Daily Archives: 04/04/2020

Garden Listing Saturday 4th April

Posted on by April 6, 2020

Crowlas: Total species = 49

The highlights of my garden listing since lockdown have been 3 full garden ticks, not seen from here before, though no doubt due to increased observer effort. The first came on 30 March, when I picked up a Gannet high over Mount’s Bay at >3km range, which was particularly pleasing considering there is no sea view. Recently, hundreds of Common Scoters had been passing over Northern England, so for a few nights I spent an hour in the garden and it was great to hear the fairly distinctive call of a flock heading over at 21:20. The last highlight was in the form of 2 Shelduck that flew over my house, presumably on a flight path from Hayle to Marazion. In addition to these new birds, other birds like Mistle Thrush, a flock of sum plum Golden Plover and Stock Dove have been great to see.

24th March – Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie, Raven, Herring Gull, Buzzard, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Pied Wagtail, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Sparrowhawk, House Sparrow
27th March – Stock Dove, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Greenfinch,
28th March – Goldcrest, Bullfinch, Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Pheasant
30th March – Common Gull, Gannet, Meadow Pipit, Coal Tit, Black-headed Gull
31st March – Canada Goose
1st April – Little Egret, Cormorant,
2nd April – Tawny Owl,
3rd April – Golden Plover, Grey Heron, Feral Pigeon, Common Scoter
4th April – Shelduck, Starling, Mistle Thrush

Reuben Veal

Combined Cornwall Garden List: this is now up to at least 85 species –

Cornwall-Joint-4th-April.pdf

The more interesting species and spring migrants are given a location and a date; others may be dated and we may further update the commoner species. The list is based on the bubo combined list, with additions from this page and as we are aware of them. Do let us know if we’ve missed any, or you have an earlier date we should put.

Truro: Update: 31 species

3rd April: Siskin and Mallard flyovers highlights of the day.
2nd April: Never been so pleased to hear a flyover Pied Wagtail
1st April: No new species for my list today, but thought you might like the attached photo of a Bullfinch which came into the garden briefly this morning. The Robin juvs manage to scuttle off every time I point a lens at them!

31st March: Filled some of the gaping holes in my list today, starting when I woke up to the sound of a singing Greenfinch!

Lawrie Sampson

Saturday 4th April 2020

Posted on by April 5, 2020

Birding in Lockdown: Links to Garden Lockdown Listing League and our Birding Ideas Page, helping to make the most of extra time as a result of the lockdown.

Late news, 3/4, Rosewall/Buttermilk Hill: 5 (4m, 1f) Ring Ouzel, 5m Wheatear and a flock of 20 Linnets that were new in. (V Stratton)

Wheatear, Viv Stratton

Porthgwarra: 1 Hoopoe. (M Wallace)

Downderry: 1 Hoopoe at Deviock Woods, later on edge of village. (T Clark, A Payne) Also 1 Kittiwake, 1 Common Gull, 1 male Shoveler, 9 Common Scoter and 11 Manx Shearwater offshore and 1m Siskin in private garden. (A Payne)

Hoopoe, Thomas Clark

Nanquidno: 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Sand Martin. (C Moore)

Zoar, St Keverne: 1 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe. (A Williams)

Falmouth: Osprey NE over garden 17:10 (G Wills).

Drift Reservoir: 1 Snipe, 2 Gadwall. (D Flumm)

Newlyn: 2cy Iceland Gull still in harbour, 1 Red-throated Diver off Sandy Cove. (L Proctor) Also 2s Yellow-legged Gull. (M Elliott)

Truro: 2 Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel, 27 Shelduck, 1 Oystercatcher. (D Eva)

Crowlas: 2 Shelduck over c18:20 toward Marazion, 1 Mistle Thrush, 6 sum plum Golden Plover. (R Veal)

Rosewall/Buttermilk Hill: 2 Canada Goose, 4 Mallard, 6 Golden Plover (flying over), 4 Stonechat, 12 Meadow Pipit, 6 Wren, 2 Blackbird, 3 Linnet. (P Nason)

Porth Island: 1 m Wheatear, 7 Linnet, 2 Skylark, 1 Lesser Black backed Gull, 53 Herring Gull, 5 Carrion Crow, 1 Raven, 7 Cormorant, 1 Shag, 2 Oystercatcher, 39 Fulmar, 1 m Kestrel, 7 Stonechat. (S Grose)

Pelynt: 2 Red Kite to NE (13:30 and 16:45). (K Knight)

Callestick: 1 Common Snipe flushed from field. (T Wilson)

Lostwithiel:  1 Swallow, 1 pair Stonechat. (M Surgey)

Penryn River: 1 Common Sandpiper near MacSalvors. (A Norris)

St Ives, Hellesveor cliff: 1 Glaucous Gull (different individual to darker one on 31/3), 1 Swallow, 1 Wheatear. (G Jones)

Marazion: 4 Sandwich Tern on Great Hogus and 2 Swallows over Rosehill this evening. (DK Parker)

