BITS N BOBS 09/05/2013

Not had much time for playing this week,as I am still busy around the garden now we have some fine weather, and no I don't have a large plot at the back of the house.
Its all paved but has been there for a number of years and needs re pointing and some of the slabs relaying due to ants digging out sand and making nests underneath, still keeps me busy.
So images are just a few from around the gardens at the front and back as I spot things.

BRIMSTONE MOTH.

CRANE FLY.

GARDEN SNAIL.

HEBREW CHARACTER.

HALICTUS TUMULORUM 6-8mm

One of a few species of small bee active around April-July and is very common in gardens.

.

PEACOCK BUTTERFLY.

WHEAT-STEM BORER.

PATCHWORK 03/05/2013.

Just another short post this week as I have been kept busy with other things, namely gardening and on Tuesday paid a visit to the Classic Air Force museum which has now moved down to the old RAF St Mawgan airfield and a very enjoyable time spent there.
So onto other flyers, the image of the Dunlin was from a trip to St Gothian Sands LNR and good to catch them in Summer plumage.
The images of the Buzzard,Wren and Whitethroat were from a couple of walks around the local area, good to see the lovely Whitethroats arriving for the summer. 

COMMON BUZZARD.

DUNLIN.

WHITETHROAT.

WREN.

MOTHS 1 2013

Well here I go again about to put my foot well and truly in the mire, as most of you probably  know I find Moth ID very difficult and tend to get a lot wrong, but then how else do you learn.
So put the light out last night and managed the grand total of three moths, I knew that darn street light would have an effect, still better than none at all.
So think I got the first two ok, but number three is a real No No although  I do know its one of the pug family but which one.
So come on all you Moth people help me out here.
Anyway first trip out for the Macro lens this year and hope there will be many more to follow.

GARDEN CARPET.

DOUBLE STRIPED PUG..

DOUBLE STRIPED PUG.

FOOTNOTE

                     Just received a message from a friend who is quite knowledgeable about Moth and he thinks the last two are Double Striped Pugs.

Many thanks John. 

LINNET AND SEDGE WARBLER 23/04/2013

Ok folks just a quick post to keep things moving along, took these images at Marazion yesterday although the weather was not great these were the best I managed.
So tonight its going to be cloudy foggy and humid so the Moth trap is ready for its first outing, and fingers crossed I get a few though I do have competition now from a nasty halogen street lamp
(Any suggestions !!!).
Right I'm off highlight of my evening The Eagles are on TV shortly even if its only a chat show.

LINNET.

LINNET.

SEDGE WARBLER.

SEDGE WARBLER.

THE SANDPIPER SET.

Going through my photo library a couple of days ago,I was surprised at how many different species of Sandpiper I had photographed over the last few years.
Now I think these are beautiful birds as there is something elegant about them, so I have put together this set of some of the best, I have seen a few other species but sadly no images.
The Spotted Sandpiper was one of my rare attempts at Digi-scoping.   

BAIRD'S SANDPIPER,

BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER.

COMMON SANDPIPER.

CURLEW SANDPIPER.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER.

PURPLE SANDPIPER.

GREEN SANDPIPER.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER.

WOOD SANDPIPER.

ST GOTHIAN SANDS 06/04/2013

A few images taken at St Gothian Sands LNR yesterday morning, not  much in the way of migrating birds saw around 6 Swallows  9 Wheatears.
Still it was a beautiful morning to be out and about, so here are a few images I managed to get.

CANADA GOOSE.

MEADOW PIPIT.

PIED WAGTAIL.

SKYLARK.

WOOD PIGEON.

COMMON SCOTER AT SWANPOOL

Took a short drive down to Swanpool at Falmouth yesterday morning as an unusual visitor had turned up on the pool.
Normally spending all its time at sea and on estuaries in winter this Common Scoter decided to  pay a visit to the  land locked water of the pool.
Normally only seen a black specks out at sea it was great to get such close views of this lovely bird, at times it was coming so close the lens could not focus on it, and it was willing to take as much bread as it could get.
So after over 200+ shots I have selected the set below as a good selection  to post.

MARAZION & HAYLE ESTUARY.

Just a few images from  very cold outing to Marazion & Hayle Estuary yesterday morning, at least the weather was fairly bright even though it was below freezing.
So what did I see? at Marazion I managed two year ticks namely Sand Martin of which there were about 20, and One Cetti's Warbler.
I then stopped off at Hayle on the way back as a Little Ringed Plover had been reported the day before on Ryans Field.
I did a scan from the hide but nothing seen, so then went over to the causeway where I met a local Birder John  who found it on the roadside of the field, so managed to get a few images although they are not the best as I was shooting into the light, still its the best I have so far of this lovely little wader. This along with a Whimbrel far out on the mudflats made these two more for the year list which now stands at 123 so all in all a very good morning,
Also if I don't manage to get another post in this week I would like to wish you all a very Happy Easter. 

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER.

REDSHANK.

NORTHERN WHEATEAR.

GREYLAG GOOSE.

ST GOTHIAN SANDS TO GODREVY HEAD.

Woke up to a beautiful clear  though cold crisp morning yesterday, and decided to go down to St Gothian Sands & Godrevy to see what was about.
Not a lot of species around, most of the Wildfowl seem to have departed towards their breeding grounds, so decided to walk out to Godrevy Head which is approx 2 miles in each direction and take some scenery and wildlife images to try and give you an idea how this beautiful area looks.

Godrevy Beach with St Gothian Sands pools beyond the Dunes on the left.

One of the earliest Spring visitors this is one of three Male Northern Wheatears I came across. 

Next to Godrevy are the Gwithian & Hayle Towans, shown here at full tide, but when the tide drops you have three miles of golden sands which ends at the entry to Hayle Estuary which you can just see at the far right of the picture.

The view right across St Ives Bay with the town of St Ives are the far right.

A group of Oystercatchers resting on the rocks above the tide line with one Turnstone in the left foreground.

 Another scene across the bay, on the left is the town of Carbis Bay and on the right is St Ives, beyond St Ives is the start of the moorland which continues along the west side of the county to Lands End approx 12 miles away.

Along the footpath towards Godrevy Head and Light.

One of a couple of Rock Pipits I came across during the walk.

Godrevy light stands on a small Island just off the headland and is completely automated these days. 

Close up of the light taken with the 400mm Lens.

Finally this post would not be complete without hearing the familiar drone and seeing this speck arriving across the bay turn into one of the Sea king SAR Helicopters of 771 Navel Air Squadron from RNAS  Culdrose at Helston doing a morning patrol along the coast.

These guys are a really comforting sight for anyone on the sea and along the coast as they give rescue cover 365 days a year, and cannot be given enough praise for the job the do in all weather conditions.