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.