Cornwall & unsocialable lapwing

Purple Sandpiper

View of the bay

Pasty time at St Just

Morning walk on a Sunday

Purple Sandpiper

Porthleven

Not many benches beat this view?

Turnstone

Song Thrush

Ringed Plover

This photo is a good summary of the weekend weather

With lockdown lifted we both fancied a trip to the coast and with a reported Sociable Lapwing in Cornwall we opted to head this way for a change of scenery. The Lapwing had been around for a few days but then hadn't been seen on Friday afternoon so it was no surprise there were no reports on Saturday so we headed to coast and did a walk at Bollatack where we saw our first Chough. Passing through the area there were numbers of Lapwing & Golden Plover in flight.

The weather was very mixed and that would be an understatement. A lunchtime pasty in the car warmed us before we headed to Mousehole which was very pretty. A dozen Turnstones were feeding in the harbour and there were good number of Lesser & Black-backed Gulls on the island.

We then drove round to Penzance and walked along the front, again sunshine, wind and rain continued but I did get to watch a dozen plus Purple Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plover, a Black-throated Diver, 25 Common Scoter and more Turnstones. This rounded the day off nicely.

On Sunday we walked around the edge of Hope Cove in barmy winter sunshine. St.Micheals Mount looked particularly impressive the closer we got to it. A Black-throated Diver flew out of the bay probably given the extra activities taking place as it was so calm. There were huge numbers of Goldfinches all along the path having a feeding frenzy. From here we drove round to Porthleven where were found Mrs D's old family holiday home and lovely coffee and cake. Rock Pipits were the only bird of note. At 12 noon we set off north up the M5 only to get news the Lapwing had been relocated! Fading light would have made it impossible to get back so we cracked on towards home. Its been a fantastic year and we did have a fabulous weekend with plenty of laughs. 

Can't beat a bit of Devon

Labrador Bay

Cirl Bunting

Rainbow on arrival

The Cirl Bunting were very camera shy

Struggling to get a shot

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Black Redstart

Brixham

Armistice Day procession

Family selfie

Great place to watch the march

Purple Sandpiper

Turnstone on the breakwater

We decided to head down the M5 on Saturday to catch up with the outlaws in Devon. The weekend would be heavy in cakes and coffee but also grabbed a couple of sessions of birds between the cake eating.

On Saturday we walked across Exmouth beach opposite Dawlish Warren and recorded the local species of Oystercatchers, Shags, Cormorant, Curlew but nothing out of the ordinary. I've had previous success around Exmouth Sailing Club with Black Redstarts and I was pleased to find two birds over wintering despite the huge housing development.

On Sunday, we headed to Labrador Bay to see the impressive Cirl Buntings. I've only seen them once previously further down the coast. This small reserve is now managed by the RSPB and with their careful managements the Buntings have flourished. There are now 20 pairs doing well here whilst the overall picture is also looking healthy with over 800 pairs in the UK.

It didn't take us long to track them down but getting a clear photographic opportunity took much longer. If you are heading that way prepare for some steep and uneven walking. 

From there we had a couple of hours in Brixham to take in the Armistice Day procession & two minutes silence. It was excellent to see so many people recognises what the day means and showing their support.

We walked along the breakwater & recorded a Red-throated Diver, 5 Turnstones and 2 Purple Sandpiper before retreating for lunch followed by the drive home. 

Spring break (Day 2) - Portland & Lyme Regis

Sandwich Tern

Wheatear

Little Terns

Great Black-backed Gulls

Little Terns

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

Purple Sandpiper

My first full day in Dorset so I headed east towards Portland. First stop was Ferrybridge, where I found a sneaky early bird car parking bay that gives you great views of the Fleet and right opposite the Little Tern colony. The Terns were very active but I'd estimate there were around 50 Little Terns & 12 Sandwich Terns present. A Ringed Plover had also established territory so it could be a very exciting spring.

