Another yank duck...

Yesterday we had a look west, 2 Balearic Shearwaters were the best from a short seawatch off Pendeen. We spent most of the day at Hayle. I picked out the Green-winged Teal again, it showed much better feeding with the Teal and revealing those vertical white stripes. Also an unseasonal female Garganey, a Gadwall, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls (a 4CY and an adult with a yellow ring 'A1C' ringed on Gran Canaria!) and very oddly, an Arctic Tern on Carnsew Pool.

Photo by Calum Urquhart

Garganey

Anyway on to today...
I met everyone this morning and drove up to the Gannel Estuary going for the American Wigeon seen yesterday. As we pulled into the car park 4 horses bounded over the estuary and put all the birds up! They settled again so we had a look around...not a single Wigeon! We walked around a bit more to see if we could find them. There was a large group of Rock Pipits in the marsh about 30+. A nice pale bird caught my attention, it was a *Water Pipit*, some consolation. I called over to others but just I did this the birds flew off over the estuary. Some did returned including the Water Pipit but it only stayed briefly. It was obvious that there were no ducks around here so we decided to have a look at Fistral Bay. No sign here either, it really wasn't looking good. We had another, final, look a bit further up the estuary. The pipits had moved here and looking through them we picked out not just 1 but 2 Water Pipits, even had both in the same scope view. They're awesome birds! Whilst watching the pipits a Wigeon flock flew in! Unfortunately, due to all the people around the site they didn't settle doing a few laps of the estuary before flying of north to Fistral Beach. We raced back over there and looking on the sea finally managed to get views of the Wigeon flock and with them, the very smart drake American Wigeon! A rather bizarre place to see them, sitting on the sea!

Photo by Calum Urquhart

Water Pipit

Pendeen Seawatch and a Green-winged Teal!

Yesterday conditions looked promising for a seawatch of Pendeen, so after a very early start we arrived there shortly after first light. Although nothing particularly unusual, still a nice selction was on offer. My personal tallies included 6 Bonxies, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 12 Balearic Shearwaters, 29 Manxies, 7 Med. Gulls, a Purple Sandpiper and best of all 2 *Pomarine Skuas* (sub adult and juvenile). Passage had slowed by 2 so after an unsuccessful look for the Richard's Pipit at Sennen and the Rosy Starling at Penzance we finished the day at Hayle...this proved to be a great stop. A sizeable gull flock gathered on the riverside. Calum picked out a 4CY Yellow-legged Gull earlier in the day but there was no sign by the evening. 23 Med Gulls were amongst the smaller gulls and a few Common Gulls were dotted around the place. We made our way onto the causeway, Calum had a look at Ryan's Field, Liam carried on looking through the gulls and I turned my attention to a large group of Teal roosting on the bank of the main channel. About half way through the flock I picked out a drake with what looked like a white vertical stripe on its side, although it was partly obscured behind other birds. Luckily, it moved and walked a few steps towards the channel and came fully into view. I got onto to it again and saw that it definitely had a white vertical stripe on the side of its breast. Believing I had a Green-winged Teal I called over Liam and showed him the bird. He too saw the white stripe...It was no doubt a GREEN-WINGED TEAL! Calum ran over and he got onto the bird so then we all started to get some pictures of it. With remains of juvenile feathering on its flanks,  we aged it as a first winter drake. There was a complete lack of any white horizontal stripe on the scapulars, little or no buff border to the green mask and of course a bright white vertical stripe on the breast side. A very smart bird made even better when you find it yourself!

taken last winter in Pembrokeshire

 Purple Sandpiper

Green-winged Teal (record shot)

Out West...

You never know quite what you're going to see around West Penwith, there just always seems to be some interesting birds there. I couldn't resist spending another day birding the area, so after an early start Calum and I left campus to do just that.  There was quite a brisk northerly wind so we first decided to go to Pendeen foar a quick seawatch. After a few heavy showers it cleared and we were able to get out and have a look. Quite overall, with 1000s of auks moving south and large numbers of Kittiwakes as well. Calum eventually got onto a Great Skua, a lifer for him, but I couldn't get it. Calum also picked out a diver flying south which I did get on and see it was a Great Northern Diver. We persevered but with little reward so we decided to go further south to Sennen.

