Around Par... St Andrews & Par Beach Pool

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I actually heard a Greenfinch today...!!!

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Muscovy Duck

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Robin

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Chiffchaff posing as a Reed Warbler!

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Chiffchaff posing as a Chiffchaff!

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Distant GS Woodpecker

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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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I was not supposed to be bird watching today (apart from the garden head count this morning, which I am very pleased to say included Firecrest and Goldcrest, but not at the same time), but as Derek was in the area we ended up going out for what was supposed to be a short session around St Austell Bay! Pentewan, Mevagissey, Porthmellon, Gorran, Porthluney (Caerhays). THANK YOU Derek.

What followed was a day list of 69 species, 3 life ticks for me (Red-Throated Diver, Red-Necked Grebe and Eider) and numerous year ticks; as always a valuable lesson out in the field and a very enjoyable morning! In fact I enjoyed it so much that after I had left Derek and visited my friend Molly I decided to use the last hour or so before the light faded to have a look at Manoa Valley Sewage works, where I spotted the gates to the sewage works had been left open and a couple of South West Water employees were sitting in a van inside the compound. I smiled at Trevor and jumped out of the car. I went in and explained to them why we were there; how the sun is always in a difficult position at that time of day to look into the trees and how nice it would be if we could spend some time inside the sewage works compound (never thought I’d ever find myself saying something like that to anyone!). Anyway, the one chap said to me “you are welcome to come in for a while; we’ll be here for another half an hour, but I doubt you’ll see anything in ere except seagulls love”… to which I replied “where there’s muck, there’s flies and where there’s flies there’s birds”… He smiled, winked at me and said “enjoy!” :-)
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Chiffchaff - Manoa Valley
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Dunnock - Gorran - I got to know the Dunnock better today, thanks to Derek. The female Dunnock is apparently "Polyandrous" - No further comment!
Info. for the Dunnock can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunnock
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Female Eider - Porthmellon
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Razorbill - Mevagissey
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This shows how far away it was, but it was so close in the scope - we had a lovely view!

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Herring Gull - Mevagissey
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Robin - Gorran
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Robin singing at sunset in the sewage works - a lovely end to the day!
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Happy New Year

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My first post since before Christmas. My PC (well the Society's PC) is out of action and I normally use that to put my posts up, as, if Trevor is in the house he is welded to the PC! I have special permission to use it this evening as I saw Roger today and he asked about my Dipper photos, so I thought I had better put them up. The PC should be back tomorrow (I hope) - if not my work is doomed and it's the busiest time of year for the membership.

Unfortunately the problems I've been having hit my feet just before Christmas, so as well as my loosing the use of my hands I was struggling to walk. Another visit to the hospital in a week or so to see what's happening!

A phone call from Sam and Derek on New Years Day morning stirred me and we were off to Par. Thank you both for getting me out (even though I could not stay out long enough for the life tick!).

So here's what I have for the last few days... Par, St Andrews Pool, Manoa Valley.

Happy New Year to you all and I hope to be able to catch up with everyone soon.


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A few more from last (long) weekend...
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