St Gothian Sands NR

Finally, something of note from the reserve....

2010-09-06T09:11:00.000-07:00

After a bit of a dry period for birds on the reserve, things seem to be finally 'hotting up'. A group of birders from Doncaster, S.Yorks, turned up a superb juvenile Black Tern on the main pool on 30th August. The bird remained for most of the day and was extremely obliging. It was constantly harrased by Swallows throughout its stay. Also that day there was a Spotted Redshank on the reserve and Wheatear, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin (2), Ringed Plover (4) and Whimbrel.

Photos to follow

tuesday 4th May 2010 - Todays Sightings

2010-05-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

Gadwall 1 male on main pool plus Canada Goose 2 (with 2 goslings), Northern Wheatear 1 male in fence area to left of main track, Reed Warbler 1 male singing in Red River ditch by Sandsifter and a Merlin female flew north at 6.40pm and returned south at 7.10pm when it made a sustained attempt to catch the Wheatear (unsuccessfully) and then continued south. (Tim Twiggs)

Monday 26th April 2010 - Evening Visit

2010-05-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

An evening visit to the reverve produced the following observations by Tim Twiggs:

Reed Bunting in bushes on bank of Red River ditch by Sandsifter and 2 Reed Warbler there. A Peregrine flew over main pool and 3 Northern Wheatear (1 male) - pair(?) to left of main track before fenced area by concrete blocks and second female in area between main pool and road. 8+ Swallow - only had single birds recently so a small influx? Moorhen - an adult with a single very young chick and Gadwall - male still on main pool.

Sunday 25th April 2010 - Todays sightings

2010-04-26T02:16:00.000-07:00

Tim Twiggs reports a male Whitethroat on nearby Gwithian Green and the male Gadwall still on main pool on the reserve and 2 (1 male) Northern Wheatear. Best bird was a male Marsh Harrier that flew north to the east of the reserve at 4.05-4.10pm.

Friday 23rd April 2010 - Todays Sightings

2010-04-23T03:05:00.000-07:00

A superb sunny day on the reseve with endless blue skies tempting at least four Buzzards and two Kestrels into soaring around. Dunlins had increased to six birds on the unfenced Pool with a Ringed Plover in tow. It wasn't long before an inconsiderate dog walker had flushed them all onto the gated pools. Thank God for fencing!!
Hirundine numbers were lower today but this was compensated for by the first Swift of the year, which flew south. A drake Gadwall was on the main pool and five 'singing' Whimbrel alighted there briefly before flying off towards the beach. Six House Sparrows were in bushes around the main pool opposite Sandsifter and a Sedge Warbler was singing from the Red River ditch. Suprisingly, not a single Wheatear was seen. Other birds included Chiffchaff (3), Song Thrush (2), BH Gull (2), Magpie (2), Shelduck (10+), Canada Goose (3), Mute Swan (1), Moorhen, Mallard (8), Skylark (4), Linnet (6+) and Pied Wagtail.

Wednesday 21st April 2010 Todays Sightings

2010-04-23T02:51:00.000-07:00

Loads of Wheatears on the reserve today with at least 16 different birds counted. The total was probably higher as birds were still moving onto the reserve from out of the dunes as i left. A summer plumaged Dunlin was on the gated pools as were a pair of Reed Bunting. The Common Sandpiper was still present. A single House Martin was with the hirundines. Tim Twiggs had a Whitethroat and a Whimbrel on the reserve in the evening.

Thurs 15 April 2010 - Todays Sightings

2010-04-15T11:43:00.000-07:00

Derek Jenkins reports three White Wagtail beside main pool and also a Common Sandpiper today. The Canada Geese appear to be nesting on the main island and there were two Whimbrel on the beach below the lifeguards hut.

