OUT FOXED BY A DOG.

So there goes January and another cold month, looking forward to a rise in the temperatures over the next few weeks.
But in saying that the birding year has started off reasonably well with 108 species on the new year list, three of which I added today being Black necked Grebe 78 on the Carrick Roads , also one Black Throated Diver.
It was the on to St Clements near Truro where I added Coal Tit to the list,But did not see the Avocets that I went for.
On walking back to the car I stopped to eat a fruit bar ( Got to keep the energy up ) and looking across the mudflats I was very surprised to see this Fox way out in the open, obviously hunger was driving it to extreme measures.
So I started to take a few shots even though it was to far away for decent images, It was suddenly distracted by something (not me as I was partially hidden by a Tree) and turned and came racing back towards me across the mud.
I kept taking single shots as I do not like using continuous shooting mode, and it passed about 20 m to my left across the lane and over the hedge into a field.
A few moments later the cause for its panic became known, as a woman and her very active dog which kept running onto the edge of the mud came along.
So below is a sequence of shots of this lovely fox, and in the first image you can see his quarry the blurred image of a Curlew on the mud.



RING - NECKED DUCK

Spent a very cold  1 1/2 hours at St Gothian Sands at Godrevy this morning, as a Ring - Necked Duck had been found yesterday.
Although  Dawn was just breaking I got onto it almost right away, it was sleeping with all the tufted ducks.
As the light was not good I had to wait about an hour for sunrise before I could take any photo's, and with the area fenced off against dogs it is impossible to get close to the birds.
I was quite lucky as this one was about as close as anyone could get to it under the conditions, so I was very pleased as this was my first chance to get some images of this species.
The images below are hot off the press !!.

RING - NECKED DUCK.

This image clearly shows the identifying form of this species ie: the cone shaped head and the white side panel which runs high onto the shoulder, also the white line at the base of the bill, and the white band behind the black band on the bill.



RING-NECKED DUCK.

RING-NECKED DUCK WITH FEMALE TUFTED DUCK.

RING-NECKED DUCK WITH FEMALE TUFTED DUCK.

RING-NECKED DUCK.

RING-NECKED DUCK.

 

RING-NECKED DUCK.

RING-NECKED DUCK.



THE BEST LAID PLANS.

Had Sunday morning all sorted (or so I thought) it was to try and add to my year list, first call was to be Marazion for Bittern, and possibly Black Throated Diver, then on to Drift for the White Fronted Goose, then down to Sennen Cove for the Long Tailed Duck.
Got to Marazion at 08.30 the sun was just over the horizon and it was looking good.
Meet A local birder who told me that 3 Bittern were showing well on Saturday, despite the fact that the RSPB had a reed cutting machine taking out some of the reed bed and opening up channels, so all was looking great.

Well three hours later and having walked up and down the marsh and Longrock Pool with not  the briefest view of any Bittern (Although one guy said he had one for about 3 seconds before it went back into the reeds)  I decided to call it a day and head home.
So it just goes to show the best laid plans of mice and men do not always work out.
Still I had the Pacific Diver out in the bay, and spent some time taking photo's of some of the local Avian inhabitants, which make up today's images.

COMMON BUZZARD

REDWING.

FEMALE STONECHAT.

SONG THRUSH.

MUTE SWAN.



FRIDAY ROUNDUP

So at last things are starting to get a bit better, Monday was dull and overcast and rain but things got a lot brighter from Tuesday onwards with overnight frosts and glorious sunny days.
I have not had much time for photography this week as I have been using the dry spell to get a few things done outside the house, so here is a roundup of the week so far.

TUESDAY

STITHIANS RES

After all the recent heavy rain the water levels on the res are very high which is not good as this enables a lot of the wildfowl to get back into the trees on the Southern arm making them difficult to see and Photo.

These three Snipe above were the only ones I could see on the Southern cutoff.

This lone Drake Wigeon was the only duck to come close to the hide on the main res.

WEDNESDAY

AROUND THE GARDEN FEEDERS.

Although the feeders are quite busy during these cold times, I have noticed that Finch activity is non existent, I have not had any Greenfinch or Chaffinch and just the odd two Goldfinch's so I guess the recent cold spell has taken its toll of this species.

STARLING.

HOUSE SPARROW.

BLUE TIT.

MALE HOUSE SPARROW.

THURSDAY

STITHIANS RES.

Revisited Stithians again to see if I could catch up with the Bewick's Swans, as I was not happy with the previous set of images I had taken, on arrival I saw that five of them were just partly hidden in the trees and two were on the opposite side of the Southern arm.

These two proceeded to come across the water and passed to the left side of the hide giving good Photo opportunities, and what a difference a bit of fine weather makes.

Also seen were a Female Scaup,and a Juvenile Drake Goldeneye which were to far away for any pics.

BEWICK'S SWAN.

BEWICK'S SWAN.

