I managed to get out for a couple of hours with Trevor today. I was feeling a little sad at not having seen the Goldcrest or Firecrest in the garden for 2 days, and wondering if the cold weather had taken them from us and my mood wasn’t helped by the sight of a dead Robin below a tree just after we arrived at Par Beach Pool. It had not been dead long and there were no signs of injuries. In fact it looked in good health really and as I checked it over part of me wondered, if I picked it up and kept it warm maybe it would come back to life, but it was obviously gone. The worst part of it was that there was another Robin perched low in the tree on a branch just above the dead Robin. I had heard it’s alarm call as we had approached (maybe, trying to tell the dead bird there was danger heading their way), but now it was, sort of singing. It wasn’t singing that territorial confident way though; it was that quiet mournful twitter that they sometimes do and it just made me feel so sad. Trevor went to get some food from the car and placed it in front of the Robin in the tree. I would have moved the dead bird normally, but as this other Robin was there I felt it best not to interfere. I just hope he/she realized time was ticking on and it would be better for it to be feeding up all day so that it didn’t end up going the same way.

We also went to Menabilly, which was busy with hundreds of finches, Lapwing, Redwing, Fieldfare and birds of prey. I saw a Buzzard on a telegraph pole and got a shot on the camera, but it was doing a poo in the shot, so I decided not to use it! Maybe I shall put it up later on. Also saw a Kestrel, which caused a commotion in the trees, and then as I was standing on the car park/field watching all the flocks of finches (mainly Chaffinch) I heard a commotion of birds and turned around to see a Sparrowhawk crash into the top of a bush and swipe a small bird, as all the other birds fled in every direction. It all happened so quickly and it was gone with it’s prey in a flash. This part of nature I can deal with (although it’s not nice).

After we returned home quite early I couldn’t settle so I begged Trevor to take me to Porthpean. By the time we got there it was getting late and starting to snow quite heavily, but I managed to end the day on a higher note. We saw more Lapwing feeding among the Redwing on the grass and also had a life tick (Black-Throated Diver) – I just hope I ID’d it correctly!

The day list was 44.


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Starling in the garden



Chaffinch in the garden



Dunnock in the garden



Little Egret on the Camel Trail



Hybrid/Escapee/? Bar Headed Goose at Par

Images from Par...

AMENDMENT: Having looked at the field guide this morning I have ascertained that the Goose is a Bar Headed Goose - escapee! This is also the view of a couple of people I consider to be expert bird watchers!
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Having spent a little time in the garden today (in between cleaning bursts!) we decided to get out to Par for a hour... I'll be glad when the Abbot gets his camera back. He seems lost without it. I offered mine again, but it was politely refused. Deafness is like solitary confinement and the camera for Trevor seems to have been a release from that, inducing communication with the outside world through the pictures he puts up on his blogs.
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An unusual visitor at Par Pool - Hybrid/Domestic Goose I think... Seems to like hanging out with the Canada Geese and they don't seem to mind. When it called out I was amazed.... It was a lovely sound (again, something that the Abbot missed completely); and such a pretty bird...

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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

Got out unexpectedly for a while this evening. I wanted to have a look at Par Duck Pond (where I was lucky enough to see and hear a family of Jays), Par pool and beach and then Porthpean over the Bay with the scope as I'd been told there was a Common Scoter lurking in a nearby bay on Saturday, but I failed to find it! I did see a lot of H Gulls, GBB Gulls, Sparrowhawk and the Juv. Song Thrush (well I think it is!) at Porthpean though.


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Un-sociable Juv. Great Black Back
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My day list:

1. Little Egret
2. Grey Heron
3. Mute Swan
4. Canada Goose
5. Mallard
6. Buzzard
7. Sparrowhawk
8. Kestrel
9. Moorhen
10. Black Headed Gull
11. Herring Gull
12. Lesser Black Backed Gull
13. Great Black Backed Gull
14. Woodpigeon
15. Collared Dove
16. Swift
17. Swallow
18. Reed Warbler (heard)
19. Pied Wagtail
20. Wren (heard)
21. Dunnock
22. Robin
23. Song Thrush
24. Blackbird
25. Great Tit
26. Blue Tit
27. Jay
28. Magpie
29. Jackdaw
30. Carrion Crow
31. Raven
32. Starling
33. House Sparrow
34. Chaffinch
35. Goldfinch
36. Greenfinch
37. Linnet

There are a lot of juveniles in the garden… Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds. The Starlings are quiet though. Mornings are not the same without them causing a frenzy! I've not been using the camera in the mornings either, as it takes a while to get my hands working.
Out again this evening, as I will be dedicating tomorrow evening to the dog. Mind you, she gets two walks a day, but tomorrow I shall take her for a hike!

The Canada Geese were in a bad mood tonight... this one reminds me of myself in the mornings!





To get this Pheasant and the Corvid below (as that flew by in the process), I walked through a churchyard, climbed a fence and perched on a very unstable Cornish Hedge next to a bunch of Foxgloves, which were buzzing with Bees. I'm just glad there were no Wasps - Don't like them! Getting down was tricky and I ended up face down and covered in bird poo, as it was near a good perch! Was it worth it I asked myself, but being so short there was no other way!

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Bindweed I believe...

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My day list:-

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1. Little Egret
2. Heron
3. Mute Swan
4. Canada Goose
5. Mallard
6. Pheasant
7. Moorhen
8. Herring Gull
9. Lesser Black Backed Gull
10. Woodpigeon
11. Collared Dove
12. Swift
13. Swallow
14. Skylark
15. Pied Wagtail
16. Wren
17. Dunnock
18. Robin
19. Stonechat
20. Songthrush
21. Blackbird
22. Chiffchaff
23. Great Tit
24. Blue Tit
25. Magpie
26. Jackdaw
27. Carrion Crow
28. Starling
29. House Sparrow
30. Chaffinch
31. Goldfinch
32. Greenfinch
33. Linnet

Early morning.... Late night...

I was up early stocking the feeders. The Abbot has collected some old rotting wood, and created an insect dwelling pile in the garden... already in use by the birds collecting breakfast, but soon forgotten when I turned up with goodies!!

Went out this evening and came back very late. Everyone seems to want to speak to you when you are carrying a camera... "what's about then?"... As if I'm the best person to ask !!! :-)

There are a lot of Flutterbys... That is what I was saying tonight anyway!


Newby at Par Beach - Sanderling (and I had help from the guys on Birdforum with ID!)

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