First rarity arrives

2010-03-21T05:22:00.000-07:00

Our first real rarity of the year was found yesterday by Sam Williams. A superb Red-rumped Swallow was with Barn Swallows over the main pool at 3.30pm. It didnt hang around, much to the dissappontment of the birders who made the effort to see it. Sam managed a record hot of the bird and luckily it was relocated a short time later at Marazion. It was also a new species for the reserve. Well Done Sam!

Red Rumped Swallow over the main pool (Photo:S.Williams)

Recent Sightings

2010-03-17T06:51:00.000-07:00

Two Black Redstarts have been on the reserve for some time now, favouring the bank of the main pool nearest to Sandsifter. Spring has sprung in the shape of two or three early migrant Wheatears and the first Sand Martin went through last night (Thanks Tim Twiggs). Tufted Duck numbers have been good with up to 27 birds on the main pool. The pool has also attracted Little Grebe, shoveler, gadwall and Canada Goose recently. A pair of Redshank have been present for a few days now and Shelduck numbers should soon be increasing. Thanks for those who have submitted sightings recently.

Wheatear (A.Hugo)

Reserve sightings

2010-01-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

Hadnt realized that there had been no updates on here since the beginning of the new year! Sorry! Theres been a few ducks on the main pond, Tufted, Gadwall and Shoveler in the past week. The reserve saw its share of the thrushes during the recent cold snap with plenty of Redwings and Fieldfares. The fields opposite the main road (not specifically on the reserve but of note) have held good numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover and a Water Rail was in the sewage works opposite the reserve entrance. The 24th (today) saw six pale-bellied brent geese on the reserve. These birds appear to have navigated the entire west cornwall coast having been seen earlier flying past Marazion, Penzance, Pendeen and then at St Gothian! Thanks to Derek and Tim for recent sightings.

Happy New Year.

2010-01-05T11:56:00.000-08:00

The start of a new decade! Where does the time go? Anyway there hasn't been a great deal to blog about on the reserve at the end of 2009. Just the usual. So a possible Glaucous Gull flying east past nearby Godrevy Head was a promising start to 2010. A Black Redstart and Med Gull were on the reserve on the 1st (Thanks A.George). The former seen on the fence between the reserve and the road.

Recent ('ish!) Sightings

2009-11-18T02:44:00.000-08:00

The 18th September saw three Dunlin, a Snipe, six Wheatear, Reed Bunting, ten Swallow and nine Wigeon on the reserve.
On the 10th October Tim Twiggs found a male LAPLAND BUNTING on the reserve, It proved very elusive and mobile, favouring the island in the middle of the main pool. There was also a smart 2nd winter Med Gull on the main pool at the same time.

Derek Jenkins had two adult WHOOPER SWANS on the main pool on the 9th November and they were present the following day.

2009-10-05T02:05:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the lack of recent updates, and thanks for those who have sent in sightings. Anything of real interest is on the Cornwall Birding website. Derek Jenkins, Tim Twiggs, John Johns and i have all been on the reserve but not recorded a great deal other than the odd Dunlin, Greenshank and Wheatear. Tim had a juv Little Stint on Sunday 4th October feeding on floating weed on the main pool.

Will hopefully have some photos to add!

Still on the quiet side..............

2009-08-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

Still quiet on the reserve at the moment with nothing but the odd Dunlin and Green and Common Sandpipers. Simon Taylor saw six Wheatears there today.

Waders

2009-07-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

Terry Hasdell reports three Dunlin on the reserve this morning. Good to see the waders are starting to come back.

Recent Stuff

2009-06-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos taken over the last week on the reserve. There seems to have been a bit of a baby boom on the ponds with new broods of Moorhen, Mallard and Shelduck. Rock Pipits were catching insects on the reedy pond and taking them off towards Godrevy to feed young and there were plenty of young Sand Martins on the wire fences.

Linnet

Rock Pipit (above and below)

Rock Pipit

Sand Martin

1st June 2009

2009-06-03T03:24:00.000-07:00

A quick hour round the reserve this morning in the glorious sunshine. Plenty of breeding activity with a brood of seven Shelduck on the main pool and a single Moorhen chick on the small pool with the now healthy looking reed bed. The female mallard seems to have had another brood too. The morning was complete when a Marsh Harrier scattered the gulls from the main pool and flew off high to east.

