Trevose Head and Valency Valley, Cornwall - 25th April

I arrived at Trevose Head just after 7am this morning and started birding along the road that leads to the beach and bisects part of the golf course. The scrub near where I parked had a singing Common Whitethroat, a Blackbird, a Blackcap and several Dunnocks. There were a few Swallows passing through and Skylarks and Meadow Pipits were displaying overhead. Evidence of migration was again thin on the ground, with a single Wheatear on the golf course and a couple of Sedge Warblers singing from the scrub.

Sedge Warbler - Trevose Head

Sedge Warbler - Trevose Head

There were already several dog walkers on the beach when I reached it, so any migrants present were likely to have been flushed. I had a quick scan out to sea and picked up a few Fulmars, two  Manx Shearwaters and a Gannet and then three Whimbrel took off from the beach and headed north calling. I continued to scan the sea, there was very little moving but whilst there another 12 Whimbrel dropped in and landed on the beach. Some birds immediately tried to sleep whilst others began feeding; they started on the beach but were being continuously flushed by dog walkers, eventually heading out over the golf course. Another flock of three dropped in about 20 minutes later but they didn’t stay around for long.

Whimbrel - Trevose Head

Whimbrel - Trevose Head

Migrating Whimbrel - Trevose Head

After breakfast we planned to go to visit relatives in Boscastle, which would give me the chance to pop down for a spot of birding in Valency Valley. Valency Valley has been a regular haunt of mine for many years and no trip to Boscastle is complete without a visit there. I started from the car park end and worked my way up the valley; Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were the most obvious of the migrant species but they were not my intended quarry. 

Valency Valley is a guaranteed spot for Dipper and that was what I was really searching for. I worked my way slowly up the river scouring the rocks for birds; there was plenty of evidence, bird droppings on rocks in the river, but initially no sign of one. After about 30 minutes I reached an area where I had previously found a nest and heard a bird calling immediately. The first bird I saw flew strongly past me, but soon returned and began bobbing on a nearby rock. 

Adult Dipper Cinclus cinclus gularis

Adult Dipper Cinclus cninclus gularis

When Dippers are this tame, it usually means that they have young nearby, and sure enough, a quick scan downstream produced a recently fledged juvenile. The bird was very approachable and allowed me to get get close enough for some half decent photos. From what I could make out there were two fledgling birds and two adults, I would have expected more fledglings, and there may well have been others tucked away somewhere but I couldn’t find them. I don’t think the fledglings have been out of the nest more than a week and their primaries appeared not to be fully grown and downy feathers were still present. The adults were frantically searching for food to feed their chicks, but they would not come near if I was too close, so I sat back and just watched them from a distance

Fledgling Dipper

Fledgling Dipper - note downy feathers still present

Fledgling Dipper

Fledgling Dipper

I spend a good hour watching the pair feeding their offspring, but decided to head back to the car when the expected heavy rain set in.

Back in Boscastle for Easter - March 2013

With a four day break for Easter, it was off down to Boscastle for a spot of west country birding. With the continually cold easterlies along the south coast, migrants have been few and far between on my local patch, so I was hoping to add a few to my year list this weekend. We drove down late on the Thursday night, and on Friday morning I took the chance to check out Valency Valley. It was bitterly cold and the hazy sun did little to add any heat, nonetheless there were some signs of spring breaking through.

Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage - Valley Valley

The flora in the valley is typical of a damp wooded valley and is carpeted with bluebells, although only one or two were in flower. Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage covers the dry stone walls and wild daffodils are abundant in Minster churchyard. The flora this year was way behind last year, in part due to the cold weather, but mainly because it was a very early Easter this year. Greater stitchwort, red campion, primrose and ramsons were all in flower, but only a few of each.

