CORNWALL SPRING MIGRATION 20 TH 26 TH APRIL 2014 TOUR REPORT
TOUR LEADERS Neil Donaghy & John Swann PARTICIPANTS John Boulcott Richard Heap David Higham 20 TH APRIL2014 Once everyone had checked in, we set off on an unseasonably cold and blustery Easter Sunday afternoon with frequent showers not ideal conditions, so we were rather pleased with the selection of migrants we found at Kenidjack Valley. Initially, we noted common residents such as Blackbirds, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits, Dunnocks and European Robins in good numbers, as well as a couple of Common Buzzards, Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, Black-billed Magpies, Carrion Crows, Western Jackdaws and Song Thrushes. Small numbers of Barn Swallows began to appear overhead and we saw around ten in total, while at least twenty Common Chiffchaffs were along the length of the valley. A few Northern Gannets were seen offshore from the high point at Botallack Down where it was really chilly and extremely unpleasant, as well as a pair of Common Kestrels, a brief Northern Wheatear and an even briefer male Common Stonechat. Thankfully, as we dropped back down, we were in the lea of the wind and it felt a lot warmer, though still wet. Careful searching of the vegetated areas produced good views of a cracking male Common Redstart which flitted through the garden of the bottom cottage, posing in the open once or twice, a much more showy Common Whitethroat, four Linnets sat on stone wall, a male Blackcap flew across a path and a singing Sedge Warbler showed well before it disappeared into dense cover. Finally, a Willow Warbler was seen flitting around the top of the valley before we decided to cal it a day to get back and warm up. 21 ST APRIL 2014 The wind shifted to a south easterly direction, but it remained pretty cool and overcast for most of the day. We met up with John at Nanquidno Valley and no sooner had we stepped out of the vehicle than we were watching a male Northern Wheatear on a grassy ridge, which was followed immediately by an unbelievably confiding Grasshopper Warbler that showed down to a metre or so, while often reeling from an exposed perch what a great start to the day!! The walk down the valley produced a male Blackcap, an unseen but singing Sedge Warbler and a few Barn Swallows overhead. Our good fortune continued as we reached the bottom as a couple of Common Ravens gave excellent close up views as they perched on a large boulder and these were quickly followed by two rather distant blobs that were tentatively identified as Red-billed Choughs, but they flew much closer, the identification was confirmed, and we were able to watch them for a while before they disappeared into a gulley. Offshore a few Northern Gannets were passing, several European Shags were seen on the sea, two Common Terns flew close inshore and a couple of Northern Fulmars gave good views as they wheeled around the cliff tops. A Meadow Pipit and a couple of Linnets flew over, as did a lone Sand Martin, a male Common Stonechat showed well and as we got back to our starting point a Common Whitethroat gave reasonable views. A brief look around Gurland Farm produced two Common Moorhens on the pond and a singing but unseen Sky Lark somewhere overhead, but as it was really cold here, we didn t linger. We took lunch at Brew Pool, where two Common Chiffchaffs and a Red Fox were seen, but again, the wind was biting here, so we moved to Drift Reservoir, where conditions were altogether more pleasant and the birding improved dramatically. Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Great Cormorant, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Canada Geese were all added to the trip list, a small flock of hirundines contained two House Martins and five Sand Martins, and further Blackcaps and a couple of Willow Warblers were seen. After a short wait, we found the drake Garganey that we were hoping for the bird showed well briefly and was then seen in flight a couple of times, at least three Common Sandpipers and a Dunlin dropped in and a very smart Green Sandpiper was flushed from a reedy pool and landed on the water s edge.