Wednesday 13th May 2009

2009-05-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

An hour on the reserve with Mark Halliday proved dividends this morning when a RED KITE flew over headed south along the Red River valley. The main pool was alive with hirundines with over 100 each of House and Sand Martins, 30+ Swallows and c100 Swifts. The Dunlin did a loop of the main pool and there seemed to be a few more Linnets around. Two Rock Pipits were on the small pool but there was no sign of yesterdays Garganey. Could be good for Terns this weekend.

Tuesday 12th May 2009

2009-05-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

Finally reached the 100 mark with a superb male Garganey on the reserve this evening. It was reported on the pager earlier in the day and was still there at 1715hrs, on the north-eastern pool, initially showing well but then elusive amongst the sedge. Species 101 was House Martin over the main pool (3 birds). Only other birds of note were two Whimbrel flying around and a Dunlin on the main pool. The Whitethroat was still looking for a mate near the entrance gate!

Recent Sightings

2009-05-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

Apologies for lack of recent updates. My new arrival came earlier than predicted!! Thanks to those who sent in reports. Tim Twiggs and Sam Williams report six Dunlin and five Whimbrel on 6th May and Sam was ready with his camera, capturing the image above. Tim was back again on the 6th and saw 5 Common Swift mainly over cattle fields east of road, 3 House Martin, 25+ Feral Pigeon over fields to north-east, 1 Sparrowhawk low over road, 1 Dunlin flying around main pool, 1 Common Sandpiper in small bay in NW corner of main pool, 2 Sedge Warbler in Red River ditch and 1 Common Whitethroat.

May is here.....

2009-05-01T05:26:00.000-07:00

.....so why does it feel like bloody November! More rain and cold winds on the reserve this morning and not much different on the avian front. Razorbill (at sea) and Swift (2) were the only additions to my Reserve Yearlist bringing the total so far to 98 species for 2009. The Swifts came from the east and after a quick circuit of the reserve, headed west. Much of the standing water at the north end has now gone (Where does it go??) and i only saw one Whimbrel flying over as i left at 11.30am. Two Reed and a Sedge Warbler were again in reeds at the Red River and the main pool held six Shelduck and three Canada Geese. A walk along the western edge of the reserve produced single male House Sparrow and a Stonechat. The only birds of prey were two Buzzards and a male Kestrel. Still plenty of Sklark and Linnet singing.

Tim Twiggs had a couple of hours on the reserve this afternoon and had more success with the Whimbrel, counting thirteen birds. Swallow numbers had risen to over eighty birds on the main pool and had a single House Martin amongst them. A look at the sea from the embankment produced over eighteen Kittiwake and as many Manx Shearwater. Also four Turnstone flew past. Tim has also added up his Reserve Yearlist for 2009 and is currently on 84 species, including the Collared Dove seen from the western boundary today.

Thursday 30th April 09 sightings

2009-04-30T06:04:00.000-07:00

What a difference a day makes! Dry, sunny and warm late morning on the reserve and plenty of birds singing. At least 6 Skylarks singing and finally got brief glimpses of Reed and Sedge Warblers singing in the Red River Ditch (95 and 96 respectively on the SGS Yearlist). The reserve has a lot of water on it at the moment with a large open area at the northern end. This held ten Whimbrel today. The Whitethroat was again singing from brambles near the entrance and just three male and a female Wheatear were evident.

Reserve Year list.......

