Recent sightings

COVID-19 Update 17th May: Society reserves and hides and now all open, but please refer to the Homepage for further information and a fuller statement from the board. We also hope to restart the walks program in the near future.

Cornish Choughs: The Society is now maintaining the dedicated Chough sightings database for Cornwall, adding to the many thousands of records received from birders and members of the public since 2001. Please send your sightings to choughs@cbwps.org.uk including, date, place, 6 fig grid ref if possible, and notes on any colour rings observed.

Please see the link for an update from the team on what has been a good year for our birds, and of course do continue to send your sightings in over the winter Chough update Dec 2020

Blackcaps: Have you seen a colour-ringed Blackcap in Cornwall this winter? If so, the BTO would love to hear from you! More details on the website here – BTO Blackcap Project

Garden Listing League 2021: Following on from the successes of lockdown listing last year we have decided to run a league for the whole of 2021 for lockdown in January and beyond. More details can be found on the website here- Cornwall Garden Listing League Whether you have fantastic coastal views or a small suburban garden see what you can see and record this year. Good luck! April/May roundup now published. (Last update 11th June).

Online Bookshop: 12th Jan – we have added a further selection of second hand birding and natural history books to our online bookshop. Click Here to browse and find a bargain!

Sensitive Breeding Birds: Now that the breeding season is upon us we are resuming our policy of withholding reports of sensitive breeding (and potential breeding) birds in the County. Please keep sending in your reports via bird-news@cbwps.org.uk as all records will still go into the county database, and thus be available for the annual report, research and conservation. Remember, the welfare of the birds comes first. The full list of species including RBBP and Schedule 1 species can be found on the website Here. Please always bear this in mind when sharing information on social media too.

More news and updates from the Society: can be found Here

Protect Pendeen Watch and the surrounding area from unregulated development: We believe that Pendeen Watch and the surrounding area deserves additional protection from development due to its spectacular natural scenery, importance for wildlife, and recreational value to the local community. The area provides vital habitat for sensitive species such as the Cornish Chough and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Butterfly. To find out more and sign an important petition please look here: https://www.change.org/p/cornwall-council-protect-pendeen-watch-and-adjacent-areas-from-unconstrained-development?use_react=false&v2=falsev 

The Birdwatchers Code  The Nature Photographers Code  Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981  Schedule 1 Birds

Saturday 19th June 2021

Posted on by June 19, 2021

Trethurgy: Turtle Dove feeding in private garden, 1 female Sparrowhawk. (G and J White)

Turtle Dove – Geoff & Jacky White

Hayle Estuary RSPB (Lelant Water): 7 Little Egret, 2 broods Shelduck with 6 (old) & 11 (new) ducklings, 4 Curlew. (D Flumm)

Newbridge: Green Sandpiper. (D Flumm)

Green Sandpiper – Dave Flumm

Green Sandpiper – Dave Flumm

Walmsley Santuary: 1 Mute Swan, 5 Swift’s, 1 Swallow, 4 Moorhen, 13 Mallard, 13 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 4 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Shelduck, 1 Goldfinch. (D Sharp)

Pelynt: 2 Magpies predated a Sloworm in a private garden. (K Knight)

 

rrb

Friday 18th June 2021

Posted on by June 18, 2021

Kuggar: Hoopoe seen and heard calling in private garden around 08:30, then flew towards Poltesco valley and no sign since. (A Damant)

Foxhole: Drake Ring-necked Duck still on pond. (Birdguides)

Bodmin Moor, Witheybrook Marsh to Sharp Tor: 1 Redstart (male), 3 Yellowhammer (2m, 1f), 30+ adult Wheatear feeding 10+ young, 2 Reed Bunting (m), 2 Siskin, 8 Swift, 1 Kestrel (m), Green Woodpecker (heard). Also numbers of Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Linnet & Stonechat. (J St Ledger & S Williams)

Yellowhammer – Stephen Williams

Wheatear – Stephen Williams

Godolphin Hill: Singing male Reed Bunting east side, 20 Swift. (D Flumm)