Coverack: 14 Little Egret; 1 Willow Warbler singing at Penhallick; 1 Wheatear, 1 Kestrel at Crousa Downs. (D Beadle)

Crackington Haven: 3 Swallow this evening over fields. (J & B Teague)

Mawgan: Barn Owl glided low over garden at 20:30 (P Bedford)

Launceston: 2 Red Kite from the A30. (M Raywood)

Truro: Large Tortoiseshell butterfly. (J Chapple)

Hayle-Leedstown: 1 Nuthatch in garden. (A Robinson)

Nuthatch, Andy Robinson

Nuthatch, Andy Robinson

I was able to observe this bird in our own garden, under ‘lockdown’ at very close quarters from the conservatory. We are a lightly wooded garden ‘oasis’ surrounded by agricultural fields. Maybe not a rarity, but this, single Nuthatch is a first in our garden in 14 years of us being here.
The bird was very obliging and confident, constantly searching beneath moss and ivy for food. It also visited our bird feeder, quickly finding access to the peanuts (a larger hole in the feeder wire mesh previously made by a squirrel). (Andy Robinson)

Interestingly the Nuthatch I heard at Treverva yesterday was also the first I’ve recorded at that location in over 10 years of on-off recording. (Dan Chaney)

Cornwall Lockdown Diary, Day 12:

Back up the Camel Trail again, inland towards Bodmin. Shelduck on Treravon Meadows but nothing much else until…a lone wader with a long bill silhouetted against the sunlight. Normally camouflaged in the sedge, this Snipe was standing proud in the mud for some minutes before slinking off into the long grass. Further along, Jays everywhere, Wrens everywhere, plus Nuthatch, the guffaw of a Green Woodpecker and Canada Geese (no sign of the Bar-headed Goose that seems to like their company, perhaps he’s flying over the Himalayas – they are thought to be the highest-flying birds in the world). Plenty of all the usual tits as well and then yet another Marsh Tit – in a different spot to my last one, so there must be quite a few about here. Bright sun still bathing everything in crystal light.

All this cycling must be improving my fitness and the savings on petrol (and indeed everything else except food and drink) are welcome when all else feels like bad news. But this horrid disease and the enforced lockdown are creating real hardships for many, many people and one fears for their state of mind as well as their health.

Simon Marquis (palores@cbwps.org.uk)

Garden Listing Friday 3rd April

Posted on by April 6, 2020

Truro: Urban location, some views over fields.

29th March – Blackbird, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Buzzard, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Raven, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Collard Dove, Redwing, Robin, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Sparrowhawk, Long-tailed Tit, Great Black-backed Gull

30th March – Stock Dove, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Starling
31st March – Lesser Black-backed Gull
1st April – Wren
2nd April – Jay, Grey Heron
3rd April – Kestrel
4th April – Woodcock

Richard Augarde

St Keverne: Here is my update – delighted to hear the yaffle today from my garden. Heard it previously out walking but I know that does not count!

Garden lockdown list –

1 Chaffinch, 2 Great Tit, 3 House Sparrow, 4 Golden Plover (over), 5 Dunnock, 6 Song Thrush, 7 Long-tailed Tit, 8 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Woodpigeon (over), 10 Robin, 11 Jackdaw, 12 Chiffchaff (heard), 13 Rook, 14 Buzzard (over), 15 Blue Tit, 16 Great Black-backed Gull (over), 17 Pied Wagtail, 18 Wren, 19 Coal Tit, 20 Goldfinch, 21 Blackbird, 22 Collared Dove, 23 Pheasant, 24 Magpie, 25 Herring Gull, 26 Carrion Crow, 27 Mallard (over), 28 Green Woodpecker (heard)

RUNNING TOTAL 28

Helen Norton

Leaderboard to end of day

 

Garden Listing Thursday 2nd April

Posted on by April 4, 2020

Dobwalls: Village edge, bordering fields & scrubby copse, open views

Species total: 24, in no particular order –

1. Blackbird; 2. Blue Tit; 3. Buzzard (drifting over); 4. Carrion Crow; 5. Chaffinch; 6. Collared Dove; 7. Dunnock; 8. Goldfinch; 9. Great Tit; 10. Greenfinch; 11. Herring Gull; 12. House Sparrows; 13. Jackdaws; 14. Jay; 15. Long-tailed Tit; 16. Magpie; 17. Robin; 18. Starling; 19. Wood Pigeon; 20. Wren; 21. Rook; 22. Raven; 23. Goldcrest; 24. Sparrowhawk.

Chris and Janet Duffy

Constantine: 38 species, inland rural location. Merlin today was my first from the house.

