A week away in Cornwall with the family and pretty much the first birds on the list were a flock of around twenty Golden Plover over the A30 as we entered the county.
Sunday was the first proper day out and about and started with a wander around St Just in Roseland where a couple of Cirl Buntings were feeding in a hedgerow with commoner species and six Mediterranean Gulls were over the water. On then to Porthcurnick Beach where a couple more Mediterranean Gulls were noted and a Great Northern Diver was offshore. I ended the day with a trip to Pendower and a seawatch from the car park which provided a bit of interest. Out in the bay a flock of twelve Common Scoter with another three in a different part of the bay, three Great Northern Divers were present also but the pick of the birds was a Great Skua seen distantly.
A slow start to Monday, but that's what holidays are all about. Over our accommodation I noticed a steady trickle of Skylarks and a surprise as a Woodlark was in amongst them. Off then to Pendower Beach and a walk along to Carne Beach and back. I only had my binoculars so checking the sea was always going to be tricky but I still managed to see sixteen Common Scoters (in a single flock) plus three Great Northern Divers which were quite close in. A Black-necked Grebe showed quite well whilst a White Wagtail was present on the beach with Rock Pipits and Meadow Pipits. The day ended well with a Barn Owl flying past the end of the garden and a Tawny Owl calling.
Tuesday was a lovely day and started with a singing Cirl Bunting in the garden before taking a walk up the valley from Pendower to Melinsey Mill. Not as many birds around as I would have liked but a couple of Marsh Tits were a nice addition to the trip list and singles of both Siskin and Lesser Redpoll flew down the valley. Returning home a flock of around eighty Golden Plover were over the fields near Trewithin. A quick evening visit to Pendower produced a Slavonian Grebe and several divers, most of which were too distant to identify but a few could be picked out as Great Northern Divers and a few more were Black-throated Divers. I failed to yesterday's Barn Owl in the evening, but whilst waiting outside in the hope it would appear a Woodcock flew over!
A walk to Percuil on Wednesday produced a few bits and pieces along the river. A couple of Greenshank were present along with a single Dunlin. A handful of Shelduck were seen whilst on the water a total of eight Little Grebes were noted. Not much else out of the ordinary though.
Thursday was a day "over the river" as we took the King Harry Ferry across the River Fal and drove down to Devoran. I tried and failed to find the Lesser Yellowlegs that had been present but did add a few birds to the trip list such as Mute Swan and Canada Goose. Waders were not present in massive numbers but I did see several Redshank and Curlew plus a few Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits. Off then to Trelissick where a wander around the house and grounds was enjoyable even if it was quiet on the bird front.
Our final full day saw us back at Pendower Beach and the weather was super, t-shirt and shorts weather in November! Out in the bay I added Red-necked Grebe to the trip list. The Common Scoter flock had increased to eighteen birds and there were a few Great Northern Divers and Black-throated Divers present.
Back home on Saturday and nothing to add to the list but it was an amazing family holiday and it was good to recharge the batteries.
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