Exploring Penzance and Mount's Bay

Despite a rather bleak forecast for the day, I decided to join forces with fellow photographers Max Thompson, Jack Burton, Jack Barton and Rhys Kaye, and head down to the coast around Penzance for the day. A few tempting long-staying rarities in the form of Pacific Diver and Hudsonian Whimbrel were enough to give the extra boost of enthusiasm to our day out, despite heroically dipping on both during our visit.

We arrived at Penzance mid-morning, and walked along the shingly beach to Newlyn harbour, scanning through the gathering flock of 150+ Herring, 5 Lesser Black-backed, 30+ Greater Black-backed and Mediterranean Gulls on the beach front. The tide was quite low, which made it difficult to scan the sea for any divers present offshore; nevertheless, we were consoled by a single Great Northern Diver within Newlyn harbour, which was feeding alongside some 10 Cormorants. After brief scan of the gulls in the harbour, we were pleased to come across the smart first-winter Glaucous Gull which has been frequenting the area recently. It gave superb views, being seemingly unaffected by our close proximity, and so we were treated to a good half hour watching the bird here.

We then decided to head over to the far side of Marazion to Prussia Cove, with the aim of walking back along the stunning stretch of coastline in search of the Hudsonian Whimbrel (where it had recently been seen). After a misty and very grey start to the day, the clouds cleared away, the wind eased, and a bright sunny sky prevailed for the afternoon - this allowed temperatures to soar to around 16'C! A comfortable temperature for January...

The walk along the coast from Prussia Cove around to Perranuthnoe was stunning - a superb stretch of coastline. There was plenty of wildlife out and about too, with Kestrels hovering overhead, a couple of Black-throated Divers lingering in the bay, a handful of Fulmars eyeing up potential nest sites on the cliffs, and a pair of Buzzards being harried by Carrion Crows. We were surprised not to come across any flying insects, although Gorse Shieldbugs were present in good numbers within the spiky rosettes on the European Gorse bushes. A relatively long hike with several exploratory detours eventually terminated in a characterful little tea shop in Perranuthnoe for sunset. We were then informed that we had been looking in the wrong area for the Hudsonian Whimbrel, and that it was in fact roosting amongst a flock of Curlews further around the coast; a sprint along the coastal path in the dying light of the afternoon saw us desperately scanning the various bays, but no such flock was found. Hopefully we'll have better luck next time!

A great trip in another picturesque part of Cornwall - thanks to Max for the chauffeur service!

Smuggler's Cove, on a ridiculously warm and pleasant January afternoon!

This smart first-winter Glaucous Gull has been frequenting the area around Penzance and Newlyn for the last few days, so it was great to come across it at such close range within Newlyn harbour. Certainly the closest I have been to one of these beasts!

a tame Oystercatcher forages around for some wriggly prey, a fair sight easier than its usual bivalve diet requiring a tactical employment of its stout bill.  This individual actually revealed itself to have a 'stump' as its right leg, although this didn't seem to impede its feeding

Common Kestrel 

A pair of Buzzards along the coast towards Perranuthnoe were being mobbed fairly determinedly by the local Carrion Crows 

St Michael's Mount and Marazion, as the low cloud cleared away

Stackhouse bay, on the way to Perranuthnoe

Perranuthnoe - just a little late for picking out a Hudsonian Whimbrel along the tideline!

A birding trip to Portland Bird Observatory - Part I

I have spent the last few days based in the lovely Portland Bird Observatory on the southern coast of Dorset. It has been a fantastic week of birding, moth-trapping, ringing and photography. I joined fellow 'Next Generation Birders' Josie Hewitt, Sorrel Lyall, Ephraim Perfect and Billy Stockwell to enjoy a few days at this superb location, and we all had a brilliant time. I shall try to summarise the week in a couple of blog posts, starting with the birding and ringing side of things...

