Back In Pembrokeshire

I got back home on the 12th, so the next day I had to go to Camrose to see the MASKED WAGTAIL. Unfortunately the weather wasn't great but as soon as I got there the stunning bird was walking and feeding along the road. It walked straight towards me at one point and got with in two metres. The bird was a little soggy due to the wet weather but that big bib and mask was very distinct. I had a bit of time afterwards so went down to Newgale to have a look around. Lots of pipits and gathered on the flooded campsite, and most of them were Water Pipits! I counted 7 in total the most I've ever seen and a new bird for me in Pembrokeshire.

MASKED WAGTAIL

Water Pipit

I spent the next few weeks birding on patch at Amroth and Wiseman's Bridge. Gulls were the main target with a large gull flocks on both the beaches. The highlights were 2 1st winter Yellow-legged Gulls (one last week and one the week before) and 3 Med Gulls (2 adults and 1 1st winter). The sea really delivered over the last few weeks starting with a Velvet Scoter flying west off Wiseman's Bridge on the 15th. The next day at Amroth a *Black-throated Diver* was offshore. A rare bird in Carmarthen Bay and great surprise. The usual Red-throated Divers, Great Crested Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers were always present and it seems a very good year for scoters easily 4,000 in total with a reasonable number within scoping distance. When checking the gulls at Amroth on the 22nd it was great to see a *Long-tailed Duck* flying east through the bay. I eventually saw it close in off Wiseman's Bridge and aged it as a 1st winter drake. I saw it again on the 23rd, 24th and 25th from both Coppet Hall and Wiseman's Bridge. A *Slavonian Grebe* was also off Coppet Hall on the 24th a very good bird to see down here but unfortunately just off patch! At Ginst Point on the 26th loads of ducks including my highest count of Pintail, 70 in total from the river and east marsh and 2 Tufted Ducks, my 141 species on patch this year.

Long-tailed Duck

Catch Up- Cambs, Norfolk and Dusky Thrush...

After then end of my first term at university I spent a few days in Cambridgeshire birding with Calum. Our first start was to Paxton Pits where after a good look of the area, we finally picked out the female Ring-necked Duck, albeit quite distant, with a small group of Tufted Ducks. A while later I picked out the *Great White Egret* on the adjacent pit.

The next day was spent on the north Norfolk coast, starting at Titchwell and finishing at Cley. Titchwell got off to a great start with a smart female Brambling on the feeders (surprisingly on the second I've ever seen). Other birds on the reserve including a textbook adult Yellow-legged Gull and 3 Spotted Redshanks. The sea, our main target was full of birds, in a hour seawatch we had 39 Long-tailed Ducks, 8 Velvet Scoters, 3 Scaup, 40+ Goldeneye, about 300 Common Scoter, 2 RT Divers and 25 GC Grebes. Next to Holkham Gap, with our target being the flock of *Shore Larks* that had been frequenting the location regularly so far this winter. Walking the the marsh, it wasn't until the far east end that we finally put up a flock. They settle a short distant away and soon had great views of the these stunning birds on the deck. We counted 25 in all, but they were quite unsettle never sat for long. They eventually flew further east and out of view. Walking back another group flew in from the west and settle in front of us. We counted about another 20, making 45(!) in total. By now a group of 10 Brent Geese were feeding in the marsh. One stood out and was very black with white flank patches and a very thick white neck collar...it was a Black Brant, bonus! Finally at Cley hoping for the gull roost that unfortunately never really happened. The highlights here were a large gathering of Ruff and very close views of a Water Rail.

Brambling

Shore Larks

Black Brant with Dark-bellies

Dusky Thrush twitch: We didn't leave particularly early so after a two hour drive we arrived at Beeley shortly after 1pm. Then the anxious wait started. After ten minutes of no sign someone pointed it our flying over head, We got onto it, but only very briefly, and I didn't even see it through bins! That would not do, we'd have to see it better. Worryingly, there was no sign of it for over two hours, but eventually,  much to everyone's relief, it returned to the orchard and after a mad dash over, we had some great views of the very rare and very smart DUSKY THRUSH. Photography was difficult in the poor light so only managed a few record shots that don't really do the bid much justice.

