January 2026 Events
New Year Birdwatching, 1 to 4 January 2026
Rob and I did our Annual New Year Birdwatching from 1st January 2026 to 4th January 2026. In those 4 days, we saw a total of 86 species around Cornwall. Two of our favourites from what we have seen so far this year is the Lesser Scaup in Helston Boating Lake and the Lesser Yellowlegs in Truro.
Lesser Scaup are rare North American visitors to Cornwall. The male and female Lesser Scaup has been in Helston Boating Lake since November 2025. Lesser Yellowlegs are rare vagrant from North America. It has been a notable and long-staying visitor on the Truro River, particularly in the area near the local Tesco store.
List of Species: Avocet, Barn Owl, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Blackcap, Black-tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Geese, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Chough, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Feral Pigeon, Fieldfare, Firecrest, Gannet, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Golden Plover, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Northern Diver, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Greenshank, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Scaup, Lesser Yellowlegs, Linnet, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mediterranean Gull, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Peregrine Falcon, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Purple Sandpiper, Raven, Redshank, Redwing, Ringed Plover, Robin, Rock Pipit, Rook, Shag, Shelduck, Shoveler, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stonechat, Tawny Owl, Teal, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, and Yellow-browed Warbler.
Publicity and Press Release
Cornish Stuff News: cornishstuff.com/wildlife/85-bird-species-spotted-across-cornwall-during-new-year-birdwatch
Rob and I did our Annual New Year Birdwatching from 1st January 2026 to 4th January 2026. In those 4 days, we saw a total of 86 species around Cornwall. Two of our favourites from what we have seen so far this year is the Lesser Scaup in Helston Boating Lake and the Lesser Yellowlegs in Truro.
Lesser Scaup are rare North American visitors to Cornwall. The male and female Lesser Scaup has been in Helston Boating Lake since November 2025. Lesser Yellowlegs are rare vagrant from North America. It has been a notable and long-staying visitor on the Truro River, particularly in the area near the local Tesco store.
List of Species: Avocet, Barn Owl, Blackbird, Black-headed Gull, Blackcap, Black-tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Geese, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Chough, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Feral Pigeon, Fieldfare, Firecrest, Gannet, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Golden Plover, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Northern Diver, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Greenshank, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Scaup, Lesser Yellowlegs, Linnet, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mediterranean Gull, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Peregrine Falcon, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Purple Sandpiper, Raven, Redshank, Redwing, Ringed Plover, Robin, Rock Pipit, Rook, Shag, Shelduck, Shoveler, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stonechat, Tawny Owl, Teal, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, and Yellow-browed Warbler.
Publicity and Press Release
Cornish Stuff News: cornishstuff.com/wildlife/85-bird-species-spotted-across-cornwall-during-new-year-birdwatch
Birdwatching at Mevagissey Harbour, Sunday, 11 January 2026
Six of us, nature and wildlife enthusiast brave the cold wind and rain on our Birdwatching at Mevagissey Harbour. We saw twenty species of birds: 2x Black Headed Gull, 1x Blue Tit, 3x Carrion Crow, 11x Cormorant, 1x Dunnock, 40++ Ferral Pigeon, 3x Fulmar, 20++ Gannet, 9x Great Black-backed Gull, 5x Great Northern Diver, 50++ Herring Gull, 30++ Jackdaw, 1x Mallard Duck, 2x Oystercatcher, 7x Pied Wagtail, 2x Purple Sandpiper, 3x Rock Pipit, 5x Razorbill, 6x Shag and 2x Turnstone. Two of these species are winter visitors, the Great Northern Diver and Purple Sandpiper. We also saw two Grey Seals. Our day ended with an enjoyable coffee and biscuits to keep us warm and recharge.
