Copperhouse Pool is busy with birds!
Up to 3 Osprey were seen on the
Estuary during October, but none
have been observed recently. There
have been 4 Pink Footed Geese on
Copperhouse and 6 Pale bellied
Brent Geese on the estuary. A recent
count of the Canada Geese finished
up with 320. Waders have been
appearing with Curlew, Sandpiper,
Spotted Redshank, Little Stint, Grey
Plovers, Bar & Black Tailed Godwits.

Ornithologist Stephen Jackson has
kindly provided the following notes on
the Grey Plover:

Grey Plover has the scientific
binomial Pluvialis (the rain bird)
squatarola (Italian for black-bellied)
this is the name that North Americans
give to this species. It shows how
the same species can and does have
different names depending on when
it is regularly seen. Grey Plover is
one of the species that I specially
look out for on the estuary at Hayle. It
is a migratory species and turns up in
the autumn when it is heading south
for the winter. A few will over-winter
here in Hayle. Look for solitary birds
standing on the sand banks. It will
run a few steps and pick an item off
the sand then stand for several more
minutes and repeat the move.
Expect to see about five of six birds
over-wintering but rarely in a flock.

In summer the Grey Plover is
circumpolar in its distribution, where it
benefits from long hours of daylight
and an abundance of insects. When
the weather turns cooler on the
approach of winter it heads towards
the African coast, spending the
winter months mostly south of the
Tropic of Cancer.

In spring look out for a sparkling bird
showing off his finery with a silvery
grey back and mantle separated by
a white border from his jet black
belly, face and chest.

Thanks for help received in
preparing this article. Enjoy the
birds when you can, when the rain
allows!

Tina Morgan

via http://www.haylepump.org.uk/Issue148/pump%20issue%20148.pdf