Storm Eleanor brings scarce gulls (article for Sunday Independent 14th January)

Following Storm Eleanor last week, several scarce gulls have been recorded in the region. The prize Arctic finds such as Ross's Gull and even Ivory Gull failed to materialise in the west country but several Glaucous and Iceland Gulls appeared at the normal coastal sites.  One very confiding Iceland Gull has spent a few days at the flood meadow at Marazion Marsh.  These large "white-wingers" fluctuate annually in numbers based on the Arctic temperature and Atlantic gales. 

Glaucous Gull, 2nd Cal Yr at Newlyn Harbour, Cornwall, Jan 2018

Ad Iceland Gull, Newlyn Harbour, Jan 2018.

2nd Cal Yr Iceland Gull, Newlyn Harbour, Cornwall, Jan 2018.

A bonus juvenile Ring-billed Gull was a surprise find on Trenance boating Lake, Newquay last week.  Cornwall averages one or two sightings annually.  They most likely originate from Canada or northern USA.  A rarer record would have been a juvenile Bonaparte's Gull in Mount's Bay  but sadly the views were not good enough to clinch the identification.  The regular wintering adult Bonaparte's Gull has returned to Exmouth, Devon. (6th Jan).  

Ring-billed Gull, 2nd Calendar Year (2CY) at Trenance, Newquay

Keeping with the American theme, the two over-wintering Surf Scoters at Porthpean bay (St Austell) were joined by a third male bird following Storm Eleanor.  The supporting cast of a scarce Velvet Scoter and Long-tailed Duck make a necessary visit to the site. 

Hawfinch's continue to show well across the region.  The unlikely favoured places are graveyards.  Hawfinch feeds on berries and the graveyard yew trees seem attractive.  Five birds have been spotted at Egloshayle cemetery, two at Feock church, Devoran, Saltash and various sites in West Penwith.  Hawfinch irruptions are rare on this scale.  Now is your chance to see one.

Devon birders will be delighted to hear this week that the Elegant Tern seen at Dawlish Warren in May 2002 has now been added to the UK official list, taking the total to 615 species.  Elegant Tern is a Pacific species, breeding in south west USA and Mexico.  Recent research has shown beyond doubt that Elegant Terns are occurring this side of the States and even breeding in the Western Palearctic. 

On the flip side, Cornish birders will be disappointed to see that the Royal Tern, also an American species, has been removed from the archive.  The record, which dates back to September 1971, has been reviewed by the Rarities Committee and is now considered unproven.

The Snowy Owl which appeared in Cornwall last month has been relocated on St Martins, Scilly.  The world status of Snowy Owl has recently been reclassified as "Vulnerable," so cherish the memories as this species will become more difficult to find.  On the other hand, Cattle Egret numbers are increasing with a maximum count of 15 near Manaccan, Lizard. This species looks set to follow its congener, the Little Egret in becoming a regular fixture in the south west. 

A Snowy experience (article for Sunday Independent 17th December

There is some irony in today's column.  With the snow and plummeting temperatures across most of the UK, Cornwall has somehow survived a whitewashing and remains relatively mild.  It seems very apt then that a female Snowy Owl should turn up on Tuesday 12th on a far flung moor in West Cornwall.  Chapel Carn Brae near St Just to be exact.  The moors are typical remote, barren habitat and the general area has hosted three other Snowy Owls in the past decade.  Another Snowy Owl appeared on Scilly in November and whether its the same individual is yet to be proven.  The record is perhaps no surprise though, as hundreds have been moving south out of their arctic Canada breeding grounds into North America.  A shortage of food and extreme cold weather is the usual reason for such movements.  How though, a bird turns up on this side of the "pond" takes some explaining.  Whichever route the Cornish bird took, we will never know but thousands of miles are in the equation.  Snowy Owls are native to arctic regions of Canada, North America and Eurasia.  The species is prone to wandering in search of food.



Female Snowy Owl, courtesy Phil Taylor, St Buryan.

