One leg...



or two...



Had a sleepless night, but I did my morning head count in the garden (as always). The young ones are getting cheekily close and the local cats have taken to hiding behind the fence below the fence feeders so before I fill them in the mornings I have to play cat-chase first!
We went out this evening, first to Par and then around the lanes and coast road again… ended up at Hemmick (my favourite beach, but a nightmare to drive to!). We had a laugh though and I forgot about my tooth ache :- )

First Juvenile Black Headed Gull I've seen at Par...
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My day list:-

1. Cormorant
2. Grey Heron
3. Mute Swan
4. Canada Goose
5. Mallard
6. Buzzard
7. Kestrel
8. Pheasant
9. Moorhen
10. Coot
11. Black Headed Gull
12. Herring Gull
13. Lesser Black Backed Gull
14. Great Black Backed Gull
15. Woodpigeon
16. Collared Dove
17. Feral Pigeon
18. Swift
19. Swallow
20. Rock Pipit
21. Pied Wagtail
22. Wren
23. Dunnock
24. Robin
25. Stonechat
26. Song Thrush
27. Blackbird
28. Reed Warbler (heard)
29. Chiffchaff (heard)
30. Coal Tit
31. Great Tit
32. Blue Tit
33. Magpie
34. Jackdaw
35. Rook
36. Carrion Crow
37. Starling
38. House Sparrow
39. Chaffinch
40. Goldfinch
41. Greenfinch
42. Yellowhammer

I did my morning head count and we headed out, with Ashley for company, adding a few more to the day list on the journey. We visited Pendeen, Botallack, Nanquidno, Drift, Bakers Pit (which was quieter than usual, if that’s possible) and finished off at Hayle. We had intended to see Sennen and Marazion, but time was short! Although I have a good head count for the day, it was quiet. Nanquidno didn’t let us down though, with Butterflies, Insects, Whitethroat and Yellowhammer.

My day list:

1. Fulmar
2. Manx Shearwater
3. Gannet
4. Cormorant
5. Shag
6. Little Egret
7. Mute Swan
8. Greylag Goose
9. Canada Goose
10. Shelduck
11. Mallard
12. Buzzard
13. Kestrel (hovering near the A30!)
14. Pheasant (heard)
15. Common Sandpiper
16. Curlew
17. Whimbrel
18. Black Headed Gull
19. Herring Gull
20. Lesser Black Backed Gull
21. Great Black Backed Gull
22. Woodpigeon
23. F Pigeon
24. Collared Dove
25. Swift
26. Skylark
27. Swallow
28. Pied Wagtail
29. Wren
30. Dunnock
31. Robin
32. Song Thrush
33. Blackbird
34. Whitethroat
35. Sedge Warbler
36. Chiffchaff (heard)
37. Great Tit
38. Blue Tit
39. Coal Tit
40. Magpie
41. Jackdaw
42. Rook
43. Carrion Crow
44. Raven
45. Starling
46. House Sparrow
47. Chaffinch
48. Goldfinch
49. Greenfinch
50. Linnet
51. Yellowhammer

I’ve not been out today. Well, apart from a thrilling trip to the pet shop (for dog food and Meal Worms) and Tesco, where I added a Pied Wagtail to my day list! Going out tomorrow, but the weather forecast is not good so I suspect my camera shots will be in the same category (no change there then!!!).

Some more shots from yesterday…

I was quite close here, on the edge of the cliff and the Fulmar was calling (to it's mate I suppose). The mate was swooping down towards it and then up towards me, which made me feel a little nervous... I posted the in flight pic. earlier...


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This Wagtail was preening with the sun setting light upon it's breast. I got some amusing shots (one which looked as if it had no head!)...


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I really do like Gulls. This Big Guy was looking very masterful and in charge! ...


