2025 yearly round-up

January

The year opened with two Whooper Swans at Croft Pascoe on the 1st, an encouraging start to a month that mixed classic winter fare with several surprises. Activity at Frenchman’s Creek began immediately: on the 2nd it held a Red-breasted Merganser, three Eiders, and a Red-necked Grebe. Another Red-necked Grebe appeared there on the 6th, with both seen on the 7th. Also early in the month, a Dippers was seen at the Lidle Bridge on the 3rd. Siberian Chiffchaffs followed: one at Coverack on the 5th, and four at the Helston amenity area on the 7th. Unseasonable shearwaters were a feature too: Sooty Shearwaters passed Lizard Point on the 4th, followed by a Balearic Shearwater on the 5th. Lowland Point produced a Purple Sandpiper that same day. The 7th proved productive once again with a Marsh Harrier at Loe Pool, Cattle Egrets (two) at Newton, and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Lowland Point. Two more notable birds were seen on the 7th a Little Gull off Lizard Point (found by John), and a Yellow-browed Warbler in a garden (found by Steve W). A Barn Owl drifting over my house later that evening added to the activity. On the 8th, the Newton Cattle Egret flock increased to three, and a Bittern was seen at Loe Pool (found by Joe). A Water Pipit near Kynance Road the same day was also of note (found by John).

Mid-month brought numbers and variety: on the 10th, Predannack Downs held an impressive 5,500 Golden Plovers, while the Helford River produced a Slavonian Grebe. A Whimbrel appeared at Lowland Point on the 11th, and a Goldeneye was at Loe Pool on the 14th. On the 16th, John found a Red Kite near Zoar Garage and a Great White Egret was at Loe Pool; a Yellow-browed Warbler was also at Treleaver that day. Mid month also saw some good seawatch on the 17th, when a Great Shearwater and a Puffin passed Lizard Point. Last year's Olive-backed Pipit was also reported from the same area in Helston on the 17th. The Newton Cattle Egret total surged to twelve on the 18th, and two Great White Egrets were at Loe Pool on the 19th. Another garden Yellow-browed Warbler appeared in Dave's garden and a day later, on the 22nd, JOhn found a Glossy Ibis flying over Lizard village. Even more surprising was a swift species passing Lizard Lighthouse on the 23rd (found by Terry).

Late highlights included a Red-necked Grebe off Nare Point on the 24th, a Grey Phalarope in Porthleven Harbour on the 27th, and yet another Siberian Chiffchaff, this time at Lower Nansloe, on the 28th. The month finished with strong diver numbers: seven Red-throated Divers off Porthleven on the 30th, followed on the 31st by another Red-throated Diver and an impressive 21 Black-throated Divers from Lizard Point.

February

February opened with impressive numbers of Cattle Egret, with 41 birds passing Jake’s house on the 4th. Smaller groups followed, including five at Loe Pool on the 5th and over 30 at Tretharrup Farm on the 16th, while another 20 were near Gweek on the 28th.

The month also brought a scattering of winter specialities. Two Siberian Chiffchaff were at Helston Sewage Works on the 6th, with another at Coverack Sewage Works on the 27th. A male Hen Harrier was at Croft Pascoe on the 6th, and a ringtail Hen Harrier was on Lizard Downs on the 16th. A notable sighting came on the 7th with a Red-legged Partridge near Coverack, found by Joe. On the 9th, a possible Richard’s Pipit was reported from Gunwalloe, later in the month on the 18th a Whimbrel was at Porthoustock and a Dipper near Lidl in Helston on the 24th.

Seawatching remained productive: a Sooty Shearwater passed Lizard Point on the 23rd, and the month ended with an exceptional gathering on the water at Gunwalloe on the 28th—190 Red-throated Diver and a Slavonian Grebe found by Dave. A Great White Egret at Cury, another at Gunwalloe and 2 Red-necked Grebes and 14 Cattle Egret at Frenchman's Creek on the 28th rounded off the month.

March

March opened on the 1st with two Red Kite at Treleaver, followed on the 2nd by a Redpoll in John's garden. Early migrants began to appear from the 6th, when two Wheatear were at Old Lizard Head, alongside a Green Sandpiper at Croft Pascoe and four Puffin off Lizard Point. More Puffin followed on the 9th, with two at Porthoustock that day, along with a White Wagtail at Old Lizard Head.