2009-04-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

With the new addition to my family due in the next 13 days aswell as other commitments i decided to do my birding more local to home this year and challenged myself with a St Gothian Sands NR Yearlist. Im counting species that are seen inside and from within the boundary of the Reserve, that being the road to the south, The Red River to the east, the sand bank to the north and the caravan park fence boundary to the west. Ive managed to miss some good birds this year already, not least the Snowy Owl! Didn't catch up with the snow buntings either but having totted up the years total so far i was surprised to find i'd seen 94 species on or from the reserve. Common Whitethroat and Whimbrel were new additions over the last few days.

Wednesday 29th April 2009

2009-04-29T05:13:00.000-07:00

David King had a walk round the reserve this morning and saw Whitethroat, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Peregrine and two Sedge Warblers (along Red River near Sandsifter). I had a walk in the rain (again) this evening. There were certainly less Wheatears than my previous visit with only two males and a female noted. Six Whimbrel were still on the reserve tho mobile and a Common Sandpiper was on the Red river side of the main Pool. Finally caught up with the Whitethroat singing near the entrance gate as i left.

Snowy Owl Video

2009-04-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

Heres a link to video footage taken by John Chapple of the Snowy Owl recently on the Reserve.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pPZedp2Hhk

Todays Sightings

2009-04-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

Spent an hour and a half on the reserve this evening in the cold and squally showers in the hope of a Whiskered Tern dropping in! No such luck but i did count six male and five female Wheatear around the ponds. A Fulmar flew over the north end and out to sea and there were five Whimbrel on the beach. Birds of prey were evident with the Buzzard pair constantly around, a Peregrine flew over and a superb male Sparrowhawk shot across the main pool and alighted on the northernmost bank, the Sand Martins remained totally oblivious!

Snowy Visits Reserve

2009-04-20T00:43:00.000-07:00

A pretty uneventful morning on the reserve soon turned into a damn good one for Tim Twiggs yesterday. The immature Snowy Owl (Zennor bird or another??) was sat on the mound overlooking the reedy pool to the north of the main pool! After a couple of hours the bird flew north over Godrevy Head and despite extensive searching could not be relocated. A great find by Tim and addition to the reserve list.

I missed it and will be changing my mobile phone very soon, bloody technology!

Evening Visit

2009-04-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

I decided on a late evening visit on the patch tonight, mainly to avoid the dog-walkers. How wrong could i be! Why does it take 5 people to walk one dog? Or the other extreme where one person owns five or more bloody dogs! They are never on leads and their owners talk to each other as if they are 3 miles away from one another. Not suprisingly most of the birds were content to remain within the relative safety and tranquility of the fenced off areas. Thanks God for fenced off areas!

Only two pairs of Shelduck were on the main pool this evening, keeping a watchful eye on a couple of Common Buzzards nearby. The Mallard chicks seem to be happy on the westernmost pools and two moorhen were on the bottom small pool (with the reed bed). Over 50 Sand Martins and a dozen or so Swallows were over the reserve and three Wheatears were around the westernmost pools. Really must think up some permanent names for the different areas. Main Pool should remain as such, but anyone ideas for the other areas?

Recent Reports

2009-04-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

Sam Williams saw four Wheatears on the reserve on the 14th and managed the great shot shown here. He also reports lots of Sand Martins and eight Swallows.

Weekend Sightings

2009-04-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

Terry Hasdell found a Common Sandpiper on the main pool on Sunday and Sam Williams reports plenty of Sand Martins, Swallows and of course, Shelduck on Saturday. Thanks to Sam for the great photo of Sand Martin in flight.

Recent Sightings

2009-04-07T10:11:00.000-07:00

Sunday 29 March - Shelduck 14 on main pool, Northern Wheatear 1 female, Sand Martin 8, Swallow 5+, Moorhen 2, Little Grebe 1 on main pool (Tim Twiggs)

Monday 30th March - 2 Swallows this afternoon, hawking over the big pool with at least 12 Sand Martins. My first for the year here. 6 Sandwich Terns flying past the mouth of the Red River (D.Jenkins)

Tuesday 31st March - (PM) - 40+ House Martins, Swallow, Chiffchaff, 4 Shelduck, 2 Mallard, Little Grebe, Herring Gull, Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Blackbird, Robin, Wren, Goldfinch and 8 Magpies. (Chris Yates)

Drive by sightings

2009-03-23T03:33:00.000-07:00

A quick drive past the reserve this morning and birds observed from the car were four male Wheatear between the main pool and the road and 16 Shelduck doing what Shelducks do. A Kestrel flew NW over the pool and still plenty of Skylark singing. Also about 15 Sand Martins over the main pool.

