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Thursday 3rd April 2025: Helston Loe Bar and Gunwalloe Cove

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 With a forecast for rain and strong winds this afternoon, we were unsure what to plan for our day. However, an early morning report of a Kentish Plover at Loe Bar sorted that problem, and we soon set off hoping for another UK tick. When we arrived we checked the sandbank beside the pool on the basis there was less land here to cover than on the beach side. That was the wrong call, but fortunately another visiting birder quickly got on to the bird and called us over. It was actually stood alongside a pair of Ringed Plovers, allowing for a good comparison of the different plumage features and size. Tim was lucky enough to get a shot of the two species stood together. Ringed Plover and Kentish Plover Nearby I noticed a couple of Sanderling, one foraging along the beach and the other hunkered down in a hollow. On the sea, Tim saw something dive - our first Sandwich Tern of the year, and we also noted a couple of Wheatears fly across the sand, making this a very worthwhile visit. The w...
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Wednesday 2nd April 2024: Gwennap Head and West Cornwall Valleys

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We set out early this morning for one of our favourite walks, from Porthgwarra towards Lands End via Gwennap Head. We were expecting windy conditions as the day progressed, but in fact there was a cold wind all day, with some welcome respite in sheltered spots. The strong wind made birding difficult, but some Choughs probing their curved red bills into the short grass were rewarding to watch. From just one pair at The Lizard, these birds are now common around the Cornish cliffs, a real conservation success. A group of five Wheatears gathered on the cliff were presumably newly arrived, whilst we found plenty of the common species associated with this habitat - both rock and meadow pipits, and bouncing, chatty Linnets advertising their presence as they flitted about the vegetation. Chough We returned to the car and transferred to the Cot Valley, another one of Tim’s  favourites. We sat on the beach at the bottom of the valley to eat our lunch, where we were entertained by four Black ...
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Tuesday 1st April: Kennal Vale, Stithians, Marazion

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With strong winds forecast for today, we decided to head inland and find a Dipper at the wonderfully scenic Kennal Vale. If only it had been so simple! Buoyed by last year’s success, it never occurred to me we would fail to achieve our objective! A pair of Grey Wagtail chasing insects on the river were the best we could manage. Grey Wagtail Perhaps the star birds found here were those attracted to some feeders beside the entrance path, but even these proved difficult, with a surprising passage of visitors interrupting our viewing. Golden Siskin were lovely to see and calling softly in the trees around. Coat Tits darted in and out, never lingering more than a moment, while the Blue and Great Tits were far more confident. As there were so few birds, here are  some pictures of the lovely scenery instead! Nuthatch were calling, but we failed to see any, and Marsh Tit were equally vocal but elusive. It proved rather frustrating. We continued on from here to Stithians reservoir. This pro...
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Monday 31st March: Hayle and Godrevy

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 We started our day back at Hayle, searching for some of the unusual gulls which have been reported recently. Frustratingly, many were again at some distance, making identification of fine details very tricky. Tim eventually picked out a possible candidate for Bonaparte’s Gull on the most distant sandbank. It appeared to have a black bill and shortish legs, but this was difficult to discern at such a distance. The bird then flew even further away, so we relocated to Carnsew Meadows for a closer look. Unfortunately by the time we got there, it had moved again! However, we were now more easily able to compare it to a nearby Black-headed Gull and it was noticeably smaller, so combined with the other features, we concluded this was indeed a Bonaparte’s Gull! A good result, but we had spent a lot of time here. Our main objective for the day was a walk from Gothian Sands to Hells Mouth and back on the Southwest Coast Path. On the lake we added Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard and a Little Gre...
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Sunday 30th March 2025: Pendeen, Cape Cornwall to Kenidjack and Hayle estuary

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 With a forecast of north-north westerly winds, today was the most promising for our annual seawatch at Pendeen. It was unfortunate the clocks went forward last night, meaning the lost hour made an early start very challenging! We drove through thick mist on our way over, accompanied by mutterings of discontent from Tim, but luckily when we arrived it was glorious blue skies and sunshine. We were  disappointed to find no-one else seawatching when we arrived, but that needn’t have worried us, as the conditions were excellent, and this is probably the best experience we have ever had. For starters, it was much warmer than in October, and we were able to stand on the grass overlooking the sea rather than clambering to stand huddled beside the wall to shelter from the wind. Pendeen There was an impressive and steady stream of Manx Shearwaters passing through, with many birds coming very close, on the landward side of the rocky outcrops that serve as a great landmark for pinpointin...
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Saturday 29th March 2025: Dartmoor birds

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 We left Sue’s at around 7am and arrived at Yarner Wood in Dartmoor around 9 o’clock. We spent some time in the bird hide, getting great views of familiar woodland species, including Marsh Tit, Coal Tit and Nuthatch. Then we strolled up onto the small heathland area, but there was almost nothing here, save for some vocal Chiffchaffs and a Stonechat. We returned via the woodland path to the visitor centre, then walked up towards the other hide, enjoying a pair of cronking Ravens which chased each other over the valley beside us. At the hide we found a Great Spotted Woodpecker and on the path back down Tim managed to see a Siskin, which had been calling all around us but remaining elusive. Disappointingly there was no sight or sound of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. After a tasty brunch, we relocated to Postbridge in a fruitless search for Dipper, then continued on to Bellevor Tor, where a Great Grey Shrike had been reported. It was quite a trek with scopes to the area it had been seen, ...
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Friday 28th March: Dorset birding

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 En route to Cornwall, it was great to spend a day out birding with sister Sue. The trip got off to a great start, with a pair of showy Firecrest at point blank range in the garden, frequenting a camellia bush outside their patio doors. The male was possibly attracted by the light as Keith took a photo on his mobile phone, but it flew in aggressively towards the window flaring its magnificent flame crown as it approached. Tim managed a reasonable shot through the glass as it peered in the window. Firecrest Next up, we were told that Blue Tits had been investigating their nestbox with camera, bringing in some nesting materials. Keith viewed  the scene on the computer, and as we studied the moss gathered to date, right on cue, a bird suddenly appeared on camera, where it paused awhile, rejigging the soft furnishings, before departing. Soon we set out for a day of birding, heading over to Portland. On the way, we were chuffed when a Dotterel was reported at Ferrybridge, a familia...
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