We returned to the accommodation in the late afternoon in time for a shower and a cup of tea before going out for dinner in the evening. 22 ND APRIL 2014 Overcast again to start the day, but thankfully, the wind has dropped making it feel a lot less like winter... We picked John up en route to our first stop at Rosewall Hill on the outskirts of St Ives. After a short walk, we began to scan the rocky outcrops, gorse bushes and grassy slopes. A male Northern Wheatear showed very well and quickly afterwards we were enjoying excellent views of two pairs of Ring Ouzels that were perching on rocks and feeding on the turf, making for a superb start to the day. A Grey Heron and two Common Buzzards flew over, a Common Pheasant was heard calling, but not seen, and a Common Raven was seen perched by the side of the road as we made our way down to the Hayle Estuary complex. The tide was just about high and there were not many birds present though we did add small numbers of European Oystercatchers, Common Shelducks, Little Egrets, Mute Swans and a lone Eurasian Curlew to the trip list, while a Cetti s Warbler was heard singing at Ryan s Field and a flock of five Whimbrels flew over calling. Otherwise it was more of the same as the main estuary, so we decided to push on to Hayle Towans, which proved to be a smart move. Three Great Northern Divers showed fairly well on the sea, where there were also a few European Shags, a lone Common Guillemot and three Razorbills, while at least three Sandwich Terns were seen at close ranging fishing and perching on posts and a Little Tern was also present, but was never easy to catch up with is sometimes difficult light...lunch at Copperhouse Creek also produced a few more Common Shelducks, Mute Swans, Little Egrets and plenty of Herring Gulls and with it now raining quite hard, we decided to sit it out before going to Mounts Bay and Marazion. The temperature had dropped several degrees under the rain, but thankfully, it didn t last too long and we were soon birding the marsh. Not a lot to see other than our first Long-tailed Tit, Greylag Geese, Reed Buntings and Common Teal, plus a few Grey Herons including one on a nest, and Common Moorhens and a heard but unobserved Reed Warbler. The beach was more productive as a mixed group of shorebirds included ten Dunlins, ten Ringed Plovers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Sanderling, two Ruddy Turnstones and a fly over flock of thirty Whimbrels that joined the four on the beach. Another Great Northern Diver gave good and close views as it devoured a flat fish, an immature Black-legged Kittiwake flew through without stopping, a male Common Stonechat was perched up at the back of the beach, a few Northern Wheatears were feeding on the strand line and small numbers of Sandwich Terns, Great Cormorants and European Shags were offshore. Two Northern Fulmars flew past and there was a small mixed flock of larger gulls. Long Rock Pool produced a couple of singing Cetti s Warblers and a Little Egret and our final stop at Newlyn Harbour added Pied Wagtail to the trip list and a nice breeding plumaged Ruddy Turnstone. 23 RD APRIL 2014 A much warmer day today with a light south west and eventually clear blue skies by late afternoon. We began the day at Lands End and soon saw the first Barn Swallows and Sand Martins passing through, as well as several pairs of Linnets and a brief view of a fly through Sky Lark. At least eight Northern Wheatears were dotted around the area, as well as five singing Common Whitethroats and Meadow Pipits. Another very showy Grasshopper Warbler popped up and started reeling right in front of us, a Little Egret on Trinity Pool was a surprise and we had our first sightings of Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Common Pheasant, as well as Northern Gannets and Northern Fulmars passing offshore. But, it was generally quiet, so we headed back inland to St Just, where a walk above our accommodation provided us with eye level views of a passing Peregrine and several Common Buzzards. The weather was steadily improving, so following lunch, we spent the afternoon at an area of heather moorland north of Pendeen, where we enjoyed excellent views of a pair of Dartford Warblers, lots of Linnets, another male Common Pheasant, a couple of Common Ravens and more Common Buzzards and Meadow Pipits, as well as a wholly unexpected Tree Pipit that gave excellent views as it perched up in a gorse bush, pumping its tail constantly, and a calling Common Cuckoo. We spent some time searching for this bird, but it was distant and we were unable to locate it, so we headed back to the area adjacent to the guest house, and finally got our rewards as we caught up with the Common Hoopoe that was first seen yesterday lunchtime.
The bird showed superbly in the warm sunshine as it grubbed around for insects on the short turf and was a great way to end another enjoyable day. 24 TH APRIL 2014 A beautiful day with warm sunshine and intermittent high cloud and a light south westerly breeze. We began at lands end cycle track after a phone call informing us of a Whinchat being present, but, we could only find a few Northern Wheatears, Linnets, Meadow Pipits and a male Common Stonechat, so we reverted to our original plan and headed to Porthgwarra. We began by sea watching and noted at least one hundred Manx Shearwaters, two hundred Common Guillemots, ten or so Razorbills, fifty Northern Gannets, a couple of European Shags, three Black-legged Kittiwakes and an Atlantic Grey Seal. We walked across the moor to the top pond and then back through the farms to our starting point, but it