Bird wise there were no migrants present, I would have at least expected the odd chiffchaff or blackcap, but alas no. The usual woodland species, blue, great, coal and long-tailed tits, treecreeper and goldcrests were all very visible though. Even the river itself was fairly bird less although I did eventually find one dipper and a grey wagtail. It was good to compare the British race of dipper Cinclus cinclus gularis with the nominate black-bellied C. c. cinclus that I saw in Norfolk earlier this year. Although difficult to make out, the red brown on the lower breast are just visible in the image below, the underparts are uniform dark on black-bellied.

Dipper - Valency Valley

On Saturday 30th March I had to visit Bude and took the opportunity to walk along the cliffs. It was a gloriously sunny day and by the time I arrived there were people and dogs everywhere. Fortunately the pitch and putt course was cordoned off so not too many dogs were straying onto it, and so an ideal refuge for newly arriving northern wheatears. The most I saw at any one time was five, but birds seemed to be continually moving through, so I am sure there were many more. Some of the male birds were just stunning, as the individual below...such quality birds wheatears!

Northern Wheatear - Bude

As I settled down to photo the wheatears, my attention was distracted by a moth that settled between my legs to get out of the wind. Due to the cold weather moths have been a bit of a rarity this year, and this March moth, as it turned out to be, was my first of the year. Quite what it was doing in the middle of a pitch and putt course with no cover was a bit of a mystery. I guess it had been disturbed from its place of shelter and got blown there in the brisk wind.

March Moth - Bude

Another migrant that is typical of this time of year is white wagtail Motacilla alba alba, the nominate subspecies of the British pied wagtail M. a. yarrellii. White wags have a plain grey mantle and rump, a black hood with a clear border between the hood and mantle.

Pied Wagtail - Bude

Unfortunately, none of the birds I saw were white wags, but I did manage to get some great views of a couple of pied wags that were more intent on feeding than bothering about me.

Pied Wagtail - Bude

On the way back from Bude I stopped briefly at Davidstow Airfield, another good place for migrants and waders. There were at least 20 wheatears scattered around the area, a couple of ravens croaking loudly as they attacked a grey heron and that was about it. Crowdy Reservoir wasn't much better so I headed home. As I did a flock of around 50 golden plover put in a brief appearance, wheeling around before settling back down on a recently ploughed field.

Northern Wheatear - Davidstow

Sunday 31st March began with an early morning stroll around the cliffs at Boscastle, before being confined to the house for domestic duties. I started with a stroll through the scrub on The Stitches before settling down in a sheltered spot for a bit of sea watching on Willapark. The Stitches were predictably quiet with chaffinch, robin and dunnock being the most numerous species. The cliffs too were extraordinarily quiet with no fulmars or herring gulls settled on their usual nesting places, although the offshore islands were covered with birds. The sea was a bit more lively with fulmar, guillemot, razorbill and shags all present, a flyby male peregrine added to the excitement and a steady trickle of meadow pipits moved west. A sudden flurry of activity by the auks attracted a couple of sandwich terns, who made quick work of catching and swallowing their prey before the herring gulls got to them. As I was leaving I had the feeling I was being watched and suddenly noticed a peregrine sat watching me. It seemed more intrigued than perturbed by my presence, probably because it knew I no chance in getting too it on the unstable cliff face.

Peregrine Falcon - Boscastle

Monday 1st April began as Sunday with an early morning stroll around the cliffs at Boscastle, before packing up and heading home. This morning I did  the route in reverse, looking at the sea first before heading up to the scrub on the stitches. The sea was much as the day before, even with two sandwich terns feeding just offshore, but then a couple of close gannets and an adult kittiwake came into view. Two male peregrines were sat on the cliff face, one was calling constantly, presumably trying to scare off the intruder from its territory. This went on for about 10 minutes before the intruder took to the wing and flew north, watched all the way to the horizon by the other bird. It was nice to see that two fulmars had taken up residence on a suitable nesting site since yesterday morning, just maybe spring is on the way. The Stitches were as quiet as the previous day, with the only new species added being a jay and a couple of fly over linnets.

