What a drizzly day
I am writing this from the warmth of Lands End Youth Hostel as I got rather wet this morning.
a let less bird movement today, as there was a howling 28mph SE down the Cot valley
a flock of 2 Fieldfare followed by a monster flock of 40+ Fieldfare soon had my wet weather gear on and out the house.
Chaffinch - only 21 birds today in 7 flocks.
Brambling - single bird flew up the valley late morning
Song Thrush - 4 birds seen working their way up the Valley
Redwing - Much smaller numbers today - only 6 birds in 3 flocks
Goldfinch - 1 + 11 birds moving up the Valley
Starling - Quite a lot of movement - over 300 birds in 4 flocks - largest flock was 180+
1 Mistle Thrush was a surprise heading up the Valley in a rainstorm
1 Meadow Pipit also headed u the valley.
Cot Valley Beach
2 Black Redstarts
6 Meadow Pipits
2 Robins
1 Stonechat
2 Grey Heron
Cot Valley
1 Firecrest - Showed really well
1 Siberian Chiffchaff showed well and calling
4 Blackcap ( 2 male and 2 female )
3 Goldcrest
3 Robin
4 Blackbird
Its still tipping it down and the wind is howling ... I may just stay inside a little longer - but I guess the Ovenbird wont find itself :-)
Simon
Tuesday 29 October 2019
Monday 28 October 2019
Cornwall 19 - Day 1 28th October 2019.
Wow
I do love viz mig, today was a bit special
OK, there were no rares or even a bit of juicy scarce to get my teeth into but it felt rare all day and the experience of seeing many "in-off" thrushes and finches was a day to remember
Woke up super early after a cracking nights sleep, as the clocks have just gone back, it meant that the faint tendrils of dawn started to make themsleves known about 07:15.
As noted yesterday, I had booked breakfast, which was incredible and def well worth the £6.25 price tag. Full english + 4 slices of toast + Cereal + Pastries + Yoghurt + Coffee + Juice.
I ventured out at 08:00, 6 Chaffinches were flying around the YHA grounds and I could hear Goldcrests and Redwings and there was no rain, in fact the rain held off for most of the morning and only realy started in earnest at midday ( and then didnt stop )
I decided to head through the Valley first thing and then do a bit of Seawatching at Cape Cornwall, upon leaving the YHA, I bumped into Ken Arber ( of Porthgwarra Hermit Thrush fame) Ken and I chewed the fat for 25 mins of past glories on Scilly and Cornwall before I headed down the Valley
As we were engrossed in chatting, the many Chaffinch and Redwing flocks that went over were uncounted , but were probably in the range of 50 Chaffinch and 60 Redwing, a single Fieldfare also flew straight up the Valley.
a quick look at the ruined cottage, Chiffchaff and 5 Blue Tits were active, 2 FIRECREST showed well along the coast path in the last garden out of the valley with 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Song Thrush, a female BULLFINCH was unexpected as it moved up the valley.
I started to keep an accurate count at this point and for the rest of the walk round to Cape Cornwall
Chaffinch - 32 + 6 + 19 + 7 + 14 + 1 + 46 (!) + 9 + 1 + 16 + 3 + 9 = 163 - All moving E/NE
Redwing - 84 in 6 flocks ( largest flock 62)
Fieldfare - a further 2 singles up the valley
Blackbird - 6 migrants, coming in high and up the valley
Starling - 6 + 28 in-off
Meadow Pipit - high flying birds as opposed to lingerers - 2 + 1 + 1 +3
Song Thrush - 1 + 1
I then spent about an hour looking around the Cape Cornwall Priests Cove area
10 Stonechat
9 Meadow Pipit
2 Song Thrush
4 Blackbird
3 Chiffchaff
11 Goldfinch
3 Grey Wagtail
2 Dunnock
2 BLACK REDSTARTS (1 1st winter male around the NT buildings and a female in garden of Cove Cottage)
3 Dunnock
4 Robin
2 Chough
10 Raven
1 Male Blackcap
a very brief Seawach saw 5 Red Admiral (!) , 6 Harbour Porpoise , 33 Guillemot and 2 Razorbill in ID range, many other Auks miles out, Gannets and Shags
Very few birds on way back ( the overhead migration wore off by 11:45) and 2 Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were the best of them, 6 Woodpigeon and 25 Chaffinch were feeding at head of the valley.
a quick regroup ( well a nap ) had me raring to go at 14:30, however this was a trip to Sainsburys as I had forgotten to bring a Towel !