Publicity and Press Release
Cornish Stuff News: cornishstuff.com/mevagissey/birdwatching-group-records-20-species-at-mevagissey-harbour
The Cornish Times: www.cornish-times.co.uk/news/winter-visitors-spotted-during-birdwatching-trip-at-cornish-harbour-868562
The Voice Newspaper: www.voicenewspapers.co.uk/news/winter-visitors-spotted-during-birdwatching-trip-at-cornish-harbour-868562
The Packet: www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/cornwall_news/25760356.birdwatchers-delighted-mevagissey-harbour-field-trip
All Events: allevents.in/st-austell/birdwatching-at-mevagissey-harbour/200029396905212
Six of us, nature and wildlife enthusiast brave the cold wind and rain on our Birdwatching at Mevagissey Harbour. We saw twenty species of birds: 2x Black Headed Gull, 1x Blue Tit, 3x Carrion Crow, 11x Cormorant, 1x Dunnock, 40++ Ferral Pigeon, 3x Fulmar, 20++ Gannet, 9x Great Black-backed Gull, 5x Great Northern Diver, 50++ Herring Gull, 30++ Jackdaw, 1x Mallard Duck, 2x Oystercatcher, 7x Pied Wagtail, 2x Purple Sandpiper, 3x Rock Pipit, 5x Razorbill, 6x Shag and 2x Turnstone. Two of these species are winter visitors, the Great Northern Diver and Purple Sandpiper. We also saw two Grey Seals. Our day ended with an enjoyable coffee and biscuits to keep us warm and recharge.
Publicity and Press Release
Cornish Stuff News: cornishstuff.com/mevagissey/birdwatching-group-records-20-species-at-mevagissey-harbour
The Cornish Times: www.cornish-times.co.uk/news/winter-visitors-spotted-during-birdwatching-trip-at-cornish-harbour-868562
The Voice Newspaper: www.voicenewspapers.co.uk/news/winter-visitors-spotted-during-birdwatching-trip-at-cornish-harbour-868562
The Packet: www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/cornwall_news/25760356.birdwatchers-delighted-mevagissey-harbour-field-trip
All Events: allevents.in/st-austell/birdwatching-at-mevagissey-harbour/200029396905212
Birdwatching at Ruan Lanihorne, Sunday, 18 January 2026
Twelve of us, nature and wildlife enthusiast had a wonderful time on our Birdwatching at Ruan Lanihorne on the Roseland Peninsula. The day started with heavy fog and mist but later on the sun shone brightly. We saw thirty four species of birds: 2x Blackbird, 12++ Black headed Gull, 1x Blue Tit, 2x Buzzard, 84x Canada Geese, 8x Carrion Crow, 1x Chaffinch, 2x Common Sandpiper, 7x Curlew, 35++ Dunlin, 1x Dunnock, 400++ Golden Plover, 1x Great Black-backed Gull, 1x Great-spotted Woodpecker, 25x Herring Gull, 3x Jackdaw, 200++ Lapwing, 1x Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1x Little Egret, 2x Magpie, 14x Mallard, 4x Mute Swan, 7x Pheasant, 1x Pied Wagtail, 1x Red Kite, 2x Redwing, 2x Redshank, 1x Robin, 20++ Rook, 11x Shelduck, 2x Stonechat, 50++ Widgeon, 4x Woodpigeon and 3x Wren. We also saw 5x Fallow Deer. Our day ended with an enjoyable coffee and tea, cheese and biscuits, and chocolate chip cookies.