Recent Sightings

2009-03-21T03:13:00.000-07:00

Though the weather has been superb over the last few days with light winds from the south and clear skies, there hasn't been much in the way of birds. Derek Jenkins had four Male and a female Wheatear on the 18th with a few Sand Martins along the Red River and Chris Yates had two male Wheatear around the mian pool on the morning of the 19th.

Six Shelduck were doing the springtime chasing and fighting thing this morning (21st) on the main pool and two Male Wheatears were on the open grass between the main pool and the road. The Phal killing Buzzard was walking up and down the bank of the island in aniticipation of another easy snack and there are still plenty of Skylark singing. Photo right; M.Sallis.

Late news from the Weekend

2009-03-18T10:54:00.001-07:00

Bit of late news from Tim Twiggs who visited the reserve on Saturday and Sunday: A summer plumaged Water Pipit was around the main pool on Saturday with 8 Sand Martins and an adult Kittiwake also present. On Sunday there were two male Wheatears on the reserve.

Matt Sallis was also there on Sunday morning and captured the Wheatears on film. Matt also states that Skylarks were very abundant.

At Last.....

2009-03-16T04:08:00.000-07:00

Finally caught up with the elusive Ring Ouzel on Saturday morning with the directional help of Monty Curtis. The bird showed well on the grassy bank, west of the main path at the entrance gates to the reserve. It appears we were lucky as it flew low east over the reserve shortly after and as yet has not been seen again. Heres the photo as promised by Steve Rogers. Spring was certainly in the air with 38 Sand Martins over the main pool and a superb male Wheatear nearby. At least four Skylark were singing and two or three Linnets sang. Shelduck numbers totalled nine on the main pool. A Firecrest was at Godrevy Point (Thanks Brian). A short visit in the evening of the same day produced seven Greylag geese on the island, a Little Grebe and two Ravens flew over.

There was no sign of the Ring Ouzel on Sunday 15th, but there were eighteen Purple sandpipers on the rocks at nearby Godrevy Point. These superb little waders occasionally get on the pools onthe reserve so are worth keeping a eye out for. Hopefully the first Little ringed Plover should be seen soon!

Ring Ouzel again.......

2009-03-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

Steve Rogers finally caught up (after 10 attempts!) with the male Ring Ouzel on the reserve today (12th). Steve says the bird was on the left as you enter the reserve from the layby, on the grass bank and beside the shallow pool. It was badly disturbed, flushed by the bloody dog walkers on several occasions.
I will post photos on the site soon but in the mean time they can be found on Steves blog.

Recent Sightings

2009-03-07T07:20:00.000-08:00

The male Snow Bunting was seen again at 4pm on the 5th March by Alec George, but neither bird could be located on Friday morning by Derek Jenkins. However, Derek reports that the Scaup (3) are still on the main pool with two Shelduck and ten Canada Geese. Plenty of singing Skylark too but no sign of the drake Pintail.

Snow Bunting

2009-03-03T06:48:00.000-08:00

John H Johns managed to catch up with the 1w bird on the reserve yesterday (2nd) and got the great shots shown here. The Scaup were still on he main pool too.

Recent Sightings - Sunday 1st March '09.

2009-03-02T06:01:00.000-08:00

I could see Steve Rogers (Steve's Blog) on the reserve from the road and phoned him to see if he had seen the Snow Bunting seen by Molly on Saturday. He reliably informed me that he was watching a first winter/female Snow Bunting. I short walk later and Steve informed me that i'd missed it! He managed a few shots before it flew a short distance and disappeared. This was obviously not the male seen by Molly, so there are two Snow Buntings around the reserve at the moment. The drake Pintail and Scaup (3) were still on the main Pool.

