North Cornwall Coast, Cornwall, Britain.

Walking along parts of the Cornish Coastal foot path looking for Chough.

Trip to UK, Day Twenty Three.

 

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

The first birding of the day was done in Lynn and Steve's garden where we started the day list off with Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major) and Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) in the back garden.

Atlantic Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus).

As we were loading up ready to head out I also added Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and 40 or so flyover Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

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

After a shortish drive we arrived out on the coast just a little way South-west of Porthtowan where we did a short bit of the coastal foot path and found Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Lesser (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus) and Great Black-backed Gull (Gavión Atlántico / Larus marinus), on a pool in Sally's Bottom a Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus) and out to sea a bobbing Atlantic Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus).

Wheal Coates.

Wheal Coates.

We returned to the care and moved a short way North to Chapel Porth beach where we parked and then walked out to Wheal Coates, in the car park we had the first of a few quite tame Rock Pipits (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus) which are one of my favorite species.

Steve and Lynn near Wheal Coates.

Steve and Myself at Wheal Coates.

We did the walk out along the coast to Wheal Coates which is quite a stunning spot where we spent a while taking photographs before returning to the car park for a second dose of Rock Pipit photography and Lunch sat on the wall above the beach. 

Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus).

Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus).

Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus).

Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus).

Rock Pipit (Bisbita Costero / Anthus petrosus).

There were quite a few people of the beach but the Pipits performed well and from time to time stood still long enough for me to get some shots, by far the best so far of this species for me.

Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera).

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

Fox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi).

We again returned to the car and then did a bit of a drive down to Kynance Cove on the Western side of the Lizard still searching for the Cornish Chough. We again parked in the National Trust car park and then went for a walk along the coast.

Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo).

We first walked down to a point where you could see down into the cove but then went South as we were checking the grassy slopes for Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) a bird I had long wanted to see in the county as the species had not recolonized when I used to regularly visit.

Looking down into a busy Kynace Cove, so we went the other way.

Pentreath Beach.

We soon found the first of quite a few Fox Moth (Macrothylacia rubi) Catapillars,  Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) and before too long a very noisy pair of Chough came over us calling, a great moment, we also saw Sea Campion (Silene uniflora) and Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima) before we reached the car and headed to Helston boating lake to see what was on the water.

Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).

We walked the full loop of the pool seeing a very smart but so I am told a plastic Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca), Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Eurasian Coot (Focha Común / Fulica atra), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and Herring Gulls of different ages.

Ferruginous Duck (Porrón Pardo / Aythya nyroca) male.

Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula) Male.

Canada Goose (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis).

Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus).

Travelling down to Cornwall, Dozmary Pool and Pendeen, Cornwall, Britain.

A few long over due days with good friends Lynn and Steve in Cornwall.

Trip to Uk, Day Twenty Two.

 

Brown Shrike (Alcaudón pardo / Lanius cristatus).

Lynn and Steve had travelled up from Cornwall a couple of days earlier to be at the Memorial for Jayne yesterday, so I was going to meet them on the way down as they were starting off from Cannock and I went across country to avoid the M6.

Brown Shrike (Alcaudón pardo / Lanius cristatus).

Through messages we managed to sort out that we would be at Taunton Dean services about the same time and as it worked out I got there about 20 minutes before they arrived so I got a coffee and once Lynn and Steve were there I had another before we headed off South again to our next stop which was at Dozmay Pool where I was hoping to see some of the four reported Ring-necked Ducks (Porrón acollarado / Aythya collaris).

Brown Shrike (Alcaudón pardo / Lanius cristatus).

On the way I picked up Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica) and Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and at the pool we soon found all 4 Ring-necked Ducks as well as Tufted Duck (Porrón Monudo / Aythya fuligula), Northern Shoveler (Pato Cuchara / Anas clypeata), Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata).

Brown Shrike (Alcaudón pardo / Lanius cristatus).

