Jubilee Pool in Penzance, Newlyn Pier & Harbour, Drift Reservoir, Trethewey and another site in West Penwith area, Cornwall, Britain.

Out along the coast again with some nice species.

 

The Rocks near Jubilee Pool.

We again started the day watching the feeders seeing House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos).

Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima).

European Shag (Cormorán Moñudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) and European Herring Gulls (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

Our first spot of the day was at Jubilee Pool in Penzance, after parking we checked out the rocks to the NW of the main swimming pool and soon found good numbers of Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima) which are one of my favourate waders.

Looking out across Mounts Bay.

St Michael's Mount.

We also saw several Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Common Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula) and a single Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata).

Ruddy Turnstones (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).

On the rocks and on the sea we also picked up a single Black-throated Diver (Colimbo Ártico / Gavia arctica) and 2 Great Northern's (Colimbo Grande / Gavia immer), European Shag (Cormorán Moñudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Great Black-backed (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and a couple of Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

Just up the road we called in at Newlyn Harbour where we saw lots more Great Black-backed Gulls, European Herring, Black-headed and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), European Shag (Cormorán Moñudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Ruddy Turnstones, Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax) x2 and a ♀ Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).

Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

As we were leaving Newlyn we picked up some Pasties and then went up to the car park above Drift Reservoir and enjoyed them, once I had eaten mine I got the bins out again and scanned the Res finding Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis)  European Herring Gulls and a couple of Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) feeding amongst some Cattle more like Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis).

A returning fishing boat.

Steve then took us out to the village of Trethewey where we dipped on a Glossy Ibis (Morito Común / Plegadis falcinellus) which had been around for a while, we did see Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and a few nice looking Daff's.

The Daff's.

The Daff's.

Our final stop of the day was at another nearby site where seconds after we parked we had a flyby Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus) a little earlier than we expected. 

Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus).

Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus).

We got our kit together and went for a walk along a muddy nearby track but it was so worth it as by the time we left we had seen 4 of the Owls as well as European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and a calling Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus).

Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus).

Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus).

We returned to the house and chilled for the rest of the evening watching a couple of movies and having a cider or two. 

Short-eared Owl (Búho Campestre / Asio flammeus).

Praa Sands, Cornwall, Britain.

A good day for the Pub.

 

After seeing the weather for the day we decided that we would join another couple of Lynn and Steve's friends, Vicky and Scoob in the Stones-reef Bar / Pub on the beach at Praa Sands.

Lynn, Steve, Vicky and Scoob, today's drinking company.

We spent the morning watching the feeders seeing the usual species including ♂ and ♀ Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and a ♂ Eurasian Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula) which both Lynn and Steve managed to see but I missed it unfortunately.

Late morning we headed down to Praa Sands where we were soon joined by Vicky and Scoob and that where we stayed until I can't really remember when drinking a couple of pints of Doom Bar which went down very well and had a brilliant Burger from a Pop-up food place outside.

Poor Lynn had to put up with two slightly inebriated passengers on the way back to the house where we chilled for the evening.

Walmsley Sanctuary and Middle Chapel Amble, Cornwall, Britain.

Birding on the North coast of the county.

 

Walmsley from the tower hide.

We were off up to the North off the county today to visit two areas of wetlands I like very much, we parked and Steve met up with a guy he knew Dave Thomas and we all made our way out onto the reserve seeing Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) before we reached the first hide.

Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago).

From the hide we had Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Canada (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis) and Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser),  Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula) and Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera).

After a while we walked around to the tower hide, on the way I heard a squealing Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus) and from the hide added Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Northern Pintail (Ánade Rabudo / Anas acuta), Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Mareca strepera), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and as we walked back to the car European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and 4x Stock Doves (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

Before we left the area Dave suggested we had a look at another hide on the other side of the road so we set off along some wet field edges before reaching the spot which gave us a nice view out over the River Camel, it was low tide so the mud was exposed and we found Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Common Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), more Eurasian Curlew, a single Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) but best of all was a large flock of around 600 European Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) which something had flushed up.

Mute Swans (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor) and Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope).

On the walk back to the cars we saw a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) before we drove around to Middle Chapel Amble and walked out onto the marshes there where there was a very muddy path out to another hide.

From the hide we didn't add any new bird species but I was very pleased to see my first Cornish Otter (Nutria / Lutra lutra) but it unfortunately played hard to get and as soon as it appeared it went back into cover. 

The view from the Middle Chapel Amble Hide.

As we walked back to the cars we saw a Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus) and Butterbur (Petasites hybridus).

We were back at the house before dark and spent some time checking the feeders adding Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater) and Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus).

Later we settled down with a few drinks and watched some movies before welcoming in 2025 saving ourselves for a big day in the Pub tomorrow 😀😀😀😀.

