5th April 2016 (Cornwall)

Couldn't resist trying for the snowy owl in Cornwall this morning. Got to St Just by 7:15 but there had been no sign. Only consolation were singles of Iceland Gull and Chough.

Iceland Gull - St Just

We headed over to Marazion to look for the pacific diver, again with no luck. Just had lots of Great Northern Divers and a few Black-Throated Divers and Common Terns and a female Common Scoter.

Had a look at Windmill Farm on the Lizard peninsula after the woodchat shrike was reported again. I must say that at this site, there is not only a distinct lack of paths (all the ground was water logged and many routes of passage were either overgrown or completely flooded), but there was also no clear indication of how to get to any of the locations marked on the map. We eventually found the right place but we dipped out again.

A look at the Lizard Point produced some swallows, fulmars and a couple of grey seals, but nothing really noteworthy. Next stop was Perranuthnoe to try our luck for the pacific diver again. While we were here, others birders picked up a Whimbrel, which eventually showed itself to be the HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL. Had much better views than I had here last time and of the Pagham Harbour bird last year. Also present was a Eurasian Whimbrel for comparison. Seawatching produced only a single Great Northern Diver.

 HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL - Perranuthnoe

Note the stronger head pattern and longer bill.

Also, a few more shots to show the brown rump and densely barred underwing:

Another look off Marazion and Penzance but still didn't locate the pacific diver. Best I managed were singles of Red-Throated Diver and a drake Eider.

Eider - Marazion

Had another look at Windmill Farm this evening but still no sign of the woodchat shrike, however a female Marsh Harrier was somewhat surprising. Last stop was the Hayle Estuary where I located the juvenile Spoonbill.

Spoonbill - Hayle