Today is all about the Blue Tits and their Young!

Confined mostly to the house this evening (dog watching) and the weather being as it has been, I had no choice but to linger at the back door and watch the parents frantically feeding their young with the extra sized portions of suet that I put out because of the storm, as well as the remainder of the fat balls, and I’m pleased that the Blue Tits in our area seem to be doing well, hence the photo shoot below…
:- )



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My day list:-

1. Mallard (flying over the houses)
2. Herring Gull
3. F Pigeon
4. Woodpigeon
5. Collared Dove
6. Swift
7. Swallow
8. Pied Wagtail
9. Dunnock
10. Robin
11. Blackbird
12. Chiffchaff (heard)
13. Great Tit
14. Blue Tit
15. Coal Tit
16. Magpie
17. Jackdaw
18. Carrion Crow
19. Starling
20. House Sparrow
21. Chaffinch
22. Greenfinch

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

I made plans today, and as usual they didn’t quite work out. I think its best not to make plans and just go with the flow! All was not lost though and it worked out well in the end. I paid a visit to St Clements and Tresillian as my plans took me that way. Luckily I had the bins (but no camera). Then, work to do. Ended off the day with a short spell at Par this evening, just to check if there was anything new about. The Tufted Ducks must have been passing through as there was no sign of them again.
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I find Gulls fascinating to watch...

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Common Fumitory... Likes disturbed ground and is related to the Poppy family


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My day list:-

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1. Cormorant, 1 - Fowey
2. Little Egret, 6 St Clements - 2 Par
3. Heron
4. Mute Swan
5. Canada Goose
6. Mallard
7. Shelduck
8. Buzzard
9. Kestrel
10. Pheasant
11. Moorhen + Juvenile
12. Coot
13. Curlew
14. Herring Gull
15. Lesser Black Backed Gull
16. Great Black Backed Gull
17. Woodpigeon
18. Collared Dove
19. Great Spotted Woodpecker
20. Swift
21. Swallow
22. Pied Wagtail
23. Wren (heard)
24. Dunnock
25. Robin
26. Stonechat
27. Songthrush
28. Blackbird
29. Whitethroat
30. Reed Warbler (heard)
31. Chiffchaff (heard)
32. Great Tit
33. Blue Tit
34. Coal Tit
35. Magpie
36. Jackdaw
37. Carrion Crow
38. Starling
39. House Sparrow
40. Chaffinch
41. Goldfinch
42. Greenfinch
43. Reed Bunting
　

The juveniles were busy in the garden again this morning. Its costing too much in bird food though!!!

A short spell at Par again this evening and before we even got there I had some excitement. I spotted a Juvenile Kestrel on a pole right by the lights at the entrance to the docks. I get so frustrated when the Abbot won’t stop the car immediately though :- ) Whoops! All's well that ends well. It then flew onto a roof and stayed for a photo shoot!


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This one was too far away really... I struggled to hold the camera still!

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My day list:-

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1. Little Egret
2. Heron
3. Mute Swan
4. Canada Goose
5. Mallard
6. Kestrel (juv and adult)
7. Moorhen
8. Herring Gull
9. F Pigeon
10. Woodpigeon
11. Collared Dove
12. Swift
13. Swallow
14. Pied Wagtail
15. Wren (heard)
16. Dunnock
17. Robin
18. Stonechat
19. Songthrush
20. Blackbird
21. Reed Warbler (wouldn't stay still long enough to get a shot!)
22. Chiffchaff (heard)
23. Willow Warbler (heard)
24. Great Tit
25. Blue Tit
26. Coal Tit
27. Magpie
28. Jackdaw
29. Carrion Crow
30. Starling
31. House Sparrow
32. Chaffinch
33. Goldfinch
34. Greenfinch
35. Reed Bunting
　
Pretty sure the Goldcrest was flitting about in the pine too, but not included in the head count, just in case!

I nearly didn’t go out this evening, and then I thought “maybe I’ll just have a look at Par, but I don’t suppose I’ll see much“!

