:-)

I’ve been out all day, not officially bird watching, but I made my list and much more, and I’ve met some lovely people (and very knowledgeable). I’ve seen so many plants (and I ID’d 4 by myself out of what seemed like hundreds!). I could not remember them all, even though I was told what everything was so I have looked through the on-line guide and highlighted just a few of them as listed below (hopefully I have got them right, and I must start getting more pics of plants, as they are so interesting):-

Chamomile, Wild Angelica, Oregano, Evening Primrose, Speedwell, Teasel, Thistle, Nettle, Bramble, Foxglove, Meadow Foxtail (I think), Ragwort, Cow Parsley, Spleenwort (I think), Dock Leaf, different Heathers, Celandine, Lichen, various Ferns, Juncus and many many more!

Plus, I have seen a Charm of around 50 Goldfinches, Butterflies (even though the weather was not too good for them), Insects, baby Toads and Rabbits. Oh, and Fox poo!

I also had a very unexpected life tick… Green Woodpecker (which as usual I would not have ID’d had I not been out with an experienced birder) and I had to come home and break the news to the Abbot! Sorry, but I have faith that you will tick it soon (that is if we can ID it!!!).

No Bird pics and only one the following was taken by me I think, although they were taken on our little Nikon, which produces much clearer images of insects than my big heavy lens (probably due to the user and not the lens though)...

This little one will be a Painted Lady Butterfly soon...



Three images of a Great Green Bush Cricket, which looks a lot bigger in real life...

My day list (including my morning head count in the garden):-

1. Great Crested Grebe
2. Cormorant
3. Mute Swan
4. Mallard
5. Buzzard
6. Juv. Moorhen
7. Greenshank
8. Curlew
9. Black Headed Gull
10. Herring Gull
11. Great Black Backed Gull
12. Woodpigeon
13. Collared Dove
14. Stock Dove
15. Green Woodpecker
16. Great Spotted Woodpecker
17. Swift
18. Swallow
19. House Martin
20. Pied Wagtail
21. Wren
22. Dunnock
23. Robin
24. Song Thrush (heard)
25. Blackbird
26. Blackcap
27. Whitethroat
28. Sedge Warbler
29. Willow Warbler
30. Spotted Flycatcher
31. Great Tit
32. Blue Tit
33. Coal Tit
34. Magpie
35. Jackdaw
36. Rook
37. Carrion Crow
38. Raven
39. Starling
40. House Sparrow
41. Chaffinch
42. Goldfinch
43. Greenfinch

Un-ID'd moths visiting my kitchen recently...

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18.07.09 - Now ID'd thanks to John Rowe ... Small Magpie & below... Buff Arches
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Got out unexpectedly for a while this evening. I wanted to have a look at Par Duck Pond (where I was lucky enough to see and hear a family of Jays), Par pool and beach and then Porthpean over the Bay with the scope as I'd been told there was a Common Scoter lurking in a nearby bay on Saturday, but I failed to find it! I did see a lot of H Gulls, GBB Gulls, Sparrowhawk and the Juv. Song Thrush (well I think it is!) at Porthpean though.


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Un-sociable Juv. Great Black Back
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My day list:

1. Little Egret
2. Grey Heron
3. Mute Swan
4. Canada Goose
5. Mallard
6. Buzzard
7. Sparrowhawk
8. Kestrel
9. Moorhen
10. Black Headed Gull
11. Herring Gull
12. Lesser Black Backed Gull
13. Great Black Backed Gull
14. Woodpigeon
15. Collared Dove
16. Swift
17. Swallow
18. Reed Warbler (heard)
19. Pied Wagtail
20. Wren (heard)
21. Dunnock
22. Robin
23. Song Thrush
24. Blackbird
25. Great Tit
26. Blue Tit
27. Jay
28. Magpie
29. Jackdaw
30. Carrion Crow
31. Raven
32. Starling
33. House Sparrow
34. Chaffinch
35. Goldfinch
36. Greenfinch
37. Linnet

I’ve been out and about with the Abbot & Derek again today, covering quite a large area. The weather was perfect (which I did not expect after yesterday). We saw lots of Butterflies (most of which were ID’d by Derek of course, but I am learning – albeit slowly). Saw Mediterranean Gulls in 1st Summer, 2nd Summer, Adult and Juvenile plumage. Whether or not I remember all this if and when they turn up at Par is another matter! :- )

Best not to click on the images to enlarge them today as you may damage your eye sight!!!


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My day list of birds (including the morning garden count):

1. Cormorant
2. Shag
3. Little Egret (lots)
4. Grey Heron (lots)
5. Mute Swan
6. Canada Goose
7. Shelduck
8. Mallard
9. Buzzard
10. Sparrowhawk
11. Kestrel
12. Red Legged Partridge (life tick for the Abbot)
13. Moorhen
14. Oystercatcher
15. Black Tailed Godwit
16. Curlew
17. Whimbrel
18. Black Headed Gull
19. Mediterranean Gull (first seen this year)
20. Herring Gull
31. Lesser Black Backed Gull
22. Great Black Backed Gull
23. Sandwich Tern
24. Woodpigeon
25. Collared Dove
26. Swift
27. Swallow
28. Skylark
30. House Martin
31. Pied Wagtail
32. Wren
33. Dunnock
34. Robin
35. Song Thrush
36. Blackbird
37. Blackcap (heard)
38. Whitethroat (seen by Derek in the hedgerow, but I missed it!)
39. Chiffchaff
40. Great Tit
41. Blue Tit
42. Coal Tit
43. Long Tailed Tit
44. Magpie
45. Jackdaw
46. Rook
47. Carrion Crow
48. Starling
49. House Sparrow
50. Chaffinch
51. Goldfinch
52. Greenfinch
53. Linnet
54. Bullfinch (heard)
55. Corn Bunting

My day list of Butterflies/Moths:-

1. Large White
2. Wall
3. Gatekeeper
4. Meadow Brown
5. Green Veined White
6. Red Admiral
7. Painted Lady
8. Comma
9. Ringlet
10. Speckled Wood
11. Skipper
12. Six Spot Burnett

Some more shots taken at Par last night...



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I'm not good with Wild Flowers, but I think these are Evening Primrose, Thistle & Rose Campion

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I was hoping to see the male Bullfinch in the garden this morning as both Mum & Trevor saw it yesterday, but I was not in luck. It was a miserable evening at Par, but the birds still managed to sing, even though they are starting to moult, which must be very uncomfortable and the weather was awful! My toothache got the better of me after about an hour and a half and I came home – I think the Abbot is secretly pleased though as I cannot open my jaw very far! Anyway, back to birds and we have a new family at Par so this post is dedicated to them…


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My day list:

1. Cormorant
2. Little Egret
3. Grey Heron
4. Mute Swan
5. Canada Goose
6. Mallard
7. Moorhen
8. Coot
9. Black Headed Gull
10. Herring Gull
11. Lesser Black Backed Gull
12. Great Black Backed Gull
13. Woodpigeon
14. F Pigeon
15. Collared Dove
16. Swift
17. Swallow
18. Pied Wagtail
19. Wren
20. Dunnock
21. Robin
22. Stonechat
23. Song Thrush
24. Blackbird
25. Whitethroat
26. Chiffchaff
27. Reed Warbler (heard)
28. Great Tit
29. Blue Tit
30. Coal Tit
31. Magpie
32. Jackdaw
33. Carrion Crow
34. Starling
35. House Sparrow
36. Chaffinch
37. Goldfinch
38. Greenfinch