My day at home doing chores… A bruised shoulder, pulled muscle in my arm, painful hip and back not too good either… The camera has more bruises!

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Saturdays are usually set aside for a visit to the supermarket and then staying home cleaning the house, tidying the garden and cleaning the bird feeders. I finally made it to the lounge to vacuum and the end was in sight – I switched it off to go and empty the washing machine – VERY DULL I KNOW! My phone went – a text message from Derek… “6 Spoonbill on Camel showing well if you are in the area”… to which I replied “I wish I was in the area”. Then, it suddenly hit me A LIFE TICK – SPOONBILL – ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE THEM! I was hammering the stairs to get Trevor’s attention (as he’s deaf) within seconds. A message went back to Derek “on our way”! Now where’s Dinham Flats? Onto the computer – found it… and the spot where Derek said to park, but I’m not good with maps. Nevertheless I found it (Trevor was impressed – I could tell). I walked down this slipway… very slippery and Trevor said “be careful – I just slipped”! No sign of the Spoonbill so off we went heading towards Wadebridge. Text to Derek “well, we’re here… just have to find them”. Then the mobile rang and it was Sam “Derek says you’re in the wrong place – go back to the car and walk down the slipway – we’ll see you in a bit”. Back we turned and heading down the slipway again – Trevor “be careful” – bang! I hit the rocks. The camera hit the rock beside me and as the lens protector headed towards the estuary - the end of the lens headed back down, still in my hand and towards another rock! I pulled it up quickly and looked down the lens. Switched it on, aimed and took a couple of shots. Phew! I’m going to need a new camera and/or lens before this one is 12 months old at this rate. Then the pain hit me. Looking at my sad face, Trevor offered his hand to pull me up and his sweater to comfort me :-) Onwards and upwards with a smile. No sign of them – plenty of birds, but no sign of Spoonbill; Oh and a man walking aimlessly along the mud flats with no idea what was around him I don’t think. I decided they had gone – probably flushed. Every large white bird was a Little Egret. I turned around and saw Derek and Sam and my spirits lifted. Within a few minutes Derek had found them. FANTASTIC. We had great views through the scope and my camera put on a brave face and took a couple of rough shots for prosperity. We stayed for a while and also saw (in no particular order): Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Rooks, Peregrine Falcon (being mobbed), Oystercatchers, Curlew, Blackwits, Barwits, L Egrets, Grey Herons, GBB Gulls, LBB Gulls, H Gulls, BH Gulls, Pied Wagtails, Wigeon, Lapwing, Redshank, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Snipe (3 in flight - only ever seen them on the ground and I would'nt know them in the air from that distance anyway), Sparrowhawk (being mobbed), Dunlin, Cormorants, Knot, Wren (earlier when walking). Not bad for a very pleasant unexpected hour’s bird watching!

Another big thank you to Derek and Sam :-)


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Redshanks looking lovely as the sun was going down...

Autumn

Well, last night’s post seems to have disappeared. Fate maybe – it was a little boring. I did it late as I was busy with work! So, I shall try to re-create it, and to make it a little more interesting :-)

I was feeling in a reflective mood again yesterday. The Swallows have gone. It’s all change in the garden. It seems so long ago that the excitement of springtime was in the air. Over this last week or so the trees have probably shed half their leaves (and they all land on my garden). We sweep up a blanket three times a day usually. The birds are feeding more frantically in a bid to keep warm and healthy for the coming months. I have increased my order for food at the pet shop. We have it delivered as we would have to go every other day otherwise (and it’s cheaper if you buy in bulk). With the difficulties I’ve been having with my hands and feet and not being able to sit out in the garden in the mornings to do my head count (and still no appointment at Treliske has arrived – they lost the referral letter with no apology as "it’s to be expected sometimes because they have a lot of post" – great start eh!) I have been working on a hide for the garden. After all, my bird watching will soon be limited to one day a week and early mornings.

Things have changed at work too. Since we moved offices from an office block in the middle of town to an old house on the edge of town (which has a lot of character and I much prefer it) I have realized that I shall not be looking down on rooftops with nesting Herring Gulls next Spring. My day list has changed quite considerably. We have a small garden and we overlook houses and gardens. From my desk (even with the windows closed) I can hear Robins, Wrens, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Great Tits, Sparrows, Herring Gulls and the Jackdaws perch on the telegraph wires which I can see whilst I work. It’s fabulous! I’ve even managed to educate the girls in the office and they now compete as to whether they can recognize the song of the bird – usually, “that’s a Robin isn’t it Ange”… “No, it’s a Wren isn’t it Ange”. I just have to convince the boss that we need bird feeders now :-) My day list today was 21.

So, some that I’ve put up before, but I like them. Hopefully the Thrushes will return to the garden soon...



I'd like to get a frosty Robin shot this winter...



Something to remind me of Springtime...

More from the weekend...

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After my silly post last night I'm back to being serious :-) Some more shots from the weekend...
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Grey Heron - Marazion Marsh
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Skylark - Gwithian
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Meadow Pipit - or Mippit as Steve Rogers refers to them :-) - Marazion Marsh
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Dunnock - Marazion Marsh

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Now to the culprits that put me under pressure...

Woodchat Shrike (better shot than the last one!) - Nanquidno

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Snow Bunting - Nanquidno
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Wryneck - St Levan Church (He returned to this area to feed "religiously")

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R & B...

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I've had a very serious day, and I sat here trying to think of a caption for one of these pictures taken yesterday at Gwithian, but as I looked through them I was drawn to the days of watching Clint Eastwood films with my Dad. I'm pleased to say the Rabbit got away... this time :-)
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We arranged to meet up with Duncan & Tara today and their request went something like this… “We want to go here, there, oh and can we go there… and we want to see the Wryneck and the Woodchat Shrike too”... To which my response was something like… “You don’t want much do you?”. I have to say I was a little concerned and under some pressure at this stage. The morning started off relaxing. We did quite a few miles visiting different places and as we were getting closer to the Woodchat Shrike and Wryneck search I was getting worried and said to them “you know, I think we’ll be lucky to see one of the two”… no response :-) To my relief as soon as we arrived at St Levan and got out of the car Duncan spotted the Wryneck sitting proud in the top of a tree! We got a few pics before it disappeared. We split up and after about 10 minutes, Trevor returned with some shots on his camera, which confirmed he had found it, and promptly lost it again! After a long, long wait, wandering around and then sitting on wet grass waiting for a miracle, Trevor and another bird watcher who was on holiday spotted it again, but we had no idea until we heard the guy whistle (which has now been named the BW’s whistle!). It was showing very well today and we had some great opportunities to take pictures. One down and one to go! We arrived at Nanquidno to find three birdwatchers who said that the Shrike was showing well and pointed us in the right direction. It was, but it soon disappeared over a hedge. Tara went off in search and we waited patiently at the same position it had first been spotted and then we heard a whistle... Tara! She was on it and moving in! What a relief. Little did we know that we were to meet up with someone who put us onto a Snow Bunting, which we found immediately in the position given. Another life tick and a great end to a great day. My images are not good of the Bunting so I’m hoping Trevor, Tara and Duncan have some nice ones - I really enjoyed today and my day list was "60" Duncan :-)

Tara just before she located the Woodchat Shrike...
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"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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