was exceptionally quiet with only a lone Tree Pipit, a Common Chiffchaff, a Common Stonechat and a few Barn Swallows for company. We did also find a Hooded Crow, which we amazingly saw in four different locations throughout the walk, and enjoyed scope views as it fed among a herd of cows with other local corvids, while two Red-billed Choughs were heard calling and seen very briefly in flight as they flew away from us towards Lands End. We took lunch back at the sea watching point and saw more of the same as well as a rather large Adder that must have been sunning itself nearby before it slithered away into the undergrowth. With the sun out, a few butterflies were also noted including Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Wall Brown. We decided to try Bosistow Farm, but it was the same story hardly any birds. Just a few Common Whitethroats, a heard Willow Warbler and one or two Common Chiffchaffs, as well as Green-veined White and Large White butterflies. Beautiful Penberth Cove was our next stop, but it was a similar story, though we did see a Common Lizard and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk here as well as a few Blue and Great Tits, but nothing else. We ended the day back at the cycle track where we saw very little, but did add a heard Green Woodpecker to the trip list, but the bird steadfastly refused to move from the garden of Swingates House to somewhere we could see it. A difficult day... 25 TH APRIL 2014 A fine start to the day with sunny skies and light winds as we made our way south east to The Lizard Peninsula. Our first stop was at Croftpascoe Pool, where we saw Willow Warblers, Common Buzzards, a pair of Common Stonechats, Meadow Pipits and Linnets, but it was otherwise quiet, so we headed to nearby Windmill Farm. This large site has a nice variety of habitats, but once again, there were few birds around. We did get nice views of Common Whitethroats, displaying Sedge Warblers and we heard Reed and Grasshopper Warblers, as well as a trickle of passing Barn Swallows, a lone Sand Martin, a sizeable flock of Herring Gulls on Ruan Scrape and more Common Buzzards, but the highlight here was a singing Lesser Whitethroat, which eventually showed really well after giving us the run around for a while. We took lunch at Kynance Cove, where once again it was more Common Whitethroats, Common Stonechats, Common Buzzards and Barn Swallows, and with so few migrants around, we decided to head back to Croftpascoe Pool and this time we got lucky as we enjoyed excellent views of the ringtail Montagu s Harrier that was first found yesterday and which we missed earlier by five minutes... The bird was quartering the marshy ground and gave a prolonged fly by at one point thermalling with a Common Buzzard and a Common Kestrel before drifting off out of sight. Relief and elation at the same time!! We also heard a distant Common Cuckoo here, but could not locate it. Next up, we decided to have a look at Swanpool, near Falmouth, but it was really cold and windy under by now grey skies, so we didn t linger. However, we got a new bird for the trip in the form of a Goldcrest and a flock of thirty two Whimbrels were on the beach. Finally, we had a brief look at Stithians Reservoir and this provided us with three new trip birds as we found a few Tufted Ducks and Little Grebes, and a female Common Goldeneye as well as a few Great Crested Grebes and Great Cormorants. We said our farewells to John and went back to the accommodation for dinner.
26 TH APRIL 2014 We awoke to gale force winds and frequent heavy showers and decided that as there was no improvement in the weather forecast, that it might suit everyone to depart for home early and miss the traffic, so said our farewells and were on our way after breakfast at the end of an interesting and enjoyable week. SYSTEMATIC LIST 1/Great Northern Diver 2/Little Grebe 3/Great Crested Grebe 4/Northern Fulmar 5/Manx Shearwater 6/Northern Gannet 7/Great Cormorant 8/European Shag 9/Grey Heron 10/Little Egret 11/Mute Swan 12/Greylag Goose 13/Canada Goose 14/Common Shelduck 15/Garganey 16/Common Teal 17/ Mallard 18/Tufted Duck 19/Common Goldeneye 20/Montagu s Harrier 21/Eurasian Sparrowhawk 22/Common Buzzard 23/Common Kestrel 24/Peregrine 25/Common Pheasant 26/Common Coot 27/Common Moorhen 28/European Oystercatcher 29/Ringed Plover 30/Bar-tailed Godwit 31/Whimbrel 32/Eurasian Curlew 33/Green Sandpiper 34/Common Sandpiper 35/Ruddy Turnstone 36/Sanderling 37/Dunlin 38/Herring Gull 39/Lesser Black-backed Gull 40/Great Black-backed Gull 41/Black-legged Kittiwake 42/Sandwich Tern 43/Common Tern 44/Little Tern 45/Common Guillemot 46/Razorbill 47/Wood Pigeon 48/Collared Dove
49/Common Cuckoo [H] 50/Common Hoopoe 51/Green Woodpecker [H] 52/Sky Lark 53/Sand Martin 54/Barn Swallow 55/House Martin 56/Pied Wagtail 57/Tree Pipit 58/Meadow Pipit 59/Goldcrest 60/Northern Wren 61/Dunnock 62/Ring Ouzel 63/Blackbird 64/Song Thrush 65/Cetti s Warbler [H] 66/Grasshopper Warbler 67/Sedge Warbler 68/Reed Warbler [H] 69/Willow Warbler 70/Common Chiffchaff 71/Dartford Warbler 72/Blackcap 73/Common Whitethroat 74/Lesser Whitethroat 75/European Robin 76/Common Redstart 77/Common Stonechat 78/Northern Wheatear 79/Long-tailed Tit 80/Great Tit 81/Blue Tit 82/Red-billed Chough 83/Black-billed Magpie 84/Western Jackdaw 85/Carrion Crow 86/Hooded Crow 87/Rook 88/Common Raven 89/Common Starling 90/House Sparrow 91/Chaffinch 92/Linnet 93/Greenfinch 94/Goldfinch 95/Reed Bunting OTHER WILDLIFE Rabbit. Red Fox. Atlantic Grey Seal. Adder. Common Lizard. Peacock. Wall Brown. Small Tortoiseshell. Large White. Green-veined White. Red Admiral