Mawnan and Maenporth Birding

September Although we only moved in on September 7th, this month has been a very productive first month! 77 species of bird so far and the best find was definitely an adult Sabine's Gull off Rosemullion on the 10th. The supporting cast was not bad though and included Osprey, Sooty Shearwater, Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Chough, Tree Pipit, Crossbill, Snipe, Wheatear, Sand Martin, Whimbrel, and Manx Shearwater. Vismigging from the obs (our house) has been the most useful technique this month, and has produced some pretty decent totals so far, I am excited to see what the later autumn will bring; hopefully thrushes, finches, and some other wintery treats! I am missing quite a few common species that I suspect breed on the recording area, so I do plan to get out and do some more fieldwork, but October should definitely be another vismig-heavy month. I am hoping though that with the winter coming on some divers, grebes, and other seabirds start arriving. I am yet to see a grebe on the rec...

2nd October Mawnan Smith - overhead passage was quite dull today, the most notable observations were a large flock of Black-headed Gulls and the first Great Spotted Woodpecker that I have recorded from the obs.  Overhead passage included; 61 Meadow Pipit, 67 Linnet, 23 Greenfinch, 17 Goldfinch, 3 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 14 Woodpigeon, and 75 Black-headed Gull. 3rd October Mawnan Smith - slightly overcast but clear spells this morning, and was pretty active with migration overhead, plus a non-migratory oddity; totals included - 1 Common Sandpiper , 1 Mediterranean Gull,  7 Skylark,  275 Meadow Pipit, 165 Linnet, 33 Greenfinch, 28 Siskin, 24 Goldfinch, 17 Pied Wagtail, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, and 10 Woodpigeon. Other notable flyovers included 5 Black-headed Gull, 7 Starling, 1 Raven, and 4 Canada Geese going in the direction of Maenporth. This morning broke my record vismig counts for Greenfinch, Linnet, and Goldfinch. Obs Moths - 1 Common Carpet, ...

29th September —————— Mawnan Smith - cloudy and it was quantity over quality today, overhead migrants included; 103 Meadow Pipit, 102 Linnet, 5 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, and 2 Greenfinch, and less likely to be migrants were 4 Goldfinch, 1 Starling, 1 Black-headed Gull and 1 Collared Dove. Also recorded from the obs were singles of Sparrowhawk, Hummingbird Hawkmoth, and Green Woodpecker. 30th September —————— Mawnan Smith - no time for fieldwork today but I happened to note overhead; 46 Siskin, 16 Linnet, and 4 Greenfinch, joined by non-migrant fly-by’s with 5 Black-headed Gull, and singles of Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, and a woodpecker sp.

28th September —————— Mawnan Smith - overhead passage was a bit less busy this morning, but produced a couple goodies and a noticeable increase of Linnet movement, totals included - 1 Osprey , 58 Linnet, 33 Meadow Pipit, 1 Tree Pipit , 12 Pied Wagtail, 3 Swallow, 2 Greenfinch, and 10 Canada Geese. Also recorded from the obs; 1 Skylark, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Tawny Owl, and 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth Maenporth - 3 Meadow Pipit and 5 Cormorant overhead, 2 Buzzard hunting, 1 Jay and 3+ Long-tailed Tit in the trees, and on the lagoon a high count of 30+ Canada Geese, plus singles of Mediterranean Gull and Little Egret. Little Egret, Maenporth Mediterranean Gull, Maenporth Canada Goose, Maenporth Moths - 1 Common Plume Recording Area Additions 77. Osprey

27th September —————— Mawnan Smith - some minor overhead passage with 5 Siskin, 9 Meadow Pipit, 3 Linnet, 7 Greenfinch, and 4 Grey Wagtail. Additionally seen were 2 Buzzard, 2 Collared Dove, 2 Blackbird, and 2 Dunnock. Rosemullion Head - totals from the sea were; 15 Manx Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater , 4 Great Skua , 1 Arctic Skua , 600+ Gannet, 3 Guillemot, 17 auk sp, 50+ Mediterranean Gull (2 juveniles), 35+ Black-headed Gull, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 150+ Herring Gull, 30 Kittiwake, 7 Cormorant, and 2 Shag. Additionally 113 Oystercatcher and 12 Curlew flew past the headland, moving southward down the coast, 2 Stonechat and 5 Linnet were on the headland, and 1 Firecrest was calling in Mawnan Church. Maenporth - 30+ Mallard were roosting beside the lagoon, and 1 white domestic type duck was on the mud. Recording Area Additions 72. Great Skua 73. Guillemot 74. Manx Shearwater 75. Arctic Skua 76. Sooty Shearwater

26th September —————— Mawnan Smith - overhead passage between 7:20-8:00 AM included; 1 Chough , 105 Meadow Pipit, 76 Woodpigeon, 4 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 39 Linnet, 12 Greenfinch, and 13 Goldfinch. Recording Area Additions 71.  Chough