Camel Estuary, Cornwall (1 Viewer)

[Qingcol]

Thats probable, but in the late 1980's when the only Bird survey on the estuary was done, Oystercatcher and Grey Plover also fed on the rocks below Sticky Valley towards Pentire Head. I hardly ever check this area at low tide and maybe worth a look the next time you are there. (A bit of a walk from Daymer Bay though).

I checked there at high tide today, with 13 turnstone on the rocks and 84 Great Black-Backed Gulls in the bay.
At Pentire Farm 180+ Chaffinch flock with at least 1 male Brambling plus 60 Skylark.
Treraven Meadow 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 8 Common Snipe, 9 Teal, 36 Wigeon and 2 Water Pipit.
Male Black Redstart at Glen Road this afternoon.

 

[camelbirder]

Cattle Egrets

A report yesterday of 2 Cattle Egrets at Hay Farm.
I checked the fields after 4pm and only found Little Egrets. (The Cattles may have already roosted).

(Anyone wishing to look for these birds please be aware that this is private land and the Owner has said that he did not want anyone on his land. The field the birds are using can be seen from the road so please only look from there).

 

[gonvena]

Morning Dij, Interesting your comments on Stinky Valley as a roost site. I have the Outer Est. as Gun Point across to Daymar which is effectively The Doom Bar and beyond including Tregirls Beach. I park at New Polzeath and walk round to Daymar. I always have a good look at the gulls on Polzeath beach, but I have never seen a Med Gull there. I check the area by Stinky Valley as it is a gull roost with bins (from the beach). Only ever see a few Herring and a few Oysters. I thought your sightings of Med gulls were from the Padstow side in the fields. I will check Stink Valley next time to see if there are any waders etc.
I have always been of the opinion that waders fly from the estuary to roost on the rocks at Trebetherick, especially Grey Plover & Dunlin.
And no, before you say it, I don't have any problem with id'ing Meds. I see 100s of the little beggars on the beach in Spain.
Just seen Colin's notes from yesterday. Put together with mine and Derek's, it does tend to suggest that this site has a rapid turnover and usage by various species. Come to think of it, that would be reasonable for its position.

 

[Qingcol]

This BTO British Museum ringed Black-headed Gull at Dennis Cove this morning, full ring number reported to the BTO.

 

[gonvena]

Evening chaps, did LPC this afternoon, very quiet. Just 2 Greenshank, 1 BHG, a Moorhen, 16 Redshank, just one Egret, 1 Oyster, 10 Wigeon. And a covey of Grey Partirdges c. 10 birds. The farmer who owns the field does a far bit of shooting so it is likely that these are his. Still, nice to see. Oh yes and 48 Curlew in an adjacent field.
Sea Mills produced 40 Shelduck, 9 Redshank. 20 Oysters, 2 Curlew and an Egret plus 5 gulls.

 

[camelbirder]

Cattle Egrets

2 Cattle Egrets were present at Hay Farm this morning, showing well from the road. (Please do not enter the farm lane or drive to the farmyard, these birds are easy to see from the road).

 

[camelbirder]

This BTO British Museum ringed Black-headed Gull at Dennis Cove this morning, full ring number reported to the BTO.

Hi Colin,
Was the code, ES56771, if so this bird has been recorded on the estuary on a few occasions. It was ringed at Lady's Island Lake, Wexford on 1/7/1998.

 

[Qingcol]

Hi Colin,
Was the code, ES56771, if so this bird has been recorded on the estuary on a few occasions. It was ringed at Lady's Island Lake, Wexford on 1/7/1998.

Yes, I did read the ring as GS56771 but could see that the first letter had been worn or scratched.

 

[camelbirder]

Yes, I did read the ring as GS56771 but could see that the first letter had been worn or scratched.

At nearly the 11 years old this gull is doing well, the typical lifespan for this species is 6 years. The longest lived recorded wild bird is 30 years 7 months in Finland and 27 years in Britain. (Info from BTO website).

 

[SUPPRESSOR]

2 Cattle Egrets were present at Hay Farm this morning, showing well from the road. (Please do not enter the farm lane or drive to the farmyard, these birds are easy to see from the road).

As editor of (Birds in Cornwall) I would have expected you to be a little more sensitive when it comes to putting out information. You are of course entitled to do so, as we are entitled to suppress any and all information on the birds that we find including a first for britain that we found last autumn.
We find many interesting birds in the course of a year and we suppress each and everyone that way we do are bit to keep twitchers out of Cornwall.
fiddler.

 

[camelbirder]

As editor of (Birds in Cornwall) I would have expected you to be a little more sensitive when it comes to putting out information. You are of course entitled to do so, as we are entitled to suppress any and all information on the birds that we find including a first for britain that we found last autumn.
We find many interesting birds in the course of a year and we suppress each and everyone that way we do are bit to keep twitchers out of Cornwall.
fiddler.

Thanks for your concern Fiddler. It was decided to let the info out after the problems last year. It was felt it was better to let people see the birds from the road than have people, (like last year), entering the Farm and telling untruths to gain access. Info from the landowner this year is that a few people have already been wondering around farm, (and they were asked to leave).

As for suppression, why are you reading this. The whole idea of this thread is so that like minded people can share info and see each others birds if they so wish. I would wager that you twitch birds that you have read about on this thread or others. Numerous species have appeared on this site which are difficult see, such as Temminck's Stint, Water Pipit and more recently Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. I noticed that you twitched the Snowy Owl.

