Report from Roger Lane. (30thDec 2009)

" High-tide and high numbers of cars at Par today meant few birds, anyone would think it's a B.Hol.! In fact due to people everywhere there were ZERO birds of any interest. The only interest to me was the fact that the tides are high enough again to enter the Pool, 2 'blues' were showing below the read, today only the red was visible ! So I went the Manoa Valley and Porthpean, neither of which was productive, as follows:

I visited the St.Aust.Sew.Wks in the Manoa Valley, but due to the high air temps (9degsC) and the weak sun, the small birds were well dispersed, some high in trees due to low wind-chill. However, I was able to find c.10 +, Goldcrests and at least 20+, Chiffchaffs. But the L.T.Tits were out roaming probably outside the Sew.Wks.
Moving on to Porthpean, the high-tide and B.Hol.visitors, did not help, but managed to find the following: 20+, Fulmars (many on ledges); 3+, Guillemots; 1+, Razorbill; 2 x Comm.Scoter; 6 x GNDivers and 3 x BTDivers, the latter sleek and active, making the GNDs look cumbersome!"

Thanks again Roger for the report.
Things are starting to hot up a little with more reports coming in.
I agree the conditions were not ideal for us birders but I guess they were perfect for other activities.

Report from John Rance 30th December 2009

"Had a look round 'the patch' today.

Not a lot to report on PBP- no sign of the Goldeneye, although since yesterday's rain the water is now very muddy and hence probably putting the diving ducks off a bit- only one Tufty for instance.
All usual gulls/waterfowl plus 5 Teal.

Couldn't track down the Ybr Warbler at St Andrew's Lake ( busy with dogs and kids) but 1 Water Rail 'showing well' as they say. Also another calling in the distance, but not seen. Other than that, 1 Willow Tit, 5 Siskin and 1 Treecreeper."

Thanks for the report John.
The Willow Tit and Siskins will be added to the latest Sightings List.

Report from Geoff Barter

"Notable sightings over the Xmas period

Water Rail Par Beach Pool every day from 24th -28th
Common Snipe 50 + on the 27th PBP
Jack Snipe 1 on the 28th PBP
Med Gull 1 w 28th West river mouth
Peregrine on 27th/28th
GN diver 25/26 par harbour /Spit
Stonechats 2 both males 1at east end 1 at west end 28th late PM
small numbers of the usual waders plus

Redshank 2
Ringed plover 3
Dunlin 5



Yellow browed Warbler -St Andrews pool pm on the 27th showed well but silent

No sightings of yourself ! maybe next time

good birding & all the best for 2010"

Thanks for the report Geoff.
More additions to the Par Latest Sightings List.
Sorry I missed you over the holiday...maybe next time you visit.
Have a good year in your neck of the woods.

Report from Roger Lane. (29th Dec 2009)

"Despite the weather (!) I tried first Porthpean then, inevitably Par. Sea-fog so bad at P'pean, and worsening, job to reverse up the slipway ! Bit better at Par. Anyway, didn't see a lot but better than nowt.

Got to Porthpean about 2.30pm, rain eventually stopped and thickening sea-fog took over. Before the blanket fog arrived I did manage to see: 2 +, Guillemots; 20+, Fulmars; 6 +, GNDivers and 1 x BTDiver.
On to Par, too dark and rough (high-tide) to see anything from western car-park, so back to PBP only to find the male Gadwall had been joined by 2 females, not only that but all 3 were swimming with the female Goldeneye (from yesterday). Presumably since all 4 have visible white 'speculums' ! All went to roost behind the island, not seen again after 3.45pm."

Thanks for the report Roger.
I can see I am falling some way behind at the moment. Visitors have arrived and I am effectively grounded for a while.
When I do get sorted the Baywatch List should take off!

