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

This is a sequence of shots I took of a Sandwich Tern family with a parent feeding a Juvenile. (If I ID'd them correctly that is. The tips of their bills look yellow to me and they have dark legs!). I was told there were Common & Roseate Terns in this area, but I believe these are Sandwich Terns. It was incredible to watch and listen. The images are not good I know, but I struggle to get quality at close range let alone at this distance :-)

We had a lovely walk on the Camel Trail along the Estuary today (5 miles) with Derek, Sam & Poppy (a very well behaved and happy Wuffa who could teach Hesper a few things!). A great day; saw lots of Butterflies, 2 Stoats (I think - they move fast), lots of other wildlife and plants (including Maiden Hair Fern, which I should have taken a photo of and didn‘t for some reason, but will next time) and I had two life ticks (fabulous).

Thanks to Derek & Sam for sharing the day with us (and for sharing your knowledge).

Poppy, cooling down and I wish I could have joined her!

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My day list (including my morning head count as usual):-

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1. Cormorant
2. Shag
3. Little Egret
4. Grey Heron
5. Mute Swan
6. Canada Goose (plus one domestic Goose!)
7. Mallard
8. Shelduck
9. Buzzard
10. Kestrel (this morning as we passed Carloggas)
11. Pheasant (heard)
12. Oystercatcher
13. Bar Tailed Godwit
14. Curlew
15. Whimbrel
16. Black Headed Gull
17. Kittiwake (life tick)
18. Herring Gull
19. Little Gull (life tick)
20. Sandwich Tern
21. Greater Black Backed Gull
22. Woodpigeon
23. Collared Dove
24. Skylark (heard)
25. Swift
26. Sand Martin
27. Swallow
28. House Martin
29. Pied Wagtail
30. Wren
31. Dunnock
32. Robin
33. Blackbird
34. Blackcap (heard)
35. Chiffchaff (heard)
36. Goldcrest (heard)
37. Great Tit
38. Blue Tit
39. Long Tailed Tit
40. Coal Tit
41. Magpie
42. Jackdaw
43. Rook
44. Carrion Crow
45. Starling
46. House Sparrow
47. Chaffinch
48. Goldfinch
49. Greenfinch

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Plus:-

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Maiden Hair Fern

Wild Strawberries

Stoats
Tadpoles!
Mullett

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Butterflies:-

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Meadow Brown
Common Blue (I think!)
Skipper
Painted Lady
Large White
Speckled Wood

My day...

I’ve certainly made up for my lack of use of the camera this week! Over 500 shots taken today and I only left the house for a couple of hours to visit Par late this afternoon (after spending the day cleaning and tidying in the garden!) - No waffle (you will be pleased to learn) as we have visitors!

My day list:-

1. Cormorant
2. Little Egret
3. Heron
4. Mute Swan
5. Canada Goose + Goslings
6. Mallard
7. Sparrow Hawk
8. Moorhen
9. Turnstone
10. Sandwich Tern
11. Herring Gull
12. Lesser Black Backed Gull
13. Greater Black Backed Gull
14. Woodpigeon
15. Collared Dove
16. Swift
17. House Martin
18. Swallow
19. Pied Wagtail
20. Wren
21. Dunnock
22. Robin
23. Stonechat
24. Songthrush
25. Blackbird
26. Whitethroat
27. Sedge Warbler
28. Chiffchaff
29. Coal Tit
30. Great Tit
31. Blue Tit
32. Magpie
33. Jackdaw
34. Rook
35. Carrion Crow
36. Starling
37. House Sparrow
38. Chaffinch
39. Goldfinch
40. Greenfinch
41. Linnet
42. Reed Bunting

My pics:-

Oxeye Daisy, I believe...
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Speckled Wood, I believe...
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Out for the day tomorrow so I had better take a second memory card!!!!!