I got out of the car and walked over to the top end of the Pool and never moved from that vicinity in 2 hours! Got shots of Reed Warbler (which I have seen once before and the Abbot kept mentioning Cetti’s Warbler, which gave me doubts as to ID, but fortunately the guys on Birdforum confirmed it for me). Also saw a Goldcrest (but only got bad quality shots), Jay, Kestrel, Tufted Duck and Juv. Reed Bunting, amongst others! A good night.
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My day list:-

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1. Little Egret
2. Mute Swan
3. Canada Goose
4. Mallard
5. Tufted Duck x 4
6. Kestrel
7. Moorhen
8. Coot
9. Herring Gull
10. Woodpigeon
11. Collared Dove
12. Swift
13. Swallow
14. Pied Wagtail
15. Wren (heard)
16. Dunnock
17. Robin
18. Songthrush
19. Blackbird
20. Reed Warbler
21. Willow Warbler
22. Chiffchaff
23. Goldcrest
24. Great Tit
25. Blue Tit
26. Coal Tit
27. Magpie
28. Jay
29. Jackdaw
30. Carrion Crow
31. Starling
32. House Sparrow
33. Chaffinch
34. Goldfinch
35. Greenfinch
36. Reed Bunting
37. Linnet

Not a bad head count for a weekday and its Friday tomorrow!

I have a feeling it will be a good weekend :-)

There are a lot of juveniles in the garden… Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Dunnocks, Blackbirds. The Starlings are quiet though. Mornings are not the same without them causing a frenzy! I've not been using the camera in the mornings either, as it takes a while to get my hands working.
Out again this evening, as I will be dedicating tomorrow evening to the dog. Mind you, she gets two walks a day, but tomorrow I shall take her for a hike!

The Canada Geese were in a bad mood tonight... this one reminds me of myself in the mornings!





To get this Pheasant and the Corvid below (as that flew by in the process), I walked through a churchyard, climbed a fence and perched on a very unstable Cornish Hedge next to a bunch of Foxgloves, which were buzzing with Bees. I'm just glad there were no Wasps - Don't like them! Getting down was tricky and I ended up face down and covered in bird poo, as it was near a good perch! Was it worth it I asked myself, but being so short there was no other way!

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Bindweed I believe...

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My day list:-

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1. Little Egret
2. Heron
3. Mute Swan
4. Canada Goose
5. Mallard
6. Pheasant
7. Moorhen
8. Herring Gull
9. Lesser Black Backed Gull
10. Woodpigeon
11. Collared Dove
12. Swift
13. Swallow
14. Skylark
15. Pied Wagtail
16. Wren
17. Dunnock
18. Robin
19. Stonechat
20. Songthrush
21. Blackbird
22. Chiffchaff
23. Great Tit
24. Blue Tit
25. Magpie
26. Jackdaw
27. Carrion Crow
28. Starling
29. House Sparrow
30. Chaffinch
31. Goldfinch
32. Greenfinch
33. Linnet

My day…

I forced myself to go out today :- ) I’ve been lazy though, and I am sure I could have seen more, but I had a late night last night and too much wine with the visitors!

Went on our usual drive around, not staying anywhere too long; Walmsley, Pentire, Camel Trail (only a quick look in a wooded area by the river where I caught a glimpse of a Dipper), a wet and dismal Colliford (where I was lucky enough to see a Lapwing) and surrounding area!

This little one seemed unsteady...

A Hornet I think... I heard something scratching and this was what it turned out to be. They scrape wood and mulch it with saliva to build their nests...

My day list:-

1. Little Grebe
2. Cormorant
3. Grey Heron
4. Mute Swan
5. Canada Goose
6. Mallard
7. Teal
8. Buzzard
9. Pheasant
10. Moorhen
11. Coot
12. Lapwing
13. Black Tailed Godwit
14. Black Headed Gull
15. Herring Gull
16. Woodpigeon
17. Collared Dove
18. Swift
19. House Martin
20. Swallow
21. Skylark
22. Pied Wagtail
23. Wren
24. Dipper
25. Dunnock
26. Robin
27. Song Thrush
28. Blackbird
29. Sedge Warbler
30. Willow Warbler (singing perfectly!)
31. Chiffchaff (heard)
32. Grasshopper Warbler (heard only, but I am sure!)
33. Great Tit
34. Blue Tit
35. Coal Tit
36. Magpie
37. Jackdaw
38. Rook
39. Carrion Crow
40. Starling
41. House Sparrow
42. Chaffinch
43. Goldfinch
44. Greenfinch
45. Reed Bunting