Report from Roger Lane. (28th Dec 2009)

"Visited Par at 3pm to 4pm (Mon.28thDec'09) after a fruitless day elsewhere due to the SE wind. Not much hope, being high-tide and littered with people, no room to stop at the Pool even, but a gap up at the western car-park enabled me to see the same old 6 x GCGrebes, but also in the Par River mouth amongst scores of B.H.Gulls was: 1 x MED.Gull, a 1st-winter half hidden by the waves, so not immediately obvious.
Back to the Pool about 3.45pm, room to park then, but failing light. 'Scoped the pool for duck or whatever and saw something diving close in 'under' the island, only the small white wing patches and rapidity of diving gave it away as 1 x GOLDENEYE (female). Once annual and common at Par, not so now."

Thanks for the report Roger.
The Goldeneye is another one for the latest sightings list.

Grey Plover.

The Grey Plover Photographed at Spit Beach by Nigel Climpson.

Grey Plover at Spit Beach

I had an email from Nigel Climpson yesterday (sorry about the delay). He notified me of a sighting of a Grey Plover at Spit Beach which he duly photographed.. Two Great Northern Divers were also in the harbour. "One appeared to have a 'crossbill' but is obviously surviving."

Thanks for the report Nigel.
The Grey Plover will be added to the Latest Patch Sightings list.

Report from Roger Lane. (26th-27th Dec 2009)

"I visited Par each day over the Xmas weekend i.e. 26th, 27th , but little changes! Species thought to be present all weekend on PBP were: 2+, Tufted Duck; 1 x Gadwall; 2+, Snipe and probably Comm.Gulls most days.
On Par Beach were the ubiqitous Oystercatchers; 10+; Turnstones; 5+, G.Ringed Plover and 5+, Dunlin. On the 26th only, there was a fly-past of c.20 Curlews, too early for their roost they flew on to the Gribben fields.
In Par Bay were no more than 6 of the original 9 GCGrebes, indeed have not seen more than 7 for weeks (2 moved on?) and 1+, GNDiver.
The 'best' afternoon was today on the Gribben road and looking west (from SX096524) across farm-land to Penhale Farm S. (Ref: SX105525), where there were 50+, Redwings; 20+, Fieldfares and 30+, Lapwings. Happy New Year !"

Thanks for the report Roger.
Happy New Year to you and all readers.

Report from Roger Lane. (22nd Dec 2009)

"Visited Par briefly this afternoon,22ndDec'09, the Pool was still 80% ice. The 3 Shovelor had apparently gone, but there were 5+ Snipe; 5+ Teal and 1 x GADWALL (male), only rarely showed it's white speculum. All birds (incl. yesterday's Shovelor) were keeping close to the island where the open water is.
Par Bay, although calm, was rather quiet, to say the least ! Just 6 of the 9 GCGrebes and 1 x GND waiting to enter the inner harbour as the tide rose. Presumably 1 of the 2 Mark saw. It was a whole 6 degsC at Par today !"

Thanks for the report Roger.
Snipe and Gadwall are two new ones to the pool. I must try to get there tomorrow to see them.

Manoa Valley

Decided I would give Par a miss and go down the Manoa Valley. I was rewarded by the sight of a number of Goldcrests in the trees but they were a little too fast or hidden by branches to get a good photograph. Much the same applies to the Wrens I saw which generally I find hard to locate
...today I saw four or five of 'em.
Others birds seen were a Grey and Pied Wagtail, Rooks, Crows ,Blue Tit and two Song Thrushes in a field.
I probably did not get a good image today but I consider it a good days birding.

Rainbow

A common sight at Par last month.

Report from Roger Lane. (21st Dec 2009)

"At Par today, (21stDec'09, the shortest day?) it was cold with the Pool still 80% frozen. However, there were 3 x Shoveler (2male & 1 fem) in the ice-free areas. Did I miss them yesterday I wonder !
In Par Bay were the 'usual' 2 x GNDivers and 8 of the 9 GCGrebes. Because the tide was further out (late aft.) there was a sprinkling of waders in Par Rivermouth, including the usual Oystercatchers; 10+, Turnstones and 1 Redshank (doubtles from the few wintering in the inner harbour). Also the two L.Egrets flew up the Par River. All really rather disappointing, had expected more variety in this extremely cold weather."