I look forward to the submission of your British First, I hope you documented it properly with plenty of photographs.

I have also noted that you have asked for info so that you could twitch rutting Deer in the New Forest, (because they are not birds does not mean that it is not twitching), is this fair? Its ok for you see other peoples sightings but they can't look at yours. (Like the Snowy Owl)

 

[Qingcol]

One of the Bird Forum strengths is that, no matter how good somebody thinks they are its impossible for them to rip out or edit a page if they happen to disagree with the content!
Male Black Redstart still on the wires at Glen Road this afternoon.
Dinham Flats this morning, 13 Grey Plover, 2 Knot, 400+ Dunlin, 100+ Golden Plover.
Shag still feeding at Old Town Bridge.

 

[Qingcol]

Clapper Marshes this afternoon, birds included 1 female Goldeneye, 10 Gadwall, 80+ Wigeon, 3 Shoveler and 31 Black-tailed Godwit.

 

[Qingcol]

Still a lot of Pipit interest at Treraven Meadows, the recent high tides have past leaving plenty of exposed mud ideal for Pipit watching. This morning 6 Water Pipit, a Scandinavian Rock plus a Pipit that has been present for two days and is giving me some ID problems, simply put it is the smallest and darkest Water Pipit frequenting the Meadow, it often feeds with the Water Pipit that has a dark patch on its right flank, but unlike that bird it never seems to get close enough to take a detailed photo prefering to stay in the middle of the muddy area. It Shows pure white outer tail feathers, a fine bill, greyish red-brown legs and a neat eye-ring, on one eye only. My feelings are that it must be a very odd spinoletta, but in some ways (not all) it comes close to rubescens. Well worth a look for any Pipit enthusiast (unless of course you don't twitch and just happend to read this thread by chance)
Other birds at Treraven today include 1 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Redshank and 3 Chiffchaff one with pale legs.

 

[Qingcol]

The best time for Pipit Watching seems to be in the morning at Treraven Meadow, only 2 present last late afternoon.
Whooper Swan still yesterday, right under the road bridge, near the lay-by park for Walmsley Sanctuary.

 

[Qingcol]

Male Northern Shoveler at Walmsley Sanctuary yesterday, starting a dive, open-wing style.

 

[Qingcol]

At least 3 Cattle Egrets on the Camel today with 2 still at Hay Farm (from the road) and one at Pentire Farm (Polzeath).
Whooper Swan still at Walmsley this morning.
Rumps point birds past this morning included 10 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Northern Diver, 150+ Auk sp. Some feeding Razorbill bringing Sand Eels to the surface.

 

[Qingcol]

A very wet afternoon at Treraven Meadow, birds included 3 Ruff, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 70 Northern Lapwing, 9 Eurasian Ostercatcher, 5 Common Snipe, 6 Wigeon, 9 Teal, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Water Pipit.

 

[gonvena]

Good morning one and all. It has to be said yet again, Treraven Meadow looked superb this morning. It had obviously flooded on the high tide and had loads of pools over the whole 30 acres. The smaller 10 acre meadow was wet and muddy but was without a twitter anywhere. Overall a real credit to James Burke and the team from the EA who created it.
Canadas 63, L. Egret 1, Teal 14, Lapwing 46, C. Snipe 2, Curlew 14, C. Sand 2, Greenshank 1, Grey Wag 1, Water pips 2 +?, loadsa Meadow pips, plus Wigeon, Mallard etc.

How's about this for an idea. Just before Wadebridge Junction, on the Camel Trail, opposite the confluence of the Allen / Camel. Build a raised platform against the wooded bank to look over into Clapper. The marsh could be scoped quite easily from there. The only problem I could envisage is the location would need to be adjusted, so that it doesn't look into the houses at Clapper, only the marsh. Any thoughts on that.

Can I suggest that next week we all meet up at Guineaport, to chat about the proposed location of the hide / viewing area etc. etc. I'm free all week, any time. Once we have definite proposals we can approach James et al.

 

[Qingcol]

I'm

Good morning one and all. It has to be said yet again, Treraven Meadow looked superb this morning. It had obviously flooded on the high tide and had loads of pools over the whole 30 acres. The smaller 10 acre meadow was wet and muddy but was without a twitter anywhere. Overall a real credit to James Burke and the team from the EA who created it.
Canadas 63, L. Egret 1, Teal 14, Lapwing 46, C. Snipe 2, Curlew 14, C. Sand 2, Greenshank 1, Grey Wag 1, Water pips 2 +?, loadsa Meadow pips, plus Wigeon, Mallard etc.

How's about this for an idea. Just before Wadebridge Junction, on the Camel Trail, opposite the confluence of the Allen / Camel. Build a raised platform against the wooded bank to look over into Clapper. The marsh could be scoped quite easily from there. The only problem I could envisage is the location would need to be adjusted, so that it doesn't look into the houses at Clapper, only the marsh. Any thoughts on that.

Can I suggest that next week we all meet up at Guineaport, to chat about the proposed location of the hide / viewing area etc. etc. I'm free all week, any time. Once we have definite proposals we can approach James et al.

I'm OK for next week mike, and Friday would be a good day for Derek.
I walked the Camel Trail past Treraven Meadow late morning and managed 26 Meadow Pipit, 4 Water Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, plus the odd small darkish Water Pipit still.