DUSKY THRUSH (record shots)

Devon- Desert Wheatear and Cirl Buntings

On Monday morning we left campus and drove north with the hope of seeing the Desert Wheatear at Thurlestone on the south coast of Devon. After an anxious drive up we arrive shortly after 11am. Luckily, Leas Foot beach (where the Wheatear was present) is a very small beach, so after a quick scan of the area, we soon pick up the stunning Desert Wheatear, amongst the seaweed on the strand line. The bird entertained us for hours and was very showy, even down to a few metres at times! The combination of the orange/sandy tones, the black wings, face and tail and the white rump make this very attractive bird, surprising camouflaged against the sand, usually in a desert, but in this case on a beach!  A fantastic bird and very much worth the trip to see it. We turned our attention briefly to the sea. Quite with a few Razorbills and Gannets moving past, that was until Calum picked up a Bonxie flying along the coast! 

Desert Wheatear (what a stunner!)

We had a few more hours free before we need to get back so we decided to drive a little further north to Broadsands with the possibility of seeing *Cirl Buntings*. We had a quick lunch and then carried on to look around the site. A local birder gave us some useful infomation as to where to find them so we took his advice and walked on the seafront checking the hedgerows alongside. 14 Brent Geese including 1 pale-bellied were close in shore but there was till no sign of our buntings. However, our doubts were short lived as Calum picked up a few calling in the reeds. A smart male then jumped into view and gave good but brief views. By now a little group of about 8 had joined and seemed to be moving along the hedge, Back at the car park we found a pair coming to seed place just alongside the hedge, here we had some really great views of another very smart species. Just before the light faded to much we had a look offshore, A small scoter flock was very distant but I was happy to call at least 2 Velvet Scoters with a few Commons, Also, a Black-necked Grebe out in the bay.

Cirl Buntings

Cornwall, Somerset and Cornwall again...

I haven't had a chance to update the blog in a while due to university work so here's the catch up from the last few weeks.
The afternoon of 25th November, Max, Ben and I went down to Marazion to witness the spectacular flocks of Starlings going into roost. Before the Starlings arrived I had a look out into Mount's Bay. A Red-throated Diver, 2 Common Scoter and a Red-breasted Merganser were the highlights. On the marsh loads of Snipe and the best views I've had of Jack Snipes, 2 were feeding in the open on the edge of the marsh. The Starling numbers started to build around 4pm with roughly 10-20,000 roosting in total. The noise and numbers were amazing! The day ended perfectly with nice views of a *Bittern* flying over the marsh at dusk.
Max, Calum and I spent the day out birding on the 26th, we started at Tehidy woods, and soon heard a calling *Yellow-browed Warbler*. We soon picked it in the tit flock and eventually it gave some great views. Next to Hayle, which unusually was fairly quite. A Spoonbill showed well from the causeway, and based on the large amounts of black in the primaries, I am pretty sure its a third bird. Very few gulls around and no yellow-legs, but I did manage to pick out the Green-winged Teal with the other ducks. Also, 5 Goosanders there too. We had a look for divers at Carbis Bay and got all three common species. 5 Great Northerns, 3 Red-throats and 3 Black-throats, the latter a new bird for Calum. Another Great Northern was off Penzance and surprisingly a pair of Goldeneye too. A fantastic male Black Redstart showed well on the rooftops by Newlyn Harbour. We finished the day at Marazion for the Starling roost, as always a great spectacle and there was still 1 Jack Snipe on the Marsh.