Saturdays Sightings

2009-03-01T03:57:00.000-08:00

Molly Burnley had a superb male Snow Bunting on the reserve on the 28th and the Scaup (3 fem) and Pintail (drk) were still on the main pool. Two Canada Geese were commuting between the main pool and cattle fields over the road during the afternoon and a Little Grebe and two Shelduck were on the main pool. Eight Curlew flew over towards the beach late afternoon. No sign of any Sand Martins yet.

Recent Sightings

2009-02-24T12:06:00.000-08:00

Not much to report from the reserve over the weekend. The three Scaup are still present and Sam Williams managed the superb flight shot of the drake Pintail, below.

Recent Sightings

2009-02-17T14:49:00.000-08:00

16th February 2009 - 3 Scaup and Pintail still there plus 3 Med Gulls (2 ad, 1-1stW), Raven, Snipe etc. The Phalarope-eating Buzzard was watching the ducks with intent!! Flock of at least 200 Wood Pigeons in fields on opposite side of road from reserve. (John.H. Johns)

Recent Sightings

2009-02-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

The main pool hosted a cracking drake Pintail on Saturday and Sunday accompanied by the now resident three Scaup. The Water Pipit put in another appearance today and there were 7+ Red-throated Divers feeding in a group offshore. No sign of the Ring Ouzel yesterday or today despite extensive searching. Steve Sargeant saw it perched on top of some bare twigs amongst the gorse, about 50m in from the road entrance on the left (west). It was about 30m away from the footpath and he watched it for about two minutes and then it dropped down out of view. Needle in a haystack springs to mind! Thanks to the following for their sightings this weekend: M.Curtis, D.Eva, J.Chapple, A,George and me ;-)

A belated Happy New year!

2009-02-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

Firstly an apology that i've not updated this blog for ages! Been busy with Cornwall Birding and the new Isles of Scilly Bird Group website. Fortunately it is a relatively quiet time of year at St Gothian but there have been a few good birds worthy of going to look at. Your probably sick of seeing the photos of the Buzzard killing the Grey Phalarope on the main pool on the 11th January, so if you want another look, click HERE.

The Water Pipit has been around since the beginning of the year but can prove elusive. It was seen most recently on the 12th February, the same day as a cracking male Ring Ouzel (right) snapped by Steve Sargeant. This was probably the same bird seen by Tim Twiggs on 7th January.

Three Scaup are on the main pool at the moment and other wildfowl of note this year include Shoveler and Pintail. A Jack Snipe was also seen on 7th January.

Hope spring brings some more goodies and i will endeavour to keep the blog updated with your sightings!

Wednesday 17th December 2008

2008-12-17T12:21:00.000-08:00

Water Pipit, Med Gull (2w) and Pintail (drk) on the reserve today (from J.H.Johns)

Sunday 7th December 2008

2008-12-17T01:40:00.000-08:00

(2.20 - 4.40pm) Firecrest - in tamarisks by gate of sewage treatment works (STW). 2 Chiffchaff - 1 in STW, 1 in ditch by Sandsifters (Red River) 1 Redshank on main pool and 40+ Curlew flew to beach from inland fields. No sign of Water Pipit. (from T.Twiggs)

Saturday 6th December 2008

2008-12-17T01:38:00.000-08:00

(3.05 - 4.20pm) Firecrest - male in brambles by layby, Little Grebe on main pool, 1 Redshank on main pool, 25+ Lapwing flew south and 23 Curlew in fields inland of reserve (From T.Twiggs)

Wednesday 12th November 2008

2008-11-12T12:12:00.000-08:00

A morning visit to the reserve produced the following species: Grey wagtail, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Meadow Pipit, Blue tit, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Mute Swan, Starling, Carrion Crow, Rook, Jackdaw and Buzzard (from Chris Yates)

Anyone visiting the reserve?

