PORTHMELLON - CARREG DHU - LONGSTONE- HOLY VALE - HIGHER MOORS - PORTHELLICK (POOL AND BEACH) - MOUNT TODDEN - PELISTRY - MAYPOLE - OLD TOWN AND BEACH
WEATHER: overcast for most of the day with some sunshine, very light breeze.
What a contrast to yesterday, when we had sightings of hundreds, if not, thousands of birds out on the sea. Today we stayed on terra firma and walked several miles, we saw only a few dozen birds!
Our day started and ended well, the bit in the middle was hard work with plenty of walking and searching with little success.
From our guest we walked down past the school and along a track to Porthmellon where we spent a very short time scanning the beach. There we saw 50+ Sanderling, a couple of Turnstones and a single Oystercatcher, we made a quick scan for the long-staying Curlew Sandpiper but did not find it (it was reported later in the morning).
Our next stop were the tropical garden s at Carreg Dhu where we were entertained by two Firecrests, they showed very well and third bird was calling from the canopy of a holm oak tree. In the pine belt at Longstone we listed a couple of Goldcrests, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Great Tit.
From there down to Holy Vale and through to Higer Moors we saw practically nothing, it was so quiet out there. We did hear Cetti's Warbler several times and Debbie managed to spot it, but that was all. A single Snipe flew over and dropped down into the reedbed.
THREE EURASIAN TEAL WITH A COUPLE OF COMMON SNIPE viewed from the sussex hide
From the Sussex Hide we noted 3 Eurasian Teal, 3 Common Snipe, 3 Moorhens and a couple of Mallards. It was the scrub behind the hide that held the most interest for us, this was because a PADDYFIELD WARBLER had been seen (also caught and ringed) over the last couple of days.
A dozen or so Birders were looking for the little beast, we did see a Reed Warbler and a possible Willow Warbler but unfortunately the Paddyfield did not show for us.
LUNCH ON PORTH HELLICK BEACH
there are five species of birds here, can you name them? Answer at the bottom of the blog
On Porth Hellick Beach we scathe bay and found: Greenshank, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron, Little Egret and a Kingfisher. all flocks of Linnets fed on the beach with a Goldfinches and some Greenfinches. From the beach we walked up the hill to Normandy and onto Mount Todden farm to lookl for a Turtle Dove.
During a couple hours of searching we managed to drop into Carn Vean cafe and consume a lovely piece of cake and a nice cup of coffee.
a bunch of pesky Sparrows, they would not go awa.
For the last couple of hours we walked down to Old Town to search, once again, for the Rosy Starling. This time we were successful, we had great views of this little plain beast before it flew off.
the juvenile Rose-coloured (or Rosy) Starling
We added nothing new at Old Town Beach so swe marched uo the hill back to our guest house. This was probably one of my shortest blogs ever because birds were just not about!!
Quiz answer: Kingfisher, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron, Little Egret and a Greenshank