 

Spoonbill

A very early start on the 29th as I met with the guys to spend the whole day birding in Max's home county-Somerset. We arrived at RSPB Ham Wall shortly before 7am and made our way to wait for the mass emergence of Starlings; it really didn't disappoint. The noise of the birds was amazing and after a short while they all took of in huge flocks a couple of thousand strong to spend the day elsewhere on the levels. Max also promised me *Great White Egrets*. And it wasn't long before we saw our first of the day, 2 flew over the reserve. Walking back a further 3 together were seen. Next to Westhay Moor, and unfortunately the Bearded Tits didn't make an appearance but we did flush 8 Jack Snipe with 15 Snipe. At RSPB Greylake loads of Teal were just out from the hide and at least 1 Water Pipit was with the Mipit flocks, though very distant at the back of the marsh. At West Sedgmoor early afternoon, a large flock of ducks gathered. Mostly Wigeon and at least 4 Pintail. 3 Marsh Harriers together harassing a Teal flock and Peregrine zoomed through. I picked up 3 *Cranes* flying over the marsh and the settle in the nearby fields. Also present were 15+ Blackwit and a Green Woodpecker. We returned to RSPB Ham Wall to watch the Starlings come into roost. A Great White Egret was still on the marsh and showed very well. The Starlings started to arrive in there thousands, murmurating overhead before settling into the reeds. And finally a Bittern put in an appearance flying over the reeds. We finished the day on 80 species, a pretty impressive list.

 

Starlings 

On Thursday afternoon, we heard news of *Velvet Scoters* in Carrick Roads, so Max took us up to take a look. We viewed from Mylor, with the first birds being 7 Red- breasted Mergansers. I picked up 2 distant ducks, closer to Feock side. Although very distant, we were pretty sure they were Eider, a female and a 1st winter drake. Max picked up the scoters in flight and we picked them up as they landed on the water. Great views of the 2 females and an immature drake. Other interesting birds included: 3 Great Northern and 3 Black-throated Divers and 4 Black-necked Grebe.
That evening I was down at College Lake and picked out a duck that looked like a Scaup with the Tufted Duck, the light had faded so much I wasn't sure so Calum and I went down there yesterday morning. We walked down through campus and picked up a *Yellow-browed Warbler* calling nearby, unfortunately we didn't see it. At the lake Calum found  2 Firecrests together, and 3 female Goldeneye were close to the dam. We could see the group of Tufted Ducks from here so decided to have a quick scan for the duck. I picked it up and we were fairly confident it was a Scaup but it was still a little distant. 7 Med Gulls were with the Black-heads but nothing interesting with the larger gulls. We walked further around and got closer enough to see the tufties well. I picked up the duck again, views were much better, and we confirmed it was indeed a Scaup, a 1st winter drake. Also 4 Shoveler on the lake and nice views of a Marsh Tit in the woods.

photo by Calum Urquhart

 Scaup (record shot)

 Later in the afternoon, we headed up to Feock to check Carrick Roads. Again plenty of birds present including 5 Great Northern and 2 Black-throated Divers, 10 Black-necked Grebes and 14 Red-breasted Mergansers. More birds were in the bay but they were to distant to ID so we went to Mylor to look from there. From here I picked up the 3 *Velvet Scoters*, (distantly from Feock) and an extra Black-throat and 3 more Great Northern Divers.

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!

