I so wish I had been closer to this Wren. I never get so much time to watch them as they normally flit away quickly, but this one even had a snooze. I suspect if I had moved closer though, it would have been gone in a flash!


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Common Darter
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Greenshank. On this same bird yesterday I auto contrasted and it was too bright so I have tried to tone it down a little today. Sometimes AC works well though.

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Starlings at Par Beach Pool at dusk this evening giving a stunning acrobatic display before going to roost in the reeds...
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It suddenly hit me this morning... Winter is definitely on its way. My hands were stiff and there was no way I would be sitting outside to watch the birds with my cup of tea. Back door open (but just as bad) I switched on the PC (as I find I am doing more in the mornings lately). Steve Rogers had posted some lovely pictures (as always), but I took more time to read the blog than usual and realised something else... I MUST learn to use this camera properly!

A few more from Tuesday...


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More birds from yesterday...

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I don't know what I have done to this. I was fiddling so it was an accident, but I kinda like it !!!
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A good day list considering the time I’ve had…

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Having worked all weekend (as we are moving offices from one side of town to the other and I had to cancel a day out today to accommodate it) I really had to get out this evening. Finished work at 3pm and visited my friend, Molly where I saw a Jay in the garden. This gave me hope, having also seen a Goldcrest and Long Tailed Tits this morning (when I went to get a coffee from McDonalds on the way to work – as we had not unpacked the coffee machine yesterday!). We had a scout around at Par, Manoa Valley and Pentewan this evening. I’ve not been to Pentewan for a while so it made a nice change and I didn’t bother too much with the camera – just relaxed and enjoyed watching.
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My day list, including the garden morning head count (as always):-
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1. Fulmar
2. Gannet
3. Cormorant

4. Shag – 4 at Pentewan and not too far from the shore so I had a fabulous view.
5. Grey Heron
6. Mute Swan

7. Mallard
8. Kestrel
9. Moorhen
10. Coot
11. Oystercatcher
12. Ringed Plover
13. Dunlin
14. Black Headed Gull
15. Mediterranean Gull (if I ID’d correctly)

16. Herring Gull
17. Lesser Black Backed Gull

18. Great Black Backed Gull
19. Sandwich Tern

20. Woodpigeon

21. Collared Dove

22. House Martin

23. Swallow

24. Rock Pipit

25. Pied Wagtail
26. Wren

27. Dunnock

28. Robin

29. Blackbird

30. Sedge Warbler

31. Chiffchaff (heard – I hope!)

32. Goldcrest
33. Great Tit

34. Blue Tit

35. Coal Tit
36. Long Tailed Tit
37. Magpie
38. Jay

39. Jackdaw
40. Rook

41. Carrion Crow

42. Starling

43. House Sparrow

44. Chaffinch

45. Goldfinch

46. Greenfinch

Par on Sunday evening...

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Images from Par...

AMENDMENT: Having looked at the field guide this morning I have ascertained that the Goose is a Bar Headed Goose - escapee! This is also the view of a couple of people I consider to be expert bird watchers!
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Having spent a little time in the garden today (in between cleaning bursts!) we decided to get out to Par for a hour... I'll be glad when the Abbot gets his camera back. He seems lost without it. I offered mine again, but it was politely refused. Deafness is like solitary confinement and the camera for Trevor seems to have been a release from that, inducing communication with the outside world through the pictures he puts up on his blogs.
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An unusual visitor at Par Pool - Hybrid/Domestic Goose I think... Seems to like hanging out with the Canada Geese and they don't seem to mind. When it called out I was amazed.... It was a lovely sound (again, something that the Abbot missed completely); and such a pretty bird...

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Walkies...

Last night we took Hesper for a long walk and the Abbot kindly offered to take the lead due to the fact that I cannot hold her with my hands as they are at the moment - I struggle to hold the camera, but that doesn't pull, especially when it sees another dog! I managed to get a few shots again!. Thanks Trevor. Hesper appreciated it too. When my hands are better we start the "dog training". I have purchased a Halti!!!

Hesper - my baby :-)



Back to birds and nature...


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This evening we went to Par - The Little Egret had returned!
We had a walk along the beach and then headed off to Menabilly...

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"A LITTLE BIT OF BREAD AND NO CHEESE" ...

"ON THE ROAD TO MENABILLY" ...
A patch tick for the Abbot too!

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Par Beach waders...

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Juvenile Dunlin (I hope!) at Par...


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