Redwing

My own not so impressive sightings at PBP late afternoon.
The Sand Martin was again seen around the pool area.
The pool held nothing of interest ...just the usual residents.
A circular walk around the back of the caravans produced 2 x Reed Buntings, 2 x Chiffchaff , 2x Goldfinch and a single Redwing by the Imerys private road.
The Bay scoped ...1x Eider (young male) and 6x Great -crested Grebe.

Good Haul at Black Head.

Report .Danny Cooper. 13th March 2011

Hi there, good couple of hours at black head this afternoon with 21 Great Northern Divers and three Red Throated, I heard a Tawny Owl at 17:00 befor a single Curlew fley SW the Ravens were very vocal and a flock of 17 Linnets came in to roost on the head. The Fulmars waere also displaying to each other then as I was leaving I noticed lots of birds on the sea in a big "raft" a small raft of 22 Fulmars and an amzing 64 Shags! There were 20 plus Gannets around the bay and I also saw 2 Peacock Butterflies

That is a very impressive number of Divers....The Shags is a truly amazing total. Must have been a very impressive sight indeed. Well done Danny

Waxwing

Report John Rance.

The jungle drums may well have been beating and this may have filtered through to you already, but just in case you didn't know, theres a Waxwing at Kingfisher Drive in St Austell at moment. Its been there a couple of days, unfortunately its spending most of its time in someone's back garden so its quite distant and awkward to see and I suspect would be equally awkward to photograph without aggravating the residents; but its making short flights round and about the vicinity now and again so you may catch up with it if you have a mosey around the area. Out of consideration for the residents I think it'd be unfair to publicise the address of the particular garden its favouring , but lets just say if you find the Latter Day Saints Church and keep a sharp eye out, you won't be far away. Had good views this morning; even if watching a Waxwing whilst basking myself in warm Spring sunshine in a tshirt and shorts was slightly surreal!

Thank you for the report John.
As you suspected word did filter through.
I do agree it can cause a degree of aggravation especially if the people are non birders .
So if anyone reading this is going to see the bird, please do respect peoples privacy at all times.

It definitely was a day to be out and about.

Sand Martin

Report. Danny Cooper

Hi a couple of hours at the pool yesterday morning, plenty of fresh in goldcrest and chiffchaff. Ten snipe on the pool, little grebe, 3 teal, female shovler. Also cetti`s warbler singing and 2 male reed bunting plus one female, one sand martin over the pool. Cheers danny the pirate.

Thank you for the report Danny and welcome to the Blog.

Early in the Year.

Bar-Headed Goose, Barnacle Goose with Canada Geese at Polkerris.

Widgeon and Moorhen

Photographs. Andrew Thomas.

Winter Visitors.

Report. R.Lane 12th March 2011

Went out after butterflies this morning but found nothing but cloud ! However saw several species of birds (in capitols) that will be leaving us soon, having wintered locally. For instance, at Pontsmill were 5+, REDWING, 1 x KINGFISHER (a surprise here, flying close to the stream but down woodland paths!); Also resident Dipper, Nuhatch and all the Tit family at the feeders (except Willow-tit of course).
Another winterer (?) at St.Andrews Pond was a single WATER RAIL, a species which possibly reached double figures at Par plus St.Ands this winter.
Nothing of note on Par Pond (save 1 x TUFTED DUCK, which will soon be gone). No hirundines, this morning, but this afternoon's rain may bring down a Sd.Martin or two (we should be so lucky!).
On the sea I could only find 5+,G.C.GREBES (some gone?), but a good count of SEVEN x COMM.EIDER, which may stay on into summer, not being mature enough to mate until their 3rd year.

I am sure double figure Water Rails at St Andrews is correct. I personally saw 4 the last time I visited.

Red-necked Grebes

Report. R.Lane. 11th March 2011

Two hardly successful stops today. Went to the Sewage Works, nothing exciting (had hoped for hirundines!). However, did see up to a dozen Chiffchaffs, still overwintering (should leave in a week or so); also a few M.Pipits in field, and heard a few Goldcrests. Most trees had Chaffinches picking the day's fly emergence off the branches, but not one brambling, as in most years. 4+ Buzzard overhead and that was about it (did not look at the stream).
On down to Porthpean and Charlestown and for once could not find a diver anywhere ! They should be about throughout April, even May. All I did see were: 30+, Fulmars; 1 x L.Egret; 3 x Comm.Scoter and best of all 2 x Red-necked Grebes ! (One inshore at Porthpean and one off Charlestown).

Thanks for the report Roger.