Again we continued on to Lynn and Steve's place where we parked my motor up and after a drink we headed straight out for my fourth lifer of the trip, a very smart Brown Shrike (Alcaudón pardo / Lanius cristatus) which had been along the lane down to Pendeen for a few days. We arrived at the spot and the Shrike was UTB within just a few minutes and we had good views through the scope but it was a bit distant so it was record shots only again.

Brown Shrike (Alcaudón pardo / Lanius cristatus) through the scope.

In the same area we also saw Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and a very distant Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus).

Brown Shrike (Alcaudón pardo / Lanius cristatus) through the scope.

We headed back to the house where we saw a few bits in the garden including Rook, Jackdaw, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs) and a couple of flyover Siskins (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus).

Donington Church (St Cuthbert's), Albrighton, Shropshire, Britain.

Today we Remembered Jayne.

Trip to Uk, Day Twenty One.

 

Today was the main reason I was back in the UK, so that more of Jayne's family and friends could get together and remember Jayne's life. Most were unable to come to the funeral for obvious reasons. 

So it was good to have the service at Donington church lead by Rev Mary and to see so many people there to listen to the memories of Jayne delivered in a very nice humorous way by her brother Jim, just as Jayne would have liked it.

Later we went to Jayne's favourate place in the village, Next Door Bar for some brilliant food sorted by Sally and her colleagues, a few drinks and to chat, again she would have loved seeing everyone together as it should have been. THANK YOU ALL.

West Somerton and Winterton Dunes NNR, Norfolk, Britain.

A bit of early birding in the rain and then a walk with Judy and Mike on the Dunes.

Trip to Uk, Day Eighteen.

Ebird List for the Dunes. 

Atlantic Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus).

I was up and about quite early and started the day by watching some very heavy rain blow through from the lounge window but after a while the rain stopped so I went out for a short walk along the Hornsey Road where I started the day list with 2x Egyptian (Ganso del Nilo / Alopochen aegyptiaca) and lots of Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), several heard only Common Crane (Grulla Común / Grus grus), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus) and Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

Atlantic Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus).

Atlantic Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus).

After this walk I went and had breakfast with Judy and Mike and ten we went out for a short walk at Winterton Dunes which was very nice, on the way out we had a few species including 11x Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) and a Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax) on fields before we parked and during the walk Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and Marsh Harrier. 

Atlantic Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus).

After a while Mike put his chair up and had a sit down and Judy told me where to go to find some of the Atlantic Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) that are quite common along the beaches.

I continued on and found the gape in the dunes through to the beach where I very quickly found dozens of Seals hauled out on the sand, I stayed right at the top of the beach and took some photo's and added Ruddy Turnstone (Vuelvepiedras Común / Arenaria interpres) and Northern Gannet (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) to the list before retuning to Mike and Judy.

Atlantic Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus).

Atlantic Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus).

We retraced our steps back towards the car, on the way Judy picked up a very smart ringtail Hen Harrier (Aguilucho Pálido / Circus cyaneus) just before we went into the woods. We returned to the house and had some lunch before I set off back to the midlands. It was great to see Mike and Judy and spend a little bit of time with them.

Martham Broad NNR, Norfolk, Britain.

Visiting Friends.

Trip to Uk, Day Seventeen.

Ebird List for walk.

 

A distant windpump on the far side of Martham Broad.

I set off early from Albrighton and headed East to the far side of Norfolk, a journey with was supposed to take 3 and a bit hours, so 5.5 hours later I got through the maze of roadworks and arrived at Judy and Mike's near Martham Broad where we spent the rest of the Morning have a catchup and then some lunch.

The first Pump along the walk.

Later I went for a walk out across the fields skirting the edge of the broad and the around to the Hornsey Road and back to the house. Along the first part of the walk I was surprised to see what were probably hundreds of

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) and several Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) and in the same area Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Black-headed Gull (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera) and most surprising was a nice male Ring Ouzel (Mirlo Capiblanco / Turdus torquatus) which flew up from the reeds and dropped onto the top of some brambles before diving in to the center of them.

Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus).

