Crowdy Reservoir (1 Viewer)

[Gus Horsley]

My wife and I went to Crowdy on Saturday to do a plover count for the BTO, a week early but we couldn't do it on the recommended date. Although the target golden plover were absent we saw about 700 lapwing. Apart from that the reservoir itself was very quiet, with the "highlights" being a great crested and little grebe. However, we decided to stay on into the late afternoon to see if a reported sizeable starling flock materialized. It did, and how! They were roosting in the conifer plantation at the eastern end of the reservoir and came in big waves, very low because of the wind, with a couple of sparrowhawks and a merlin trying their luck. I wouldn't like to give anything resembling an estimate of numbers but they were in the hundreds of thousands. It's got to be the biggest starling roost in Cornwall by a mile so catch it if you can! And also get involved in the BTO - we wouldn't have seen such a spectacular sight otherwise.

Gus

 

[devon.birder]

Gus, my Sister-in-Law lives in Helstone near Camelford and late afternoon in winter the Starlings fly continuously over her house towards Crowdy. I have never actually attempted to do a count but it must run in to many thousands.
There is also usually a very large Starling roost at Marazion RSPB. Roger

 

[PaulK]

Love birding at Crowdy when I go down on my annual holiday with my parents. This years highlight was a Turnstone - probably unusual but don't know much about the status of Cornish birds.

Don't suppose you know who I can send my sightings to do you?

 

[Chris Oates]

Gus - there's a Bitterns & Starlings RSPB walk at Marazion on the 29th - if last year is anything to go by it's amazing - the Starlings roost either in trees or in the reed beds both of which are close to the road by Marazion beach - fantastic sight (4-5 PM)

Paul - Turnstones are common in Cornwall and are very confiding - they scuttle around the harbour in groups of around six or so - when they are on the beach 'turning stones' the noise is quite strange - their colouring makes them dissapear and you wonder where all the noise is coming from.
They also (strangely) eat Seagull poo.

 

[Darrell Clegg]

Love birding at Crowdy when I go down on my annual holiday with my parents. This years highlight was a Turnstone - probably unusual but don't know much about the status of Cornish birds.

Don't suppose you know who I can send my sightings to do you?

You can send them to

[email protected]


Darrell

 

[Gus Horsley]

Gus - there's a Bitterns & Starlings RSPB walk at Marazion on the 29th - if last year is anything to go by it's amazing - the Starlings roost either in trees or in the reed beds both of which are close to the road by Marazion beach - fantastic sight (4-5 PM)

Thanks but I'm not going to be able to make this one. We're going to Somerset to go birding and, er, see starlings.

 

[PaulK]

...they scuttle around the harbour in groups of around six or so - when they are on the beach 'turning stones' the noise is quite strange - their colouring makes them dissapear and you wonder where all the noise is coming from.
They also (strangely) eat Seagull poo.

I realise that - i've seen many at places like Padstow but I thought Crowdy was quite a way in land for the species. If one turned up that far inland in Kent it would be a strange record?!

 

[PaulK]

You can send them to

[email protected]


Darrell

Cheers Darrell - I'll send them off