I nearly didn’t go out this evening, and then I thought “maybe I’ll just have a look at Par, but I don’t suppose I’ll see much“!

I got out of the car and walked over to the top end of the Pool and never moved from that vicinity in 2 hours! Got shots of Reed Warbler (which I have seen once before and the Abbot kept mentioning Cetti’s Warbler, which gave me doubts as to ID, but fortunately the guys on Birdforum confirmed it for me). Also saw a Goldcrest (but only got bad quality shots), Jay, Kestrel, Tufted Duck and Juv. Reed Bunting, amongst others! A good night.
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
My day list:-

.

1. Little Egret
2. Mute Swan
3. Canada Goose
4. Mallard
5. Tufted Duck x 4
6. Kestrel
7. Moorhen
8. Coot
9. Herring Gull
10. Woodpigeon
11. Collared Dove
12. Swift
13. Swallow
14. Pied Wagtail
15. Wren (heard)
16. Dunnock
17. Robin
18. Songthrush
19. Blackbird
20. Reed Warbler
21. Willow Warbler
22. Chiffchaff
23. Goldcrest
24. Great Tit
25. Blue Tit
26. Coal Tit
27. Magpie
28. Jay
29. Jackdaw
30. Carrion Crow
31. Starling
32. House Sparrow
33. Chaffinch
34. Goldfinch
35. Greenfinch
36. Reed Bunting
37. Linnet

Not a bad head count for a weekday and its Friday tomorrow!

I have a feeling it will be a good weekend :-)

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!

.

.

Bindweed I believe...

.

My day list:-

.

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

My day…

I forced myself to go out today :- ) I’ve been lazy though, and I am sure I could have seen more, but I had a late night last night and too much wine with the visitors!

Went on our usual drive around, not staying anywhere too long; Walmsley, Pentire, Camel Trail (only a quick look in a wooded area by the river where I caught a glimpse of a Dipper), a wet and dismal Colliford (where I was lucky enough to see a Lapwing) and surrounding area!

This little one seemed unsteady...

A Hornet I think... I heard something scratching and this was what it turned out to be. They scrape wood and mulch it with saliva to build their nests...

My day list:-

1. Little Grebe
2. Cormorant
3. Grey Heron
4. Mute Swan
5. Canada Goose
6. Mallard
7. Teal
8. Buzzard
9. Pheasant
10. Moorhen
11. Coot
12. Lapwing
13. Black Tailed Godwit
14. Black Headed Gull
15. Herring Gull
16. Woodpigeon
17. Collared Dove
18. Swift
19. House Martin
20. Swallow
21. Skylark
22. Pied Wagtail
23. Wren
24. Dipper
25. Dunnock
26. Robin
27. Song Thrush
28. Blackbird
29. Sedge Warbler
30. Willow Warbler (singing perfectly!)
31. Chiffchaff (heard)
32. Grasshopper Warbler (heard only, but I am sure!)
33. Great Tit
34. Blue Tit
35. Coal Tit
36. Magpie
37. Jackdaw
38. Rook
39. Carrion Crow
40. Starling
41. House Sparrow
42. Chaffinch
43. Goldfinch
44. Greenfinch
45. Reed Bunting

Peace at last...

It’s been a busy day and we have visitors… I had to escape!!!

What started off as quite a dull day turned out to be a very successful one. I had to go out (and not birding, although I had the camera and bins with me). On the way back (not wanting to go home without having my fix) I called at Carloggas Downs. As we were driving up the hill I noticed a bird on a rock and stopped the car. It was the best view of a Cuckoo I‘ve ever had… it stayed for a good while, and with a Skylark flitting around the rock too, although my shots of them both together were not too good.

As I was leaving Carloggas I had a great view of a hunting Kestrel, but was unable to get a shot as I was using my mobile phone - darn thing!!!

No time to look at my images to narrow it down as my Nephew (Alex) is watching me so I've put them all up... Alex likes them all so what the heck!
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.
My day list:-
.

1. Buzzard
2. Kestrel
3. Herring Gull
4. Woodpigeon
5. Collared Dove

6. Cuckoo
7. Swift
8. Swallow
9. House Martin

10. Skylark
11. Pied Wagtail
12. Wren
13. Dunnock
14. Robin
15. Stonechat
16. Song Thrush
17. Blackbird
18. Sedge Warbler
19. Chiffchaff (heard)
20. Great Tit
21. Blue Tit
22. Coal Tit
23. Magpie
24. Jackdaw
25. Carrion Crow
26. Starling
27. House Sparrow
28. Chaffinch
29. Goldfinch
30. Greenfinch
31. Linnet

Friday 5th June 2009

The birds had gone to bed before my camera came out...