A recently ploughed field at the north of the village looked promising. About 7 Med Gulls a Lapwing, a few Skylarks and lots of Starlings, was all we could find here so we made our way into the village. We attempted to find Brew Pool but we got a bit lost down some farm tracks so gave up and returned to the village. On the drive back we passed a field of cows with a few gulls, then, at the same time, we both shouted... Cattle Egret! I stopped the car in the middle of the road and there in the field next to us was a smart Cattle Egret feeding with the group of gulls...amazing. I got some pictures and Calum got some video just before the egret flew off to another cattle field a bit further south. We had a brief look at Sennen Cove then headed down to have a look at the fields around Polgigga.

Cattle Egret

Skylarks were again in good numbers all over the place, at least 100. We had a look at the fields either side of Bosistow lane. Nothing apart from a 1st Med Gull in the field to the east. However, a stubble field to the west had another large group of Skylarks, and all fairly easy to see. I started to scan through those near the path and then out popped a *Lapland Bunting*. I got Calum on to it, then I found another, then Calum and I both got onto a third! We were looking for more just as a Merlin flew through putting all the birds up. Unfortunately, they settled in another stubble field just out of view. We carried on walking to check some other fields and another flock of Skylarks flew over, I heard one more Lap. Bunting in that group, taking us up to at least 4! We made our way back to Sennen to grab some lunch before heading to Hayle. Unfortunately for Calum, there was no sign of the American Golden Plover, but an adult Yellow-legged Gull was still a nice Cornish tick. We heard that the Rose-coloured Starling was showing in the Morrisons car park in Penzance so with no luck at Hayle we bombed down there. A few Starlings were on the wires when we arrived but no Rosy. However, I wasn't too long before it flew in and landed on the wires...but Calum was in the shop! Thankfully he came back in time and had good views!

Rose-coloured Starling

Back to Hayle and by now the light was beginning to fade. At Carnsoon Pool the 2 Spoonbills were there, along with a few Barwits and Med Gulls.

AGP and more...

Liam and I left campus early on Thursday with the hope of seeing the probable Turkestan Shrike which was found at Sennen the previous day. Upon arrival, it seemed that the bird was no longer present. We gave it an hour and half looking and with no luck, so we decided to visit a few more sites before going back to campus. First down to Lands End and after a while the Dusky Warbler did eventually pop out of the willows to give fairly good but brief views. It was calling constantly but rarely showed and only for a few seconds, but still a good bird and my second of the autumn! Also, a *Yellow-browed Warbler* was calling from the same patch of willows. Other birds around included about 5 Chiffchaffs and a very late Lesser Whitethroat.

Our next stop was Hayle and on the way we made a quick stop at Drift Reservoir. A good stop with 2 Gadwall and 3 Shoveler being Cornish ticks. At Hayle, the usual large numbers of birds, particularly Wigeon and Teal, were present. There was also a sizeable group of Golden Plover just off the causeway. Liam set about looking through them as I had a general scan of the area. A couple of minutes later Liam shouted out "I think I've got an AGP!" A bit of panic set in and I immediately turned to the group and soon picked out the bird in question... it certainly looked interesting. We set about taking notes and pictures of the bird and it eventually flapped its wings, revealing the grey underwing... it was definitely a 1st winter American Golden Plover. Liam put the news out of his awesome find, as I took a few more pictures, but then my camera decided to die. The bird would sometimes disappear in the flock but when seen well it really did stand out.

BOTC American Golden Plover

Still feeling excited from the find we had a quick look Gwithian. Walking around St Gothian Sands NR, Liam picked out a female Goldeneye and right on the other side of the island the *Pink-footed Goose* was still present. A Reed Bunting flew into the reeds which was a Cornish tick for me and Liam.

All that and I made it back with five minutes to spare before my lab practical!