Daurian Shrike at Pendeen

A few more images from the stunning Pendeen adult male Daurian Shrike below.  This bird must rate as my best (so far) of 2013.

All images are cropped heavily as it always remained fairly distant.  The light conditions were harsh as well, so these are the best I could muster. (All copyright please).

Cape May visit in September

The images below were taken last month on a two week trip to Cape May in New Jersey.  The place is a world class migration hotspot for raptors, passerines and waders.  This is the second time I have visited Cape May.  Whilst this visit was decidedly quieter than last year (because we didn't get a full blast of the famous north west cold front) we still saw a lot birds.  A small selection is shown below.  I will show the rest at a slide show due in January at Chacewater on Friday 17th Jan.

 

First year Chestnut-sided Warbler - seen daily in small numbers.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo with a green tree frog

Common Nighthawk at a day time roost

First year Black Skimmer, one of around a 1000 birds on the Cape May beach.

Adult male Blackburnian Warbler, less than a handful of this most desirable dendroica were seen.

Adult male Prairie Warbler - who says autumn warblers are dull!

First year American Redstart - abundant.

Adult Black and White Warbler - seen daily in decent numbers.



Adult male Yellow Warbler

First year Piping Plover - seven of this endangered species were seen at Stoney Harbour beach.

Adult Caspian Tern at Stoney Harbour - seen daily in small numbers.

Western Sandpiper - just this individual was seen.

A very showy American Bittern  delighted all.

Daurian Shrike at Pendeen, Cornwall

On Friday, an adult Daurian Shrike was found near the coastguard house at Pendeen.  I managed to see it well today along with thirty or so other birders this morning. This is a stunning bird and a great find.  They are surprisingly unusual on mainland Cornwall.  In fact this is my first for the county, with all my previous records being on Scilly.

In addition to the shrike, the area was also good for three Wrynecks, two Whinchats, a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Snow Bunting.



(Wryneck image taken at Botallack a couple years back.)

Lesser Yellowlegs and Black-winged Stilt at Hayle Estuary

I passed by Hayle Estuary this morning to look at the Black-winged Stilt.  It was feeding close to the bridge on the causeway.  After a few minutes I noticed some Redshank fly in.  A closer look revealed a similar sized wader with long yellow legs.  I spoke to a chap beside me and he connected immediately.  A good job too as within a few brief minutes it flew off by itself round the corner towards the Lelant Saltings.  Myself and Laurie Williams searched for it but could not find it again.

I managed a few brief photos, as shown below:

White-rumped Sandpiper at Davidstow

On Saturday, Colin Selway found a moulting adult White-rumped Sandpiper with Dunlins and Ringed Plovers at Davidstow disused runway.  I decided to take a look today and fairly soon found several birders looking at it.  My mate Bob Bosisito and Pete Rosevear were also there and they informed me they had also seen a Baird's Sandpiper there on Saturday as well.  Both are superb finds and obviously turned up during the torrential rain over the weekend.  For some reason, all the waders seem to be feeding in the middle grass areas and not on the runway edges, so are some distance for viewing and indeed finding.  Among the Dunlins is a small, relatively pale Dunlin as well as the White-rumped, plus another small calidrid which I just couldn't pin down properly.  I've seen at least nine Bairds previously but White-rumped Sandpiper is decidedly rare in Cornwall.  From memory this is only my third.

Juv Dunlin also taken today for comparison.  Note the extensive dark mottling on the belly and flanks.

All images taken with Nikon D7100, 600mm F4 from car window. All images cropped to an inch of their life and reduced in size.

Pectoral Sandpiper movement in Cornwall

The last couple weeks has seen a decent movement of Pec's through the county with no less than seven birds seen already in the period.  The early Autumn migrant at Maer Lake was presumably a failed breeding bird. 

 

(all sightings updated to 9th Sept)

1 Maer Lake, 8th and 9th July.

1 Treraven Meadow, Wadebridge, ad. 21st and 22nd Aug.

1 Walmsley Sanctuary, 26th Aug

3 Sibleyback Lake, 3rd Sept

1 Stithians Lake, Golden Lion end, juv. 5th Sept.

2 Upper Tamar Lake, 7-9th Sept

1 Gannel Estuary, 9th Sept

 

In addition, recent sightings of Lesser Yellowlegs and Buff-breasted Sandpiper bodes well for the Autumn ahead...

 

Pectoral Sandpiper at Davidstow in 2011 (C. Steve Rogers)

Basking Shark and Minke Whale on the Mermaid Pelagic off Land's End

Along with the seabirds seen today several interesting Basking Sharks and a Minke were seen from the boat today.  Also a Sunfish put on a decent display jumping out of the water whilst the Minke breached several times.  The Basking Shark came really close and was unperturbed by our presence.

Land's End Pelagic on the Mermaid today

Today I went on a Pelagic trip from Penzance, round Land's End and on to Pendeen.  The main intention was to search the large Manx flock which has been around the Pendeen to Land's End area.  There were several separate flocks totalling a few thousand birds, some including Balearic and Sooty Shearwaters.  One juv Black Tern was also seen.  Sadly no large shears were seen, or any petrels or skuas.  Presumably the static weather requires a change to bring in new birds.

Wagtail movement at Davidstow

I paid a visit to Davidstow on Thursday and stumbled on a decent movement of assorted wagtails.  I estimated around 300 Pied Wagtail with a few White Wagtail and at least three Yellow Wagtail. Two Northern Wheatear, 30 Ringed Plover and ten Dunlin added to the list but I couldn't connect with the Buff-breasted Sandpiper.

Peregrine GH

I photographed this juv Peregrine from the lower rocks at Pendeen a week ago.  It flew in from the sea directly towards me.  It had been chasing migrating Dunlins low over the sea near the three rocks.  A close crop of the image shows this bird to have a yellow ring with "GH" inscribed on it.

Citrine Wagtail at Marazion Marsh

A first year Citrine Wagtail was found on Friday by David Parker, frequenting the eastern end of the marsh.  I saw it today from the standing stone.  The species is not naturally shy but this bird was not the easiest to see.  It just preferred the reed bed margins around the juncus grass islands so was mainly obscured from decent view.  These are not exactly award winning images but they do show the important ID features, including the stout bill, necklace of dark spots creating a gorget and the pale supercilium extending round the ear coverts.  The bird called in flight and the distinctive call was heard well.

Silver-washed Fritillary

The three images below were taken last week at Cabilla Wood near Bodmin and the darker valesina form at Bentley Wood near Salisbury.  I went to Bentley Wood hoping to see Purple Emperor.  Sadly it was too windy and quite dull so I dipped.  A shame really as this year has been exceptional for the species with up to 100 individuals being seen at some localities.  Back to the Silver-washed... the valesina form is unusual but not rare.  I saw two of them on Sunday but this was the darker one.

valesina form at Bentley Wood

taken at Cabilla Woods, Bodmin

taken at Bentley Wood, Salisbury