My day list:-

1. Grey Heron
2. Canada Goose 350+ (no its not a typographical error!)
3. Mallard
4. H Gull
5. Woodpigeon
6. Collared Dove
7. Swift
8. Swallow
9. Pied Wagtail
10. Dunnock
11. Robin
12. Blackbird
13. Chiffchaff
14. Great Tit
15. Blue Tit
16. Coal Tit
17. Magpie
18. Jackdaw
19. C Crow
20. Starling
21. House Sparrow
22. Chaffinch
23. Goldfinch

Late night… but worth it and I have an easy day tomorrow!

Had a great evening; Its late, but I had to do my post! I have realised more than ever that my learning curve is only just beginning.

I met up with Derek Julian this evening (Chairman of the CBWPS) (after fighting my way through traffic!). I instantly realised he was a very hard act to follow. Thank you Derek… very much appreciated and I think we may have recruited a new member so a good evening‘s work!

I had two life ticks… Red Legged Partridge and a Grey Plover. I would never have spotted either on my own!

I have seen Hares for the first time in my life, and boxing!… A Fox that I am sure if Derek had a camera to hand he would have captured. I didn’t of course! The camera was to hand, but I was not on the ball. In fact, I have not been very dedicated to the camera at all, as can be seen from my shots.
.

.

.


.

Okay... I get the picture, but let me have a bit of yours!
.

.

.

.

.

.

My day list:-

1. Little Grebe
2. Little Egret (in flight)
3. Heron
4. Swan + Cygnets
5. Canada Goose
6. Mallard
7. Gadwall
8. Teal
9. Moorhen + Chicks
10. Coot
11. Black Tailed Godwit
12. Grey Plover
13. Snipe (a glimpse in mid-flight)
14. Red Legged Partridge
15. Pheasant (M & F)
16. Herring Gull
17. Woodpigeon
18. F Pigeon
19. Collared Dove
20. Swift
21. Swallow
22. Pied Wagtail
23. Wren (heard)
24. Dunnock
25. Robin
26. Blackbird
27. Chiffchaff (heard)
28. Sedge Warbler (many seen)
29. Great Tit
30. Blue Tit
31. Coal Tit
32. Magpie
33. Jackdaw
34. Carrion Crow
35. Starling
36. House Sparrow
37. Chaffinch
38. Greenfinch
39. Goldfinch
40. Reed Bunting

Also seen:-

1. Fox
2. Hares

3. Rabbits
4. Horses!
5. Sheep!

A photo shoot with a Grey Wagtail…

.
Today I did all the usual stuff… Plus, I fed and watered the Gulls at work again, much to the disgust of a few, but my boss is really enjoying watching the Juveniles, so if he‘s happy - I can relax! He even called me into his office this morning to point out what he described as a stand off, like in the westerns, between 4 F Pigeons, 3 chicks and a very protective parent - Who would draw first? !!! Someone mentioned removing eggs today so I have e-mailed a fact sheet - That’s put a stop to that! Mind you, a Counter Defence was filed; Someone objected, pointing out the fact that one should not feed them. I pointed out that I work for a Senior Partner and he likes em… Overruled!!!

I nearly didn’t go out this evening. This time last year Maddie was still with me, but she was sick and instinct told me I was going to lose her. That’s what made me think about Luxulyan. She loved it there, and I’ve not been there with Hesper yet, so that is where I went tonight. I shall now take Hesper… on Saturday.

Pleased with the outcome… There are Grey Wagtails and I believe I saw more than one breeding pair. I also saw Nuthatch and I’ve only ever seen one so I was pleased to see a family in the canopy; dilemma was… do I aim the camera to get a shot in very poor circumstances or the bins to confirm ID. I managed both (I hope). If anyone thinks it is not Nuthatch from my very bad shot, please tell me :- )

I also heard a Peacock on the start of the walk, but could not locate it. Found it at the end of the walk though :- )

I think the Grey Waggy has a Wasp for a meal.... Yum :-( !!!
.

.

.
I believe this is a Green Carpet Moth...
.

.

.

.

My day list:-

1. Buzzard (Tywardreath Highway of all places)
2. Herring Gull
3. Woodpigeon
4. Feral Pigeon
5. Collared Dove
6. Swift
7. Swallow
8. Grey Wagtail
9. Wren
10. Dunnock
11. Robin
12. Song Thrush
13. Blackbird
14. Chiffchaff
15. Great Tit
16. Blue Tit
17. Coal Tit
18. Nuthatch
19. Magpie
20. Jackdaw
21. Carrion Crow
22. Starling
23. House Sparrow
24. Chaffinch
25. Goldfinch
26. Greenfinch
27. Peacock!