BIRD SIGHTINGS FOR FEBRUARY 2003

February 28th: Siskin again on Guineaport Road, Wadebridge; (10). Ken Hughes reported that a Barn Owl was quartering the flood meadows by the NRA Pools at Wadebridge this evening.

February 27th: The Siskin are still present on Guineaport Road, Wadebridge.

February 26th: Up to 10 Siskin feeding on Alder at Guineaport Road, Wadebridge this morning.

February 24th: Three Tundra Swan flew over Wadebridge towards the Estuary at 07.30hrs. Stan Christophers reports that the third winter Yellow-legged Gull was still present today.

February 23rd: The Eurasian Spoonbill was still present on the Amble Marshes as was the male Northern Pintail, 247 Eurasian Wigeon, 161 Eurasian Curlew, a Grey Partridge, and 2 Red-legged Partridges. A Water Pipit was present at the Amble Dam. On the rest of the Estuary, gull watching produced 412 Herring, 1 Yellow-legged; (a third winter), 736 Lesser Black-backed, 2 Mediterranean; (an adult and a first winter), and 241 Great Black-backed.  Also present were 3 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 14 Little Egret, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 43 Bar-tailed Godwits, 29 Red Knot, the female Greater Scaup and a Black Swan.

February 22nd: Francis Couch reported 4 Whooper Swans on the Amble Marshes today. Siskins were evident today with sightings in a number of areas in Wadebridge.

February 17th: During a full estuary count today the following highlights were recorded; 6 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Little Egret, 1 Eurasian Spoonbill, 5 Pale-bellied and 1 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 149 Common Shelduck, 214 Eurasian Wigeon, 1 male Northern Pintail, 1 female Greater Scaup, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 44 Red Knot, 5 Sanderling, 571 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 53 Bar-tailed Godwits, 275 Eurasian Curlew, 105 Common Redshank, 5 Common Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, and 22 Ruddy Turnstone. Gull numbers were low with only 429 Black-headed, 44 Mew, 117 Lesser Black-backed, 346 Herring and 166 Great Black-backed. Colin Selway reported a first winter Ring-billed Gull today off Tregonce.

February 16th: At Little Petherick Creek a Firecrest was present in the Car park. Off Padstow the 5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese are still present together with a single Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 female Common Eiders were off Porthilly Point and the female Greater Scaup is still residing with the male Tufted Duck at Dennis Pool. Wader present today included 194 Oystercatchers, 26 Grey Plover, 434 Northern Lapwing, 47 Red Knot, 3 Sanderling, 480 Dunlin, 33 Bar-tailed Godwits, 88 Eurasian Curlew, 44 Common Redshank, 1 Common Greenshank and 2 Ruddy Turnstone. A total of 3 Common Chiffchaffs were located about the Estuary.

February 13th: On Dinham Flats this afternoon; 2 Ring-billed Gulls were present an adult and a first summer, also present were 5 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Common Goldeneye. A Common Chiffchaff was present near Tregunna.

February 12th: At the Amble Marshes this morning; 4 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Eurasian Spoonbill, 29 Canada Geese, 152 Eurasian Wigeon, 99 Eurasian Teal, 16 Northern Shoveler, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 650 Northern Lapwing, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 135, Eurasian Curlew.

February 11th: On Dinham Flats today the following were present; 2 Great Crested Grebe , 4 Little Egret , 1 Black Swan , 3 Common Goldeneye, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk , 8 Common Buzzard, 10 Ringed Plover, 1000 European Golden Plover, 39 Grey Plover, 940 Northern Lapwing, 56 Red Knot, 660 Dunlin, and 50 Bar-tailed Godwit. On the Camel Trail near Tregunna a Common Chiffchaff was noted. Colin Selway noted an adult Ring-billed Gull off Tregonce today.

February 10th: Eurasian Sparrowhawk watched hunting over Wadebridge.

February 9th: 6 Brent Geese (5 pale-bellied and a dark bellied), 1 female Eider, 6 Sanderling, 31 Grey Plover, 210 Oystercatcher, 214 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (1 had a Black Darvic ring with white lettering on its right leg).

February 2nd: Today a single Eurasian Spoonbill was noted by Colin Selway as were single Red-necked Grebe and adult Mediterranean Gull.

February 1st: Colin Selway reported a Eurasian Spoonbill was present on Dinham Flats today.