I continued on to where I could see the water and found several Great Crested Grebes (Somormujo Lavanco / Podiceps cristatus), Greylag Geese (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca) and on the fields on the opposite side of the track a single Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Marsh Harrier (Aguilucho Lagunero Occidental / Circus aeruginosus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Further along the edge of the reeds I could hear but didn't a group of Bearded Tit (Reedling) (Bigotudo / Panurus biarmicus), a calling Cetti's Warbler (Ruisenor Bastardo / Cettia cetti) and in the distance over a different part of the Broad I could see large skeins of geese which going by their calls were probably Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus). 

Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas).

As I continued on around this part of the loop heading towards Hornsey Road I added Sparrowhawk (Gavilán Común / Accipiter nisus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Pheasant (Faisán Vulgar / Phaisanus colchicus), Skylark (Alondra Común / Alauda arvensis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis),  Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes) and a very nice European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus).

European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus).

I reached the road and carefully made my way back towards the house as the road was quite busy and the 40MPH limit was advisery by the looks of thngs, as I walked I had 3 Common Cranes (Grulla Común / Grus grus) fly passed along with Red-legged Partridge (Perdiz Roja / Alectoris rufa), Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and 7x Great Cormorants (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo) which flew across the fields heading for the Broad.

I reached the house again and spent some more time with Judy and Mike before hitting the sack after a long day.

Spurn Point, East Yorkshire and Gravel Pits in Nott's, Nottinghamshire, Britain.

Back to Yorkshire and a new species for us all.

Trip to Uk, Day Sixteen.

 

Two-barred (Greenish) Warbler (Mosquitero patigris / Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus).

I arrived at Sharon and John's and we were soon on our way North again but this time we were heading for Spurn Point, a site I have not been to for many years but the chance of a Two-barred (Greenish) Warbler (Mosquitero patigris / Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus) was too much to resist.

We arrived and there were a few birders there but the bird was showing on and off so we got into a spot which looked good and waited, John and Sharon were slightly more into the woodland and had seen the bird quite quickly so I change my spot and went out onto the road and looked into the woods from the outside as there were far less people.

Two-barred (Greenish) Warbler (Mosquitero patigris / Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus).

After a while of watching the Hawthorns and Sycamore's it came into view for just a few seconds but while it was there I had a good view all on my own. Later I moved into the wood a bit more but from the opposite end to where I had been before and ended up getting severl more good sightings and a few record shots.

As I was walking around the wood I also saw House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica) x3, Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis) and just down the road on the coast we added Bar-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colipinta / Limosa lapponica), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Grey Plover (Chorlito Gris / Pluvialis squatarola), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Dark-bellied Brent Geese (Barnacla Carinegra / Branta bernicla), Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) and a couple of Northern Gannets (Alcatraz Atlántico / Morus bassanus) out to sea.

Two-barred (Greenish) Warbler (Mosquitero patigris / Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus).

We started to head back south but we diverted of to some Gravelpits in Nottinghamshire where a Baird's Sandpiper (Correlimos de Baird / Calidris bairdii) had been reported on and off but today it was not going to be seen by us which was a shame as it would have been a second lifer for Sharon.

However we did see Greylag (Ansar Común / Anser anser), Canada (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis) and Pink-footed Geese (Ánsar Piquicorto / Anser brachyrhynchus), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Little (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta) and 8x Great Egrets (Garceta Grande / Egretta alba), Grey Heron (Garza Real / Ardea cinerea), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Common Pochard (Porrón Común / Aythya ferina), Gadwall (Anade Friso / Anas strepera), Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope), Northern Lapwing (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus), Black-tailed Godwit (Aguja Colinegra / Limosa limosa), Ruff (Combatiente / Philomachus pugnax), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), Herring Gull (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and a probable Yellow-legged Gull (Gaviota Patiamarilla / Larus Michahellis).

Two-barred (Greenish) Warbler (Mosquitero patigris / Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus).

Again another superb day with good friends and birds.