In addition to the Snowy Owl, Cornwall is currently home to some notable rarities and is arguably the top UK county for rare birds at the moment.  On Bodmin Moor, the returning male Lesser Scaup and male Ring-necked Duck have taken up winter residence at Dozmary Pool, while in Porthpean Bay, St Austell, two Surf Scoters can be seen feeding near the mussel farm. A pair of Long-tailed Ducks can also be found near them.  In Gerrans Bay, diver and grebe numbers are building; over twenty Great Nothern Diver, seven Black-throated Diver and Cornwall's second Pacific Diver has also returned to the area.  The returning Pacific Diver in Mount's Bay is now  in its 11th year.  A maximum count of 24 Black-necked Grebes can be found wintering at Carrick Roads, Falmouth.  This wintering flock can build up to 80 birds.  The site is a nationally important wintering area for this species. The best viewing point is from Mylor Harbour.


Hayle estuary is always worth checking.  A rare American Golden Plover can be found with perserverance among the Golden Plover flock.  Present since November, this bird seems to be content to spend the winter there.  Rare gulls can also be found at Hayle estuary.    The last couple weeks has seen an American Ring-billed Gull (probably originating from Canada), Caspian Gull (eastern Europe) and a Glaucous Gull (Iceland / Greenland) all resting up on the estuary.  Quite a crossroads!   An Iceland Gull has spent a couple weeks in Coverack harbour.


Cattle Egret sightings are increasing with four seen on the Helford, two at St Erth and up to three at Kingsmill Lake. The Glossy Ibis was also seen at Kingsmill Lake (Torpoint) from the 27th to 29th November.   With the continued cold weather from the north, we can expect more arctic species.  A Ross's Gull or even an Ivory Gull would be nice.  The latter would be the first record for Cornwall.

Seabird bonanza in the west country

The weather over the last two weeks has been very favourable.  That is to birders.  Seabird enthusiasts to be exact.  July is fast becoming a very important month in the birding calendar for finding rare seabirds in the south west.  Cornwall, Devon and even Dorset have been rewarded with some exceptional sightings.   I say "even Dorset" as this county is not renowned for rare seabird sightings, but a Great Shearwater normally seen off Cornwall and Devon coasts, gave stunningly close views off Portland on the 26th.  Many experienced Dorset birders had not previously seen this bird in their county.

The highlight for Devon was the county's 5th Fea's Petrel, video'd off Berry Head, South Devon on the 11th July.  This species breeds in the eastern Atlantic islands and just a handful of birds are seen annually, usually off Cornwall, Scilly or south west Ireland.

Off Scilly, the famous summer pelagic boat trips on the Sapphire boat have logged several rare Wilson's Petrels, most offering close views.  On 27th an incredible 20  were logged.  Cornwall has had its fair share of rarities though with six sightings of Wilson's Petrel (three from pelagics out of Penzance), the others from the Lizard and Porthgwarra.  The Lizard scored well on the 21st July with 296 Cory’s Shearwater, 66 Great Shearwater, 9 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Long-tailed Skua, 1 Pomarine Skua, 6 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 109 Storm Petrel, 1 Wilson’s Petrel and 1 Sabine’s Gull.

Arguably, the best day was Saturday 22nd July when a strong candidate for Scopoli's Shearwater was seen off Porthgwarra.  If accepted, this would be the first record for Cornwall.  Depending on who you talk to, Scopoli's has not been granted its own status, rather a sub species of Cory's Shearwater.  The small size, different underwing plumage and geographically distant breeding populations will surely see a status change soon.  A large all dark petrel was seen by one lucky observer later in the day from the same site. 

Looking forward, August is equally a great month for seabirds and all eyes will be on weather forecasts for those big Atlantic low pressures.  We will also start to see the southerly movement of waders as they move out of their Arctic breeding grounds.  All in all, a busy time ahead.

Record shot of Wilson's Petrel, one of two seen off Penzance on a pelagic

Great Shearwater off Penzance, July 2017

Storm Petrel off Penzance, July 2017