Gulls Aloud

Herring Gull ........Larus argentatus

High Tide Turnstone

Turnstone....Arenaria interpres

Photographed at the high tide debris.

Great Black-Backed Gull

Great Black-backed Gull ............Larus marinus

Photographed at Par poolside.

Today 25th Nov 2009

A somewhat un-productive sort of day with very little of interest during my short visit. The Canada Geese were missing on the PBP at 1515 hours yesterday (gone to roost) but were plentiful today at 1130 hours. Two G B-backed Gulls were on the pool having a wash and brush up and one on the shoreline. The Tufted Ducks were still around and a lot less Jackdaws than yesterdays 200+ .
Away from the pool little else was seen. Turnstones on the high tide line, the odd Rock Pipit and a Grey Wagtail flying down the Par River.
The Stonechats did not show.

Report from Roger Lane.( Monday 24th Nov)

" Half an hour each at Charlestown and Porthpean today (2.30 to 3.30), quite rough but 'workable' !
Off Charlestown Wall were:
2 x Fulmar Petrels (first back from Grand Banks molt)
5 x G.N.Divers
1 x B.T.Diver

Off Porthpean were:
1 x Kestrel !
1 x Fulmar (same?)
2 x Gannets
12+, Comm.Scoters
3 x G.N.Divers (near enough to photograph !)
1 x B.T.Diver"


Thanks for the report Roger.
We are still missing the B.T Diver but hope to connect with it very shortly.

St Austell Bay .

St Austell Bay looking across from Porthpean.

Report from Roger Lane.(Sun 22nd Nov 2009)

" Virtually nothing to report today. Butterflies were rained off this mornig, thus did call in at St.Austell Sewerage Works/Menagwins at Tregorrick, where I saw small flocks of 10+, Goldcrests amd 12+ Chiffchaffs (the nucleous of the overwintering flock, which varies 'twixt 50 to 100 Goldcrests and also up to treble figures of Chiffchaffs.) Leaves still too thick to see anything else !
At Par Pool this afternoon were ELEVEN Tufted Duck, yesterday's 5 plus a flock of 6 adult males which flew in and remained in a group."

Thanks for the report Roger.
Things are very quiet on the home front at the moment.

Stonechat at Par

Stonechat ........Saxicola torquata

Showing well again yesterday.

Posing Post.

Black-Headed Gull ...........Larus ridibundus

Report from Roger Lane. (Friday 20th Nov 2009)

" Just to let you know I found nothing worthwhile at Par today. Did find 36+ Red Admirals west of St.Austell Bay (20+ at Trenarren).
All I saw is hardly worth writing about : 3+, Snipe; 5 x Tufted D.; 1 x Bullfinch; 1 x L.Egret and 1 x Kingfisher (on Par River, definitely different to one on Par East stream which is 'scruffy' and probably a 1st-year)."

Thanks for the report Roger.
Weather does look most dismal for the weekend.

Splish Splash

I am Having a

Bath......

Robin on the Posing Post.

Robin ...........Erithacus rubecula

Roger has an Interesting Day.

"Just to let you know what's about, my list for an hour at Portmellon (seen passing Chapel Point):
NOT St.Austell Bay ! In Portmellon Bay, sheltering were: c.20 Shags; c.10 Cormorants; 6+, GNDivers; c.20 Razorbills c.10 Guillemots.
Flying SW across Mev.Bay and on round Chapel Point into gale force SWesterly were:- c.30Shags; c.20 Cormorants; 50+,Gannets/hour; 100+, Auks sp/hour; 200+, Kittewakes/hour; 12+,Fulmars/hour (just returned from their molt on Grand Banks); 2+ (poss. 6+) LITTLE GULLS; 3 x SKUAS ( all apparently POMARINE ) and 1 x RED T.DIVER also flew SW.(11.30 to 12.30)
Stopped for 5mins at Pentewan on way back, and from road (with 'scope) saw: 6+, Gannets; 10+ Kittewakes and 1 x POMARINE SKUA ( my 4th today!) "

"So I called in Porthpean on my way back (2pm?), but being sheltered it was nothing like Chapel Point, best I could do were the following:

4 x GNDivers; 2 x Slav.Grebes; 15+, Comm.Scoter; 6+, Gannets and 10+, KITTEWAKES. "


Thanks Roger for that excellent report. Slightly out of the Baywatch jurisdiction but close enough for a mention.

Dragonfly.

Photographed yesterday on the boardwalk leading to the wilderness .

Reports from Roger Lane.

"Not a lot for today Tues.17thNov. Did butterflies this morning, only got 12 x Red Admirals in total.
Visited Par briefly (2pm?) this afternoon, hardly worth it: on the pond 7 x Tufted D. (again!). The council have opened the sluice gate (slightly) to let the flood water out (down the eastern stream), and thus the red marker is showing again 'Pond Full' exactly !
Otherwise, in the (rough) Bay (3pm?) I was not surprised to see a GCGrebe again, but close by, and well inside Killyvarder Rocks, was a G.N.DIVER, not seen one so close in before. "




"Charlestown Wall at about 1.30pm today (16th), there were several GNDivers; at least two x BTDivers and 13 x Comm.Scoters (a flock of 9 females, 2 more females and a pair (male + female). There were several Shags already with Crests, ready for the Spring !"




"Forgot to say that yesterday (15thNov) there were 9 x Tufted Ducks on PBP (including a female 'scaup-face' Tufted). Today (16th), I could only find 7 x Tufted D; a BHGull with Darvic ring number 2V77 (!) and 2 x Comm.Snipe. While in the (rough) Bay today: only 2 x Gannets; 2 x Comm.Scoter and 1 x GCGrebe."

Thanks for the reports Roger...sorry i have got a little way behind.

Goldie on the Salad Bowl

Goldfinch ..........Carduelis carduelis

Photographed at Par high tide area.

Dumped Rubbish

Rubbish dumped close to the slipway area of the site. Hopefully keeping the gate closed and locked will call a halt to this practise.

Leaning Tree

The leaning tree which you had to duck under yesterday to continue your walk through the wood. Today the remains of the tree after cutting and removal.