Yellow Legged Gull

Report. Phil Barlow

Sorry this report is a day late( computer prob). 1st winter yellow legged gull in with herring gulls yesterday about half ten. Possibly same gull seen a few weeks ago?

Thank you for the report Phil.

Has anyone taken a photograph of it?

G.C Grebes

Report 25th November. Roger Lane. 

Visited Par briefly this afternoon. Not a lot about, except Andy! In additions the few birds seen were 1 x Dabchick (poss.2); 1 x Shelduck (regular); 1 x Med.Gull (still with darkish,'summer' head plumage) and 1 x Little Gull, (caught up with at last, albeit distant, thanks to Andy's camera lens) ! Also one or two waders flying around the Pool thought to be Snipe, or somesuch.

              We were also told of up to 7 x G.C.Grebes out in the Bay. Good to know they're back.

Thank you for the report Roger. Nice to see you are back mobile again.

 

Ringed Gull

Report and photograph .Mark Whittaker


There is metal ringed Black Headed Gull at Par atm and I finally got some shots of the metal ring but sadly not enough for a complete positive location of ringing. But it has been proven to have been rung in Belgium. I'll try and get some other shots if I can (and anyone else is welcome to have a go). as would be good to find out where in the region it was rung.

Thanks for the report and photograph Mark.

Ringed Gull Again.

Report and photograph. Andy Cross


Went down to Par beach this afternoon not a great lot around met andrew carey had a chat then i went to St Andrews pond where i had lunch  then looking at the gulls i noticed a ringed black headed gull i took several photos this being the best showing the rings  i have passed on the information but if anybody has any information please pass it on .


Thank you for the report Andy. The ringed Gull (2V27) has been on and off PBP since the early days of November when if memory serves me correctly it was first seen by Derek Julian.    

  

Photographs from the Valley.

I decided it was time to have another look for the Manoa Valley Dippers now the summer bank growth  has now all but gone. It did take a while before I located one but I could not get close enough for a decent photograph. A short while later I saw two fishing in the river but yet again the photograph was just a record shot.
Very little else was seen....A trio of Mallards, a pair of Grey Wagtails and a Red Admiral butterfly.

Rat

Report and photograph. Nigel Climpson

Love them or hate them rats are part of nature and young rats can be very engaging. This youngster was part of a family browsing on the edge pf St. Andrews Road Pool, Par. King Rat, who was immense, kept very much in the background but the little ones were very approachable.

 

I do not think many people love 'em Nigel. There is quite a colony of them at St Andrews.

Nice photograph.

Trio of Gulls

Report and photograph. Andrew Carey

I was at Par Beach Pool with Mark at lunchtime today, (Tuesday) and both little gulls and a single med gull were present, and at times, quite confiding. Mark reports that there were two female eiders out in the bay.

 

I've attached a labelled composite pic of the little, black headed and med gulls which you might like to post in case anybody is not sure of their identifications

Great to see them all presented like that Andrew.....well done.

 

Stonechat and Dunnock

My two from yesterday. Stonechat and Dunnock

Brent Goose

Report and photograph 16th November 2011. Andrew Carey


I've attached a picture of a Brent Goose that was to be found on the bank of Par Beach Pool yesterday lunchtime, just before the heavens opened and sent me scurrying for shelter at home.


Sorry about the mix up Andrew.

Crane.

Report. Ann Graham

I'm sure I saw a crane this afternoon at about 4.30 flying over
the mount towards the docks. It was already quite distant but it was
flying with outstretched neck and legs and its wings looked huge. Hope
somebody else sees it to comfirm.

Thank you for the report Ann.

Can anyone confirm Ann's sighting?

Two Little Gulls

Report and photograph. Nigel Climpson

Seeing double. Two Little gulls at Par Beach pool first thing this morning.

Thank you for the report and photograph Nigel.

I visited the Pool myself at 1030 hrs . Sadly just in front of the far reed beds was a dead Swan.

When I returned from checking out the shoreline it had been removed.

The tide was in and I did not see any waders....just Stonechats on top of the bushes with a Dunnock or two.

Little Gull

Report and photograph. 15th November 2011. Mark Whittaker


Visited St.Austell Sewage Works and Par Beach pool today and had the following :

Sewage Works : 10+ Long Tailed Tit, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 40+ Pied Wagtail and 8 Goldcrest

Par Beach Pool : Teal (2 Female), 1 Male Pochard (Andy may have some better pictures as mine were rubbish), 1 Female Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Shelduck,6 Greylag Geese, 8 x Snipe and Adult Little Gull. Starling roost was superb again tonight. If you've not already, get yourself down there and see them.


Thank you Mark....that completes the set.

Med and Common Gull.

Report and photographs. Mark Whittaker

6 Greylag Geese, 1 Kingfisher on the Island, 1 partially leucistic Jackdaw, Med Gull and Common Gull. No sign of the Little or Yellow Legged Gull

Thank you for the report and photographs Mark. Pity John's Gull was not about.

Odd Looking Gull.

Report. John Rance.

Had a quick scan of the pool this morning-no sign of the Little Gull- but came across a very odd looking Lesser-black backed ‘type’ gull. It appeared on the pool for a quick wash and a preen before heading towards the beach, so this is really an appeal for a photo if anyone with a decent camera comes across it!

