03/09/2016 to 05/09/206 Cornwall Pelagic Trip

Saturday 3 September 2016 to Monday 5 September 2016
Cornwall

We tried out a pelagic trip leaving from Falmouth in Cornwall. Obviously it could not hope to provide the range of seabirds that the Scilly pelagics would but we could, at least, have more time for birding in Cornwall before and after our adventure at sea.  

Saturday

Weather conditions deteriorated as we headed west and as we approached Cornwall it started to rain heavily.  

• It didn't take long to locate the dalmation pelican that has been around the Loe Pool area since May. Clearly this bird was not bothered by the rain.  It was stationary in the water but a little while later it started to move towards the spit giving us some very good views.  This species is a first for Britain if the sighting is ratified.  

Dalmation Pelican
courtesy of BirdGuides

• Next stop, in ever increasing poor weather, was Marazion where a buff-breasted sandpiper had been reported earlier.  It was moving around with the ringed plovers, a little stint, a couple of curlew sandpipers and other waders so it was hard to find at first.  After a couple of good but fleeting views, including a flight view, we managed to see it at rest on the shingle beach for a good 20 - 30 minutes.  The views were really good - from less than 20 metres - but the poor bird looked ever so bedraggled!  Another "lifer" for me!  

Buff-breasted sandpiper
courtesy of M McKee

• Our final destination was a little further east at Perranuthnoe where, with a little help from another birder, we enjoyed smashing views of the hudsonian whimbrel - yet another rare bird that has been around for some time.  

What a great start - 2 "lifers" and a good range of birds seen - and in atrocious weather!

 

Sunday

We only had time for a stroll on Sunday morning as we were due at Falmouth Harbour at 12.30 for a 1 p.m. sailing.  Thankfully we had a fine day with no rain!

The lovely Helford River was our morning destination.  

• The birding highlight of this walk was the Mediterranean gull.

Captain Keith and his assistant were our guides on the afternoon pelagic from Falmouth, west to the Lizard and back covering 75+ miles over a 7 hour period.  

• Highlight of the trip for me had to be the lovely grey phalarope found by Paul in the latter stages of our trip.  It was floating on the water and, being so tiny, was difficult to pick up but once sighted it was a delight to follow.
• 2 balearic shearwaters were a close second and the views were excellent as they came within 25 metres of our boat.
• A distant sooty shearwater provided another year tick.
• Up to 6 storm petrels were seen with about half of them giving really good views.
• Other birds seen included the inevitable manx shearwaters - loads of them, good numbers of fulmars and the occasional guillemots.
• As we neared the Lizard following a course a few hundred metres parallel to the shore line we saw a couple of choughs, several ravens, a kestrel, several buzzards and a few oystercatchers.

As well as the birds, this pelagic voyage provided fabulous views of other marine life

• Up to 90 common dolphins, in 7 different interactions, thrilled everyone on board; many of them coming right up to, and under, the boat.
• We also had frequent views of the harbour porpoises with 17 being seen.
• 2 oceanic sunfish were seen close up.

Captain Keith kept us entertained with his interesting commentaries; his dedication to, and enjoyment of, Cornish wildlife was obvious.   

    

Monday

We began the long journey back to Sussex after breakfast intent on seeing a couple of interesting birds on the way.

• We twitched at least 3 cirl buntings at St Just -  my first ever sightings of this species in Cornwall.
• At Okehampton, in Devon we found a lovely dipper in the stream that runs through the middle of the town.

Ironically, the only species we missed was the osprey in our home county of Sussex at Thorney Island!

A brilliant trip well worth the effort in the most adverse weather at the start.

Additions to BUBO UK 2016 Bird List:

dalmation pelican   (238)

buff-breasted sandpiper   (239)

hudsonian whimbrel   (240)

balearic shearwater   (241)

storm petrel   (242)
grey phalarope   (243)

sooty shearwater   (244)

cirl bunting   (245)

Additions to BUBO UK Life List:

dalmation pelican   (320)
buff-breasted sandpiper   (321)