Mawnan and Maenporth Birding

5th October Mawnan Smith - No time for a proper count today, but noted overhead passage from the obs included -  26 Linnet,  18 Meadow Pipit,  19 Pied Wagtail,  2 Skylark, and  2 Chaffinch. Another adult Mediterranean Gull flew over the village with a group of Herring Gulls this evening which is now the second record in 3 days! Also a Goldcrest and a small group of Long-tailed Tit in the village centre was slightly notable, and a single Buzzard and Green Woodpecker were recorded from the obs. Maenporth - I searched the Maenvale footpath for warblers but the tit flock didn't seem to be in the area so it only held 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Firecrest - which aren't particularly likely to be migrants, a lot of Robins though. Maenvale did however have 5 Jays moving through southward, likely to be the first migrant jays recorded for the area. Other birds - 6 Linnet and 1 Chaffinch overhead, plus 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Moorhen, and singles of Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, and Stonecha...

4th October Mawnan Smith - Overhead passage wasn't quite as strong as yesterday, but definitely still pretty active. Totals included; 1 Tree Pipit , 139 Meadow Pipit, 95 Linnet, 57 Skylark, 54 Chaffinch, 32 Goldfinch, 3 Siskin, 2 Greenfinch, 7 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 15 Woodpigeon, and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Also recorded from the obs - 1 Starling, 15 Canada Goose, 1 Raven, 35 Black-headed Gull, and grounded singles of Firecrest and Long-tailed Tit. The latter being the first record for the obs. Record counts were broken for Skylark and Goldfinch (again). Maenporth Beach - 60+ Herring Gull, 80+ Black-headed Gull, 2 Mediterranean Gull (1 juvenile), and 1 Kingfisher hunting around the rockpools. Meadow Pipit Skylark Pied Wagtail Woodpigeon Herring Gulls

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, ...