Mid-month brought a wider spread of arriving spring and departing winter migrants. A singing Black Redstart was at Porthleven on the 11th, and the first Sand Martin of spring was at Old Lizard Head on the 19th. The 20th proved particularly lively, producing White Wagtail at both Predannack Head and Kynance, the first Willow Warbler of the year at Kynance, and a Short-eared Owl nearby. Mullion Cliffs delivered a strong showing with a Hoopoe found by Steve B, 10 Black Redstart, and further birds included four Black Redstart at Ponsongath and 20+ White Wagtail at Predannack.

Spring continued to build pace on the 21st with a Swallow at Gwenter, and an incredible influx of Hoopoes, with one at Ruan Minor, another at Hellarcher found by Andrew, an 2 more at Kynance, which a Purple Heron flew over! There was also a Ring Ouzel in Tony’s garden. The 22nd was especially productive. I found a Brambling over Hellarcher Valley and Serin over Old Lizard Head and Joe racked the Kynance Hoopoes up three, with two (pssibly the same) seen at Jollytown the same day. Additional sightings included a another Hoopoe at the Cider Barn, a Ring Ouzel at Treleaver, and several Willow Warbler, including a northern-looking type at Soapy.

Migration continued steadily through the 23rd with a Swallow at Old Lizard Head, two Hoopoe at Grade Marsh found by John, and further Brambling and Ring Ouzel sightings. The 24th brought yet another Hoopoe, this time at Windmill Farm (found by Dougy), plus multiple on add-looking hybrid Common × Black Redstart also at Windmill. On the 24th, there was a good smattering of White Wagtails and Black Redstarts and a further cluster of Hoopoe followed on the 25th, including one in Lizard village (found by Joe), one at Jollytown and one at Million (seen by Andrew). Offshore, spring passage intensified, with 36 Puffin past Lizard Point on the 25th and an impressive 56 there on the 26th. Late in the month, Sandwich Tern appeared at Coverack Bay on the 28th, and a lone Fieldfare visited a garden on the 31st to round off the month.

April

Good birds found in April began on the 1st with Dougy's flyover Little Ringed Plover at Windmill Farm and John's Osprey over the Boating Lake. Migration picked up quickly from the 2nd, when Common Tern and a flock of 22 Sandwich Tern were off Loe Bar–Gunwalloe, alongside Osprey in the same area. The 2nd also produced Red Kite sightings towards Porthallow and at Gwenter.

The influx of Red Kite intensified on the 3rd, with birds seen from Bray’s Cott, Windmill Farm, Cross Common, Poltesco, and Trelanvean. However, the highlight was definately a Kentish Plover at Loe Bar found by Dave. The 4th brought another Red Kite at Rosenithon, a Ring Ouzel at Porthleven, and a Hoopoe at Treleaver (found by Steve W). The run of Hoopoes continued through the 5th and 6th, with birds in Lizard Village (found by Tony), Helston (found by Dougy), and Predannack. Also on the 6th, a Common Redstart appeared at Soapy Cove.

Windmill Farm was productive on the 7th when Dougy found a Spotted Crake (found by and a Ring Ouzel. The next day brought a superb Red-rumped Swallow over Jollytown (found by Dave), two Hawfinch in Tony’s garden, and a Grasshopper Warbler at Bray’s Cott. By the 9th, two Whitethroat had arrived at Caerthillian, and on the 10th a Hoopoe was at Kynance along with two Ring Ouzel at Soapy Cove. The 11th brought further Hoopoe, with individuals at Windmill Farm and at Housel. It is a bit hard to say which Hoopoes were new and which lingering from March.

A cracking Purple Heron was Croft Pascoe on the 12th, found by John, and mid-month migrants followed: a Siberian Chiffchaff at Housel on the 13th and five Puffin at Lizard Point the same day. Late April saw a steady flow of returning warblers, including Lesser Whitethroat at Windmill Farm on the 19th, and Pied Flycatcher at Lizard Lighthouse on the 20th, followed by two Whinchat at Kynance Road. More Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, and Swift arrived from the 26th, with multiple sightings across Housel, Caerthillian, and Lizard Village. The 28th brought another Red Kite at Croft Pascoe and a standout Turtle Dove at Gunwalloe (found by Steve B). Kite passage built again on the 29th and 30th, with at least 12 birds noted on both days across multiple sites. The month closed with three Crossbill at Croft Pascoe on the 29th.