2008-11-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

Reports from Gothian are a bit low on the ground at the moment? Please help us out with this blog by sending your photos and sightings from Gwithian.

Friday 7th November 2008

2008-11-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

2 Goldeneye on the main pool today. (from A.Phillips)

22nd October '08

2008-10-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 22nd October '08 - 15 Canada Goose (+ 1 Hybrid Canada x Greylag), Merlin, 120+ Golden Plover distantly in flight to SE in direction of Nanterrow Farm, 34 Curlew in fields east of Gwithian Bridge. (from Tim Twiggs)

Spoonbill over....

2008-10-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

A Spoonbill circled the reserve this afternoon at 15.40hrs before flying NE. Probably the same bird was seen flying in off the sea at St Ives later this evening.

Monday 6th October 2008

2008-10-06T12:22:00.000-07:00

A quick visit to St Gothian this afternoon gave 1 Yellow Wagtail and several White Wagtails, not much else of interest. (from J.H.Johns)

Friday 3rd October 2008

2008-10-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

(4.30 - 5.30pm) 1 juv Little Stint, 1 Dunlin, 1 Curlew, 1 Little Grebe, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Northern Wheatear (from Tim Twiggs. Photo:M.Sallis)

Flying Visit

2008-09-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

Very quick pop in to St. Gothian late afternoon for 10 minutes in strong wind and rain produced 3 Dunlin, 9 Curlew, 1 Little Grebe on main pool. (from T.Twiggs)

Friday 26th September 2008, Birthday Visit

2008-09-27T14:02:00.001-07:00

Managed to sneak out for half an hour this afternoon on my birthday, after earning 'brownie points' looking after the rugrat for a couple of hours. Lovely sunny afternoon, for a change, and only a few dog walkers surprisingly. Unfortunately the birds were a bit low on numbers too. Persiverance paid of when two juvenile Little Stints alighted from the small pool with the reeds at the north end of the Main Pool (i'll call it Small Pool for ease of future identification!) and landed on the marshy pool (other fenced off area, which i will refer to as Marsh Pool!) allowing some nice close views. The only other birds of note were a single Dunlin and 3 Wheatears (all 1st cal/fem types). Plenty of Herring gulls of differing ages dropping in to bathe and 20+ Pied Wags. Rumour is that CCC are going to drop the water levels next year during wader migration! Should be good. (from P.Freestone)

September visits at a glance...

2008-09-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

Two Little Stints were reported on the 14th September (RBA) and six were recorded on the 22nd along with four Yellow Wagtails and three Wheatear. Other waders included Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Four Sanderling were flying around the main pool on the 24th and a Peregrine flew over. (from J.H.Johns and D.Jenkins)

Wood Sandpiper

2008-09-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

Superb shot of Wood Sandpiper in July this year (Matt Sallis)

Monday 18th August 2008

2008-09-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

(4.40 to 5.25pm). So windy that scope was virtually useless and had to use the fence posts to use my bins! However, there was a single Knot with a single Dunlin on the main pool. Two adult Moorhen with 4 small chicks on smaller pool between main pool and seaward fence. Nothing else of note. Did check the gulls just in case there was a second Audouin's in the country but to no avail! (Tim Twiggs)

July 2008 sightings

2008-09-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

Monday 28th July 2008 - WOOD SANDPIPER still on main pool (C.Yates)

Sunday 27th July - WOOD SANDPIPER on east side of main pool. Female Shoveler on reedbed pool then flew onto main pool. Little Grebe, Common Sandpiper and juv Heron still. Also Reed Bunting (2) on sedge covered pool. Lots of juv Rock Pipits and Pied Wags. ( from P.Freestone)