Hawk and Falcon

Report. R. Lane. 10th March 2011

Not a lot to report, just 'flyovers' basically. Was at Par Pool for about 5 minutes (!) but the only activity I saw was a large (female) Sp.Hawk drifting westward across the Pool (into the wind, for lift?), when a flock of Starlings from the dunes went up and intercepted it, harassing it continuously, despite it's side-slipping and dummy threats !
Also on the Pool were many L.B.B.Gulls, and on the beach of Par Bay, scores more, with half as many G.B.B.Gulls, with more flying westward over the sea. When I returned to Holmbush even more were flying west over the tree-clad depression inland from Carlyon and Charlestown, probably to avoid the wind strength at sea. This is a daily event in early spring always AGAINST the strong winds, with no significant movement on calm days. The afternoon was completed by the scream of a Blackbird nearly flying into a wall Looking up immediate I was in time to see a Peregrine Falcon come over from the north, heading for the coast at high speed (at right angles to the wind ! ). Possibly from Carn Grey?

Thanks for the report Roger. We are both still under the weather but gradually improving.

Baywatch Sites

Photographs. Andrew Thomas

An e-mail sent to me from Andrew Thomas of Shrewsbury.

'My name is Andrew Thomas and I am a regular visitor to Par. I was born in Tywardreath and have family there - one of whom put me on to your web-site.

I was down last week and took a number of photo's that may be of interest, which are attached (all dated 25.2.11): '

: A number of (I think) Great Crested Grebes in the bay (I would welcome advice)

: Mallard at Polridmouth eating a frog!
: Herring Gulls over Gribben Head
: Fulmar over Booley.

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Thank you for the e-mail and photographs Andrew (we are collecting Andrews at Par) and welcome to the Blog.

I am sure being a local lad some of the Blog readers will recognise your name.

Maybe the next time you visit your family we will come across each other at the PBP.

Site Visits.

We did an afternoon visit to the sites below. R.Lane and A Carey were also in attendance.

St Andrews Pool
34 Jackdaw, 2 Carrion Crow, 4 Long Tailed Tit, 3 Robin, 2 Dunnock, 2 Wren, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Water Rail, 4 Blue Tit, 6 Blackbird, 4 Woodpigeon, 3 Raven, 3 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Great Tit, 1 Songthrush, 6 Teal, 30 Canada Goose, 3 Mute Swan, plus Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Black Backed Gulls and Herring Gulls.

Par Beach Pool
4 Snipe, 22 Pied Wagtail, 4 Teal, 6 Tufted Duck, 84 Canada Goose, 24 Mute Swan, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Dunnock, 1 Robin, 8 Linnet, 2 Stonechat, 2 Blackbird, 5 Starling, 2 Blue Tits plus Herring Gulls, Black Headed Gulls, Coots, Moorhens, Mallards, Jackdaws and Carrion Crows.

Par Bay Western River
2 Red Headed Goosander where the river bends to the left.

Pay Bay
1 Snipe (over), 4 Curlew (over), 5 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Eider, 9 Gannet, 2 Stonechat (M&F), 1 Little Egret (over), 1 Lesser Black Backed Gull plus Black Headed Gulls and Herring Gulls.

Hawaiian Goose

Hawaiian Goose......Branta sandvicensis


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We had a message from Andy Carey today to say there was a Hawaiian Goose at Par Beach Pool. We went there at about 4.30pm and saw it on the grass opposite the caravan sales office. The receptionist came out and said they had given it bread and water and phoned the RSPCA, who had said they know of the bird in the area and there is nothing they can do because it has "angel wing" and they will just put it to sleep if they come out to collect it. Not acceptable really and not what we would expect from the RSPCA. We wonder if they are mistaking it for the Canada Goose that has been at the pool throughout the winter, with a dodgy wing and unable to fly out to graze, as the girl said that they quoted it was a "Canadian Goose". This bird is definitely an Hawaiian Goose and seems very healthy and full of life and just needs some santuary. It seemed very lost, but very friendly towards humans, to the point that it runs towards you and then gets frightened, as if it thinks you will feed it and then realises you are not going to. It does have an obvious problem with the one wing and the other side looks a bit dicey too. We are concerned that if it is unable to fly it is vulnerable to predators. We have left a message on the answerphone of the Wingz Bird Sanctuary and we will try to contact them tomorrow to see if they have a bird missing or if not, whether they can have a look at Par Beach Pool for it and see if they can help it at all, as we are travelling to the Midlands tomorrow for a funeral. Had it been left to Angie the bird would have been here with us tonight!

Firecrest (Photograph)

Photograph. M.Whittaker

Superb photograph Mark.

It is very difficult to get a sharp clear shot of the wee thing....you managed both. Well done.