Marazion RSPB, Marazion Beach, Ryan's Fields RSPB and The Old Quay House Inn end of the Hayle Estuary, Rinsey Head and the Boating Lake in HelstonCornwall, Britain.

A grey, damp but enjoyable day. 

Ebird List for Marzion RSPB.

Ebird List for Ryan's Field.

Ebird List for Hayle Estuary.

European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

We started the morning by having breakfast and watching the garden feeders for a while seeing Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus) and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Common Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Eurasian Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula).

European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

St Michael's Mount.

Once we were sorted we headed down to the RSPB Marazion reserve where after parking we walked along the road and into the reserve, as we walked we saw Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii) and European Herring Gull on the car park.

Ryan's Field RSPB.

From the road over looking the pools we added Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense / Branta canadensis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiático / Haematopus ostralegus), Eurasian Curlew (Zarapito Real / Numenius arquata), Common Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea) and Carrion Crow.

Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope) and a Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus).

Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Mareca penelope) male.

On the edge of the reed beds we picked up Cetti's Warbler (Cetia Ruiseñor / Cettia cetti), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), European Stonechat (Tarabilla Europea / Saxicola rubicola) and a fly through Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus).

Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca).

Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).

Out on the beach and sea as we walked back we saw Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Common Scoter (Negrón Común / Melanitta nigra) and a couple of European Rock Pipits (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus).

The Hayle Estuary.

We crossed to the Northern coast seeing Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Three-cornered Leek (Allium triquetrum), Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).

Wheal Prosper Tin Mine.

Wheal Prosper Tin Mine with Trewavas head behind.

At our first stop on the North Coast, Ryan's Field RSPB we found several new species including Common Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris) and Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) along with more Canada Geese, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Black-headed Gull, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Magpie, Carrion Crow and European Robin.

Wheal Prosper Tin Mine.

Porthleven from Trewavas head.

We left the hide and walked out to the Estuary where we scanned the tidal mud flats adding Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egretta garzetta) and Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris).

Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus).

Also seen were more Common Shelduck, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Black-headed Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Northern Lapwing, Dunlin, Great Black-backed, Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail.

European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

Our next stop was out on the coast at Rinsey Head where we walked along the coastal footpath passing Wheal Prosper Tin Mine on our way out to Trewavas head, on the way we saw a pair of Cornish Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Northern Raven (Cuervo grande / Corvus corax), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus) and European Shag (Cormorán Moñudo / Phalacrocorax aristotelis).

Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos).

Our final stop of the day was at the Boating Lake in Helston where Steve and I did a loop before checking the trees at the side of the sewage works, species seen included Tufted Duck (Porrón Moñudo / Aythya fuligula), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Shoveler (Cuchara Común / Spatula clypeata), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos) and Eurasian Jay (Arrendajo Euroasiático / Garrulus glandarius).

Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor).

We returned to the house where we had another nice meal, a drink or two and warmed up.

Travelling down to Cornwall, Godolphin Hill, Godolphin Cross, Cornwall, Britain.

Heading down to see friends Lynn and Steve in Pasty Land.

 

Lynn and Steve crossing one of the Cornish hedges.

I set off at around 07:00 and apart from some roadworks in Devon and the engine warning light coming on again as I slowed down to 50MPH through them all went well, on the way I saw Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Western Jackdaw (Grajilla occidental / Corvus monedula), Eurasian Magpie (Urraca Común / Pica pica), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Reidora / Chroicocephalus ridibundus) and European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

I reached Lynn and Steve's even with the lady on Google Maps taking me along a very narrow set of lanes in one piece but with the warning light still on, I parked and forgot about it for a few days.

Lynn and Steve made me very welcome as always and after a bit of lunch we headed out for a walk around the bottom of Godolphin Hill, the tracks were very muddy and it did it's best to rain but we still had a good stretch of the legs which was great after being sat in the car for several hours.

Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus) in flower.

During the walk we saw Carrion Crow, Western Jackdaw, Eurasian Magpie, Common Buzzard, Common Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), European Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Eurasian Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Long-tailed Tit (Mito Común / Aegithalos caudatus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Common Buzzard, Common Daisy (Bellis perennis), Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus),  Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) and several Dandelion's of some sort. 

We returned to the house and chatted whilst watching what came into the garden feeders, species included Eurasian Blue, Great and Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch (Jilguero Europeo / Carduelis carduelis), European Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Chloris chloris), Eurasian Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Curruca capirotada), Eurasian Wren (Chochin paleártico / Troglodytes troglodytes), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus).

It tasted as good as it looked and smelt even better.

Later we had one of the best Cornish Pasties I have ever had, hand made by Lynn, they tasted amazing and where huge but I did my best, later we just relaxed and had a Cider or two.

as I say, "I did my best"