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My day list for today:-

1. Herring Gull
2. Woodpigeon
3. Collared Dove
4. Swift
5. Swallow
6. Pied Wagtail
7. Wren (heard)
8. Dunnock
9. Robin
10. Song Thrush (heard)
11. Blackbird
12. Great Tit
13. Blue Tit
14. Coal Tit
15. Magpie
16. Carrion Crow
17. Starling
18. House Sparrow
19. Chaffinch
20. Goldfinch

Friday...

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We had a wander around the lanes last night and got back home late; Rescassa, Heligan, Caerhays, Tregony, Portloe, Carne Beach. Saw quite a few Pheasant, 2 Partridge around by Caerhays Castle, which I suspect will end up on someone’s dinner plate come the shooting season in September (and I was too slow too get a shot!). I’m pretty sure I saw a Garden Warbler, but as I got out of the car with the camera it disappeared into the hedgerow, and we couldn’t hang around as it was a narrow lane, so that won’t be ticked on my life list just yet. Saw at least three Yellowhammer. You don’t see one at all and then they are everywhere! Rounded off the evening nicely with a Barn Owl, which flew over and swooped up into trees as we were driving home at dusk.
A good night and as I got into bed I noticed a large moth fluttering towards my bedside lamp - A Swallowtail I believe. I put it out the window once I’d got a shot of it!
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My day list for Friday:-
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1. Fulmar
2. Cormorant
3. Buzzard
4. Partridge
5. Pheasant
6. Black Headed Gull
7. Herring Gull
8. Lesser Black Backed Gull
9. Great Black Backed Gull
10. Woodpigeon
11. Collared Dove
12. Feral Pigeon
13. Swift
14. Skylark
15. Swallow
16. Pied Wagtail
17. Wren
18. Dunnock
19. Robin
20. Song Thrush
21. Blackbird
22. Garden Warbler (I think)
23. Chiffchaff (heard)
24. Great Tit
25. Blue Tit
26. Coal Tit
27. Magpie
28. Jackdaw
29. Rook
30. Carrion Crow
31. Starling
32. House Sparrow
33. Chaffinch
34. Greenfinch
35. Goldfinch
36. Linnet
37. Yellowhammer

Golden Eagle at Stithians... For Mum & Jean x

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My Mum was asking me about my blog and the Golden Eagle the other day, as her friend wanted to see the pictures. I said that when I had some spare time I would sort out the images! As the Abbot’s PC seems to be running at a snails pace and because of the weather I’ve not been able to get out this evening, so I have done just that. Now the processor is rocket propelled! I don’t think I have shown on the blog all the images of the Golden Eagle that were improved by Matt Sallis. There were (I think) 38 images in total and Matt kindly looked at them for me. So, here are the best of them and thanks again to Matt. I still get that excited tingle when I look at these pics :-)
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I did get out this evening… One hour at Par!
Just before we left Par I spotted something over the far side of the pool… A Black Tailed Godwit (I hope!)… Not very good shots at that distance. A nice addition to the Abbot’s patch list though.
I’ve booked a week’s holiday today… Soon! Can’t wait :- )
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Including an hour in the garden this morning and glancing out of the window at work, my day list looks like this:-
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1. Cormorant
2. Grey Heron
3. Mute Swan
4. Mallard
5. Kestrel
6. Moorhen
7. Coot
8. Black Tailed Godwit
9. Black Headed Gull
10. Herring Gull
11. Greater Black Backed Gull
12. Woodpigeon
13. Collared Dove
14. Feral Pigeon
15. Swift
16. Swallow
17. Rock Pipit
18. Pied Wagtail
19. Wren
20. Dunnock
21. Robin
22. Song Thrush (heard)
23. Blackbird
24. Chiffchaff (heard)
25. Goldcrest (heard)
26. Coal Tit
27. Great Tit
28. Blue Tit
29. Magpie
30. Jackdaw
31. Carrion Crow
32. Starling
33. House Sparrow
34. Chaffinch
35. Goldfinch
36. Greenfinch
37. Reed Warbler