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

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