WADING THROUGH THE ARCHIVES

So here we are into the forth week of these storms that are sweeping in off the Atlantic, we are very lucky down here in the SW as the water drains away very quickly and we dont get the problems the poor folk have got up in the NW. We all feel for them and the situation they are in, and hope it improves very soon.
Not being able to get out with the camera I am running out of new material to post, so it was back to wading through the archives.
Now I enjoy seeing the Waders which turn up on our shores and Reservoirs from Autumn through to late Spring, So I dug into my Wader Folder and came up with todays selection, most of these are common birds albiet passage migrants or overwintering on our shores. I have posted a couple  of rare vagrants these are the Buff Breasted Sandpiper and the Spotted Sandpiper which have turned up over the last few years.

THINGS WE TAKE FORGRANTED

How often during the course of our daily routines do we take things forgranted, like the bird that flits onto a branch, "Oh its only a Blue Tit, or that butterfly that's only a Speckled Wood" and we just give them a cursory glance. Maybe just maybe we should slow down and take a longer look, for without them if we are searching for rarietes and less common species we would have very little to admire during  our days. I am just as guilty of this as everyone else, for I have had the inserted images in my web folder for months just waiting for an opportunity to use them.But this better bird or insect turns up and they are left for another day. Well that day has come and I am posting a set of Bird images which we will see most  days on our travels here in the UK. So next time you hear that bird singing in a tree, or that butterfly land on a bush pause for a moment and take a look, you could be rewarded with a thing of great beauty.

PACIFIC DIVER AT CARNSEW POOL

Sitting down after lunch today and I got a phone call from my Friend Mark to say that there was a rare Pacific Diver in Carnsew Pool on the Hayle Estuary. Needles to say as this is only 20mins away I grabed my camera and bins and was off  like a rocket. On arrival I parked the car and took the ten minute walk to where they were standing. It was still there but quite far out, anyway took a lot of pics over the next hour, then it decided to depart. It did a couple of circuits overhead and then head for the mouth of the Estuary. So below are a selection of shots of this fine bird, and some clearly show the black chinstrap whis is the main identifying point for this species. On the way back we stopped and took a few shots of Med Gulls in flight. I also throw in a Curlew for good measure.

TRURO A PLACE TO GET YOU IN- SPIRED

The City of Truro is very small by modern city standards, but as the old saying goes "They don't make Diamonds as big as Bricks" because what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in beauty and Character. The first thing you notice is the Cathedral with its Three Spires which dominates the skyline and can be seen from every part of the city.Add to this a mix of modern and traditional shops, Bars and Resturants which cater for every taste. There is also a museum and The Hall for Cornwall offers nightly entertainment from Comedy to Pop, Classical, Plays and Ballet from touring companies across the UK and the rest of the world. During the day stroll along some of the smaller streets and along the small river which runs through the city into the Truro river which in turn enters the River Fal that runs out into the English Channel. Or maybe walk past the museum a short distance and you will find the Emporium of SW Optics run by Steve and his assistant Kate where if they are not busy you can stick your head inside for a pleasant hello and admire all the bins and scopes and cameras on offer. If you walk on about 100m on the right you will find Victoria Gardens which is well worth a visit. So I hope I have given you a small insight into what this beautiful City has to offer, The following set of photo's were taken in early September, and show the main shopping area's during a shopping trip with my wife. In the future I hope to show more of the unique features this City has to offer.

AUTUMN'S STING IN THE TAIL

Well we did survive the biggest storm of the winter so far on Saturday,and boy it blew a hoolie with a good washing of rain for good measure. Anyway today was a big improvement Dry and sunny with a moderate Southerly wind. So this morning I went to the small Parish of Gwennap about a mile from home as there is a good diversity of habitat in this area. On pulling up in a layby  an adult Jay landed about 50ft in front of the car, good start but I could not get out with the camera as I would spook it. Took two shots through the front screen but they were rubbish.  So it was around to the back  to get the tripod,looked over the hedge and across the small field in some trees were two pairs of Bullfinch's feeding, but to far off for photo's. This was how it went for the rest of the morning, saw Ravens, Buzzards, Chiffchaffs Finch flocks, various Tits even a pair of Mallards in a small pool, but everthing was off before I could get shots.Went home about 10.30am as I promised the wife we would go out for a few hours,very frustrating morning but some good sightings for future reference.

On returning home this afternoon I went out to replenish my bird feeders and on the fencepost by the back gate was this very large Common Wasp which I took to be a Queen, so it was out with the Macro lens and ringflash, at least I would get a few pic's of something to end the day. So I leave you with these two images.

