Purple Sandpipers are pretty faithful to the rocks by the Jubilee Poole in Penzance and this afternoon was no exception, even though the tide was a fair way out. This one among seven roosting just over the sea wall and allowing a close approach.
It was a surprise to read that the Pacific Diver currently in Cornwall was thought to be returning for its 5th winter as it only seems like yesterday that the first for Britain was identified in Yorkshire. I hadn't seen any of the previous records so a good forecast and a clear day tempted me to Penzance. Plenty of Great Northern Divers were present during the morning but I could not loc
ate the Pacific. Some locals familiar with the bird eventually picked it up in an apparently favoured area just off Marazion. Although distant at first it at least remained on the surface allowing the features to be studied - no white on the flanks; a shade paler grey on the back of the head and neck; more rounded head and smaller bill than Black-throated (see sub-record shot above). Although there was a hint of a neck strap, at that distance it was hard to distinguish from shadow. It came closer eventually but was diving by this point which made photography almost impossible. Much more obliging were the waders at the base of the St Michael's Mount causeway - a mixed flock of Bar-tailed Godwit (pictured), Sanderling, Du
nlin, Ringed Plover and a single Purple Sandpiper (bottom picture) coming in with the tide and feeding on the seaweed below the sea wall.
Success with the Pacific Diver this morning allowed time to check the beaches of Mount's Bay for waders and passerines. The slipway opposite St Michael's Mount is always a good place to see and photograph Rock Pipit. Black Redstart is le
ss common - but even more photogenic. The bottom picture shows this character perching on my telescope.
While 'scoping Mounts Bay for divers, I felt a peck on my left hand which was holding a piece of cheese at the time - it turned out to be a precocious Robin which obviously coul
dn't wait for food to be volunteered willingly. Not quite as tame, but not far off, was this Stonechat on the sea wall and around the dunes at Marazion.
Little Egret numbers have been worryingly depleted in Poole Harbour since December's extended cold snap, so it was reassuring to see 10 together in Holes Bay this morning a short walk from home. I would normally count 12-15 from the train every day before December, so perhaps this number is not far off the pre-freeze norm for this part of the Harbour at least.
s, were also on the open water, and passerines were represented by Rock Pipit (below), Grey Wagtail and a singing Reed Bunting.
Waxwings continued their tour of suburban Poole today - I caught up with nine at Broadstone this morning, all that was left of a much larger flock present during the week. With only a few berries left on the trees they had been feeding from, it was clear why they had dispersed. They generally sat high in a poplar and never settled lower down so photographs weren't possible, but this Redwing put on a good show in a bush which the Waxwings obviously didn't fancy.
