Sparrowhawk

Report and photograph Andy Cross


Walking around the grass by Par beach pond the other day i came across  this bird which had been the target of a bird of prey but getting closer i could see  that the prey itself was a bird of prey i think it was a female sparrowhawk please correct me if i am wrong Its chest was ripped opened and all the organs were missing and the head was missing and can anyone tell me what other bird of prey would do this       Andy Cross

Thanks for the photograph and report. Does anybody have a suggestion as what could have been the culprit?

Little Owl

Report John Rance.

Thought you might like to know I've just spoken to a lady who found an injured and exhausted ( and now sadly deceased) Little Owl on the dunes at Par Beach on Monday! She gave a very good description, and I'm sure she'd identified it correctly- she also mentioned she'd spoken to the people at Screech- so possibly Mark knows a little more about it?

Screech had suggested it was a migrant from further north or east in England driven this way by the cold. I've looked at our records here and the last Little Owl record we have for the whole of Cornwall is from 1986!

I'd be interested to know if Roger recalls any Little Owls ever being seen around the patch?

John Rance-Wildlife Information Service

Thank you for the report John.  A great pity it had a sad ending. 

Report from John Rance (23rd February 2010)

"Not much around on PBP this afternoon, all the regulars, except for the Tufties who seem to have shipped out, plus;

7 LBB Gulls (on the water), 13 Oystercatchers ( on the grass) and 2 Water Rail ( along the path behind the pool)"

Thanks for the report John.
Circumstances prevented me from getting out to the sites today so the report is most welcome.

No Reports.

Nothing to report today....it has been quiet on all fronts.

Report from Roger Lane. (16th February 2010)

"Congratulations on your goodly list around Dawlish and the Tamar, no hope of catching you now !
Today got even worse (although several road works have gone, or moved). Visitors stopping me getting the car near the sea ! So, briefly, here's what I saw:
At Porthpean: 30+, Fulmars; 1 x Comm.Scoter; 1+, G.N.Diver and 1+, B.T.Diver and people! At Menabilly car-park just: 10+, Goldfinch; 50+, Chaffinch and 1 x male BRAMBLING, again ( & a Kestrel ).
At PBP: 5+, Tufted Duck and 5 adult L.B.B.Gulls (migrants?). In the Bay only 6 +, G.C.Grebes seen !"

Thanks for the report Roger.
I did not go to PBP today fearing a wasted journey with the roadworks in place.
Tomorrow I shall try and have a good session at the sites, weather permitting.
I need the Brambling so I shall be at Menabilly Barton with fingers crossed.

Today I had a short visit to the Manoa Valley before the rain interrupted my visit.
Grey Wagtail, Wren, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tits entered the notebook.

Report from Roger Lane. (15th February 2010)

"Another thrawted day due mainly to Par roadworks ! No access to PBP or Menabilly Barton. So, a very sparce list, as follows: (Mon.15thFeb'10)
Porthpean: 40+, Fulmars; 3 x Comm.Scoter; 1 x GCGrebe; 2 x GNDivers and 1 x BTDiver, and 12 x Canoeists ! St.Aust.Sew.Wks: 2 x Bullfinches and 1 x G.S.W'Pecker. Carlyon Bay cliff car-park: 2 x BTDiver The alternating weather pattern and half-term visitors didn't help. But at least it's less cold !"

Thanks for the report Roger.
I have been away for the weekend and did not know about the road works. Will have a look tomorrow some time.

No Brambling.

Managed to get out for a short while today. I tried the Manoa Valley early morning 1030 hrs and found it a lot quieter than usual. I did record a Dipper, Wren and Grey Wagtail along with the usual Gulls and Crows.
At 1400hrs I went to Menabilly Barton in the hope of seeing a Brambling unfortunately after setting up the scope the flocks all landed in the far fields or out of sight somewhere and all i saw was the odd straggler or two. Buzzard, Song Thrush, Redwing,Chaffinch and Goldfinch were recorded plus the Mistle Thrush at the Ship Inn at 1500hrs.
Par Beach Pool was quiet and all I saw was three Tufted Ducks, Little Grebe plus the usual lot. Once again I saw a large dog charge into the Swans and Geese (Golden Labrador)but it was reprimanded by its owner after coming back out of the water.
The Beach yielded up nothing of note except two Cormorants in the Bay.