HUMMER OF A DAY

Beautiful bright and sunny start to this morning, feet were really itching to get up and get walking. But sadly had to stay at home as I was expecting a delivery.
So around sun up I spent around 45 mins scanning the trees around the back of the house, just the usual common stuff Blackbirds, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Magpies, and Jackdaws, Rooks and Blue and Great Tits. Took a few Photo's then guess what? (The Battery Pack ran out), so now it was back to work. Brushed up the leaves along the front path, ran the hoe over the borders,then put on some thick gloves and pruned the Roses. In the front of the house I have a small paved area with a Garden Seat and some plant pots which still have a good display of Non Stop Begonias. It was by one of these that I was cutting up the Rose Prunings into a refuse sack when somthing flicked near my left hand. "WOW" I could not believe it, two inches from my fingers was a HUMMING BIRD HAWK MOTH its long tongue dipping into the flowers to take the Necter. Where was the camera? In the house having the batteries charged!!!! so I just stood there for a couple of minutes and admired the beautiful sight as it worked its way around the plants and then flew off into the nieghbours gardens. So sorry to say folks no shots of  a great Migrant Moth this time, hope you can make do with a few commoner species.
Finally I would like to say Hello to Mary in Florida for finding and taking a look at the blog, Thank you and I hope you come back again.

DIGGING AROUND THE PATCH

So woke up this morning and it was dry and clear, had a few jobs to finish off got through them about 08.40, then it was time to grab the cameras and head for the hills. My home in the village of Lanner is in a valley with  hills 500 ft high from North through West and to the South, with gently rising ground to the East. To do a circular walk around the tops is 4 3/4 miles, And I want to make this my home birding patch. This morning I only had about 1 1/4 hours to play with, so took a walk up the lane at the back of the house to the farm and then up the narrow footpath towards Carn Marth. What a change from the weekend, the sunny conditions had certainly brought the bird population to life. Got the first Redwings of the winter on the ground, lot of Woodies around Magpies, Thrushes, Blackbirds, and a few Finch flocks. On the way back down I suddenly thought I should take some Pics of the area I am going around, so the first two are coming back down to the village from my walk. The rest are a few of the birds I saw this morning, and with more time I am sure there will be a lot more to follow. One thing I am going to try for is Tawny Owl as we have two or three calling every night, and I want to try and find a daylight resting area and get some Photo's. The Blue Tit was as I walked out of my back door it was picking insects off my Radio Antenna.

AUTUMN TURNS TO WINTER

So Into the first week of November and we really have seen a change in the weather. Strong North Westerlys with a lot of heavy rain driving through. Not much chance to get out and about. I did manage an hour yesterday morning along Buller Downs, but it was blowing hard and the bird life was non existant. Only thing of note was this little chap in the first pic sheltering under a hedge out of the wind.

So it was back home where I managed to get this House Sparrow doing exactly the same thing in a Privot Bush.

So this morning Rememberance Sunday it was down West where I met up with my Pal Mark and we went to Marazion but very little around in the strong wind. So it was off over the High Moors looking for Owls and Harriers, went across Men-An -Tol and Trewey Common, could hardly stand up in the wind at times. Sad to say hardly a bird to be seen except for 1 Common Buzzard, and a flock of between 300-500 Golden Plover which were to distant and twitchy to Photograph. I think I have a flight shot of Golden Plover last winter at Trewey Common, so if I can dig it out I will add them to the bottom just for the record.

ST LEVEN CHURCH & THE RADDE'S WARBLER

Had a little lie in this morning, got up at around 06.45 looked out of the window to see a dull overcast morning, but at least it was dry. So decisions decisions today as there were two birds I wanted to go for, one was the Green or Greenish Warbler out on the Lizard Peninsula or the Radde's Warbler which was at St Leven Church near Lands End. So after a bit of deliberation and throwing grass into the air to check the wind direction St Leven won. So drove down and on arriving in the car park the first people I saw were JR & SUE and their other birding companion Chris. First thing was to take a photo of the beautiful old church to give you some idea of the area,then walked with the others up to where the bird was seen. As soon as we arrived we got onto it for about five seconds then it disappeared over a hedge, about 1 1/2 hours later it was rediscovered in some trees down the lane it showed well on occasions tho very mobile so only managed to get a couple of shots, one of which I have added below but this did not detract from seeing a really nice visitor. So that was about all for the morning so drove back home where my family were waiting to welcome a gentleman of lesuire as I retired from work yesterday, and it was my birthday today. Wow no more being penned up in work when rareites occur and can please myself when I want to do my own thing, as long as the wife agrees.
PS Welcome to Donaldthebirder as a follower, Thanks and hope you enjoy the blog.

MARAZION MARSH 25-10-09

Spent the morning at Marazion Marsh it was bright and sunny  with moderate wind coming in from the South West. Started off on the East side by the Standing Stone, nothing special just Little Egret, Grey Heron, Waterail and Kingfisher flitting up and down the reeds. I was joined by another local birder John and we were stood having a quiet chat when this big Black Labrador ran between us and jumped onto the bank and onto the reserve. I turned to look for the owner and this woman was strolling along about 50 metres away with a lead hanging around her neck. I shouted to her and told her to get her dog off the reserve and put it on the lead. At this request she got quite abusive, to cut it short heated words followed. The point I am trying to make is here were two people quietly enjoying a few moments of  bird watching,this spot is well known as a watching point so why could the dog not have been kept on a lead until past the area. I can respect her right to walk her dog, but why do so many of them not respect others enjoying their hobby as well, as this happens so often at Marazion and other places. Anyway after this I took  a walk along the path through the reeds hoping to maybe find a Goldcrest or Firecrest to finish the morning off. Did not find any, so I have just posted a few of the species I happened across.