Reed Bunting – Dave Flumm

Downderry: 23 Gannet, 15 Manx Shearwater and 5 Mediterranean Gull (4 1s and 1 2s) moved west before 0700. (A Payne)

Gylly Beach, Falmouth: 140 Mediterranean Gull roosting offshore at 8:15 this evening, 6 Sandwich Tern. (J Irvine)

Penzance: Red Kite over A30 at Mount Misery during afternoon. (D King)

Tregathenan, nr. Helston: Red Kite flew West over private garden, then mobbed by rooks. (J Betteridge)

Trehaddle, Truro: 1 Red Kite. (M Clayton)

Launceston: Red Kite Launceston side of St Giles on the Heath. (J Packer)

Camborne: Sparrowhawk low over gardens mid morning. (D King)

Sowden’s Bridge, nr. Looe: 1 female Green Woodpecker in private garden. (S Netherton)

Polkerris, nr. Par: Kestrel hunting for most of the past 2 weeks. (P Blay)

 

dwb

Thursday 17th June 2021

Posted on by June 17, 2021

Late news 16/06 Trerulefoot: a Red Kite circling over Bake Lakes then headed west, mid-morning. (A Payne)

Late news 16/06 St Hilary: Green Woodpecker feeding young (R Chiffers)

Green Woodpecker and young, Robin Chiffers

Late news 16/06 Mount Hawke: Rosy Starling (Birdguides)

Knave-Go-By near Camborne:- 1 Green Woodpecker (D King)

Tredarvah: 1 Green Woodpecker, private garden (R Chiffers)

Green Woodpecker, Robin Chiffers

St Buryan: Pratincole sp. flew North, just West of village. (K Wilson)

Perranporth: Manx Shearwater dead on beach and 200 offshore feeding for last week. Also, Harbour Porpoise. (T Wilson)

St Just: Rosy Starling, still present at north end of Princess Street (per Twitter)


Rosy Starling, St Just, Alex McKechnie

Foxhole: drake Ring-necked Duck, 3 Coot chicks, 1 juvenile Moorhen. (B & L Bosisto)

Playing Place: Red Kite flying overhead. (T. Hall)

Truro: Red Kite, over at 08:05,  (M Dunford)

Gloweth:  Red Kite over private garden 16.30pm, small starling flock (4-6 birds), greenfinch, 2 goldfinch, 8-10 swift feeding high above. (D Gibbard)

Lower Tamar Lake: 2 Mute Swan, 3 Great Crested Grebe.(R Mudge)

St. Germans Quay: Whimbrel  (A Blonden.)

Rock, Helipad Field: 47 Linnet. (S Grose)

 

Wednesday 16th June 2021

Posted on by June 16, 2021

Late news, 14/6, Black Rock (near Praze-an-Beeble): male Golden Oriole at Wildwood Eco Garden but no sign since. (D Rose)

Late news, 15/6, Colliford: Pink-footed Goose. (D Julian)

Crackington Haven: Rosy starling this morning flying with small group of starlings. (J & B Teague)

St Just: Rosy Starling still at North end of Princess Street. (N Wheatley)

Mount Hawke: Rosy Starling. (R Wilkins)

Sennen: Rosy Starling still this afternoon. (K Wilson)

Crowdy: Osprey in nearby pine tree. (G Waller)

Stithians: 17 Cormorant, 6 Grey Heron, 1 male Bullfinch, 3 male Reed Bunting, 4 Great Crested Grebe, Ruddy Shelduck, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, number of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff. (S Williams, T Pinfield)

Black-tailed Godwit, Stephen Williams

Bullfinch, Stephen Williams

Ruddy Shelduck, Stephen Williams

Merry Maidens: Red Kite. (D Flumm)

Red Kite, Dave Flumm

Red Kite, Dave Flumm

Bowithick: 1 Spotted Flycatcher, up to 8 Mistle Thrush, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Swift, c.6 Swallow. (H Kendall, B Bryne)

Davidstow Airfield: 1 Wheatear. (H Kendall, B Bryne)

Bosigran: 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat. (B Toms)