Thanks for the report Roger.
I missed the Shoveler when I visited at 10.00hrs yesterday...maybe they hadn't yet arrived.

Correction.

The pool was of course St Andrews not St Anthony's as previously stated. Thanks Mark for making me think.

It Was Not Hot Mum

Today was my first visit to the Baywatch site for over a week (car off the road)
The PBP was frozen over with only a small channel of ice free water where most of the remaining residents were congregating. Nothing much to see as Roger had reported in an earlier post last week. The odd gull landing was a little comical as it applied the landing gear and slid a few yards across the pool.
The small stuff had the sense to remain covered in the sub zero conditions.
On the foreshore were the usual Oystercatchers, Turnstones in the salad bowl, Rock Pipits and a dozen plus Ringed Plover at the waters edge.
A trip to St Anthony's was again fruitless as only the usual Mallards etc and a couple of Teal were seen. No Yellow Browed Warbler.

Report from Roger Lane. (20th Dec 2009)

"At Par B.Pond virtually nothing, due to ice cover ! In Par Bay however, there were 2+, GCGrebes, 2 x GNDivers and unusually, a small flock of 4 x Black Throated Divers, diving frequently except for one preening session. Watched them swim and fish across Par Bay, visiting Polkerris and returning west, but not easy to see ! Certainly not lending themselves to photography ! Remember any close group of three or more Divers, is likely to be B.T.Divers at this time of year (and the flocks have reached 3-figures in Veryan Bay, in years gone bye) !!!
Best Wishes, and all the best for Christmas, "

Thanks for the report Roger.
Happy Christmas to you also.
I am hoping to get a visit in sometime tomorrow.

Report from Roger Lane.

"Yes, the Y.B.Warbler was on Birdguides simply ar "Par". I wondered which bit ! No doubt it will winter now, along with Chiffchaffs which 'live' in the Tywardreath Marsh, but on sunny days inhabit the willows on the island (in centre of pond).
Did have C'walls second overwintering one with the chiffchaff flock at St.Austell Sew. Wks, in the late '90s I think !

Par Beach Pool: 2-2.30pm: 2 x Tufted Duck; 1 x Dabchick and 3+, Comm.Gulls. Out in Par Bay were 1 x GNDiver; 6+ of the GCGrebes and a SEAL ! (Same one Mark saw?). Back on the beach were the usual Oystercatchers; 5+, Turnstones and 2+ G.Ringed Plovers, doubtless from the flock Mark saw in the Harbour, since about 20 winter there."

Thanks for the reports Roger.

Report from Geoff Barter

"RBA are reporting a Yellow Browed Warbler in the reed bed at St Andrews road pool"

Thanks for the report Geoff.
I hope I get my car back tomorrow to go and search for it.

Posing Blue Tit

Blue Tit ........Parus caeruleus

Posing Great Tit (soft focus)

Great Tit ....Parus major

Report from Roger Lane. (Wed. 16th Dec 2009)

" Too cold for butterflies, but the Bay was delightfully smooth, despite which the Bay was rather empty for mid-Dec. Porthpean was quite reasonable, relatively speaking, spent an afternoon hour there. Results as follows:
Porthpean 2.30 to 3.30pm, flat calm, half tide: 4+, Guillemots; 7+, Comm.Scoter; 5+, GNDivers and 1 x BTDiver. At 3.15pm a flock of 6 more B.T.Divers surfaced for preening, dived, and were never seen again ! Main interest however, was a pair (male + female) of Grey Seals. Markings showed them to be the P'pean to Black Head resident pair. At Par there was very little ! Par Bay held 6+ of the full GCGrebe complement, and 1 x GNDiver."

Thanks for the report Roger.
Still off the road at the moment but hopefully back on Saturday.