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.