Apologies for the lack of recent updates, and thanks for those who have sent in sightings. Anything of real interest is on the Cornwall Birding website. Derek Jenkins, Tim Twiggs, John Johns and i have all been on the reserve but not recorded a great deal other than the odd Dunlin, Greenshank and Wheatear. Tim had a juv Little Stint on Sunday 4th October feeding on floating weed on the main pool.

Will hopefully have some photos to add!

Still on the quiet side..............

Still quiet on the reserve at the moment with nothing but the odd Dunlin and Green and Common Sandpipers. Simon Taylor saw six Wheatears there today.

Waders

Terry Hasdell reports three Dunlin on the reserve this morning. Good to see the waders are starting to come back.

Recent Stuff

Here are a few photos taken over the last week on the reserve. There seems to have been a bit of a baby boom on the ponds with new broods of Moorhen, Mallard and Shelduck. Rock Pipits were catching insects on the reedy pond and taking them off towards Godrevy to feed young and there were plenty of young Sand Martins on the wire fences.

Linnet

Rock Pipit (above and below)

Rock Pipit

Sand Martin

1st June 2009

A quick hour round the reserve this morning in the glorious sunshine. Plenty of breeding activity with a brood of seven Shelduck on the main pool and a single Moorhen chick on the small pool with the now healthy looking reed bed. The female mallard seems to have had another brood too. The morning was complete when a Marsh Harrier scattered the gulls from the main pool and flew off high to east.

Wednesday 13th May 2009

An hour on the reserve with Mark Halliday proved dividends this morning when a RED KITE flew over headed south along the Red River valley. The main pool was alive with hirundines with over 100 each of House and Sand Martins, 30+ Swallows and c100 Swifts. The Dunlin did a loop of the main pool and there seemed to be a few more Linnets around. Two Rock Pipits were on the small pool but there was no sign of yesterdays Garganey. Could be good for Terns this weekend.

Tuesday 12th May 2009

Finally reached the 100 mark with a superb male Garganey on the reserve this evening. It was reported on the pager earlier in the day and was still there at 1715hrs, on the north-eastern pool, initially showing well but then elusive amongst the sedge. Species 101 was House Martin over the main pool (3 birds). Only other birds of note were two Whimbrel flying around and a Dunlin on the main pool. The Whitethroat was still looking for a mate near the entrance gate!

Recent Sightings

Apologies for lack of recent updates. My new arrival came earlier than predicted!! Thanks to those who sent in reports. Tim Twiggs and Sam Williams report six Dunlin and five Whimbrel on 6th May and Sam was ready with his camera, capturing the image above. Tim was back again on the 6th and saw 5 Common Swift mainly over cattle fields east of road, 3 House Martin, 25+ Feral Pigeon over fields to north-east, 1 Sparrowhawk low over road, 1 Dunlin flying around main pool, 1 Common Sandpiper in small bay in NW corner of main pool, 2 Sedge Warbler in Red River ditch and 1 Common Whitethroat.

May is here.....

.....so why does it feel like bloody November! More rain and cold winds on the reserve this morning and not much different on the avian front. Razorbill (at sea) and Swift (2) were the only additions to my Reserve Yearlist bringing the total so far to 98 species for 2009. The Swifts came from the east and after a quick circuit of the reserve, headed west. Much of the standing water at the north end has now gone (Where does it go??) and i only saw one Whimbrel flying over as i left at 11.30am. Two Reed and a Sedge Warbler were again in reeds at the Red River and the main pool held six Shelduck and three Canada Geese. A walk along the western edge of the reserve produced single male House Sparrow and a Stonechat. The only birds of prey were two Buzzards and a male Kestrel. Still plenty of Sklark and Linnet singing.

Tim Twiggs had a couple of hours on the reserve this afternoon and had more success with the Whimbrel, counting thirteen birds. Swallow numbers had risen to over eighty birds on the main pool and had a single House Martin amongst them. A look at the sea from the embankment produced over eighteen Kittiwake and as many Manx Shearwater. Also four Turnstone flew past. Tim has also added up his Reserve Yearlist for 2009 and is currently on 84 species, including the Collared Dove seen from the western boundary today.

Thursday 30th April 09 sightings

What a difference a day makes! Dry, sunny and warm late morning on the reserve and plenty of birds singing. At least 6 Skylarks singing and finally got brief glimpses of Reed and Sedge Warblers singing in the Red River Ditch (95 and 96 respectively on the SGS Yearlist). The reserve has a lot of water on it at the moment with a large open area at the northern end. This held ten Whimbrel today. The Whitethroat was again singing from brambles near the entrance and just three male and a female Wheatear were evident.