Wednesday 22 June 2011

The plight of the Swift

Please, please get involved.  I sent a report in yesterday and was very surprised to receive a telephone call today advising me that mine was the first received from Cornwall.  Click on the link to find out how to report your Swift sightings to Stephen Fitt - RSPB ...

 http://www.cbwps.org.uk/SwiftsFORM_2011.doc

Friday 17 June 2011

Thanks everyone.  I can't even comment on my own blog at the mo, so I shall work on it!

Thursday 16 June 2011

I wonder if anyone can shed any light?  I am having problems with my blog.  I can look at the blogs I follow, but I can't leave a comment "as me"; it just puts "anonymous" or boots me out!  I can't view my followers either.  I can sign into my blog and post, but when I click on another blog it forgets that I'm signed in ????????????????

Saturday 26 March 2011

Rare bird at The Copse!

Well, as it’s officially “summer” tomorrow, I thought maybe I should put something on my blog!

I did do a brief head count today, the main highlight being the first sighting of a Greenfinch in the garden for a good while, hence the “rare bird” heading! It was a good looking; healthy male and I hope he stays that way!

I saw 3 Jays this morning, which is only the second record of 3 together around the garden since I started keeping records.

Our 3 Dunnocks were up to their usual antics of courtship rituals and chasing one another around the garden, flapping their wings. It appears that the (Polyandrous) female likes to show the males her lady parts – bizarre to watch!

The Collared Doves were collecting nesting material from the garden, favouring left over twigs from the patch where the mint grows. Maybe they like the fresh minty scent! They were then seen copulating, again. I'm sure they have done enough of that over the last few weeks and usually on top of the bird table roof for some reason!

2 Great Tits were collecting the dog fur, which I threw out for them last week when I groomed Hesper!

Things are hotting up! I love this time of year :0)

A Dunnock from last year...


Tuesday 1 March 2011

Beautiful Bewick's...

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Monday 28 February 2011

I've been looking at the species that pair for life and Jackdaws are amongst them. I took this at Slimbridge on Saturday; looking very relaxed and enjoying the spring sunshine...


Sunday 13 February 2011

Today at Newquay...
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Grey Seal
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Pochard
Tufted Duck
Muscovy Duck
(thanks Mark)
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Mallard Hybrid!

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Monday 7 February 2011

Strange behaviour:

This morning I saw a female House Sparrow feeding a male House Sparrow; presumably a "food gift" as part of a mating ritual. I had to blink and look again, as I thought my eyes were deceiving me! Pity I didn't have the camera at hand, as I'm sure no-one will believe me. I googled it and bizarrly found an account of a male copulating with a female (obviously!); the male holding a feather in his bill and the female holding a flower petal (how odd), but nothing of a female offering food gifts, as males do in exchange for mating. I've heard of liberation ladies, but this takes the biscuit :o) I'm baffled and I was sober, before anyone asks!

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Sunday 6 February 2011

Bewick's Swan at Par Beach Pool.

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Saturday 5 February 2011

Without doubt, a record shot, but it has to go on the blog, as it’s the first Hen Harrier I’ve seen or photographed!!!


Tuesday 1 February 2011

Just for the record:

My first images of a Barn Owl...

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In the Garden...

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Friendly Mippit at Manoa
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M & F Scaup at Par Beach Pool
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Saturday 1 January 2011

Happy New Year
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Black Redstart at the Western River, Par

Chiffchaff near the Western River, Par

Brambling in my garden

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