We needed you there Paul.... some fantastic photo opportunities and everything showed really well. Was 5 Lifers for me and a cracking trip indeed!
Paul Wilson said
Tue Mar 31 12:32 AM, 2009
Sounds like it was a great trip. That would've been SEVEN lifers for me! And I'm sure a few great photo opportunities too. You really do know how to make people envious don't you Warfy!
Simon Warford said
Mon Mar 30 10:32 PM, 2009
Yeah cheers for providing the exact location, they were in the field & hedge behind the car park. Saves going to Prawle, although i do like Prawle.
jason atkinson said
Mon Mar 30 7:24 PM, 2009
Nice report Simon, where the Cirl Buntings where i said ? Best place in the UK for them.
cheers jason
Simon Warford said
Sun Mar 29 9:46 PM, 2009
27-29 March with Simon Johnson with abit of Cornwall thrown in aswell. Excellent 3 days combined with seeing the relatives.
27th, arrived near St Ives at 10am in the hope of seeing the long staying Snowy Owl. Things looked a little bleak, a huge area, completely on our own, Simon still using a crutch, heavy showers coming and going, we started the walk into the hills in search of the owl. How hard can it be to find a big white owl? well pretty hard given the size of the place. After about an hour and a half walking and abit of dissapointment starting to set in there it was the Snowy Owl sat on a small ridge no less than 100 yards away! just as we scoped it the rain and mist swept in and we had to shelter, when we looked again the owl had gone! We soon relocated it though now sat on another tuft and then it flew a short distance, massive bird, massive grins all round! A short eared owl then drifted in near to the Snowy Owl then we left for Helston.
The 1st Winter Ring Billed Gull was showing down to 6 feet at the boating lake but wasnt too keen on my sausage roll as it regurgitated it. The rest of the day was spent around Gerrans Bay where we enjoyed at least 19 GN Divers, 4 BT Divers with 1 in pristine summer plumage, some really close to the beach, only the one Black Necked Grebe and several Sandwich Terns.
28th. Not far from my relatives we had to visit the Penduline Tit at Paignton. It was a no show to begin with at 8am, so a quick visit to nearby Broadsands for 2 male and 1 female Cirl Bunting, and then back to Clennon valley for the Tit. Within minutes there it was showing mega close on the small patch of reedmace, brilliant views, as it called, wing stretched then ripped a few reedmace to bits, my best views ever of this species. After half an hour we left in search of another lifer for Simon the Surf Scoter at Dawlish. This was to be our only "Dip", the scoter flock was way too distant and the northerly wind didnt help matters. Then onto look for Dartford Warblers no luck with that either so we birded Bowling Green marsh and exminster which were quiet.
29th. Up at the crack of dawn and on the heathland at first light within 15 minutes a female Dartford Warbler showed really well (as seemed to be the case with everything we saw), then on to Radipole lake for the male Hooded Merganser which didnt dissapoint, the easiest place on the planet for seeing Cetti's warbler within 10 minutes one sat out in the open singing, plus the usual Bearded tits here. With the calm sunny conditions we decided to try Portland Bill in the hope of some birds arriving, however it was pretty quiet, best we could find was a single Black Redstart, Wheatears and lots of Hirrundines arriving. We headed for home via Chew Valley Lake, on arrival was told no sign of Ferruginous Duck all morning, Simon soon picked up 2 Scaup in amongst the hundreds of Athyias. Just as we were about to leave the Fudge duck kindly swam out from behind an island showed us all its features and promptly swam back behind the island, what a cracking 3 days.
jason atkinson said
Sat Mar 28 2:08 PM, 2009
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Hi Jase,
What time did you set off and return - never done that far as a day trip, but would quite like to give it a go....
Hi Rob,
We set off at 4am, arriving in Paignton just after 8am. Well worth the day out as you have probably read.
cheers jason
Ian Woosey said
Sat Mar 28 12:44 PM, 2009
Rob,
I`ve sent you a PM
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Mar 28 12:18 PM, 2009
Hi Jase,
What time did you set off and return - never done that far as a day trip, but would quite like to give it a go....
jason atkinson said
Thu Mar 26 4:49 PM, 2009
Cracking day with great views of Penduline Tit, Cirl Buntings, Surf Scoter, Hooded Merganser and Spoonbill. A full account and pics can be seen on my blog A Tale of 2 Halves.
cheers
jason
cheers
jason
27th, arrived near St Ives at 10am in the hope of seeing the long staying Snowy Owl. Things looked a little bleak, a huge area, completely on our own, Simon still using a crutch, heavy showers coming and going, we started the walk into the hills in search of the owl. How hard can it be to find a big white owl? well pretty hard given the size of the place. After about an hour and a half walking and abit of dissapointment starting to set in there it was the Snowy Owl sat on a small ridge no less than 100 yards away! just as we scoped it the rain and mist swept in and we had to shelter, when we looked again the owl had gone! We soon relocated it though now sat on another tuft and then it flew a short distance, massive bird, massive grins all round! A short eared owl then drifted in near to the Snowy Owl then we left for Helston.
The 1st Winter Ring Billed Gull was showing down to 6 feet at the boating lake but wasnt too keen on my sausage roll as it regurgitated it. The rest of the day was spent around Gerrans Bay where we enjoyed at least 19 GN Divers, 4 BT Divers with 1 in pristine summer plumage, some really close to the beach, only the one Black Necked Grebe and several Sandwich Terns.
28th. Not far from my relatives we had to visit the Penduline Tit at Paignton. It was a no show to begin with at 8am, so a quick visit to nearby Broadsands for 2 male and 1 female Cirl Bunting, and then back to Clennon valley for the Tit. Within minutes there it was showing mega close on the small patch of reedmace, brilliant views, as it called, wing stretched then ripped a few reedmace to bits, my best views ever of this species. After half an hour we left in search of another lifer for Simon the Surf Scoter at Dawlish. This was to be our only "Dip", the scoter flock was way too distant and the northerly wind didnt help matters. Then onto look for Dartford Warblers no luck with that either so we birded Bowling Green marsh and exminster which were quiet.
29th. Up at the crack of dawn and on the heathland at first light within 15 minutes a female Dartford Warbler showed really well (as seemed to be the case with everything we saw), then on to Radipole lake for the male Hooded Merganser which didnt dissapoint, the easiest place on the planet for seeing Cetti's warbler within 10 minutes one sat out in the open singing, plus the usual Bearded tits here. With the calm sunny conditions we decided to try Portland Bill in the hope of some birds arriving, however it was pretty quiet, best we could find was a single Black Redstart, Wheatears and lots of Hirrundines arriving.
We headed for home via Chew Valley Lake, on arrival was told no sign of Ferruginous Duck all morning, Simon soon picked up 2 Scaup in amongst the hundreds of Athyias. Just as we were about to leave the Fudge duck kindly swam out from behind an island showed us all its features and promptly swam back behind the island, what a cracking 3 days.
Hi Rob,
We set off at 4am, arriving in Paignton just after 8am. Well worth the day out as you have probably read.
cheers
jason
I`ve sent you a PM
What time did you set off and return - never done that far as a day trip, but would quite like to give it a go....