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Friday 6 January 2023

The Harp, Albrighton, Shropshire, UK.

A curry and a few Beer's with some of the Lad's from my Fire Service days.
 

After say goodbye to Lynn and Steve I travelled back from Cornwall during the day having had a great time.
Hess, Pete and myself.
Late in the evening met up with several of the Lad's I had worked with in the Defense Fire Service, which seems a very long time ago, what was even worse was some of them had hardly changed.
Murph, Sean (thanks for the Curry) and John.
The photo's are bad due to being tired after the drive and had absolutly nothing to do with the several beers, thanks for a great night and look forward to catching up again. 
Dave.

Thursday 5 January 2023

Garden, Helston Boating Lake, Bell Lake Marsh and Great Wheal Seton in the Red River Valley, and the Tresillian River Path, Cornwall, UK.

A bit of a local twitch first thing then a visit to the Red River and later a walk along the Tresillian River Path.
Ebird List for Boating Lake.
Ebird List for Bell Lake Marsh.
Ebird List for Tresillian River Path.

Female Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris).
Whilst having breakfast we checked what was coming into the garden feeders, species included Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).
Female Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris).
Female Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris) with Tufted Ducks (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula).
Later we headed down the road to Helston Boating Lake to try and find a female Ring-necked Duck (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris) which had been there for a couple of days, we arrived and after a bit of a search we located it with a coule of Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula),  whilst there we also saw Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), European Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).
Part of Bell Lake Marsh which the group are trying to keep open.
Our next stop was along the Red River Valley, we approached Bell Lake Marsh along a path from the South West, the opposite way to the last time I was there when I joined one of the Red River Rescuers Scrub bashes and had enjoyable few hours clearing Gorse, Willows and other invasive plants from the open wet areas.
One of several pools which have been dug out by hand to attract Dragonflies and other species.
On the walk up to the Marsh and on site we saw
Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita), Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Bullfinch (Camachuelo Común / Pyrrhula pyrrhula) and quite a bit of Frog Spawn from the Common Frog (Rana temporaria).
Frog Spawn from the Common Frog (Rana temporaria).
After having a good walk around the site we made our way back to the Car and the headed for another site along the Red River at Great Wheal Seton, this area was quite different and was made up of some quite large disused settling tanks / beds which have become very important habitats for a couple of rarer Dragonfly species, so the group again do quite a bit of work here to keep the site in a viable state for these insects.
One of the areas for the Dragonflies at Great Wheal Seton.
Whilst we walked around Steve (as he had at Bell Lake Marsh) explained what was going on at the sites and what they had been like in the past as this was his home turf from when he was a lad, his passion for both sites and the Red River in general was very obvious.
Arsenic Chimney at Great Wheal Seton.
The only new species added here was Kingfisher (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) and as far as Steve was aware it was the first record for the site.
Next we went and picked up a member of Lynn's family and took her for an appointment in Truro, whilst she was there Steve and I went for a walk along the nearby Tresillian River Path, a really stunning area and nice easy walk, if not a bit muddy. 
Where we joined the Tresillian River Path.
As we walked we added several new species to the day list including Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Greenshank (Archibebe Claro / Tringa nebularia), Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Common Sandpiper (Andarrios Chico / Actitis hypoleucos), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).
We returned to Truro, Camborne and the back to the house after a cracking last day for me in Cornwall for a while, Sadly.

Wednesday 4 January 2023

Walmsley Sanctuary and Chapel Amble, Wadebridge area, Cornwall, UK.

A visit to another of the CBWPS reserves.
Ebird List for Walmsley.
Ebird List for Chaple Amble.
 
Eurasian Curlews (Numenius arquata).

Today was going to be slightly different as Steve needed to get his Camper to it's MOT so we headed off in two vehicles and after dropping his off we continued on in mine, we arrived at Walmsley and walked out to the Tower hide which gave us a nice view over the wetlands where we started the day list with good numbers of Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and a single Eurasian Spoonbill (Espátula Común / Platalea leucorodia) all out on or around the pools.
Eurasian Curlews (Numenius arquata).
Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).
Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).
In the surrounding trees and overhead we also saw Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris) and as we walked back we made a quick stop at the other hide where we picked up Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope) before added Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) on the way back across the fields to the car.
The view from near the village car park.
We moved on to our second site off the day at Chapel Amble, another area of wetlands where we parked and checked out an area of wetland / flooded meadows before walking out to the main reserve and into the newish hide there, we saw many of the species we had seen earlier but added Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Water Rail (Rascón Europeo / Rallus aquaticus), singles of both Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus) and Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) species I had not expected here, Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) before we returned to the car and headed back.
The view from the Hide.