Firecrest

Report A .Carey. 28th February 2011


Thought I'd best send you a report as you've gone more than a little quiet of late!! Nothing much to report from Par Beach Pool for the last few days, just the usual suspects, not even the scaup. St Andrew's has had various numbers of Goosanders present, 5 on Thursday, 11 on Saturday, none that I saw on Sunday, Mark had 1 this afternoon.

Manoa Valley from 4.00pm this afternoon, no dippers, lots of chaffinches, a couple of chiffchaff, half a dozen goldcrests, and 1 firecrest. Mar and I saw the firecrest in bright sunshine, and his orange "crest" was remarkable, like a burning flame, and clearly why the bird is so called, just fantastic. No pictures for me, but Mark took some earlier, so he may send you one.

Thanks for the report Andrew.
Yes it will be the weekend before things get back to some form of normality this end.
I did add a couple of Life Ticks while I was away...Goshawk and the Oriental Turtle Dove at Chipping Norton.

Divers and Grebes

Report. R.Lane. 25th February 2011

Not a lot of success after the cold of winter and the promise of spring, things seem to have gone a bit quiet. Drew a virtual blank at St.Austell Sew Wks, but so mild birds were widely distributed I suppose.
Went to Porthpean for about half an hour, but tide was out, and so were the canoes ! However I managed to see c.40, Fulmars; 20+. Comm.Scoter; 3 x G.N.Divers; 2 x B.T.Divers; 1 x G.C.Grebe and also 1 x Red-necked Grebe, which, from the occasional records this year, appears to have overwintered in the Bay, quite unusual.

Thank you for the report Roger.
It has been a very quiet week. In our case it will carry on through the weekend(as far as Baywatch goes) as we are off to Slimbridge early tomorrow morning.
All reports will be dealt with when we get back.

Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit ......Parus palustris

Photographed at St Andrews..

Ian Prophet. (Sad News)

An email from Dave Parker

John Swann contacted me this afternoon to say that Ian's brother had phoned him to advise of Ians passing. Below is the entry on the CBWPS web site, news page.

"It is with great sadness that I report the death of Ian Prophet from Par following a long and brave fight against cancer. A keen birder to the end, Ian will be remembered not only for the many rare birds he found but first and foremost because he was a genuinely nice man, a real rarity in today's world. Our thoughts are with his family."

I am sure I can speak for all the birdwatchers at Par and everyone else who knew him when I say he will be greatly missed by one and all.

Personally I found him an extremely helpful when it came to bird identification. He was obviously a gentleman of the old school. Condolences to Ian's family. Trevor

Ian was a gentleman and very knowledgeable. I had great respect for him and his dedication to bird-watching. I am very sad to hear of his passing and my thoughts are with Ian's brother and family. Angie

Goosander at Par

A brief look at Par and St Andrews this evening 1700hrs.

Par.
Scaup
Bar-headed Goose 3
Barnacle Goose 2
Goosander 10

The Goosander swam around to the far island and were out of sight when we left.

No Goosander at St Andrews although they had been seen earlier.

WE'VE WON.

WE'VE WON! The government has just confirmed they're totally scrapping the forest sell-off. The phoney consultation has been cancelled. The sinister legal changes to pave the way for privatisation have been dropped.We did this together. Next time someone tries to tell any of us that signing petitions or emailing our MPs doesn’t work, we’ll know exactly what to say: “People power does work. Just look at the Save Our Forests campaign”.Over half a million of us can feel very proud of what we've achieved together today.


Part of an email sent to me by David Babbs -38 degrees.

Ring-Necked Parakeet.

There has been a sighting of a Ring-Necked Parakeet at Windmill, Fowey today. The origin is yet unknown.
More info as and when I receive it.

A flock of 60 Siskins reported at St Andrews.
Goosander also back at Par...12

Bittern. (Out of Bounds)

Photograph and Snippet. Andy Cross.

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Has anybody been to a nice birding site in Lostwithial ? We were taking our grandson out for the day and decided to go up where i heard where there is a bittern when i got to the spot i had a good look aound and there was a bittern walking around like he owned the place As i always carry my camera i took a few shots but its to far away to get a good photo see attached photo When you are driving through Lostwithial take the road to the castle and keep driving on until you see a layby on your left with a bench up on the bank now on the right hand side you will see a gate which is slightly overgrown but will give you cover now you are looking down on a swampy area and you dont have to wait long to see the bittern if you look near the water area because you are looking down and the vegetation is short and sombody with the right camera will get some great photos andy cross.

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That would appear to be an easier bird to see and photograph than the Par bird.

Probably be very interesting to the Bittern hunters.