Northern Fulmars - Boscastle

Dippers, Chiffchaffs and Blue Tits in a Spring like Valency Valley

This morning had a decidedly spring feel about it as I ventured out for an early morning walk; the sun was slowly rising on a partly clouded sky, there was a crisp spring feel to the air and a Common Chiffchaff was singing from a nearby copse. I had decided to start with a cliff walk, before heading down to Valency Valley in search of Dippers. A brisk northerly wind was blowing, which was being used to its full by the resident Fulmars, as they searched the cliffs for nesting places. Many of the best ledges had already been taken, and paired up birds were settled and delicately preening each other, or uttering their raucous call whilst others passed close by. 

Northern Fulmar

Driven on by the cold wind, I headed down into the village of Boscastle and onto Valency Valley, and some shelter. I saw my first Dipper in the village centre, unfortunately though, it saw me first and flew down stream and out of view. I continued upstream keeping an eye out for any movement, but initially, other than a Robin and a Wren, both pretending to be Dippers, I was out of luck. The valley was starting to show signs of spring, with the first Bluebells, Wood Sorrel, Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage and Red Campion in bloom.

Valency River

The river was flowing well, which was making it difficult for me to hear anything else, but one species that was evident was the Common Chiffchaff. Given the number I was hearing in the valley, at least 10, I am assuming these were migrant birds, and not wintering individuals that have started to sing. I continued up the valley, and in the distance noticed the familiar white breast of a Dipper. The bird was on a rock in the location where I found a nest last year, so I quietly sneaked up to a closer view point.

Dipper

As I crept into position the bird saw me and flew downstream, so I found some suitable cover behind a gorse bush and settled down for the wait. My patience paid off, as within 30 minutes a second bird dropped out of the presumed nest site, sat on a rock in front of me, and began to preen. The way this bird was behaving, constantly preening and stretching, I am assuming it was currently incubating eggs...but I didn't check the nest to confirm that.

Dipper

For around 15 minutes this bird sat preening before being joined by the second bird, presumably the male. He kept his distance, whilst the female preened, although at one point the two birds briefly came together, before the male was chased off.

Pair of Dippers

The female then flew to the bank and rummaged along the waters edge for a while, before collecting a small piece of nesting material and heading back to the nest. Both birds were seemingly totally oblivious or unperturbed by my presence, and the male continued to feed along the waters edge, before eventually flying back downstream.

Dipper with Nest Material

Whenever I see Dippers, and other birds with pure white feathers for that matter, I am amazed at how they manage to keep them so clean. Dippers live in a wet and muddy environment and yet they always look so immaculate, they must spend so much time cleaning.

Blue Tit by Nest Hole

I continued on up the valley, crossing the river and heading up to Minster Church, before noticing a split in a tree that looked good for bats. Whilst scanning for droppings, a female Blue Tit flew into the hole carrying nesting material, whilst the male waited outside calling. When I first started bird ringing, all of the Blue Tits in my nest boxes used to fledge around the third week of May, these days however chicks fledge anytime between late April and early June! All down to climate change, and the odd weather we have these days apparently.

Fulmars, Dippers and Little Owls - February 2011

Things have been a bit hectic of late and subsequently I have not had the chance to write any new posts, but the weather is grim outside this morning, so it seems like an opportune moment to update. Since my last post I have had a weekend in Cornwall, have done two Timed Tetrad Visits (for the BTO Atlas) and after a three week break, got to go ringing at Manor Farm Country Park.

Visits to Cornwall have been a regular thing for me over the last 30 years since my wife's family come from Boscastle. Over the years I have walked the valley's and the cliffs and have seen a few good birds, but this visit was more about just having a break and enjoying the local beer. The weather was not good on the journey down from Hampshire, and thick fog over Bodmin Moor made driving very difficult. But on Saturday morning the sky had cleared, the sun was blazing down and there seemed to be little wind....so ideal time for a walk.

We began our walk with a look out over the cliffs to the west of Boscastle and up Pentagon. On calm days this is a good place to look out for harbour porpoises or dolphins, but today, despite the lack of wind, there was an amazing swell on the sea. The waves were crashing against the base of the cliffs and creating spectacular displays of spray.

