We stayed local this morning. I wanted to walk to Spit Beach, but I didn’t think I would manage it, as my feet are not good again so we started off at Manoa and then to Par BP. I ended up walking all the way around the pool so I suppose I could have managed Spit! I am suffering for it now mind you. The highlights of PBP had to be close up views of Snipe in flight and male and female Bullfinch together. Yes, it really is that time of year again; love is in the air and the sound of the spring chorus is incredible. We had a quick look in the bay too, before heading up to Menabilly Barton and on to St Andrews Pool. This afternoon we went over to Colliford to look for the Black Duck. Located a Black Duck look-alike sleeping in some reeds. Only problem is it never woke! I watched and watched, but there was no movement. It appeared to be facing us, with its head tucked over its body and facing left. I convinced myself I could see the bill and the outline of the eye. I drew a sketch for a guy from Devon who was watching it with me. He then drew a sketch, which was completely the opposite of mine. (Later he rescinded and decided mine was more like it – he’s obviously well trained by his wife who was sitting in the car patiently waiting to get home!) It’s no good though… I just cannot tick it because it didn’t move. It could have been anything!

The day list was a very confident 68, including the Firecrest in the garden first thing, which gave me hope that it would be a good day. I took so many pictures, it was a struggle to decide which ones to put up!

Marsh Tit at St Andrews - Thanks to a nice lady for feeding them :-)

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Springtime blooms...

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Redwing (behind PBP)...

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Dunnock - PBP...

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Songthrush - PBP...

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Oystercatcher enjoying the sunshine at PBP...

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Wren at Manoa - I really struggled to get this shot!

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Trouble at PBP... I was watching the Adult Lesser Black-Backed Gull and the Juv. H Gull came from no-where... I have no idea what the LBB did to deserve what ensued. They were some distance away, so the images are not good, but I had to put them up - I don't get action shots very often!

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Victory!

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If looks could kill...

Spring is in the air... My favourite time...
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Little Gems at Powderham Castle...

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Taken at Saltash. I think the one on the right is the female and quite young, as she still has juv. feathers on her wings...

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Dunnock at Dawlish Warren...

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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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GOTCHA!

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!

As most of you know by now my mother lives with me, and today (having been Christmas shopping for three weeks and away from home) she was adamant that I was to get into the Christmas spirit! She wanted me to buy the Christmas tree and put it up - TODAY WITHOUT FAIL! That's tradition - I do all the work and she swans around singing Christmas songs whilst I tut my way through the day! I was up at 4am and listening to the dawn chorus; Hesper (my dog) by my side (as always) and having fed the birds and done the garden morning head count we lay on the sofa and snuggled up until the troops arrived and then it was back to the garden (well, the back doorstep with my coffee and Hesper snuggled at my side) and I was not prepared for what turned up. I managed to get the camera set up EVENTUALLY and I'm so pleased it was Sunday.... I spent most of the morning trying to capture this little tyke (much to mother's dislike!). I still got the tree, put it up and to top that, I PUT UP ANOTHER TREE so we have TWO!

Here's my little tyke and although I can't wait for the Spring (as it really is my favourite time of year) I hope he/she stays with us for the winter.... I shall work on getting better quality shots!


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DUNNOCK, in the garden too...
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Dunnock in my garden

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More from the weekend...

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After my silly post last night I'm back to being serious :-) Some more shots from the weekend...
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Grey Heron - Marazion Marsh
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Skylark - Gwithian
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Meadow Pipit - or Mippit as Steve Rogers refers to them :-) - Marazion Marsh
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Dunnock - Marazion Marsh

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Now to the culprits that put me under pressure...

Woodchat Shrike (better shot than the last one!) - Nanquidno

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Snow Bunting - Nanquidno
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Wryneck - St Levan Church (He returned to this area to feed "religiously")

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