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Tuesday 3 January 2023

Stithian's Reservoir, Cornwall, UK.

A very wet visit to Stithian's.
Ebird List for the first Hide.

Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) and Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus).
Steve and I headed out in the rain to Stithian's Res, we arrived and got soaked just getting to the hide which overlooked the Southern end of the Res.
Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera).
We scanned a grey looking area of water finding Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), lots of Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago), Mediterranean (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Common (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus), European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii) and Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis).
Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus).
We made a dash for the hide which was just a couple of hundred meters away on the other side of the road but again got a soaking on the way, here we found several feeders and quite a few birds, just a shame the light wasn't so bad or we might have got some nice photo's.
Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus).

Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major).

Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater).

Anyway we sat there for some time as the rain got progressively worse seeing Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula) and Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) before deciding to make a run for it as the light had got much worse.
Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis).

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Back in Lynn and Steve's garden we added Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris) but this time we had a nice hot coffee and the central heating for comfort.
Reed Bunting (Escribano Palustre / Emberiza schoeniclus).

Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Later just as I was about to hit the pit Steve got me to listen to their regular Tawny Owl (Cárabo Común / Strix aluco) which was making quite a lot of noise in the trees at the front of the house.

Monday 2 January 2023

Penzance, Newlyn, Drift Res and Bartinney Downs, West Cornwall, UK.

A day around several sites to the West of Lynn and Steve's.
Ebird List for Drift.

The Rocks between Penzance Harbour and Jubilee Pool.
We started the day list in the garden over breakfast, species included Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), European Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).
Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba) and Purple Sandpipers (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima).

Mounts Bay.

Steve and I headed out for the coast and our first site which was over looking the rocks between Penzance Harbour and Jubilee Pools, here we had good views of Sanderling (Correlimos Tridáctilo / Calidris alba), Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres), Purple Sandpiper (Correlimos Oscuro / Calidris maritima), Eurasian Oystercatcher (Ostrero Euroasiatico / Haematopus ostralegus), Ringed Plover (Chorlitejo Grande / Charadrius hiaticula), Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus) and a female Black Redstart (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros).
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) 1st Winter.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) 1st Winter.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) Adult.
Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus)Adult.
We moved just down the road to Newlyn Harbour where we were hoping for a couple of White-winged Gulls but we were unlucky, however we did see several really nice
Great Black-backed Gulls (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus) which are a favorite of mine.
Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).
Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).
Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).
Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).
Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla).
We also had
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), European Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Mediterranean Gull (Gaviota Cabecinegra / Larus melanocephalus) and another very smart looking gull, an adult Kittiwake (Gaviota Tridáctila / Rissa tridactyla), Ruddy Turnstone and another female type Black Redstart before we headed off to Drift Res.
Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres).
We parked above the Res and the first thing we saw was a Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) sat on a wooden pole, so we approached and it allowed us to get some nice pictures.
Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).
We then dropped down to the Res and walked out to the Hide, on the way we put up at least 3
Snipe (Agachadiza Común / Gallinago gallinago) from along the track and also saw a few Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Common Chiffchaff (Mosquitero Común / Phylloscopus collybita) and Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax).
Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis).
Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis).
Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis).
Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis).
From the hide we had good views of Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Little Grebe (Zampullín Común / Tachybaptus ruficollis), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), good number of Common Gulls (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus) and a couple more Meds.
Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus).

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus).

Common Gull (Gaviota Cana / Larus canus).

1st winter female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

1st winter female Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus).

As we were watching the Gulls out on the water a huge 1st winter female
Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus) ripped in and tried to take one of the Common Gulls off the surface but found it too heavy and dropped it straight away and shot off up the Res and away.
View from the hide.
View from the hide.
As we walked back to the car Steve picked up 3 very distant Egrets up in a muddy field amongst a herd of Cattle, from the distance we were away I was quiet sure from the look of them and where they were they would be
Western Cattle Egret (Garcilla Bueyera / Bubulcus ibis) but when we reached the car park there were a few guys there with a scope and they assured us they were actually 3 Little Egrets (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) acting totally out of character.
Longships Lighthouse from Bartinney Down.
A view of the Isles of Scilly from Bartinney Down.
Our last stop of the day was at Bartinney Down where we saw 2 more Buzzards,
Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Golden Plover (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) and Common Kestrel.