Report from Roger Lane. 26th April 2010

"Tried Manoa Valley and Pentewan Valley this morning, but NOTHING, not even a hirundine. Back home with some shopping and a quick lunch before spending a couple of hours at Par, which wasn't much better ! Firstly the western car-park, apparently nothing but 5+, Sandwich Terns. Of course tide is right in during afternoons, otherwise we should be getting some waders by now, surely? As it was, the only waders were 9 x Whimbrel (flyover).
Sun came out (briefly) around 4.30pm so had a wander around the wilderness and actually saw a male Orange-Tip butterfly. One of what was, until recently, a strong colony here. But we already have this species, from Pontsmill. Birds were few and far between, but I did see a single Jay and, in the dunes a male Linnet in breeding plumage, presumably nesting as usual in the gorse bushes.
Back at PBPool I could hear Sedge and Reed Warblers, and the Cetti's Warbler, back in the usual place, gave me a quick blast of song form 4ft away, but never saw a thing ! Mark was indeed very fortunate !
Then parked back at the west of the Pond to eat some 'afternoonsies', nothing except 6+ Swallows, so was watching the rabbits(!), when out of nowhere appeared a very tired Tern which rested on the grass of the pool-side, just some 12ft from the car ! There it stayed until I left half-hour later ! This gave me plenty of time to confirm it was a COMMON TERN, my 1st for the year ! Would have made an excellent photograph, have never been so close for so long. Perhaps someone saw it this evening."

Thanks for the report Roger.
I gave it all a miss today but like you I also saw an Orange Tip Butterfly... in the back garden...it just flew across but there was no mistaking the orange tips.

Well done with the Common Tern...another for the latest sightings.