Crashing Waves, Boscastle February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin 

Given that it was still early February, I was a little surprised to see so many of the breeding birds back on the cliffs. Guillemots and razorbills were back of their precarious ledges, herring gulls  were bickering over their nesting sites on the vegetated slopes and a single great black-backed gull commandeered top spot, and idly watched the goings on beneath....no doubt keeping a beady eye out for a tasty morsel! But for me, the highlight was to see fulmars back on the cliffs.

Fulmars Settled on Cliffs in Boscastle February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin  

The northern fulmar is a member of the shearwater/albatross family and birds spend the winter on the high seas, scavenging on any scraps that come their way. Like the other members of their family, their distinctive straight wings and habit of flying very low to the water, make them easy to pick out when compared with the lumbering flight of gulls. They breed on cliffs and this is the best time to see them at close quarters as they use the air currents to practice their aerial acrobatics.....

Fulmar, Boscastle ©T. D. Codlin

.......and give wannabe photographers the chance to practice their skills!!

Fulmar, Boscastle ©T. D. Codlin

After a swift pub stop, well maybe not that swift, it was off up the Valency Valley in search of dippers. The valley is a great place to see this species, and personally I have never failed to see them there.

Valency Valley, Boscastle 2011 ©T. D. Codlin

Looking at the above image, it is difficult to imagine that in 2004 this valley was decimated by a flood. The volume of water was such that the valley bottom was totally underwater, trees were ripped up and the vegetation washed away. Further downstream cars were washed into the sea and buildings were knocked down. Afterwards the gently meandering river had been replaced by a large straight scar through the valley bottom. Four years on though, its looking more like before. During the transitional period the dippers have remained in residence, and the  lack of vegetation in places has in fact made them easier to see.

Dipper, Valency Valley February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin

A new embankment formed by the torrent of water during the flood in 2004 has proved to be a very popular nesting site in recent years. This provides the ideal location for watching and photographing this often elusive species.

Dipper, Valency Valley February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin

The above images show the rusty-brown feathers beneath the white bib which are a distinctive feature of the British, Irish and Central European subspecies. In North-west France and Northern Europe these feathers are dark brown.

Dipper, Valency Valley February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin

The above individual spent ages sat on this rock; it was the only place where the sun was penetrating so I guess this bird was making the most of the additional warmth on offer. I was able to get quite close, and loved the way the light fell on the bird and the rock.

Back in Hampshire for the weekend of 19/20th February, and it was back down to Manor Farm Country Park for some bird ringing. The weekend began with an evening visit to try to catch some owls; there are at least two pairs of little owl on the park, so that species was to be the target. I put the nets up in a gap between two buildings, as I have seen owls flying between these buildings previously, and........

Adult Female Little Owl Manor Farm CP February 2011  ©T. D. Codlin

........within half and hour we had one. I would like to point out that the neatly manicured nails and delicate hands are not mine but Izzy's, who is one of my enthusiastic trainees. This is only the third Little Owl I have caught at this site, the two previous were captured in 2003 and 2006, in the middle of the day.

Adult Female Little Owl Manor Farm CP February 2011  ©I. R. Phillips

Stupidly I left my camera at home, but was saved by Izzy who had luckily brought hers (these are my old gnarled hands!!!). When you look at the size of this bird in relation to my hands you can see what a compact little bird it is.

Adult Female Little Owl Manor Farm CP February 2011  ©I. R. Phillips

The following morning we were back at Manor Farm CP for an early morning ringing session. In all we captured 28 birds, which included a haul of 12 redwing and the usual blue and great tits. Several birds were re-trapped, with the highlight being a long-tailed tit which was originally captured in December 2006 (4 years and 59 days before) and a dunnock which was originally captured in July 2007 (3 years 226 days before).

The session ended with another little corker...a treecreeper. This is another species which I don't catch very often, and this individual was the eighth to be have captured at Manor Farm.

Treecreeper, Manor Farm CP February 2011 ©T. D. Codlin