CAMELBIRDERS DIARY 2008

January 5th 2008;

Spent most of the day shopping in Truro but on the way home visited Crantock were the seven reported Cattle Egrets were watched feeding among some cattle. After watching these birds for about 5 minutes the heavens opened so I decided to get in the car and drive to Porth Reservoir.

At Porth the Black-throated Diver was still in residence as was the two Goosander.

The totals is now 85, (Year and Cornwall), 80 (Camel Estuary).

BLACK-THROATED DIVER

CATTLE EGRET

GOOSANDER

COMMON PHEASANT

January 4th 2008;

Worked today in the Launceston area with no time to do any birding, good job the weekend starts tomorrow.

January 3rd 2008;

My new job, sees me travelling around North Cornwall at the moment and today was no exception with a short visit to Padstow where two Turnstone were feeding about the harbour and then across the estuary to near Polzeath. I stopped for lunch at Lundy Bay Car Park where in the stubble field next to it a large flock of Chaffinch, (200), contained a single male Brambling. This flock which I first saw in early December still contained up to 50 Yellowhammers, 150 Sky Lark and two Corn Buntings. Other year ticks included Feral Pigeons at Padstow, Merlin near Hals' Grave, (hunting Sky Larks), Raven and Peregrine at St Endellion.

The year total is now 81, (Year and Cornwall), 80 (Camel Estuary).

SHAG

MERLIN

PEREGRINE FALCON

TURNSTONE

SKY LARK

RAVEN

BRAMBLING

LINNET

YELLOWHAMMER

CORN BUNTING

January 2nd 2008;

Very limited time from any birding today, although a few year ticks in the forms of a Kestrel at Ruthernbridge, single Jay and Sparrowhawk, at Nanstallon, and up to 10 Fieldfare at Longstone were noted.

The year total rises to 71, (Yearlist and Cornwall), 70 (Camel Estuary).

KESTREL

SPARROWHAWK

FIELDFARE

JAY

January 1st 2008;

A leisurely start to the year with no racing down west to see the over wintering rarities, instead a look around the local area.

Cycled along to Clapper Marshes this morning were four Gadwall, (two male), seem to have taken up residence. Up to 20 Teal were noted as was a very obliging Water Rail which showed very well in the open. A single Firecrest and two Chiffchaff were in the usual corner of the Rugby Field as were at least four Siskin and 20 Redwing.

Counting the Common Sandpiper along the river has been very difficult but this morning a minimum of six were logged, between Target Bridge and Wadebridge Sewage Works.

Up to 3000 Golden Plover and just over 1000 Lapwings were noted between Wadebridge and Tregunna as were 65 Redshank and 968 Black-headed Gull.

A total of 67 species were noted during the day.