Newquay: 3 Red Kite over Trellogan. (D Ensor)

Kingsmill lake: 1 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew, 2 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 6 Mallard, 2 Canada’s with 8 young & juv Peregrine with pigeon sp. prey. (P Kemp)

Tregiffian Farm: Green Woodpecker. (B Lawrence)

Newquay Boating Lake: 2 Reed Warbler, 1 ad Lesser Black backed Gull. (S Grose)

Dunmere: 3 Marsh Tit, 9+ Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Chiffchaff, 9 Siskin, 2 Treecreeper, 6 Blackcap, 7 Grey Wagtail, 3 Kingfisher, 5 Song Thrush, 4 Jay, 7 Coal Tit. (S Grose)

Madron: Red Kite, 3 singing m Yellowhammer. (P St Pierre)

Cardinham: singing m Yellowhammer, c20 Siskin. (R Veal)

Helston: drk Scaup reported still on boating lake.

Tuesday 15th June 2021

Posted on by June 16, 2021

Late News, 13/6, Helston: 8 Red Kites circling and a further 2 Red Kites at Culdrose. (C Morgado)

Late News, 14/6, Biscovey, St Blazey: 1 Red Kite. (I Bennallick)

Nanjizal: Hobby over at 13.30 and c30 Red Kites throughout the morning. (R Veal, J Overfield)

A30: Red Kite soaring over A30 between Alturnum and Callington junctions at 9.30. (J Stedman)

Callestick: Red Kite over at 12.20. (T Wilson)

Bottallack: 4 Red Kites circling low over the road to pick up road kill. (G Charman)

Laninval, west of Bodmin: 1 Red Kite. (I Bennallick)

St Just: 4 Red Kites over Carn Bosavern + Willow Warbler. (T Murray)

Eden Project: 2 Red Kites over at 9:00am. (A Wagstaff)

Levant: 15 Red Kites over fields at Nineveh at 10.40 heading towards Pendeen. (M Cavell)

Newquay: 2 Red Kites over Trellogan at 10.00am. (D Ensor)

Camborne: Red Kite over Penponds high towards Camborne. (J Souch)

St Mawgan: 2 Red Kites over to the north at 10.00am. (L Curry)

Polkerris: Red Kite up valley at 17.45. (P Blay)

Camborne: 1 Red Kite to the northwest of the town at 0923 this morning. (D King)

Sancreed: 10 Red Kite west, Garden Warbler at Trannack Farm with 12 Helmeted Guineafowl in fields. (D Flumm)

Hayle, Carnsew Pool: Red Kite. (D Flumm)

Red Kites – Gail Charman

Red Kite – Dave Flumm

Helston Boating Lake: 1 drake Scaup, 1 Ruddy Shelduck, 5 Tufted Duck, 4 broods of Coot of varying ages (5, 6, 2 and 2 chicks), Mute Swan incubating. (D Eva). Also, 2 Red Kites, escaped Ferruginous Duck and 8 Muscovey Duck. (D Flumm)

Loe Pool: Great Crested Grebe – adult with pullus and 2 other pulli independent, Mallard with 3 ducklings. (D Flumm)

Feock: Partially leucistic juvenile starling in private garden one year to the day since a completely leucistic juvenile appeared there. (K Dalziel)

Starling – Kate Dalziel

Lower Tamar Lake: 5 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron, 12 Mallard, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Robin, 3 Nuthatch, 8 Chaffinch, 1 Willow Tit, 1 Great Tit, 1 Wren, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Coal Tit. (R Mudge)

Roche: Hobby over north. (J Rance)

Maer Lake: Probable Cape Shelduck of unknown origin. (M Mullard)

Probable Cape Shelduck – Martin Mullard

Wadebridge: 1 Sparrowhawk East over Treraven Meadows this am. (S Grose)

St Enodoc Golf Course: m Yellowhammer (singing nr the 9th tee on the Holywell or short course). (S Grose)

Rock: 2 Sparrowhawk locking talons high over a private garden, 3 Great spotted Woodpecker. (S Grose)

St Dennis: 21 Swift. (J Howells)

