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