I arrived in Weymouth by train on Tuesday afternoon, after a long but pleasant journey from Falmouth, meeting Sorrel and Billy at Castle Cary on the way in. We were all picked up by Josie in Weymouth, before heading along Chesil Beach causeway, over the steep hill and down the other side to the southern-most point, where Portland Bird Observatory resides in the lower lighthouse (one of three). It was dark by the time we arrived, and so there wasn't much birding to be had, but the weather was promising for the following day, and so we were eager to get out early the following morning.

28th October

Most of us were up at 0600, ready to open up the mist nets around the garden at first light. With calm conditions and clear skies, we could already hear birds passing overhead. Josie and I spent most of the morning running the various netting sites around the obs, including the double-panel nets in the nearby crop fields, where many of the passing finches were dropping into. It was a busy morning, with plenty of Goldcrests and Firecrests finding their way into the mist nets, and a few other smart birds like Starling, Reed Bunting and Linnet. In terms of passage, I logged the following numbers during the morning: eight Song Thrushes, 17 Blackbirds, 28 Goldcrests, 152 Skylarks, five Woodlarks, 25 Meadow Pipits, 123 Goldfinches, 13 Pied Wagtails, 160 Linnets, 80 Starlings, 57 Woodpigeons, one Stock Dove, four Reed Buntings, 14 Chaffinches, 15 Greenfinches, seven Firecrests, two Dartford Warblers, five Swallows, five Lapwings, a Continental Coal Tit, and a Sparrowhawk. 

Linnets and Portland Bird Obs

After this superb visible migration and a busy morning's ringing, a birder walked into the obs with news of a Pallas's Warbler in a quarry near Southwell. It isn't every year you get a chance to see these stunning little leaf warblers, and so most of us jumped at the news and head briskly off in the direction of Southwell. It took a while of scanning the large jumble of scrub and bushes before Martin Cade picked up on the bird, flitting about near the upper reaches. We all reassembled at overlooking the quarry, where we were treated to reasonable views of the beautiful little warbler at regular intervals for the rest of the afternoon. Afterwards, we headed up to Top Fields, where we were treated to fantastic views of Short-eared Owls emerging for a night's hunting at dusk. 

A great first day.

The super little Pallas's Warbler, Phylloscopus proregulus

This Short-eared Owl flew right past Ephraim and I, well before the other four birds emerged after sunset. It was brilliant to see these birds hunting on silent wings around the rank grassland around dusk

29th October

The conditions turned a little inclement on Thursday, with a howling south-westerly wind picking up during the night, and bringing with it heavy rainy until late morning. There wasn't a great deal to be seen in the earlier part of the day, although it was great to see three or four Firecrests flitting about the garden, along with plenty of Goldcrests. I headed for a walk along the coast towards the Pallas's quarry after lunch, coming across a nice selection of species along the way, including Black Redstart, lots of Kestrels, a Continental Song Thrush, 20 Skylarks, Rock Pipits, over 80 Goldfinches, a Stock Dove and an adult Mediterranean Gull. It was cool to look at the amazing geology of the landscape, with its rocky rock strata and chiselled bays. I ended up at the quarry near Southwell, where the Pallas's Warbler was still present and showing occasionally. 

We headed back up to Top Fields and Sweet Hill in the evening to look see the emerging owls hunting around the fields. We weren't disappointed, with at least five Short-eared Owls appearing and giving great views until the light faded into darkness.

Firecrests were a daily sight in the obs garden! 

There were plenty of Goldcrests about, with in excess of 50 on some days (not quite the 100s recorded last week!)

