Steve Rogers 🟰🟰

Garganey at Hayle Estuary today. (4th December). A rare winter visitor in Cornwall. The ten year rolling average is just 24 birds per year.

The returning adult Ring-billed Gull was also present today but the Blue-winged Teal seems to have moved on.

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Curlew Sandpiper at Hayle Estuary

This bird was photo’d today (3rd Dec) from the road bridge. Luckily it was the closest wader and gave great views in perfect low winter sunshine.

Curlew Sand is a rare winter visitor to Cornwall. As far as I know, this is currently the only one atm.

A Siberian Chiffchaff is frequenting the willows on the slope down to Trenow Cove. It showed well on 30th Nov.

Noted as fairly rare winter visitor in the 2023 Annual Bird Report. Numbers have increased over the last ten years. In 2023, an exceptional 107 were recorded across 55 locations.

Lesser Scaup at Helston boating lake (23rd Nov). Present since 4th November and also the female from 5th. Both seem content here and look set to winter with the local Tufted Ducks.

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Classy photos Gareth. 👍

Blue-Winged Teal at Hayle Estuary this morning. Sadly it was always facing away. It looks like it’s settling in for the winter so should give more opportunities…

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Pendeen Watch this morning. Baltic conditions but just a bit too much north for a decent seawatch.

4 Sooty Shearwater
85 Manx Shearwater
1 Euro Stormy
2 Great Northern Diver
1 Bonxie
normal ‘000s auks

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Juv Peregrine at Hayle Estuary (18th Nov). An uncommon and local winter resident and a fairly rare breeder in Cornwall.

Despite 430 miles of Cornish coastline just 19 sites were recorded in 2023, with a minimum 15 fledged young.

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Blue-winged Teal at Hayle Estuary (15th Nov ‘25). Present since since the 8th Nov but really tricky to pin down. The 15th is the only day so far when the “masses” have connected. It’s Cornwall’s 27th record.

Pic courtesy of Paul Freestone.

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Always happy to oblige when a fan wants a selfie.

Redshank at Hayle Estuary this week. One of around 75 wintering on the reserve.

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Lesser Scaups at Helston, Cornwall 5th Nov ‘25. Montage showing key primary and secondary bar colouration. Both male and female shown. Underwing shot also shows the white axillaries.

@bobbosisto.bsky.social
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Slavonian Grebe at Drift Res this morning (6th Nov ‘25).

A scarce winter visitor and rare passage migrant in Cornwall. Latest data from 2023 indicates a minimum of just 11 individuals across the county.

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I was pleased to find this ♀ Lesser Scaup today at Helston boating lake. (5th Nov). A ♂ was found here yest.

Both ♂ and ♀ upper wing pics show the secondary and primary wing bar pattern.

Lesser Scaup is annual in Cornwall. A flock of 10 were found at Drift in Nov 23 by @reuben-veal.bsky.social

Pendeen Watch 7:30-11:30 (2nd Nov ‘25)

1 Arctic Tern ad.
1 Pomarine Skua
1 Great Northern Diver,
1 Red-throated Diver,
84 Manx Shearwater
9 Sooty Shearwater
2 Leach’s Petrel 10:05, 10:09,
Normal ‘000’s auks, kitts
1 Merlin (west, over the sea)

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The popular Steppe Grey Shrike has relocated to coastal fields a few hundred m north of Gunwalloe Marsh. It gave fabulous views this morning (30th October) in the field adjacent to Pedn Gwinian lay-by. This is the second record for Cornwall and approx 30th for the UK.
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Ring-necked Duck first yr male at Helston boating lake (26th Oct). A very confiding bird and well worth the visit. My first for the year (#221).

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Pendeen Watch 7-12 (27th Oct ‘25)

7 Little Auk
15k alcids
2k Kittiwake
6 Great Shearwater
1 Great Northern Diver
25 Manx Shearwater
2 Sooty Shearwater
1 Pomarine Skua adult
1 Arctic Skua pale
4 Shoveler
1 Grey Phal

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Montage of the Steppe Grey Shrike at Mullion Cove. A stunning bird and easily enters my Top 5 of ‘25.

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Pendeen 23rd Oct ‘25.

Highlights:

199 Sooty Shearwater
7 Little Auk (high day count)
1 Black Tern. (v late)
21 Tufted Duck (scarce here)
1 Long-tailed Skua juv.
1 Sabine’s Gull (my 101st this season)

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Pic courtesy Dawn Balmer.

Fantastic photos. We were waiting for a fly-past at Pendeen!

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Glad you enjoyed the experience, Garry. Did you miss the adult Sabine’s Gull inside the rocks? Sooty count was pushing 200 by 1:30pm and 21 Tufted Duck was notable.
Cheers
Steve.

YouTube video by John Chapple Steppe Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor pallidirostris) Mullion. Cornwall.

youtu.be/D3Bb54fnh7o?...

John Chapple’s short video taken this morning. Well worth a view.

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Steppe Grey Shrike at Mullion Cove Cornwall 22nd Oct 2025.

Steppe Grey Shrike (pallidirostris) still present this morning at Mullion Cove, Cornwall (22nd Oct), 800m south of cove on coast path.

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Steppe Grey Shrike (pallidirostris) showed well today (21st Oct ‘25) at Mullion Cove.

Steppe Grey Shrike (pallidirostris) showed well today (21st Oct ‘25) at Mullion Cove.

Steppe Grey Shrike (pallidirostris) showed well today (21st Oct ‘25) at Mullion Cove. After yesterday’s no-show, it decided to perch up in full view today. Last sighting in Cornwall was Apr 92 at C. Cornwall. Got to say, it’s a classy looking grey shrike. Thanks to finder @martinefenn.bsky.social

Steppe Grey Shrike (pallidirostris) showed well today (21st Oct ‘25) at Mullion Cove. After yesterday’s no-show, it decided to perch up in full view today. Last sighting in Cornwall was Apr 92 at C. Cornwall. Got to say, it’s a classy looking grey shrike.
Thanks to finder @martinefenn.bsky.social

What a stunning find. Only the 2nd record for Cornwall. First was in 1992. Sadly it could not be relocated this morning. Strong westerly winds and rain didn’t help.

Pendeen Watch 8-1pm (20th Oct ‘25).

2 Sabine’s juvs (video)
2 Great Shearwater
31 Sooty
14 Arctic Skua
1 Grey Phal
45 Manx
24 Sandwich Tern
1 Arctic Tern

c. 15 birders
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Thanks Martine. Wow! It looks like a Steppe Grey Shrike!

Baird’s Sandpiper at Colliford Res, Bodmin Moor, 18th Oct ‘25.

Baird’s Sandpiper at Colliford Res, Bodmin Moor, 18th Oct ‘25.

Baird’s Sandpiper at Colliford Res, Bodmin Moor, 18th Oct ‘25. Present since 13th October. There’s over 40 Cornwall records but Baird’s is far from annual. It’s my 20th for Cornwall but I’ve never seen one Stateside, in eight visits!

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Lesser Yellowlegs this morning at Truro River (17th Oct ‘25). Found by Pete Maker on 15th.

Lesser Yellowlegs this morning at Truro River (17th Oct ‘25). Found by Pete Maker on 15th. Nearly sixty have been recorded in Cornwall and Sept / Oct are top months to find one. The Truro river wider area has hosted this species on several previous occasions.

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