A day out in Cornwall

Yesterday, Calum, Liam and I spent the whole day birding around Cornwall. We started at Hayle estuary, and although there was no report of the Franklin's Gull yesterday, Liam soon picked it up roosting just off the causeway with Black-headed Gulls and 9 Med Gulls. It was there for a few minutes before flying towards the A30 and making a turn north, seemingly heading towards Gwithian. It was reported back on the estuary later in the day. A new bird for Calum and a Cornish tick (but not even a year tick!) for Liam. Scanning over the estuary, Liam picked up the immature Spoonbill and I counted 148 Lapwing, 62 Golden Plover, 3 Grey Plover, a Greenshank and 7 Bar-tailed Godwit amongst the mass of Wigeon and Teal.
Next, we headed south to Polgigga to look for the possible Eastern Yellow Wagtail reported yesterday evening. We couldn't find the wagtail, and it wasn't reported by others today, but there was clearly lots of birds around. To start, a flock of larks and finches flew over us. Liam and Calum picked out a call which sound unusual, I must have missed it because all I could hear was Skylark. Liam played back a few calls and reckoned it was a Short-toed Lark. It was difficult to be sure because the call was only brief and we never saw or heard it again. We walked on a bit further to check ploughed fields between Lower & Higher Bosistow Farm. Scanning the fields was hard work, birds would constantly fly up and settle elsewhere and others would disappear from view behind large clumps of earth. Lots of Linnets, Skylarks, Mipits and Pied Wagtails were in the field and after much searching we got a reward. I picked up an interesting pipit feeding with a few Mipits about 100m away. It kept disappearing behind the clumps of earth but eventually came out so I had a good view. It was Rock Pipit like in size and shape with very white underparts, lacking any dark smudging on the flanks and also the streaking was notably finer down the flanks than on the breast. Features included fairly streaked grey-brown upperparts, 2 white wing bars, a white eye ring and although a supercilium was visible it did not stand out. Another key feature was the malar patch on the side of the breast, which was quite large and really stood out. I showed the bird to Liam who suggested a Water Pipit. Calum had a look and after a look in the book and the features noted we were happy to call it a *Water Pipit*, a lifer for me. After about 15 minutes it flew and was lost, probably still in the field though. Other highlights here was c12 House Martins (very late), a immature Merlin zooming past and about 150+ Skylarks.
We decided to have a quick look around Porthgwarra because we were nearby. Apart from a Great Spotted Woodpecker there was completely nothing until Calum found a immature Black Redstart on the Doctor's House. We had a short seawatch, very little apart from 20+ Razorbills and several Gannets.

Black Redstart

It was lunchtime by the time we got to Penzance so we called into McDonalds for some food, then went back to Hayle. We looked at Carnsew Pool where 2 Goosanders reported. The Spoonbill was present and was really quite close. Liam picked up two ducks and I got my scope on them. They were very distant but we were all pretty sure they weren't Goosanders. We walked around the pool to get closer and confirmed they were actually Red-breasted Mergansers... still nice birds nonetheless.
Our final stop was Gerrans Bay. It's a fair drive from Hayle, about an hour so it was gone 4.30pm when we arrived. The sea was a bit choppy but this didn't stop us picking out an impressive 10 Great Northen Divers, most of which still had a lot of their summer plumage. Calum picked out the smart *Red-necked Grebe* also in the bay, another new bird for him and only the second I've seen!

Carrick Roads and Devoran

This afternoon, Calum and I went up to Carrick Roads with the hope of seeing one of my bogey birds...Black-necked Grebe. For Calum too, it would be a new bird, so surely, we had to find them! The problem is that Carrick Roads is large and with few access points, viewing is difficult. We first tried Mylor Harbour as our view point. A few Shags were offshore and a group of 9 Turnstones were roosting on a small boat. We walked further along the shingle until we reached a spot where we could scan from. Another 10 Turnstone were feeding here. After a good look very distantly I across a small raft of birds, Calum got onto them and we both confirmed they were *Black-necked Grebes,* 14 in total! Finally we'd seen them but they were distant and seemed closer to Foeck, so we headed up there to get some better views.
On our way we called in to Devoran to check the wader roost. A smaller number of birds were present than on previous visits but the Spotted Redshank was still present with about 100 Redshank, 1 Knot, 36 Blackwit, 30 Dunlin, 5 Barwit and 60+ Curlew.
The light was just beginning to fade by the time we got to Feock, so we quickly set up the scopes and started looking for the grebes. I noticed a large gull roost that stretched right down the east side of Carrick Roads, mostly Black-heads but there was also a lot of Med Gulls, with more birds arriving all the time. I was curious to see how many Meds were there, so slowly, I worked my way through the roost and by the end, the tally was an impressive 115+ Med Gulls! By now Calum had re-found the raft of grebes and although still distant, they were closer than before and finally some good views of these smart grebes were had.