Downderry: 26 Swifts flew west over the sea early morning. (A Payne)

tjw

Monday 14th June 2021

Posted on by June 15, 2021

Late News, 13/06, Nanjizal Valley: 2nd cal Night Heron still lingering. (K Wilson)

Late News, 13/06, Trethewy: Rosy Starling. (K Wilson)

Late News, 13/06, Sennen: Rosy Starling near to the beach. (K Wilson)

Late News, 13/06, Falmouth: Rosy Starling. (RBA)

Late News, 13/06, Croft Pascoe Plantation: 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Cuckoo calling late into the evening. (J Evans)

Late News, 13/06, Coverack, Crousa Downs: 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1+ Cuckoo. (D Beadle)

Newquay: Black Kite between Newquay and St Newlyn East at 5.15pm. (RBA)

Lizard: 75+ Red kite between Lizard Village and Cadgwith at 9.00 am. (S Croft)

Kennack Sands, Lizard: 1 Red Kite low over the caravan site at 8.00 am. (P Welton)

Rosudgeon: 2 Red Kite at 2.30 pm. (L Bell)

Ashton: 5 Red Kite at 2.40 pm. (L Bell)

St Gothian Sands NR: Red Kite, 2 Greylag, 30 Sand Martin. 4 Black-tailed Godwit tried to land but there was too much disturbance. (D Flumm)

Black-tailed Godwit – Dave Flumm

Sand Martin – Dave Flumm

Greylag – Dave Flumm

Callestick: Red Kite over 08.50. (T Wilson)

Penstraze: Red Kite low over at 09.00. (T Wilson)

Maenporth: 2 Red Kite, Painted Lady and Golden-ringed Dragonfly. (T Wilson)

St Austell: 3 Red Kite . (S Bool)

Walmsley Reserve: 1 Red Kite and 14 Black-tailed Godwit. (A Langdon)

Perranuthnoe: 3 Red Kites over Trenow Cove. (P Gregson)

Callington: 2 Red Kites over Kelly Bray at 4.55pm. (Ellie)

Perranwell Station: Red Kite this morning. (C Lea)

Sancreed: Hobby & 9 Red Kite west during a brief break in the fog. (D Flumm)

St Just: 11 Red Kite north during a brief break in the fog. (D Flumm)

Charlestown: 3 Red Kites. (M Jones)

Probus: 1 Red Kite. (M Jones)

Probus: 1 Red Kite over at 12.45. (R Penny)

Rosudgeon: 2 Red Kite drifting this afternoon South to North. (J Evans)

Marazion: Red Kite north over Rosemount at 16.00 + Kestrel. (P Fraser)

Penryn: Red Kite over at 15.00. (J Holmes)

Trewint/Halvana:  5 Red Kites, 08.40-10.55. (B Craven)

Wadebridge: 5 Marsh Tit on bird feeders (fat balls) in private garden. (S Marquis)

Calstock: 24 Stock Dove visiting a private feeding station. (E Bennett)

Caradon Hill: 1 Buzzard, 2 Linnet, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Kestrel, 2 Raven, 1 Yellowhammer (m). (C&J Duffy)

Tree Pipit – C & J Duffy

Bodmin, Roughtor: 4 Cuckoo, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Linnet, 5 Skylark, 1 Chiffchaff, 7 Meadow Pipit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush. (S Grose)

Bodmin, Lower Moor Plantation: 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Treecreeper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 9 Siskin, 3 Blackcap, 11 Coal Tit. (S Grose)

Crowdy Reservoir: 4 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Tufted Duck, 201 Canada Geese, 5 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff. (S Grose)

Porth Reservoir: 10 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Coot, 1m Tufted Duck, 1 Reed Warbler. (S Grose)

Marazion beach: 21 Mediterranean Gull mostly 1st sum. (P Fraser)

Penzance: Family, 2 adults with 4 juvenile Goldfinch on feeder (first fledglings for 2021). (T Mills)

Downderry: 9 Common Scoters and 10 Swifts flew west early morning. A Hobby near village early evening. (A Payne)