It's the WeBS Priority Core Count! January WeBS counts are especially important as they feed into the International Waterbird Census, which is celebrating it's 60th year of counting this month! Here’s how your data contributes to international effort. Learn more: www.wetlands.org/iwc60
Publicity and Press Release
Cornish Stuff News: cornishstuff.com/ruan-lanihorne/birdwatching-group-records-34-species-at-ruan-lanihorne-on-the-roseland
The Packet Newspaper: www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/cornwall_news/25780313.rspb-birdwatchers-spot-canada-geese-red-kite-roseland
Twelve of us, nature and wildlife enthusiast had a wonderful time on our Birdwatching at Ruan Lanihorne on the Roseland Peninsula. The day started with heavy fog and mist but later on the sun shone brightly. We saw thirty four species of birds: 2x Blackbird, 12++ Black headed Gull, 1x Blue Tit, 2x Buzzard, 84x Canada Geese, 8x Carrion Crow, 1x Chaffinch, 2x Common Sandpiper, 7x Curlew, 35++ Dunlin, 1x Dunnock, 400++ Golden Plover, 1x Great Black-backed Gull, 1x Great-spotted Woodpecker, 25x Herring Gull, 3x Jackdaw, 200++ Lapwing, 1x Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1x Little Egret, 2x Magpie, 14x Mallard, 4x Mute Swan, 7x Pheasant, 1x Pied Wagtail, 1x Red Kite, 2x Redwing, 2x Redshank, 1x Robin, 20++ Rook, 11x Shelduck, 2x Stonechat, 50++ Widgeon, 4x Woodpigeon and 3x Wren. We also saw 5x Fallow Deer. Our day ended with an enjoyable coffee and tea, cheese and biscuits, and chocolate chip cookies.
It's the WeBS Priority Core Count! January WeBS counts are especially important as they feed into the International Waterbird Census, which is celebrating it's 60th year of counting this month! Here’s how your data contributes to international effort. Learn more: www.wetlands.org/iwc60
Publicity and Press Release
Cornish Stuff News: cornishstuff.com/ruan-lanihorne/birdwatching-group-records-34-species-at-ruan-lanihorne-on-the-roseland
The Packet Newspaper: www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/cornwall_news/25780313.rspb-birdwatchers-spot-canada-geese-red-kite-roseland
Birdwatching at Towan Head, Newquay, Sunday, 25 January 2026
Eighteen of us, nature and wildlife enthusiast had a wonderful time on our Birdwatching at Towan Head in Newquay. The sun was shining when we started birdwatching but after 30 minutes, it started pouring with rain. But the rain has not stopped us from birdwatching. Luckily, after 45 minutes, the rain stops and the sun came out again. We saw sixteen species of birds: 3x Black-headed Gull, 2x Chough, 15x Cormorant, 1x Ferral, Pigeon, 17x Fulmar, 30++ Gannet, 10x Great Black-backed Gull, 150++ Herring Gull, 15x Jackdaw, 2x Meadow Pipit, 18x Oystercatcher, 30++ Purple Sandpiper, 3x Rock Pipit, 10x Shag, 5x Stonechat, and 50++ Turnstone. The event ended with an enjoyable coffee and tea, cheese, crackers, and ham.
Publicity and Press Release
Cornish Stuff News: cornishstuff.com/newquay/birdwatching-group-enjoy-weekend-visit-to-towan-head-in-newquay
The Voice Newspaper: www.voicenewspapers.co.uk/news/environment-news/nature-lovers-enjoy-successful-birdwatching-trip-in-newquay-875787
Eighteen of us, nature and wildlife enthusiast had a wonderful time on our Birdwatching at Towan Head in Newquay. The sun was shining when we started birdwatching but after 30 minutes, it started pouring with rain. But the rain has not stopped us from birdwatching. Luckily, after 45 minutes, the rain stops and the sun came out again. We saw sixteen species of birds: 3x Black-headed Gull, 2x Chough, 15x Cormorant, 1x Ferral, Pigeon, 17x Fulmar, 30++ Gannet, 10x Great Black-backed Gull, 150++ Herring Gull, 15x Jackdaw, 2x Meadow Pipit, 18x Oystercatcher, 30++ Purple Sandpiper, 3x Rock Pipit, 10x Shag, 5x Stonechat, and 50++ Turnstone. The event ended with an enjoyable coffee and tea, cheese, crackers, and ham.
Publicity and Press Release
Cornish Stuff News: cornishstuff.com/newquay/birdwatching-group-enjoy-weekend-visit-to-towan-head-in-newquay
The Voice Newspaper: www.voicenewspapers.co.uk/news/environment-news/nature-lovers-enjoy-successful-birdwatching-trip-in-newquay-875787