Friday 25th July - Little Grebe, Grey Heron (juv), Common Sandpiper (1), Greenshank (1) on main Pool. Also Shelduck (4 juvs), Linnet (10+), Rock Pipit (8+), Skylark (2) and Fulmar over. Still plenty of Sand Martins around. (from P.Freestone)

Saturday 11th July - Little Grebe, Tufted Duck (fem), GBB Gull (1), Lssr BB Gull (1), Herring Gull (25), Shelduck (ad and brood of 5), Redshank (2)and Rock Pipit (4+) all on main pool this afternoon. Swift (2) and plenty of Sand Martin over pool. (from P.Freestone)

Sunday 1st June 2008

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A drake Scaup was on the main pool until the 12th. It was constantly harassed by the Shelducks guarding thier 7-8 young. (from D.Jenkins et al)

Sunday 1st June 2008

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A drake Scaup was on the main pool until the 12th. It was constantly harassed by the Shelducks guarding thier 7-8 young. (from D.Jenkins et al)

The Rest of May 2008.....

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Wednesday 21st May - A Hobby was present hawking mainly over the main pool from 6.30 - 6.50pm Nothing else of apart from a drake Tufted Duck. (from T.Twiggs)

Friday 16th May - Little Tern reported this morning (RBA). No sign of any Garganey, but Yellow Wagtail flew east, Wheatear (3) and Common Sandpiper again. Still plenty of Swifts (c25) this morning (from P.Freestone)

Thursday 15th May 2008 - GARGANEY (male and female) on main pool this evening, WATER PIPIT reported this morning. Also 2 Reed Warbler, 1 White Wagtail, 4 Arctic Terns, 20+ Common Terns and 3 Sandwich Terns, Black Redstart, 3 Northern Wheatear, 10+ House Martin, 30+ Sand Martin 4+ Common Swift and Raven. (from H.Cook, T. Twiggs and A.Brown)

Wednesday 14th May 2008

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An OSPREY circled the main pool before heading east along the coast. Nothing much else apart from Common Sandpiper on the main pool and a few Reed Warblers in Red River Ditch. (from P.Freestone)

Species List

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Below is a list of birds seen at St Gothian Sands NR at Gwithian. If you know of any species that have occured there and are missing from the list, please let us know. Also if you see anything in the future then let us know so we can keep the list updated. The list does not include birds seen offshore or on the beach from the northern bank and does not include Godrevy Point. It does include flyover seabirds.

SPECIES LIST
Little Grebe, Northern Fulmar, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Night Heron (spring 2008)Cattle Egret (2008), Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Osprey, Eurasian Kestrel, Merlin, Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Common Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Little Ringed Plover, Great Ringed Plover, Killdeer (2002), European Golden Plover , Grey Plover, Northern Lapwing, Red Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper (2007), Curlew sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone, Mediterranean Gull, Little Gull, Common Black-headed Gull, Ring-billed Gull (?), Common Gull, Herring Gull, Western Yellow-legged Gull, Iceland Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Glaucous Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Little Tern, Black Tern (spring 2008), Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Turtle Dove, European Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Skylark, Horned Lark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Tawny Pipit (may 2008), Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Water Pipit (winter 07), Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, White Wagtail, Wren, Hedge Accentor, Robin, Black Redstart, Whinchat, Common Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Eurasion Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Raven, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Bullfinch, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting, Reed Bunting.

139 species in total

Please let us know of any ommisions via e-mail. Thanks.

Photos.....

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Heres a few photos taken at the reserve in 2008, new ones will be added!

Welcome to Cornwall Birding's St Gothian Sands NR Blog!

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Hello and welcome to the St Gothian Sands NR Blog, sponsored by Cornwall Birding website. St Gothian Sands NR was officially opened in 2005. The reserve was created when the old Sand works at Gwithian closed down leaving some great habitat, attractive to birds. This blog will hopefully keep you up to date with whats been seen and whats happening on the reserve. Some will be archive reports from Cornwall Birding website but most will be new once the archive stuff is put on here. Enjoy.