Curlew Sandpiper at Devoran on the 14th

Pectoral Sandpiper revisited

Last week I went back to College Lake to spend some time photographing the juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper. Here's some of the best...

Franklin's Gull!

On Wednesday evening I went down to Hayle estuary hoping to see a certain Nearctic gull  that had been in the area. The light was fading when I arrived so I wasn't hopeful. From the causeway a scan of the gulls revealed nothing. A birder nearby said he was watching it and he put me onto the bird. It was very distant, roosting on the sand with lots of Black-heads and about 20 Med Gulls. I managed a quick photo just before the whole flock took off and flew south presumably going to roost in nearby Carbis Bay. Feeling a bit underwhelmed from such a brief view, I carried on looking across the estuary. I soon picked up the immature *Spoonbill* feeding in the river and had nice views of Bar-tailed Godwit and about 200 Wigeon on the mudflats. Back towards the car, 2 Water Rail were squabbling in the reeds and a few Redwings flew overhead.

I was eager to try for better views of the gull so yesterday morning I went back to Hayle. Upon arrival a large group of gulls on the waters edge was obvious, but looking through them showed very little of interest. A few more birders joined the search and after forty minutes of no luck I was needed to get back home. Eventually a birder picked it out on the shingle about thirty metres from the causeway...we all missed it fly in! The views of the superb adult winter Franklin's Gull were excellent as it sat with a few Black-heads. It stayed put for a while allowing me to get some much better pictures. It then flew back over our heads and into the fields around the village.

Franklin's Gull

Izzy Wheatear @ Godrevy Point

News broke of an Isabelline Wheatear at Godrevy Point, so Calum and I had to go up there to take a look. Although not a new bird for me, having seen the bird in Pembrokeshire in 2013, I was still very keen to see this one. The last report before we left said "showing well," surely we couldn't fail! We arrived at Godrevy shortly after 4pm and from the car park, a group of birders were immediately visible watching something...hopefully the Wheatear. We quickly walked up to join them and were soon onto the fantastic ISABELLINE WHEATEAR. It showed very well and reasonably close throughout, allowing us to see the plumage details that distinguish it from Northern Wheatear. The black alula wasn't always visible seemingly covered by the covert feather at times. The upperparts were sandy brown throughout with little contrast with the underparts. The buffish supercilium was prominent at all angles, the lores appeared dark and the ear coverts were the same as the rest of the plumage In flight, the black tail band was obvious and clearly broader than the length of the protruding black on centre tail feathers. The stance was very upright  with the long legs almost vertical. Its movements were a series of  jerking runs then pauses and it would frequently pump its tail, particularly upon landing.

ISABELLINE WHEATEAR

Comparison between Northern Wheatear (left) and Isabelline Wheatear (right)

After watching the Wheatear for about an hour we decided to have a look for the *Snow Buntings* that had also been seen on the point for the last few days. We soon found a few birders watching the four birds feeding on the heather seeds. Just as I got my scope out they took off and flew to the other side of the headland. I followed them and eventually stumble across them near to where they were before. I had the stunning birds to myself and got very close at times, almost a metre away! Here's some pictures...

Snow Buntings

Dusky dreams come true...