Report from Roger Lane. (12th February 2010)

"Not a lot to report, only thawed out by lunch-time! A bit less cold since I'm glad to say. Indifferent day regarding birds.
Starting at Menabilly B. car-park I could only find 20+, Redwings; 70+, Linnets; 100+ Chaffinches; 1 x male BRAMBLING and a G.S.Woodpecker.At Kilmarth were 30+ Fieldfares. Back down to sea-level, at St.Andrews Pond were 1 x Tufted Duck and 2 x Shovelers(pr). At Par Station (football field) were c.50 Redwings, and the regular Mistle Thrush opp. the Ship Inn ! At P.B.P. were 5+, Tufted D. and 1 x Little Grebe. Finally in the Bay were 8 x G.C.Grebes. Hope you, or Mark, did better !"

Thanks for the report Roger.

I should imagine Mark was stuck at work today and did not go out.

Yellow-Browed Warbler

"Didn't mention this earlier as I wanted to mention this to Roger, but after a quick discussion I'm pretty sure I've spotted a Yellow browed warbler at the back of the pool by the caravans. I wonder if you could put it on your blog and see if any other "local birders" would/ have seen it recently.Shame Ian Phrophet has no computer as he could have been a good one to contact. Maybe this is the bird from St.Andrews ? I was there today at 2pm. It was by the caravan with the blue folding washing line in the reeds on the right. It later moved into the more dense reeds at the back and moved like a Goldcrest on speed."

Anyone out there that can confirm Mark's sighting?

Report from Mark Whittaker (11th February 2010)

Menabilly Car Park

10 x Redwing
1 x Skylark (went up singing a few times)
20 x Chaffinch
1 x Buzzard
1 x Female Sparrowhawk
2 x Great Spotted Woodpecker (one drumming)
3 x Lapwing over
1 x Female Brambling

Polkerris

3 x Lapwing over
1 x Great black backed gull
3 x Black Throated Diver

Par Beach Pool

1 x Chiffchaff (Very pale looking bird by the eastern stream. Most probaly a Siberian Chiffchaff race "tristis"
1 x Water Rail
1 x Female Stonechat
1 x Great black backed Gull
7 x Snipe

Thanks for that report Mark
Looks like you had a good session.

Ship Inn Mistle Thrush and Friend.

Photographed today by Michelle O' Shea

Report from Michelle O'Shea (10th February 2010)

Hi,

Ship Inn Mistle Thrush has a friend!

Michelle

Thanks for the report Michelle.
I shall look out for the latest addition on my next visit.

Report from Roger Lane. (9th February 2010)

"Went out for my afternoon hour again despite the chill wind, but not a lot doing at the few sites I visited. Went to Menabilly B. car-park the (drier) mud. Was surprised at the number of finches, when I saw a large female Sparrowhawk was working the hedgerows! That was pleasant for me (if not the finches!), since it is a year tick ! Settled down to access what was about i.e. when the LBJs perch in the sparce trees, and came up with the following: 20+, Goldfinch; 30+ Linnets; 100+, Chaffinches; 70+, Redwings & 1 x Sp.Hawk !
BUT, the gems amongst the masses were 2+ ad.male BRAMBLINGS. Scarce this winter, and obviously a year tick for me ! (Probably several more among the Chaffinch flock).
V.little at Tregaminion and Kilmarth (except a couple of Black Pheasants). Almost nothing at Par, save the wintering 8 x Tufted Ducks. Not surprising after Trevor's black dog episode, the owner can be prosecuted if Swans were present I believe. Anyway it's a local Nature Reserve, most irresponsible. Finally today from the western car-park not a lot but 6+ Gannets diving (in lee of Gribben, due to East wind), and all 9 x GCGrebes (as Trevor saw this morning). Can't complain with 2 year ticks, including the Bramblings !"

Thanks for the report Roger.
The Bramblings are of particular interest to me as they represent a Life Tick.
Must look a lot closer at the Chaffinches.

