After the excitement of 6th October with the seven Glossy Ibises and seven Red-rumped Swallows, things have returned to normal! The seven Glossy Ibises may still be in west Cornwall, however, as four birds continue to be seen in the Sennen area and a couple have been found at Carn Euny, Sancreed with a single bird seen sporadically at a number of places - including back on the marsh here on 16th October. The Red-rumps were around for a couple of days only but Barn Swallows continue to be seen occasionally. We are now nearing the end of October and as usual at this time of year the first Firecrests are turning up with their commoner congeners, Goldcrests. Our first Bittern of the autumn has been seen a couple of times since 16th but generally remains elusive. Water Rails can now be heard calling from the reedbeds at various places and there are one or two Kingfishers about. It has been a poor autumn here for the latter and I wonder if they've had a bad breeding season up-country (they don't nest in west Cornwall) as a result of the heavy rains. Perhaps their nests were flooded out?
If you are visiting, don't forget to check the beach for waders and the Bay for Common Scoter and other waterfowl. Slavonian Grebes are often seen towards the Penzance end of the Bay from around now and yesterday, 23rd there was a beautiful Great Northern Diver in full summer plumage just offshore opposite the marsh.
Site Manager, Cornwall reserves