Down at the Bill sea watching was about quality rather then quantity. An Arctic Skua ( one of two seen) came really close to lighthouse chasing a gull and I also added two Great & Pomarines. Other passage included 100+ Manx Shearwaters, 30+ Common Scoter, a Great Northern Diver & 30 Gannets. Guillemot & a couple of Razorbills were on the sea and cliffs. On the deck it was much quieter than expected however I did see a Tree Sparrow in the observatory garden and also picked up a couple of Rock Pipits & a Wheatear. 

After a quick recharge I got the bike ready and did a very difficult lap of Lyme Regis. I was rather pleased the 11 regular Purple Sandpiper were still present and even in winter plumage. 

Winter Cornish Capers (Day 1) - Dawn to dusk

We are off to Cornwall

First stop

Squire bagging Lesser Scaup

Spot the hidden beauty

Grey Plover

Wigeon army 

Dunlin flock

Purple Sandpiper

St Micheal's Mount

Hudsonian Whimbrel

You-tube video

Can't beat a bit of gulling

Closer views

When the eldest lads basketball fixtures were announced with a game at Plymouth in January I thought I'd double it up with a birding trip in Cornwall. These plans went astray when he suffered a grade b ligament tear which ruled him out from the trip however the Squire was keen to step in for a two day birding jolly. A four a.m alarm call got us well ahead of the traffic but it was quite a shock when we got out of the warm car on Bodmin Moor for our first stop at Dozmary Pool. Our target bird was a drake Lesser Scaup which took us around fifteen minutes to locate in the near arctic conditions. Other sightings in the notebook were eight Tufted Duck, nine Pochard, Little Egret, a Snipe & Stonechat. The Lesser Scaup was a lifer for Paul so the frozen fingers & running nose were worth it.

Next stop was Hayle where we found another two of our target birds, a juvenile Spoonbill & a Green-winged Teal that did take a bit of finding. The waders were very close to our causeway viewing spot. Other species included Grey Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, Teal, Wigeon & a good selection of gulls but not the Iceland we were really after. 

Now for the big target the Pacific Diver, first reported in St Austell 2007, it was a species I'd been wanting to catch up with for a long time. By bizarre coincidence a juvenile was reported up in Northumberland as we were in Cornwall. Conditions were far from ideal but on the plus side there were only two divers to be seen, a Great Northern & the Pacific. The problem was the sea was so rough the views were very limited. A return visit in the morning beckoned. Purple Sandpipers & Turnstones fed on the rocks below us. I'd never seen Purple Sandpipers so close & active.

We then headed round to Hope Cove where the Hudsonian Whimbrel past us calling to land on the beach with four little Egrets. Out at sea a flock of Black-necked Grebes were sheltering in the shadow of the mount. 

Our final stop was back at Hayle where we were staying. With the Squire starting to think Iceland Gulls didn't actually exist he then shouted "I've got one" and for sure as I looked through his scope and it was a spanking juvenile. We got a few other birders on to the bird before walking around for a closer view where I took a few shots as best as I could in the fading light.

After a quick battery re-charge we headed up the road to local pub where we met up with top local birder Paul Freestone who maintains the websites Cornwall & the Scillies as well producing the rare/scarce bird reports. Paul had agreed to show us a few of the local sites the following morning.

Best of the rest in Devon

River Dart in Dartmouth

It would be rude to not take a walk up on Berry Head when down in Devon and it was great to see a Gannet flying very close to the edge of the cliffs. Around 300-500 Guillemots had returned to the cliffs and there was a small number of shags. I also found a pair of Rock Pipits towards the far end of the rock face. At the second  attempt of walking the perimeter fields I located a Cirl Bunting taking cover from the wind (must say I did find the dogs not on leads annoying). On the plus side the car park machine was not working enabling a free for all rampage for parking.

From there we headed down into Brixham harbour for a cup of tea at the breakwater car park before walking along to see the flock of resident Purple Sandpiper and Turnstones. These are difficult birds to see but I find this location one of the most reliable in the country.

Finally, on the journey back home we stopped at RSPB Bowling Green Marsh to get some great views of a Spotted Redshank that was feeding in the estuary. 

Despite the chest infection and not being able to walk as far as I would normally we all had a good Easter break.