Paul Bright-Thomas

Not a great way to contribute sightings to cbwps ... don't think their mentions are being checked.

@cbwps.org.uk

Firecrests were in almost every valley the past few days. Even had one singing (!) from conifers at the W end of the A30 roadworks outside Penzance.

#cbwps #CornwallBirds

@cbwps.org.uk
Polgigga to Lower Bosistow: Willow Warbler (w tit flock), Spotted Flycatcher, 7 Firecrest.

Brew Farm: at least 1 Turtle Dove
#cbwps #CornwallBirds

Great day at Pendeen 0745-1600: 265 Sooty, 106 Great (many more), 1 Cory's, 3 Balearic, 18 Sabine's, 3 Leach's, 153 E Storm Petrel, 75 Arctic, 70 Great, 2 Pomarine, 3 Long-tailed Skua, 10 Grey Phal, 1 sum plum Gt Northern Diver, 30 Arctic, 10 Sandwich Tern, 2 C Scoter.

@cbwps.org.uk
#cbwps #CornwallBirds

Kenidjack Pied Flycatcher, Firecrest opposite cottages by yard.

@cbwps.org.uk Firecrest btw Lower and Higher Bosistow, 2 Yellow Wagtail btw H Bosistow and Nanjizal, Redstart on lane from H Bosistow back to road.

Porthgwarra: 1 Cory's 10:15, Reed Warbler by Dr's cottage.

#cbwps #CornwallBirds

Lovely pen and inks ... miss them a lot, loved them in in old BBs from 70s and 80s.

I've got them, loved the breadth, the variable illustrations and the sense of connection with the archives.

As a kid, I had the first out from the library on constant renewal for almost four years without ever incurring a fine.

Fieldfare N over Suckthumb quarry.

@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Years ago, I stopped to pee on bird race day, and in the tree above was a much-needed Turtle Dove.

I would have thought that pipits don't like boxes very much, though.

But then a third spell got a garden heard-only first of probable Water Rail, to be confirmed on the recording ... only ever recorded before.

#UKBirding #berksbirds

Well over 100 birds seen in 20 mins of #thermal #vizmig including at least 4 flocks of presumed wildfowl (only one low enough to estimate size, most likely eight geese).

But I only heard one Coot and one Redwing, so everything else unidentified. And #nocmig recording is only scratching the surface.

I have a terrible early 2000's phonescoped pic of a typical winter male Shoveler with a normal sized bill that was a bright Mallardy yellow, maybe a touch more orangey ... not sure what would cause that variation.

Ridiculous behaviour (but not funny).

Ignore the egret, RNG is further down ...

Friday 24th January 2025 - Cornwall Birds (CBWPS) Marazion: Booted Eagle circling for approx 1 hr. (D Allan, G Tamblin, M Northey) Marazion Marsh, 11.45: Marsh Harrier quartering. (P Geddes) Mousehole, St Clement’s Isle: 1 Iceland Gull 3rd winter or ...

cbwps.org.uk/recent-sight...

This RNG in Cornwall is doing a very good swan impersonation, also a potential holbollii.

Porkishead.

I had experienced similar before, with three birds singing in front of me at a different location, timings (maybe pitch also) differ between individuals.

Not sure if thread additions are easily visible ... two singing Quails in the same Berkshire Downs field in July 2023 had notably different timings (notes 1-2/2-3). Quail A had 230/115ms and Quail B had 275/155ms (each over 15+ calls). The difference is clear in this (unedited) clip:
#berksbirdnews

Boy, .mp4 on here seems to really boost low-frequency noise, so here's the same clip with a strong high-pass filter to keep the noise down:

And while we're on Quail, two singing males in the same Berkshire Downs field in July 2023 had notably different timings. Quail A had spacing (notes 1-2/2-3) of 230/115ms and Quail B had spacing 275/155ms (each over 15+ calls). You can see/hear the difference in this (unedited) clip:
#berksbirdnews

I have less than one thousandth of your goose-watching experience, but can see these subtle differences.

How useful is the amount of white in the tail tip and base for confirming in this kind of situation?

Here's the #nocmig "wet-my-lips" call from Aug 2023, a Quail over my suburban garden.

A couple of minutes later we went out to look for shooting stars, so we could have heard it (or drowned it out with "oohs" and "ahs").

And that background click is probably masking a wah-wah call.
#berksbirdnews

Nice.

I did a 4-STW tour on Sunday before the cold abated, resulting in 4 Chiffies and a lot of wagtails. Nothing scarce but I was happy ... you've got to be in it to win it.

A swift (Common or Pallid) and Brown Booby both reported from west Cornwall yesterday. That's nuts!

Love LTTs.

I always think of them as "the birder's friend", will liven up a quiet place and maybe bring a friend.

2023 garden exploits recounted at the other place:

x.com/_pbt_/status...

For some reason, the thread looks like it stops after post 11 (Gadwall), but it continues ... more goodies in the Autumn.