A brief description:

 

Lesser black-backed-like  at first glance, but;

-  the yellow legs and bill were a sort of deep  golden yellow not the quite bright yellow of our  average LBB- although bear in mind the bright sunshine may have been a factor.

- the mantle is the ‘wrong’ shade of grey-paler and more of a mid/slaty grey than our ‘usual’ LBB’s- although again  the bright sunshine may have influenced this. The nearest thing I can compare it to is a ‘Common Gull shade of grey’.

- a heavily and distinctly streaked head.

 

Structurally quite large, bulkier in appearance, with broader wings than the average LBB’s which are normally quite slim and pointed.  In flight, prominent broad white trailing edges to the wings.

 

I’m pretty sure it’s one of the Lesser black-backed races but I’d dearly love a good photo to try and decide which-so over to the photographers!

Anyone out there who can help John on this one

 

Brent Goose

Report and photograph. Nigel Climpson

A Brent Goose was on Par Beach Pool at 08:30 this morning but flew out to sea shortly after, Also the Little Gull was present

 

Thank you for the report and photograph Nigel. Things are starting to hot up again.

Around the Bay

Report. Olly Mears

Friday 11th Nov, afternoon

Porthpean, relatively quiet.  Large flock of B-H Gulls.  1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine over.

Charlestown.  2 Ravens, one being repeatedly attacked/stooped on by Peregrine.  Raven appeared somewhat annoyed!  1 Rock Pipit, 1 male Stonechat.

Charlestown to Carlyon Bay. 1 GN Diver, summer plumage, visible from Coastwatch point. 1 Buzzard.

Carlyon Bay. 1 Kestrel hunting on golf course, multiple Rock Pipits.

Spit Point.  Large flock of roosting Oystercatchers and Curlew.  Also 14 Turnstone and 12 Ringed Plover.

Thank you for the report Olly.

Black-Headed Gull

Report. Nigel Climpson

Is this the same black headed gull reported on by Derek Julian?

There were about 5000+ starlings at Par Beach Pool this evening. A jolly good display. Also the Little Gull was present for a short while. 6 Greylags on the Pool and 5 Brent Geese on the sea.

Nigel also sent in a photograph of the ringed Black-headed Gull (2V27)

Ringed Gull

Report and photograph. Andrew Carey

Fuirther to Nigel's report, I spent an hour at Par Beach Pool this afternoon, and watched 6 greylag geese fly off, and around the area, a sparrowhawk fly across the lake towards the island, a buzzard soar over head, two little egrets and considerable numbers of the usual suspects.

 

I've attached a pic of what I take to be Derek's black headed gull, with the ring clearly readable.

 

Thank you for the report and photograph Andy.

Little Gull

Report and photographs Nigel Climpson.

A Little Gull was reported at Par Beach Pool yesterday afternoon. It was still there this morning and I have attached a couple of pictures. Also 5 Brent Geese among the tide pools on the beach. Two Eider seen off Spit Beach

Nice one Nigel.

Common Sandpiper at Par

Report. Phil Barlow..8th November 2011

Another quick scan at 4pm showed a little grebe , two common sandpiper and a 1st winter med at the beach pool and still 2 brent geese at factory end feeding in the weed.

Thank you for the report Phil.

Baywatch Sites

Report. M. Whittaker. 7th November 2011


St.Austell Sewage Works - 2 Goldcrest, Mixed flock of Redwing + Fieldfare over (40ish) and a Marsh Tit

Porthpean - 12ish Gannet fishing at distance and 1 Juvenile fishing close in, Great Northern Diver (4) all in near summage plummage & Black throated Diver (2)

Charlestown - Black Throated Diver (5) 2 in near summer plummage & 2 Great Crested Grebe

St.Andrews Pool -  2 Teal (Male)

Par Bay - Female Goosander (2), Pale Bellied Brent Geese (2), Great crested Grebe (2), Common Scoter (5) at distance, Teal (8), Male Wigeon (1), Shelduck (1), 

Par Beach Pool - Little Grebe (1), Med Gull (1), Shelduck (1), Dunlin (2) and Starling roost easily up to 3000 birds. Flock attacked several times by a female Sparrowhawk. Eventually choosing to roost in the hedges behind the car park which was quite a sight to see.


Thank you for the report Mark. Glad to see the Divers back in the Bay.

Report. Mark Whittaker. 5th November 2011


Black Headed Gull with metal ring, 1 Male Shoveler, 2 "White" Wagtails and Starling roost up to about 2000 birds. Starling show kicks off about 4pm.


Yesterday
A Hawfinch was present near the hard rock cafe at St.Andrews Pool early this morning but very mobile


Thank you for the report and photograph Mark.

Black-headed Gull

Report. Derek Julian.

The ringed Black-headed Gull noted at Par Beach Pool on Oct 23rd was ringed at Cleveland Farm, Wiltshire on Jun 9th 2009 and has been seen once before at Par Beach Pool on Dec 12th 2009.

This according to the ringer is fairly typical behaviour with birds moving south and west from their ringing grounds.

Thank you for the update Derek.