MONO MONDAY (DECO LADY).

Apologies for the lack of post during the past week, I have been out a couple of times but with poor light and very few Photo opportunities no chance of getting any pics.


So it has to be straight to another Mono Monday image and hope things improve during the coming week.  


The Roaring Twenties, Times of flapper dresses, dance marathons and Jazz.
Also a time of Elegant evening dress.
Those must have been delightful times. (Not that I was around mind you).

MONO MONDAY (TRURO)

Truro is the only city in Cornwall, and its best landmark is the Cathedral which has three spires and is visible from all parts of the city and surrounding area.
This shot shows some of the varied architectural buildings  to be found around the city between the buildings is  Cathedral Lane which takes you to the Cathedral.

CATHEDRAL LANE AND THE THREE SPIRES.

MEN-AN-TOL

Have not had the chance to do any Photography and very little Birding this week, the weather has been pretty poor with wind and rain most days.
Anyway did get out this morning for a couple of hours down to Marazion and Penzance, although it was very windy and light rain. No chance for photo's under the conditions, but we did have Water Pipit at Marazion and Surf Scoter and Eider at Penzance.
We then decided to head up onto the moors at Men-An-Tol to look for Hen Harriers and Short Eared Owls. 
Believe me it was blowing a gale up there and nothing was flying so after about 45mins we decided to head back along the coast road.
So best I could do this morning is a couple of shots across the moors at Men-An -Tol, the second was taken from inside an old engine house.

MEN-AN-TOL.

MEN-AN-TOL.

MONO MONDAY.

Just to try and ring the changes, and to stop things being the "same old same old" I intend to post an image in my favourite medium Monochrome at the beginning of each week.
The series will be entitled Mono Monday, so I hope you will enjoy it.
To start things off this first image is of an old Water Wheel gearing cog at Kennel Vale, which is an old Gunpowder Plant at Ponsnooth. It is now a nature reserve.

KENNEL VALE.

HELSTON AND MARAZION.

Just for a change a few more images from the last week on visits to Helston and Marazion.

Weeping Willow at Helston Boating Lake, just as the morning mist was lifting.

This Pochard was almost to close for the camera to focus

Pochard are a lovely looking duck.

Cloudy Sunrise over Marazion on Friday Morning.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE.

Made a return trip to Helston Boating Lake yesterday morning to catch up with the Egyptian Goose that has been there for a few weeks.

At home the weather was a clear bright sunny morning, but on arrival at Helston the lake was covered by a thick valley fog. Managed to get onto the goose straight away but is was like looking at "Gorillas in the Mist", so settled in and after about one and a half hours it cleared and managed to get some shots.

So below are a selection of a new lifer for me.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE.

EGYPTIAN GOOSE.

BAR-TAILED GODWIT

Dull and overcast this morning but at least it was dry, so decided to have a look on the Hayle Estuary to try and add a few bits to the year list (it now stands at 66).
Tide was at its lowest point so everything was far out and had to be scoped, still did manage Redshank, Shelduck, Bar-Tailed Godwit which were added to the list.
I then decided to have a quick look on Carbis Bay near St Ives as this is a good place for wintering seabirds.
On the way I picked up Ashley and we made a short visit to the bay.
First spot was an Iceland Gull flying just offshore, also added Balearic Shearwater, Shag and Ganett.
So although it was a short outing I was still pleased to get these species particularly the Iceland Gull.
The Images below of a Bar-Tailed Godwit were Taken on Ryans field opposite the Estuary and were the best I could get under the conditions having to use a High ISO and low shutter speed.

BAR-TAILED GODWIT.

BAR-TAILED GODWIT.

HELSTON BOATING LAKE.

A few more images from my trip down to Loe Pool for the Bufflehead.
These were taken at the Boating Lake in Helston.

TUFTED DUCK (MALE).

TUFTED DUCK (FEMALE)

SHOVELER (MALE).

BLACK HEADED GULL.

BUFFLEHEAD AT LOE POOL

Took a drive down to Helston this morning to try and get the Bufflehead on the year list, as this is a first for Cornwall and another one may not come along again. So after walking the mile+ to the hide on Loe Pool on the Penrose Estate I settled in and was soon rewarded with its appearance.
Though the light was not good and it did not come really close I did take a few shots(about 200+)and ended up with around 10 which were reasonable. So I have added two for the post tonight, I also had 2 Goldcrests, (sorry no pics) I then walked back to the boating lake at Helston and took some images of the more common species which I will include in the next post.

BUFFLEHEAD.

BUFFLEHEAD.

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW.

So hear we go 2012 and "HAPPY NEW YEAR" to you all hope its a good one, So thought I would ease into the new year gently ( In fact could not find anything other to photograph) with a couple of images of  common species.
Took the first bird trip of the year this afternoon up to Stithians Res which is about 10 mins drive from home to get the year list started.
So first count of the year is 38 species and looking forward to many more, so below are a couple of obliging Magpie shots and a Reed Bunting just to set the ball rolling, and if this year is as good as 2011 it will be a cracker.

MAGPIE.

MAGPIE.

REED BUNTING.