Window to Wildlife

 Today we visited Beachy Head with Sue, parking at Birling Gap and walking up the slope towards Belle Tout. It was quite busy, and we were concerned our target bird may have been deterred, but in fact it was completely unfazed and we soon were enjoying stonking scope views of a lovely Desert Wheatear. A real bonus to our annual bird list at this time of the year, when new birds are hard to come by. Desert Wheatear Tim and I were still in search of a Ring Ouzel, so we headed to the car park at Beachy Head and worked our way along the footpath overlooking the lower cliff, where we have often found them in previous years. The path was somewhat overgrown and beginning to fall away in parts, making for a treacherous, and sadly fruitless walk. We came out at the far end of the path feeling rather disappointed. I checked my phone to see if any had been reported elsewhere, and as luck would have it a Pallas Warbler had just been seen at the Z bends just a short distance away. We hotfooted ...

 After Sunday's superb start to our Cornwall holiday, the birding excitement declined somewhat, but we enjoyed a good variety of species at a range of sites offering differing habitats, and we enjoyed some fabulous walks, great views and birding spectacles that will linger long in the memory. There's a reason we love Cornwall! We started out on Monday at nearby Hayle, where we found a good selection of regular waders and ducks spread across the estuary and Ryan's Field, before progressing to Godrevy. Here we enjoyed watching flocks of small birds around St Gothian Sands reserve, predominantly Linnets and Goldfinches. A smart Wheatear hopped and took short flights around the open grassy areas, flashing its white rump at us, whilst Stonechats and Reed Buntings perched on the fence lines. Our last stop of the day was at Gwennap Head, where a walk around the cliffs produced several sightings of reeling Choughs, but failed to produce the Richard's Pipit reported the previous...

  This was out first full day in Cornwall, after a lovely walk at the scenic Golitha Falls yesterday on our way down, where a Nuthatch was the highlight of a poor selection of birds, but the autumn colour was spectacular. We met up at Kynance Cove with Steve from our local bird group, and his non-birding partner. We had chosen this area, due to reports yesterday of a Red-flanked Bluetail in the area, which would be a 'lifer' for us all. However, when we arrived there had been no more news, so we walked the coast path to Lizard Point. A mixed group of Meadow Pipit and Rock Pipit  were a highlight of the walk, allowing us to clearly observe the differences between these species in their fresh autumn plumage. At sea, we watched a Gannet pass purposefully by, its bright white body and contrasting black wing tips showing clearly against the leaden grey skies and rolling seas.  Both Cormorants and Shag were also found lounging on the rocks and feeding on the water. As we approa...

A quick visit to Kithurst Hill this afternoon in search of Grey Partridges, which we have failed to find so far this year at other likely sites. We parked at the top of Chantry Hill and set off along the South Downs Way, and after a dreary morning it was good to be out and enjoying some warm autumn sunshine; the rolling hills and backdrop of the sea looking resplendent bathed in late afternoon light. We had only travelled a short distance when we discerned the distant sound of Grey Partridge, and standing  quietly, we gradually heard them approaching nearer and nearer.  Our patience was rewarded when a covey of four partridges slowly emerged from the field edge conservation strip. As Tim reached for his camera, the gentle rustle of his coat was enough to cause alarm, and they stopped on full alert, heads raised to listen intently, before gradually melting silently into the dense vegetation. As we progressed along the path, another party of three birds  flushed from the fi...