Report from Roger Lane. (8th February 2010)

"What a successful weekend you had . I gather from the species that you went as far as Carrick Roads. I reckon the Roseland Peninsula (especially the surrounding seas) has the best bird fauna in C'wall, for wintering. Today must have been a bit of a let down for you !
I did my customery round, following in the footsteps of Mark I see ! First down to Porthpean (2pm to 3pm), just, 2 x Gannets; 30+, Fulmars; 1 x Comm.Scoter; 1 x G.C.Grebe; 1 x GNDiver and 3 x BTDivers.
on to Carlyon Bay upper cliff car-park, only, 2 x GNDivers; 4 x BTDivers and 1 x Red Throated Diver.
Then St.Andrews Pond: 1 x Tufted D and 2+ Teal. On to Par B.Pool: where only 8 x Tufted Ds!
Par Bay not much better with 3 x Ringed Plover, Turnstones, Oystercatchers and 6 x GCGrebes ! (4.30)."

Thanks for the report Roger.

In the Tree.

Little Egret ..........Egretta garzetta

Stonechat ..........Saxicola torquata

Report from Mark Whittaker (8th February 2010)

Porthpean (10am-12pm)

30 x Fulmar, 1 x Shag, 1 x Red Throated Diver, 2 x Common Scoter, 3 x Black Throated Diver

Par Beach Pool (12:15 - 1pm)

All the usual plus 1 x Cormorant & 1 x Shoveler (F)

Thanks for the Report Mark

No Reports

Roger and myself have both given the site a miss....sorry no reports today.

Report from Roger Lane. (2nd February 2010)

"Thanks for email. So you met Mark 'on site' at last did you ! Yes come to think of it the M.Thrush was STILL opp. the Ship Inn, at 4pm yesterday. That's about 10 days now. I reckon it's got something to do with the small chicken farm immediately behind the wall, lots of juicy worms due to chicken droppings within 20ft !
I'm writing to say I did not go out today, too wet after too cold ! While I think of it, if you want a close Comm.Gull at Par B.Pool, always check the bird occupying the 'leaning post' at the western end of the Pool. Usually it's a Comm.Gull (with yellow-green legs) etc."

Thanks for the report Roger. I failed to get to the site myself so nothing can be added.

Report from Roger Lane. (1st February 2010)

Have read your detailed report on the Somerset Levels, quite an adventure, and marginally better than Par ! Congratulations on all the ticks, that's what comes of getting up so early, must try it sometime !
I popped down to Porthpean where conditions were excellent, but a squad of canoeist were out ! Hardely a bird in sight, save 40+, Fulmars. Otherwise my worst visit to P'pean in ages with 1 x Comm. Scoter; 1 x Razorbill; 1 x GCGrebe; 1 x G.N.Diver and 1 x B.T.Diver !
Off to Par (with all this extra daylight!), but hopeless again. On St.Andrews were 4 x Male Tufted D's 'only'. At Par Beach Pool were just: 1 x Comm.Gull (ad); 1 x Greylag Goose'; 2 x Gadwall (pr) and 1+, Tufted Duck. In the Bay were just 1 x G.N.Diver and NINE x GCGrebes (a full compliment not seen together since before Xmas). Oh well now it's February month the butterflies will soon be out, says he hopefully !

Thanks for the report Roger.

Angie and myself paid a visit at 1300hrs and I cannot add much to that. We did see the resident pub Mistle Thrush in the usual spot this afternoon.

Report from Roger Lane. (31th January 2010)

"I crept out this afternoon when it got warm enough, same old places, birds only slightly different.
Started at Menabilly Barton car-park under mud. Found the flock of 50+, Chaffinches, then two 'unknowns' flew overhead with diagnostic flight, which turned out to be 2 x SKYLARKS (another year tick) before the end of January !
Back to Kilmarth and was surprised to see a single flock of 25+ Ravens, equalling my personal record for S.C'wall (25+ at Trenarren, April 2009?). Probably gathered at a carcass (or sheep lambing) since all wheeling over one field. Also in the vicinity were: 20+, Lapwings; 30+, Fieldfares and 2 x STOCKDOVES (another year tick for me).
St.Andrews Pond had 7+, Teal; 1 x Shoveler and 3 x Tufted Ds (better than Par Beach Pool !). At the Pool I could find only 1+, Snipe and 5+ Tufted Ds. Par Bay, in contrast to yesterday, was ruffled with wind, and although I found 7 x GCGrebes there appeared to be only 1 x GNDiver."

Thanks for the reports Roger. As you know we have been around the Somerset Levels for a day. A condensed version is....we saw 70 plus species of birds and four of them were life ticks.