I’ve not been able to sit out or even by the back door in the mornings lately due to problems with my hands. I’ve being doing my morning head count from the kitchen window! I decided to treat myself this morning and sit at the back door with two pairs of gloves on! Having filled the feeders I was making my tea when I heard the usual sound of a bird that I hear in the garden nearly every day, but never see long enough to get a shot at – The wren! This morning however it seemed closer so I glanced out. There were two, darting about as is they owned the place. I ran for the camera and managed to get a couple of half decent shots. I think one of them was a Juvenile.

The House Sparrows are causing problems as they have taken to turfing out the seed they don’t like from the feeders – literally chucking it on the floor! Consequently, we are filling the seed feeders up every day!

Managed to get out for a while this evening, and got some shots, albeit taken from quite a distance…


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My day list:-

1. Shag
2. Cormorant
3. Grey Heron
4. Mute Swan
5. Canada Goose
6. Mallard
7. Moorhen
8. Coot
9. Oystercatcher
10. Dunlin
11. Whimbrel
12. Sandwich Tern
13. Black Headed Gull
14. Mediterranean Gull
15. Herring Gull
16. Lesser Black Backed Gull
17. Great Black Backed Gull
18. Woodpigeon
19. Collared Dove
20. Swift
21. Swallow
22. Rock Pipit
23. Pied Wagtail
24. Wren
25. Dunnock
26. Robin
27. Blackbird
28. Willow Warbler (I think!)
29. Great Tit
30. Blue Tit
31. Coal Tit
32. Magpie
33. Jackdaw
34. Carrion Crow
35. Starling
36. House Sparrow
37. Chaffinch
38. Goldfinch
39. Greenfinch

I think this is a Juv. Rock Pipit. There were lots of them rumaging around for food in the Seaweed, which is also in abundance on Par Beach...



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Juveniles everywhere...

Goldfinches feeding at Par....



This is a vastly cropped version of the above...

We met up with Sam, Derek, Ben & Poppy this morning on our patch, which Derek obviously knows his way around much better than we do, being Cornish born and bred and a bird watcher since he could walk I think! It was a lovely morning (despite the rain and the fact that the pain in my finger was distracting me somewhat!). We had to give up and go home to get dry, but after a couple of hours of work I decided that as it was the last day of my week off I had to get back out. Off to Par and a Gull watch! Consequently I have many Gull shots and some of a very sociable Pied Wagtail! I added a few species to the day count at the pool and we had a walk along the beach, which we had all to ourselves with only birds for company until about five young men with a motorbike decided to descend!

A sensible adult...

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A delinquent that SHOULD be old enough to know better!...

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Proud of myself!...

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Watching the shenanigans...

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My day list:-

1. Fulmar
2. Gannet
3. Shag
4. Cormorant
5. Little Egret
6. Grey Heron
7. Mute Swan
8. Canada Goose
9. Mallard
10. Moorhen
11. Coot
12. Oystercatcher
13. Sanderling
14. Turnstone
15. Dunlin
16. Whimbrel
17. Black Headed Gull
18. Mediterranean Gull
19. Herring Gull
20. Lesser Black Backed Gull
21. Great Black Backed Gull
22. Sandwich Tern
23. Woodpigeon
24. Collared Dove
25. Swift
26. Swallow
27. House Martin
28. Rock Pipit
29. Pied Wagtail
30. Wren
31. Dunnock
32. Robin
33. Blackbird
34. Blackcap
35. Willow Warbler
36. Chiffchaff (heard)
37. Treecreeper
38. Great Tit
39. Blue Tit
40. Long Tailed Tit
41. Magpie
42. Jackdaw
43. Carrion Crow
44. Starling
45. House Sparrow
46. Chaffinch
47. Goldfinch
48. Greenfinch

Photo shoot in the garden this afternoon...

This is a sequence of shots I took of a Sandwich Tern family with a parent feeding a Juvenile. (If I ID'd them correctly that is. The tips of their bills look yellow to me and they have dark legs!). I was told there were Common & Roseate Terns in this area, but I believe these are Sandwich Terns. It was incredible to watch and listen. The images are not good I know, but I struggle to get quality at close range let alone at this distance :-)

Taken at Dawlish Warren...

Taken at Dawlish Warren...



Well camouflaged on the Harbour wall at Cockwood...

Wednesday 22nd July

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Trevor had read on Charlie’s blog (http://parrotletsuk.typepad.com/wldlife_in_a_suburban_gar/) that there was a Slavonian Grebe in Devon and suggested we go and find it (via Dartmoor). I agreed of course, but I was getting impatient with the traveling and lack of bird watching throughout the early part of the day. Traveling is such a waste of valuable time! However, it paid off and my day list hit 48 by the time we arrived home at 10pm. At Cockwood, we found the spot where the Grebe was supposed to be and within seconds we had the scope on the Grebe and it was ticked, but I noticed something else in the background. It took me a moment or two to focus on it as it was so well camouflaged – It was Charlie in his hide at the water’s edge! I had taken some images through the scope, but they were not good and we needed to get closer. Thanks to Charlie we did just that. Charlie is a very keen bird watcher and photographer (and that is putting it mildly!). I have not yet met anyone with his enthusiasm, and it rubs off! He is well organized and travels around on a Moped, which means he can get practically anywhere, with speed and ease!

Slavonian Grebe...

We were rewarded with five Dunlin and one Ringed Plover at Par this evening (that is if I ID'd them correctly); All hanging out together...

AMENDMENT - I have received an e-mail from Fred Elliston who has advised me that the orange/red bugs are in fact Soldier Beetles. Thank you Fred.

I took this at Par this evening... there were lots of these orange/red bugs, all doing the same thing! They do appear to be mating in their own special way, but as bugs are complicated creatures I suppose its best not to assume! I'm also having trouble ID'ing them in the short space of time that I have.



This Stick Insect (if that's what it is) was on the bath last night. Very green and rocking from side to side... !



Par this evening...



Par again...



Par...