May

May opened with a widespread movement of Red Kite on the 1st, with 10+ birds across the area. The same day brought a Turtle Dove at Trerise Farm, and a superb Golden Oriole at Mullion Cliffs along with two Whinchat and a Pied Flycatcher, all foound by Luke. On the 2nd, the Purple Heron put in a brief appearance for John at Croft Pascoe, while Dave found Subalpine Warbler at Kynance, with opionions remaining divided to this day as to whether it was eastern or western (see mroe here). A smaller Red Kite passage followed on the 3rd.

Despite an excellent supporting cast, the main event of May was a large influx of Red-footed Falcons, culminating in aournd 7 individuals on the Lizard. The first of these was found by Tony at Hayle Kimbro on the 5th. More Red-footed Falcon activity followed swiftly: two at Gwendreath on the 8th (found by Jake), rising to reported at Croft Pascoe the later in the day, and another single at Kynance, also on the 8th (found by Ed). Supporting migrants included a Channel Wagtail at Soapy Cove on the 7th, a Hobby at Kynance on the 8th, and a Tree Pipit at Vellan Head on the 9th. The 9th also brought a sighitng of a lingering Hoopoe at Jollytown and yet another sighitng of Red-footed Falcon there, again Ed’s find. A fresh Red Kite influx on the 10th added to the sense of movement, and the same day produced an unseasonal Wigeon at Goonhilly, a likely genuine wild White Stork at Windmill Farm, and another Red-footed Falcon, this time  at Gunwalloe (found by Jason).

Mid-month sightings included Redpoll at Croft Pascoe on the 11th, Turtle Dove at Gwendreath the same day, and a Tawny Pipit reported from on North Predannack Downs on the 12th, which none of the regular Lizard birders were able to track down. A cracking Pallid Harrier flew across Crousa Downs on the 13th (found by John), followed on the 14th by a Black Kite candidate at Gwenter, an Osprey at Croft Pascoe (found by Steve W), and two Balearic Shearwater off Porthoustock.

Late May continued steadily with another Turtle Dove at Croft Pascoe on the 17th, a Hobby there on the 19th, and intringuingly, a possible Great Spotted Cuckoo at Gwenter. The 21st added a Redpoll at Cross Common. Warbler action returned at the end of the month, including Lesser Whitethroat at Predannack on the 24th and at Windmill Farm on the 29th. The 25th delivered a duo of Bee-eater over Lizard Point (found by Tony), while seawatching on the 26th produced a Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, and 15 Puffin off Lizard Point, followed by two more Sooty Shearwater later in the day. May closed on the 31st with a Quail at Lower Predannack, rounding off a lively and often remarkable month.

June

June opened with a spectacular rarity: on the 1st, Jake found a WHISKERED TERN at Loe Pool which stayed for a few days and was joined by a flyover Bee-eater found by Steve B on the 2nd. Seawatching picked up soon after: a Pomarine Skua flew past Lizard Point on the 3rd. There was also a Yellow-legged Gull there on the 5th. That same day in the evening, another cracking tern turned up at Loe Pool: this time a GULL-BILLED TERN found by Scott Reid and fortunately re-located the next day by Steve B. The 7th also produced a strong run of records off Lizard Point, with a Balearic Shearwater, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, and 2 Pomarine Skuas seen through the morning (all Joe). Inland, a Crossbill was at Kynance on the 11th, and a Hobby hunted over Croft Pascoe on the 14th. Mid-month saw a small influx of Red Kites on the 19th and 20th, with 7 and then 10+ drifting over various parts of the peninsula.

The 21st the second Little Ringed Plover of the year; this one found by Dave flying over Lizard Village. On the 23rd, the first Wilson’s Petrel of the year was found by Joe passing Lizard Point, along with a single Puffin. Seawatching remained lively on the 24th, producing a Long-tailed Skua, Arctic Skua, and 8 Sooty Shearwaters (Dave) and on the 26th, a Great Shearwater past Lizard Point (also Dave). Two more Arctic Skuas and a further Sooty Shearwater were logged on the 27th.

A dramatic moment came on the 28th, when a Quail was taken by a Peregrine. Stuart captured the moment on camera, capturign what is no doubt photo of the year! The month ended with 18 Crossbills at Croft Pascoe on the 29th, and a Quail at Lloyd’s Lane (Philip).

To be continued.