David Collins

Garden Listing Wednesday 1st April

Posted on by April 4, 2020

Millbrook: Been spending some time in the garden this week and here’s the list so far:

Pheasant, Canada Goose, Mallard, Herring Gull, LBB Gull, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook
C Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, LT Tit, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch

30 species in total. Notable absences so far are Collared Dove, Starling, Kestrel, Tawny Owl, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit and Grey Wagtail which are usually frequent. Looking forward to the hirundines.
Garden is in rural location on edge of Millbrook village overlooking fields, gorse scrub and woodland. Thirty years ago I would have picked up more flyovers but hearing is shot now… too many Who and Pink Floyd concerts in the 70’s!
Keep up the great work

Bruce Taggart

Illogan: 25 to date, small garden, inland, backing onto fields. Our Woodpigeons have fledged 2 young, our first 2020 fledglings.

David Williams

Polbathic: Today’s additions: Tawny Owl (heard), Whimbrel (has been around all winter), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Red-breasted Merganser – pair (the first ones up for ages), Chiffchaff (our first, this year), Greenfinch – fem. on feeders (first this year)

That makes a total of 34, so far (Today’s total was 31).

Andy Blonden. Polbathic Creek (St, Germans).

Morvah: Started 23rd March, Farmland/Moorland, Species Number: 32

Species list so far:

Herring Gull, GBBG, Canada Goose, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff
Chough, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, C Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Buzzard, Raven, House Sparrow,, Dunnock, Merlin, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Robin, Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk,Tawny Owl, Jack Snipe, Starling, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Blackcap, Pheasant

Steve Mayes

Constantine: Record day for me today, total of 34 species seen/heard in my garden. I had 30 on the list by 9am and then struggled all day to get the magic number 34. I was stuck on 33 until 6.35 pm when a Long-tailed Tit appeared right outside the window.
So a new record of 34 in a day and all but one actually seen (Jay heard only). A new one to the cumulative list (Lesser black-backed Gull) brings my running total since lock down to 41.
Butterfly list for week, 5.  Brimstone, Large White, Holly blue, Peacock and Speckled Wood.
Still no Swallow……any day now.
Tim PInfield.

Garden Listing Tuesday 31st March

Posted on by April 4, 2020

Polbathic: Garden Lockdown List as of 31st March. Overlooking a small creek.

Total 28; Robin, Mute Swan, Rook, Goldfinch, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Jay, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Long tailed Tit, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Buzzard, Hedge Sparrow, Little Egret, Herring Gull, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Magpie, Cormorant, Curlew, Redshank, Carrion Crow, Green Sandpiper, Siskin.

Andy Blonden

Constantine: I have been doing a daily count on my garden following the rules set out since 18 March.
My daily total averages 30. Best so far is 33, when a Grey Heron flew over and a Siskin dropped in to my feeders.
My total for yesterday was 31

Rarest bird on the list so far is House Sparrow. I have been here for 43 years and House Sparrow was not on list but a pair appeared the other day and is still here. I am fed up with them already. Never stop chirruping, drowning out all the other species! Just shows how things have changed. I has yellowhammer daily when I arrived, but they disappeared off the list thirty plus years ago. There are benefits, however. I had never seen a Firecrest until about ten years ago and now they winter here.

I have set out below the cumulative total of birds seen or heard in accordance with the guidance and totals in brackets of number of sightings since the lock down date including today. The farmer has been ploughing in the valley below and the Shelduck on the list were first seen today. Could have been a record day except that the Green Woodpecker seen or heard daily failed to put in an appearance.

Cumulative total of species seen or heard to date since lockdown, total 40. Number in brackets means number of days seen or heard, (d) means daily..

Little Egret (2)
Grey Heron (2)
Shelduck (1)
Canada Goose (2)
Mallard (1)
Buzzard (d)
Pheasant (d)
Herring Gull (d)
Woodpigeon (d)
Green Woodpecker (8)
Great spotted woodpecker (d)
Skylark (2)
Wren (d)
Dunnock (d)
Robin (d)
Blackbird (d)
Song thrush (d)
Mistle thrush (1)
Blackcap(d)
Chiffchaff (d)
Goldcrest )1)
Coal Tit (7)
Blue Tit (d)
Great Tit (d)
Long tailed Tit (7)
Nuthatch (d)
Jay (6)
Magpie (d)
Jackdaw (d)
Crow (d)
Rook (3)
Raven (d)
House Sparrow (d)
Chaffinch (d)
Greenfinch (d)
Goldfinch (d)
Bullfinch (d)
Siskin (6)
Linnet (7)
Tawny owl (6)

Tim Pinfield

 

Garden Listing Monday 30th March

Posted on by April 4, 2020

Truro: Nice idea! Yew Tree Court in Truro has a communal garden, but I will count birds I see/hear while sitting by the back door.

29th: Current total of 14 today. The Robin chicks fledged today, and the Rooks in their 27 nests are endlessly noisy but I have surprised myself at how fond of them I have become! List so far: Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Buzzard, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Jackdaw, Raven, Wren, Robin
Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Goldfinch.

30th: Up to 18. Opened the door this morning to see a pair of bullfinches feeding on hawthorn buds. Amazing they’ve got on the list before chaffinch. Additions: Collared Dove, Dunnock,House Sparrow, Bullfinch.

Lawrie Sampson