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

Sunday...

I went to Staples in Truro to get some supplies for my membership work (where we had a quick look along the estuary), and with every intention of returning back home early to get on with said work! I took my bins and camera just in case, as you do! I did say to the Abbot this morning that I’d like to see a Yellowhammer again, on a hedge along the roadside maybe (as I’ve only ever seen one) and so I was determined to look out for them on the journey. Heading home I decided to stop and have a wander… found a lane for a stroll where we saw lots of Butterflies (which I am not good at ID‘ing). Headed towards home again, but ended up touring around Tregony and surrounding area, Polmassick and Portholland (where I saw 2 Kestrels together and near Potholland a YELLOWHAMMER, which made my day!), and Pentewan. We also tend to call at Churches as they are great places to spot birds - had a Spotted Flycatcher in a Churchyard today, if I‘ve ID‘d it correctly!
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I think this is a Ringlet...
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Ringlet?
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Meadow Brown?
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My day list for Sunday:-

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1. Fulmar
2. Gannet
3. Little Egret
4. Mute Swan
5. Mallard (flying over a field!)
6. Buzzard
7. Kestrel
8. Pheasant
9. Curlew
10. Black Headed Gull
11. Herring Gull
12. Greater Black Backed Gull
13. Woodpigeon
14. Collared Dove
15. Swift
16. Swallow
17. Skylark
18. Wren
19. Dunnock
20. Robin
21. Stonechat
22. Song thrush (heard)
23. Blackbird
24. Spotted Flycatcher
25. Chiffchaff (heard)
26. Great Tit
27. Blue Tit
28. Coal Tit
29. Magpie
30. Jackdaw
31. Rook (and lots of them)
32. Carrion Crow
33. Starling
34. House Sparrow
35. Chaffinch
36. Goldfinch
37. Greenfinch
38. Yellowhammer

Saturday

Went out last night with Derek, Sam, Ben & Poppy… and yes, I had another life tick! Thanks go to Derek again. There is no substitute for experience. It was a good night again. Amongst others we saw around 200 Kittiwake mingling with Fulmars, lots of Manx Shearwater (the life tick, which I must make a habit of looking for so that I can ID them in future), Rock Pipits in abundance, Nightjar (1 seen and 2 males heard) and heard Grasshopper Warbler x 3.


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I took this when we were listening to Nightjar... it was a lovely evening...

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My day list for my memorable Saturday:-
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1. Fulmar
2. Manx Shearwater
3. Gannet
4. Little Egret
5. Grey Heron
6. Mute Swan
7. Mallard
8. Buzzard
9. Sparrow Hawk
10. Kestrel
11. Pheasant (heard)
12. Curlew
13. Kittiwake
14. Black Headed Gull
15. Herring Gull
16. Greater Black Backed Gull
17. Stock Dove (only the second sighting of one for me)
18. Woodpigeon
19. Collared Dove
20. Tawny Owl (heard)
21. Nightjar
22. Swift
23. Swallow
24. Skylark
25. Rock Pipit
26. Wren (heard)
27. Dunnock
28. Robin
29. Song thrush (heard)
30. Blackbird
31. Grasshopper Warbler (heard)
32. Chiffchaff (heard)
33. Great Tit
34. Blue Tit
35. Coal Tit
36. Magpie
37. Jackdaw
38. Rook
39. Carrion Crow
40. Raven
41. Starling
42. House Sparrow
43. Chaffinch
44. Goldfinch
45. Greenfinch

Stolen moments..

Not had much time this week, but I managed to steal an hour in the garden this morning (and five minutes having a break from housework this afternoon) It was havoc this morning... three Woodpigeons and several Starlings all quarrelling for the best spot! There were TWO Coal Tits back and forth on the sunflower hearts, so I hope to see young ones soon.
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Off out this evening and feeling hopeful!
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I’ve not had much time over the last few days to write anything up. Nothing has changed though. I’m just back to basics – watching/observing - every morning and thoroughly enjoying it, and I’ve been reading (and learning), which I never get the time to do usually. The camera has taken a much deserved siesta! I did get a few grabbed shots today. The adults are looking fraught and still working hard. I admire them immensely.

We have been busy at work, but my boss asked me this afternoon how the rooftop H Gull chicks are progressing (as he’s been out of the office a lot and he was speaking to someone about them, in passing). I was impressed he had thought about them as no-one else at work does! Obviously, I have been watching them and they are all doing well.



I would not be impressed if someone took a shot of me looking rough, but I think this image depicts the impact the hard work has on them...



The result however is that we have 6 healthy chicks milling around our garden...

The day list comprises of the usual garden and work sightings:-

Herring Gull
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Swift (amusing me late at night with their shrills)
Swallow
Pied Wagtail
Wren (heard)
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Chiffchaff (heard)
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch

Ashley's Sparrowhawk...

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A busy day so no out and about birding, unfortunately…

My day list:-

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. Chiffchaff (heard)
13. Great Tit
14. Blue Tit
15. Coal Tit
16. Magpie
17. Jackdaw
18. Carrion Crow
19. Starling
20. House Sparrow
21. Chaffinch
22. Goldfinch