Some landscapes from around the bill

30th October

Despite a calming in the winds the previous evening, conditions were once again a bit grim in the morning, with strong winds and a dull grey covering of cloud blanketing the isle. The morning was largely spent seawatching from the obs veranda, and the following species were logged: 37 Gannets, 22 Razorbills, 29 Kittiwakes, 24 Great Black-backed Gulls and eight Common Scoters. I went for a quick walk around the coast towards the active Lighthouse on Portland Bill midday, where at least eight Black Redstarts were flitting around the beach huts and scattered boulders. On my way back from the bill, I was walking past a flock of House Sparrows near the obs quarry, when I heard an unusual call coming from above me. It took a couple of seconds before realising it was the 'tick-tick' of a bunting, which promptly appeared and dropped into the flock of sparrows in front of me. I got my bins on the bird, and was immediately treated to superb views of a LITTLE BUNTING! I watched the bird for a couple of minutes, taking a few images and trying to phone Josie (with no luck). Just at the point at which I was about to head back to the obs, the bird flew up and headed westwards, before circling around and heading over the obs and into the crop fields. Further efforts to relocate the bird unfortunately drew a blank...

I have had a mixed past with these emberizias- I have never actually seen one 'one the deck', only having brief glimpses of birds flying overhead in the murk, giving the characteristic 'tick-tick'. After perhaps three such instances, it was brilliant to finally nail one down!! Just a shame that it didn't stick around for others to see

The wind eased in the afternoon, and made for a very pleasant evening, which was again spent saw us making the daily pilgrimage to the top of Sweethill to anticipate the emergence of the owls. This particular evening was superb, with a Barn Owl shooting out from between one of the hedges, and spending the next half an hour giving sporadic views as it floated around the surrounding fields. Superb. No fewer than four Short-eared Owls appeared too, with three together in the same scope view at one point! A Little Owl could be heard calling in the distance as we watched the two larger owl species flying about.

One of the things I really enjoyed about the Portland area, in particularly the bill, was the amazing abundance of Kestrels. The density in this small area was ridiculous, with perhaps 20 individuals present within two kilometres squared! It made for some good photographic opportunities, as most of them were relatively non-plussed to human presence, remaining focussed on their small mammalian quarry as prey...

A selection of images from my stay

31st October

Our final morning was a very productive one, with a fresh south-easterly wind and clear skies encouraging a brilliant movement of migrants once again over the bill. The garden was also alive with Goldcrests and smaller passerine migrants. Josie and I opened up the nets fairly early, and hit the jack pot in the first net round, coming across a superb Pallas's Warbler hanging in one of the nets! We duly fitted a small ring to its leg, before showing the bird to a crowd of admirers, and finally releasing it once again into the obs garden. Other passerines present in the garden and surrounding bushes included a minimum of 42 Goldcrests, six Firecrests, four Redwings, five Song Thrushes, nine Blackbirds, three Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps. 

In terms of visible migration, the sky was once again punctuated by the calls of larks, finches and other passing migrants, and so it was great fun trying to keep track of what was flying over. Frequent visits to the crop fields revealed a little more of a passage than was taking place over the obs, and I managed to note down the final tallies: 179 Starlings, 72 Skylarks, five Siskins, five alba wagtails, 15 Meadow Pipits, three Bramblings, three Reed Buntings, 79 Woodpigeons, 310 Linnets, a Lesser Redpoll and a Short-eared Owl. After a last walk up Sweethill, I packed up my few personal effects, and blagged a lift to the nearby Southwell, from where I caught a bus and said goodbye to the delightful Portland...for now at least.

Some more landscapes 

Short-eared Owl

Looking north-east to the Purbeck Heritage coast

Squabbling Great Black-backed gulls

Stonechat in front of the upper lighthouse

One of the two Little Owls that pop in and out of the holes in the obs quarry throughout the day. This bird enjoying the brief patch of sunshine at the end of a duller day

The Ringing

It was great to do some ringing whilst at the obs, helping Josie every day with the conglomeration of mist nets that are positioned around the garden and surrounding crop fields. We trapped and ringed 178 birds during our time there, including some nice species such as the Pallas's Warbler, Redwings, Starling, Reed Bunting, Song Thrushes, lots of Firecrests and Linnets to name some. By far the most numerous species was Goldcrests.

The ringing station (above), and a few of the highlights below, from top left to bottom: Firecrest, Starling, Reed Bunting, Goldcrest, Pallas's Warbler and Redwing