"Swan Sanctuary"

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Today I've been busy, but I made time this afternoon, in the rain to get to Par with Trevor for an hour. We left the car for a short walk, but the rain drove us back. We parked up to watch the Canada Geese, Ducks (all Mallards as far as I could see), Gulls - Black Headed and Juv Herring (very few adults), Grey Heron, Little Egret, Coots, Moorhens, Pied Wagtails, Dunnocks, Robins, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Chaffinches, Buzzard, Rabbits. The Swans came up to the car. Obviously less people had been out to feed them today. They settled near us, but too near for my lens really. I took a LOT of shots. I love Swans. Since I rescued a Swan with lead poisoning in my dilapidated old Mini when I was 21, I've always had a little dream that if I had a windfall I would buy some land and create a sanctuary for injured Swans. Mind you, knowing me I wouldn't be able to resist and I'd end up with all sorts!
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Coot on a mission and moving towards me at speed!...

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Dedicated to the Wryneck tonight...

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I had booked two days off work and today was all planned out with an early start. Then I woke up at 2.25am with a raging sore throat and never slept again until it was time to get up :-( Consequently we had a late start and things were not looking good. We had a nice session at Marazion, but no Glossy Ibis. We dipped on Rose-Coloured Starling and Trevor said he wanted to look at Penberth. There we bumped into four bird watchers from out of County who had been told that there was a Yellow Browed Warbler seen at Penberth this morning. My interest lifted, but I decided not to make a nuisance of myself and we sloped off to St Leven Church to look for a Wryneck, which I was not confident about finding, but Trevor kept saying “I know it’s here”! I saw something from the corner of my eye land in a hedge, and Trevor confirmed he had seen it too. I started to believe he was right and caught a glimpse of it again and followed it into a small tree. I got some bad shots there before it headed off again. Now I was obsessed! We walked down the coast path about 200yrds and I turned back with the sun behind me. Trevor headed on in front and then I heard the alarm call in the hedge next to me and I knew it had to be the one. I got closer and closer and the alarm call intensified. The only way to see it was to flush it and for a moment it was so loud I was afraid it was going to attack in defence! I backed off (thinking to myself, what a twonk)… it flew – straight over Trevor’s head (he didn’t see it) and disappeared. We went back to the car and I checked the camera and although I was convinced, Trevor had not seen it and I wanted a better shot so off we went, back down the lane. It appeared almost immediately beside me in the hedge. How lucky we are. It stayed there for ages – I took a LOT of shots, some of which are below! My head count for the day was 51, so I forgot about my sore throat and stuffy nose for a while :-)
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This was the first one, which I thought would be enough to confirm my ID...
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I had a good opportunity to watch this bird and it was just beautiful. The markings are amazing.
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Sunday

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A very obliging Buzzard...


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Garganey

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Juvenile Little Grebe

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Lapwing

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AMENDMENT - Thanks to John - Migrant Hawker (Aeshna Mixta)

For more information on these lovely creatures and their relatives, please visit the link below:-

http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk/aemix.html

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AMENDMENT: Thanks to John - Common Darter.

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My last Devon post :-

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You cannot go to Devon without seeing Branscombe (a pretty little village with lots of flowers and birds!), after which we went to Beer; then Seaton (where we should have gone with friends a few weeks ago, but I was working, and hopefully we will do that soon). Seaton was great. The hide is perfect for an all round view and great for seeing Kingfishers. We then went to Powderham, Cockwood and then finished the evening at Dawlish Warren. It was a beautiful evening and having chased a Kingfisher around the pool, and then a Wheatear around the beach we decided we were too tired to go looking for waders (although it would have been a perfect time as the tide was low and the light was fabulous). Instead, we sat on the beach and watched the sun set. These are the last of my pics (I think!)...

Wheatear on the beach at Dawlish Warren...


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Robin at Seaton...

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Robin at Dawlish Warren...

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Carrion Crow - Dawlish Warren...

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Stonechat (It was acting very strange - I thought it may be a Whitchat at first)...

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Llamas (I think). We passed a gateway and I spotted them and summoned the Abbot to turn the car around and go back :-)

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Dragon Fly at Seaton...

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I think this may be the result of a hatched Moth or Butterfly. Spotted at Dawlish Warren. I do find some strange things - I was intrigued by it :-)

Today and Devon

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We've been to Walmsley today (with a quick look at Par on the way home). Met up with DJ and Tara and had a very relaxing day. Walmsley is such a tranquil place. My head count was 53 with the morning garden head count added on. Even when I think I'm taking it easy with the camera I still seem to take too many and I've not sorted out all my images from Devon yet, so today will have to keep for a little longer.

More from Devon...

Small Copper & Comma Burtterflies...




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More from yesterday...

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Wandering around the grounds of Powderham Castle (you don't have to pay to do this - well we didn't anyway!). It was lovely. Lots of Dragon Flies around the lake, Butterflies, a Heron who poked his head up as I was glancing over a hedge (that was a surprise!). I spotted something in the corner of my eye. I don't know how mind as this little guy was so well camouflaged! I managed to get a few shots, but they move so fast. I've not seen many Treecreepers, so I was thrilled to get a picture too and they are so pretty close up. Sexing these is a hard one... I'm going for male!


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