Cove, had lots of potential for migrants and the adjacent cabbage field was popular with Meadow Pipits and Linnets. There was a report of a Lapland Bunting on one day, but I couldn't find it.

Stonechat - Crugmeer/Stepper Point

Despite the lack of birds there was a good variety of butterflies present, Small Copper, Clouded Yellow, Small and Large White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Painted Lady were recorded regularly, but the most numerous species was Wall Brown, a species which is quite uncommon in Hampshire these days.

Small Copper - Crugmeer/Stepper Point

Wall Brown - Crugmeer/Stepper Point

Wall Brown's - Crugmeer/Stepper Point

On the 2nd October I met up with a mate and spent the day birding the valleys west of Penzance. We visited Porthcurno, Polgigga, Porthgwarra, Nanquidno, Kenidjack, Bottalack Head and Pendeen. There was little to report of note, Chiffs were present at most places, we had a few Goldcrests, a Blackcap, six Jays at Polggiga was apparently notable, but for me the best birds were two Choughs at Kenidjack and a couple of Balearic Shearwaters past Pendeen. A Buff Tip caterpillar provided a bit of a distraction from the birding, and Clouded Yellows were recorded at most places.

Buff Tip Caterpillar - Kenidjack Valley

We ended the day with a visit to Ryan's Field at Hayle where two Little Stints, a Curlew Sandpiper, 100+ Dunlin and two Curlews were present. 

Another good birding area was Park Head, which we visited on the 3rd October. We walked from Porthcothan along the cliff, there were good numbers of Gannets feeding offshore, at least 40 Great Black-backed Gulls and 15 Oystercatchers roosting on one of the offshore islands. On shore there were at least 100 Meadow and 20 Rock Pipits, 50 Linnets, six Stonechats, two Wheaters and a Chiffchaff.

Northern Wheatear - Park Head

On our final day and the way home I decided to make a slight detour and call into Davidstow Airfield. I was hopeful that the overnight rain would have brought in a good yankee wader, but alas that was not to be. At least 20 Pied Wagtails were feeding over the grassland, along with a flock of around 35 Linnets and 15 Meadow Pipits.

Pied Wagtail - Davidstow Airfield

Common Ravens are regular at Davidstow, this time there were just the two, and half a dozen Northern Wheaters were still present.

Northern Wheatear - Davidstow Airfield

A mixed flock of large gulls was made up of mostly Lesser Black-backed, about 25 and five Herring Gulls. It is often quite easy to get close to the birds roosting on the airfield as it is possible to drive right up to them, as was the case with these birds. Two of the Lesser Black-backs were ringed, one with just a metal ring, that I couldn't read, and the other a black darvic ring, with white numbers and letters on it.

Adult Winter Lesser Black-backed Gull - Davidstow Airfield

The darvic ringed bird was an adult and having carried out a bit of research it appears likely that it is a bird ringed by Paul Veron on the Channel Islands. I will let you know when I find out the details.

Adult Winter Lesser Black-backed Gull - Davidstow Airfield

Davidstow Airfield and Crowdy Reservoir 28th and 29th August 2012

I have had a few days off from work this week and so popped back down to Boscastle for a short break. The village itself was fairly quiet bird wise and most of the Fulmars had left their breeding ledges and returned to sea, and a few Shags loitered offshore. I had a couple of free moments during my stay so decided to go to Davidstow Airfield in the hope of a yankee wader. I started up by the old control tower and immediately picked up two Ruff.

Juvenile Ruff

Both birds appeared to be juveniles, since they were strongly tinged buff below, with dark centred feathers on the upperparts, again strongly fringed buff. 

Female (left) and Male (right) Ruff

There is a marked difference in size between male and female Ruff, with the males being considerably larger than the females (reeve). These two birds showed a considerable size difference and therefore were probably a male and female.

Female (left) and Male (right) Ruff

Continuing around the airfield I came across a mixed flock of Dunlin (16) and Ringed Plover (8) roosting on one of the concrete runways. They had tucked themselves down into tussocks of grass on the cracked runway; all of the Dunlin appeared to be adults, whereas the majority of the Ringed Plover were juveniles.

Roosting Dunlin

I decided to walk on to Crowdy Reservoir, as occasionally there are some interesting birds there. Five Common Buzzards, three Common Ravens and several Goldcrests were the pick of birds seen on the way; but at Crowdy Reservoir a lone Black-tailed Godwit was present on the northern bank, roosting with three Common Sandpipers. This was the first time I have seen this species here. Two Great Crested Grebe and a mixed flock of Herring and Lesser black-backed Gulls was all that was on the water.

Two Ruff and Local Pony

I headed back to the control tower, seeing a couple of Northern Wheatears on the way, and the two Ruff again, before heading off home. On 29th I headed back to Davidstow for an hour, this time with the car which was just as well, because no sooner had I arrived the heavens opened, and boy did it pour!

Pouring Rain at Davidstow

The mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover were feeding on the grassland near the control tower, even in the pouring rain. It is amazing to see how these tiny waders are so hardy and seem oblivious to the harsh weather conditions.

Mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover

The two Ruff seem to have moved on, but I did find another mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover in another part of the airfield. The only other bird of note was a juvenile male Northern Wheatear, that looked a bit wet after the downpour. 

Despite its wet appearance it was easy to age this bird since its upperparts were heavily fringed with buff edging, and grey feathers were showing from beneath the brown juvenile feathers on the back. With the beginning of another torrential downpour I decided it was time once again to head home, no yankee wader for me this time.

A Stormy Day with a Hint of Spring in Cornwall...

I am back down in Cornwall this weekend and so there will be no bird ringing for me, instead I will have the chance to do some birding at my usual haunts, and maybe see some spring migrants. I had the option to go shopping in Bude, but without hesitation chose to be dropped off at Crowdy Reservoir, and be picked up three hours later. As we were just leaving the house a heavy downpour made me briefly reconsider....but only briefly.

Typical Wind Blown Cornish Tree

As I was dropped off the weather seemed to be clearing, but as my lift disappeared over the hill the weather closed in again and a heavy downpour ensued. It was cold and bleak for a while, but I was at least able to bird from the shelter of a conifer plantation...not that there was much to see. A handful of Herring Gulls, with a couple of Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls, were bathing and a flock of 15 Canada Geese were at the waters edge, loudly honkng a me! A couple of Eurasian Teal and a Great Crested Grebe made up the list of species present.

Stormy Cornish Scene at Crowdy Reservoir

As the rain cleared and the sun re-emerged, bird life became more obvious, with a Song Thrush immediately bursting into song, followed quickly by a male Goldcrest. My aim was to get to Davidstow Airport, where I was to be picked up, and as I walked along the road singing Goldcrests and Siskin were the most numerous species. 

Common Raven

Just as I got to Davidstow a Common Raven flew over croaking and four Common Buzzards  circled overhead uttering their typical mewing call, but there wasn't really much else going on. The main aim for me going to Davidstow was to look for spring migrants and in particular Northern Wheatears, and as I scanned the airfield it wasn't long before I picked one up.

Male Northern Wheatear

Unfortunately this bird wasn't very confiding so I was unable to get any decent shots, and even resorted to digiscoping; these two images being the best I can offer.

Male Northern Wheater

I was still able to age and sex the bird though, and you can see in the picture above the grey mantle of a male, and the pale fringing on the primaries (just about visible on the blurred image above) ages this bird as a first year. So, my efforts were rewarded with my first Northern Wheatear of the year but not much else to speak of, off down Valency Valley in search of Dippers tomorrow.