Nanjizal Sept-Oct 2019

This year, the team was Jerry/Ron/Warwick for the whole week, and Andy for Tues-Sat. Unfortunately the weather forecast (mainly predicting conditions unsuitable for ringing), caused George to decide it was a bit too far to go for just a couple of days. The wind/rain on Sunday 29th, made a sea watch at Pendeen the obvious choice. Despite decent numbers of Gannet passing, the best of the rest were c10 Manx Shearwater, 5 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 2 Kittiwake and 2 Common Scoter. In the couple of hours at Pendeen, conditions were not good, with a "head on" wind and a lot of spray. In the afternoon a few Sandwich Tern and Black-headed/Mediterranean Gulls in Sennon Cove were checked for rings (as they were most days), though the high tide did not coincide with their return to the cottage. Monday's weather was better, and they had a decent day's ringing, with a total of 122 + (21), the best of which was a Blythe's Reed Warbler (only the 3rd for Cornwall/Nanjizal), which almost "slipped through" being identified. Tuesday started windy, but when it eased a little (late in the morning), a few of the more sheltered nets were opened, but they produced just 4 + (1). A trip to St Levan for an afternoon's birding produced little of interest.

Calm weather again for Wednesday, resulted in another good ringing session, with 160 + (33), including another Blythe's Reed Warbler, plus Yellow-browed Warbler, a "northern" Chiffchaff, and three Firecrest. A short spell at Porthgwarra in the afternoon (wind and spray head on again), produced just one Great Skua with the Gannets. A very windy Thursday saw a return visit to Porthgwarra, for c20 Skua (probably mainly Arctic), 2 Shearwater (probably Manx). This site turned out to be the wrong choice (viewing was difficult with the strong sunlight), as Pendeen had a much better passage (and would have added several species to Ron's year list). One bonus, however, was a White Stork sighting (from the rehab/release scheme in Sussex).

Saturday was the final day, and they had a third decent ringing session - a total of 116 + (23) included a Firecrest and a Turtle Dove. All photos by Ron.

Blyths Reed Warbler no. 1!

Blyths Reed Warbler no. 2!

Chiffchaff (abietinus)

Firecrest

Turtle Dove

Yellow-browed Warbler

Just two colour ringed Gulls were identified - a Black-headed from Norway - Green J44C, and a Mediterranean from France - Green RNIK, both of which were seen in 2018 (see here for detail of the Mediterraneaen Gull then). Following the sighting last year, it has been seen at the Hayle & Camel esturies in Cornwall (Oct/Nov 2018), in Finistere, France (Dec 2018), Vendee, France (Apr & Jun), at the Hayle estuary (Aug/Sept 2019), the Sennon sighting (4 Oct, and back on the Hayle the next day.

The Black headed Gull, green J44C (metal K02174), was omitted from last year's blog, so all records here:
ringed as pullus, Frogen, Akershus & Oslo, Norway 14.06.2015
seen, Frogn, Akershus & Oslo, Norway 11.06.2016
seen, Sennon Cove, Cornwall 10.10.2016
seen, Asker, Akershus & Oslo, Norway 09.04.2017
seen, Sennon Cove, Cornwall 28.08.2017
seen, As, Akershus & Oslo, Norway 11.04.2018
seen, Frogn, Akershus & Oslo, Norway 4 dates in 05 and 06.2018
seen, Penzance, Cornwall 29.07.2018
seen, Sennon Cove, Cornwall 02.10.2018 - 1206 days, 1491 km, 230 degrees? (also on 22.10.2018)
seen, Sennon Cove, Cornwall 02.10.2019 - Any details between the last two sightings will be updated once we hear from the ringer.