Bird Sightings for December 2003

December 9th: At the Amble Marshes this morning the Whooper Swan is still present as are the two Greylag Geese.

December 8th: The Whooper Swan was still present on the Amble Marshes this afternoon as were the Greylag Geese. Also present were two Little Egret, 254 Eurasian Wigeon, 110 Eurasian Teal, 16 Black-tailed Godwit, two female Northern Shoveler, a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk and a Red-legged Partridge.

December 7th: The Amble Marshes today hosted ten Greenland White-fronted Geese, two Greylag Geese and the Whooper Swan. Other species noted included 260 Eurasian Wigeon, 210 Eurasian Teal,  four Northern Shoveler, 26 Black-tailed Godwit, four Red-legged Partridge, two Little Egret, 18 European Golden Plover and 24 Fieldfare. In the mouth of the estuary 28 Eurasian Shag were present. At Wadebridge two Rock Pipits were in residence at the Old Bridge. (Just outside the area at Harlyn Bay a Snow Bunting was present as were two first winter Mediterranean Gull).

Whooper Swan and Mute Swan Amble Marshes 07/12/03

December 5th: A single Common Sandpiper was present at Wadebridge today, as was a Common Kingfisher. A Common Kestrel was noted at Egloshayle Playing Fields today. At Padstow in the inner harbour two Muscovy Duck were present.

December 4th: The Barnacle Geese are still at Wadebridge, both sporting rings on their right legs, (one white the other green), indicating a captive origin. Also in the Wadebridge area a single Little Egret was present along with two Common Sandpiper, six Little Grebe, three Common Snipe, single Eurasian Curlew and two Grey Wagtail.

December 3rd: Barnacle Geese still at Wadebridge today, also present in this area was a Common Kingfisher and Black Swan. At the Amble Marshes the two Greylag Geese are still present, other species present included 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 115 Eurasian Curlew, 200+ Eurasian Teal, 164 Eurasian Wigeon, 44 Mallard, five Northern Shoveler and two Red-legged Partridge. The Whooper Swan is still present at Burniere Point and 20 European Golden Plover were noted in the Northern Lapwing flocks. Two Siskin were noted at Egloshayle near the church. Off Padstow today two Great Northern Divers and a single Slavonian Grebe were noted. Three female Northern Pintail were present on the estuary as was a Mediterranean Gull. Four Blackcap were noted along the Camel Trail.

December 2nd: On the Amble Marshes today two Greylag Geese were present again, other species on site included 32 Black-tailed Godwit, 142 Eurasian Curlew, 260 Eurasian Wigeon, 425 Eurasian Teal, 32 Stock Dove, two Northern Shoveler and a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk. On the estuary the Whooper Swan was present within the Mute Swan herd. At the N.R.A. Pools a Barn Owl was watched quartering the meadows and two Common Chiffchaff, a female Blackcap and six Goldcrest were noted in the reedbed. 700 Common Starling roosted in the reeds, and a male Eurasian Sparrowhawk was trying to turn one of them into supper. At Coronation Park this morning a female Blackcap was noted as was a Green Woodpecker. Another female Blackcap was present at Guineaport today. At Wadebridge two Barnacle Geese of unknown origin were present by the bridge as was the Black Swan.

Barnacle Geese and Black Swan at Wadebridge 02/12/03