I decided to have a look for the Rose Coloured Starling in Penzance, but no sign, Red Throated Diver in Marizion bay was nice, 7 Pied Wagtail and Rock Pipit were best off Newlyn and sadly a dead Common Dolphin was all the Mousehole bay had to offer
as the drizzle started to get worse, i finished the day off with Fish and chips at Sennen
Hopeful that tomorrow will bring more american bounty
Simon
I do love viz mig, today was a bit special
OK, there were no rares or even a bit of juicy scarce to get my teeth into but it felt rare all day and the experience of seeing many "in-off" thrushes and finches was a day to remember
Woke up super early after a cracking nights sleep, as the clocks have just gone back, it meant that the faint tendrils of dawn started to make themsleves known about 07:15.
As noted yesterday, I had booked breakfast, which was incredible and def well worth the £6.25 price tag. Full english + 4 slices of toast + Cereal + Pastries + Yoghurt + Coffee + Juice.
I ventured out at 08:00, 6 Chaffinches were flying around the YHA grounds and I could hear Goldcrests and Redwings and there was no rain, in fact the rain held off for most of the morning and only realy started in earnest at midday ( and then didnt stop )
I decided to head through the Valley first thing and then do a bit of Seawatching at Cape Cornwall, upon leaving the YHA, I bumped into Ken Arber ( of Porthgwarra Hermit Thrush fame) Ken and I chewed the fat for 25 mins of past glories on Scilly and Cornwall before I headed down the Valley
As we were engrossed in chatting, the many Chaffinch and Redwing flocks that went over were uncounted , but were probably in the range of 50 Chaffinch and 60 Redwing, a single Fieldfare also flew straight up the Valley.
a quick look at the ruined cottage, Chiffchaff and 5 Blue Tits were active, 2 FIRECREST showed well along the coast path in the last garden out of the valley with 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Song Thrush, a female BULLFINCH was unexpected as it moved up the valley.
I started to keep an accurate count at this point and for the rest of the walk round to Cape Cornwall
Chaffinch - 32 + 6 + 19 + 7 + 14 + 1 + 46 (!) + 9 + 1 + 16 + 3 + 9 = 163 - All moving E/NE
Redwing - 84 in 6 flocks ( largest flock 62)
Fieldfare - a further 2 singles up the valley
Blackbird - 6 migrants, coming in high and up the valley
Starling - 6 + 28 in-off
Meadow Pipit - high flying birds as opposed to lingerers - 2 + 1 + 1 +3
Song Thrush - 1 + 1
I then spent about an hour looking around the Cape Cornwall Priests Cove area
10 Stonechat
9 Meadow Pipit
2 Song Thrush
4 Blackbird
3 Chiffchaff
11 Goldfinch
3 Grey Wagtail
2 Dunnock
2 BLACK REDSTARTS (1 1st winter male around the NT buildings and a female in garden of Cove Cottage)
3 Dunnock
4 Robin
2 Chough
10 Raven
1 Male Blackcap
a very brief Seawach saw 5 Red Admiral (!) , 6 Harbour Porpoise , 33 Guillemot and 2 Razorbill in ID range, many other Auks miles out, Gannets and Shags
Very few birds on way back ( the overhead migration wore off by 11:45) and 2 Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were the best of them, 6 Woodpigeon and 25 Chaffinch were feeding at head of the valley.
a quick regroup ( well a nap ) had me raring to go at 14:30, however this was a trip to Sainsburys as I had forgotten to bring a Towel !
I decided to have a look for the Rose Coloured Starling in Penzance, but no sign, Red Throated Diver in Marizion bay was nice, 7 Pied Wagtail and Rock Pipit were best off Newlyn and sadly a dead Common Dolphin was all the Mousehole bay had to offer
as the drizzle started to get worse, i finished the day off with Fish and chips at Sennen
Hopeful that tomorrow will bring more american bounty
Simon
Sunday 27 October 2019
Cornwall - October 2019 - Day minus one.
So, here we go again (sang James Blunt when singing about
1973, the Club in Ibiza rather than my birth year 😊)
Another blog post in this never ending and enduring blog
It’s the annual Rob and Simon Cornwall trip, but without Rob
as he couldn’t make it ☹
It’s a bit weird coming on my own, but wanted to keep the
dream alive.
I travelled down on Sunday afternoon after seeing the 6
WHOOPER SWANS at Linford just after 14:00.
I arrived at Letcha Vean YHA in Cot Valley about 20:50,
which was too late for food from anywhere, so had 2 beers and 2 packets of
crisps. Oh and a Snickers bar, because I like to live life on the edge.
Can’t wait to see what the grounds have to hold in the
morning …
Have opted for Cooked Breakfast though in light of no food this
evening so will be a latish start …
have also forgotten a towel, so will need
to head into Penzance after my morning rounds
I am predicting a Parula Warbler ( but will be happy with a Blackcap :-) )
Simon
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