I sometimes go through phases of birds I want to see. A couple of weeks ago it was Citrine Wagtail, not sure why, but I just really want to see one. However, for some reason, this week I've been very interested in Dusky/Radde's Warblers. Although not the most colourful of birds their origins are truly amazing. Both Dusky and Radde's are highly migratory breeding in the very east of Asia, with there entire populations moving south to winter in South East Asia. In other words, a very faraway from Britain! To my surprise and delight, a Dusky Warbler was found at Chapel Porth near St Agnes on Saturday. Being my current target bird I had to try and see it. So early yesterday morning, I headed up to Chapel Porth. After a short walk up the valley, I got to the site where it had been reported. Apart from a few Chiffchaffs there wasn't much around, no sign of that aforementioned warbler. After about half an hour of looking I heard a sharp "tcek" coming from the willows, it was the DUSKY WARBLER! It then flew out of the willows over my head and into some bracken on the other side of the path. There it continued to call but it was out of view. Over the time, I managed some good but brief views of it as it poked out of the cover. It would disappear quite a lot but would always give its presence away with its call. As the day went on it became more and more elusive and seeing it became really quite difficult. Unfortunately, its elusive nature made viewing difficult, and photographing it, almost impossible. Whilst watching the Dusky, I found a Firecrest in the same willows, which provided a bit of entertainment when the Dusky went missing.

Lizard- Red-breasted Flycatcher and more!

My friend Calum and I decided to get up early and head down the Lizard. We arrived shortly after sunrise, but things started slow with very unsuccessful look around Kynance Cove. Driving back along Kynance Road a Merlin shot pass, a little better perhaps? We parked in the village, watched a Wheatear on the village green, then proceeded on foot. First a short walk up the Kynance Road bridleway. From here a Peregrine flew over the village, 5 Siskin flew south west and also a Great Spotted Woodpecker on the telegraph pole, with the latter being quite difficult to catch up with, this south on the Lizard. We then carried on and got to Church Cove. Covering the Churchyard I couldn't see a lot, apart from the odd Chiffchaff, so we tried the lane to Bass Point. Shortly after walking through the farmyard, Calum got onto a warbler in the brambles. He was pretty sure it was a garden but views were brief. Oddly, whilst Calum was following his Garden Warbler, I looked into another bramble bush and out popped another Garden Warbler, 2 together on quite a late date! Elsewhere things went quite again with a Goldcrest and a few Chiffchaffs in the tamarisks around the youth hostel being the only birds of note. Back in the village we bumped into George and Ilya. We stopped for a while in the café for a slice of cake whilst all manner of thunder, hail and heavy rain raged on outside. Luckily a break in the clouds soon came and we were able to get out again. Ilya and George went off the have a look at Church Cove, whilst Calum and I tried the Old Lizard head and Caerthillian Cove. For us things were really quite with only a few Meadow Pipits and about 10 Skylarks moving overhead. To make matters worse another heavy shower came storming through and soaked us to the skin! We walked back to the car to get some shelter and we were ready to call it a day, but I couldn't resist another look at Church Cove, just in case Ilya and George had found something good. Not wanting to walk, I drove down instead. Pulling up in the car park I saw George watching something. Hoping it was a Yellow-browed, which would be a new for Calum, we made our way over. However, I had a feeling what ever they were looking at was little better than just a Yellow-browed. Whilst discussing the possibilities with Calum, Ilya met us and said he found a Red-breasted Flycatcher!! We ran over to meet George and soon got the fantastic RB Flycatcher in view. Having just got signal and I could see a text from George saying, "RB Fly in Church Cove". It was purely luck that we decided to go back to Church Cove, and I'm so glad we did. A new bird for both me and Calum. Back to the bird. the pale fringes to the tertials, a faint wingbar and a buffish breast point to it being a 1st winter. It showed really well in the plantation and would sit happily on a bare branch for up to 30 seconds at a time, offering great views. It called a few times too, a repeated ticking, similar to that of a Wren. As the day went on it became more mobile, seemingly doing circuits of the plantation and would go missing for quite a while. Spurred on by the flycatcher, we had another look around the village, but with little success, just a female Blackcap. A frustrating short view of what looked like a Yellow-browed in Church Cove marked the end of another fantastic day on the Lizard.

Red-breasted Flycatcher