Helston boating lake: Greater Scaup and Ruddy Shelduck still. (RBA)

plr

Sunday 13th June 2021

Posted on by June 14, 2021

Late Photos, 12/06, Lizard: 

Rosy Starling – Steve Rogers

Rosy Starling – Steve Rogers

Late News, 12/06, Penmenner Rd, Lizard: 1 Rosy Starling. (J O’Sullivian)

Late News, 12/06, Caradon Hill, Bodmin Moor: 3 Cuckoo and good numbers of Yellowhammer, with at least 10 pairs seen. Also, 4 pairs Wheatear and 1 juvenile. 6 Linnet, 2 Willow Warblers and 6 Mistle Thrush. (S Sanderson)

Buttermilk Hill: 1 Little Swift, This bird was feeding above the granite outcrops from 11-35 to 11-40, before flying West towards Zennor. Also, 21 pairs of Linnet, 19 pairs of Meadow Pipit, 4 Pairs of Stonechat, 11, pairs of Whitethroat, 2 Cuckoo, 3, Common Buzzard and 5 Raven. (V Stratton)

Helston Boating Lake: 1 drake Greater Scaup, Ruddy Shelduck and Red Kite over. (B & L Bosisto)

Crousa Downs: 69 Red Kite drifted high & east this afternoon. (B & L Bosisto)

Goonhilly Downs: 1 Red Kite. (B & L Bosisto)

Porthgwarra: Turtle Dove (S & P Rogers)

Turtle Dove – Steve Rogers

Polgigga: 3 Red Kite over late afternoon. (M Wallace)

Skewjack: Red Kite over early afternoon. (M Wallace)

Pendeen: 7 Crossbill flew east calling and a 2nd calendar-year Hobby over south of the village this morning. (P Combridge)

Porthmeor: 1m Yellowhammer singing on slopes of Carn Galver above Bosigran Farm. (J Hawkey)

Stithians Lake: 1 Black Tailed Godwit. (S Ford)

Falmouth: 2 Raven at Pendennis Point, 3 Swift circling and calling above the seafront. (E Tackley)

Penryn: Red Kite over and heading south. (J Holmes)

Creegbrawse, Chacewater: 2 Siskin on garden feeder and a Cuckoo in Poldice Valley for 10th day. (B Toms)

St Agnes: 14 Red Kite over this evening. (G Lawler)

Truro: 2 Swift over private garden. (D Jenkins)

Callestick: 4 Red Kites over heading west late afternoon. (T Wilson)

Probus: A very pale Buzzard with lots of white plumage flew over A390 at 1405hrs and into trees near entrance to Trewithen Gardens. (D King)

Tywardreath: 2 Swifts over Southpark Road. (R Barlow)

Indian Queens: 5 Red Kite at 3.15 pm with one then lingering over St Columb Road area. (D King)

The Gannel, Newquay: 1 Red Kite over at 2.00 pm. (C Stephenson)

Barrowfields, Newquay: 31 Fulmar on ledges, 3 Swift. (S Grose)

Whipsiderry: 2 Skylark, 5 Linnet, 2 Stonechat, 29 Fulmar on ledges nearby. (S Grose)

Respryn Bridge: 1 Dipper and 1 Grey Wagatail. (A Lea)

Restormel Water Treatment Works: 1 Yellowhammer 500m south east of the works. (A Lea)

Liskeard: 5 Nuthatch, 1 juvenile Dipper at Trago Mills. (S Grose)

Rough Tor, Bodmin Moor: 2 Red Kite flying west. (J Laidler)

Millbrook Lake: 1 Redshank, 55 Mallard, 5 Moorhen, 5 Shelduck, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Cormorant, 2 Mute’s, 7 Canada’s, 1 Egyptian Goose, 1 Black-headed Gull & 9 Herring Gull (P Kemp)

Stratton,Bude: 2 Red Kite, soaring over village, 8 Swift, House Martins and Swallows early afternoon. (R Adams)

St. Germans Quay: 1 Painted Lady Butterfly (A Blonden)

plr