So here we are at Friday morning and the time is 07.30am still dark outside and frosty, been on the computer for the past hour, got the camera batteries on charge so where will they take me today.So watch this space to see how the week finishes.......

SWANPOOL.

NR FALMOUTH.

So 0900 found me parked at Swanpool just outside of Falmouth, the Sun was just getting the first bit of warmth onto the ground which was very frosty.

Good numbers of wild fowl on the lake, mostly Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen and a few Little Grebes and Gulls.

Spent around 45 minutes taking a few images, some of which are below, then walked along the lane at the back of the pool.

Not so many photo opportunites as it was still cold in the shade with not so much bird movement, Did get my first Mistle Thrush of the year and a Male Bullfinch which were to quick to Photograph.

Plenty of Blackbirds, Robins and Chaffinch with a few Blue Tits, at the end of the pool I turned left for 15 metres and popped in to see my Sister and Brother in Law for a Nice cuppa and a chat.

A perfect way to end a lovely morning.

MOORHEN.

FEMALE TUFTED DUCK.

THE COOTS ARE BEGINNING TO TAKE ON AN AGGRESSIVEE STANCE.

THIS CORMORANT WAS TAKING IN THE MORNING WARMTH.

Finally I would like to say hello to Seijastina following and thanks for taking the time to look.





GOOSANDER

Well what a weekend that's turned out to be, went to Carbis Bay on Saturday morning where it was dull and overcast.
At least it was calm as the South Westerly gale was blowing well overhead and off shore, plenty of activity in the bay as a large shoal of Whitebait was still in evidence, loads of Gulls 21 Goosander one Red Necked Grebe and good numbers of Shag and Razorbill.
This morning Sunday still blowing a strong SW  gale, best in the bay was a Little Gull, it was then on to Marazion, Drift Res and over the moors Men-an Tol and Trewey Common where we saw absolutely nothing except , Fog, Rain and Strong Winds.
So all I can offer up for the post are a couple of Goosander record shots taken on Sat at Carbis Bay.

GOOSANDER.

GOOSANDER.



ST GOTHIAN SANDS AND TEHIDY COUNTRY PARK

Just to keep the old blog ticking over during these dull winter days, I caught a couple of breaks in the weather over the last few days, and managed to get out for a few hours,

On Saturday I walked around St Gothian Sands Reserve, although there were plenty of Ducks on the main pool, including the Female Scaup they were to distant for photo's. Also driving back along the cliff road there was very little bird activity because of the strong winds.

Beat seen were Fulmers at Hells Mouth, and skylarks and Pheasant along the North Cliffs.
On Monday the winds had still not abated so took a walk around the lake at Tehidy Woods which was very nicely sheltered.
Best here were a very obliging Jay, and Three Shoveler also good numbers of Tufted Duck on the
lake.

So below are a selection of species seen.

BLACK HEADED GULL.

JAY.

GREY SQUIRREL.

TUFTED DUCK.

TUFTED DUCK.

TUFTED DUCK.

BLACK HEADED GULL.



BEWICK'S SWAN

Had a phone call from John Swan (no pun intended) yesterday afternoon to say that the Bewick's Swans had turned up again at Sthihians Res. (Many thanks John). I have been up three or four times to try to catch up with these rare visitors to Cornwall, their appearances have been very spasmodic.

So on arrival at the hide I found there was already a good few people to see them, and they were showing well although a bit distant, and the light was not good still have to make the best of what your given.
So spent the next hour watching these graceful beauties 4 adults and 4 juveniles and getting a few shots, some I have included below.
Also Managed another year tick with Male and Female Goldeneye far out on the Res.

I would also like to welcome Bonifer as a Follower, thanks for looking and hope you enjoy the blog

BEWICK'S SWANS.

BEWICK'S SWAN.

BEWICKS SWAN.

BEWICK'S SWANS.

Thats right all you oldies get some shuteye and leave the youngsters to look after you.



2010 HISTORY 2011 BRING IT ON.

FIRSTLY

A VERY BELATED HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE

Well here we go again another year and will try to make this one as positive as possible, So started off the new year with my first outing for three weeks on Sunday 2nd for a good six hours birding.

Mark, Ashley and myself started at 8am and finished at 2pm by which time my new year list stood at 78 species, with some good birds seen, the best being 2 Waxwings which were lifers for me.

Some of the others being

Little Gull

Red-Necked Grebe

Pacific Diver

Grey Phalarope

Pintail

Eider.

And with a short trip to Stithians Res today brought the total up to 82, including Water Rail and 6 Goosanders all Redheads (Females)

The weather over the two days was glorious

COLD, WET, CLOUDY, FOGGY FLAT LIGHTING everything a photographer needs.

So a few images from the last two outings.

BRENT GOOSE.

GREY PHALAROPE

Caught the water rail below having a good bath.

WATER RAIL.

WATER RAIL.

WATER RAIL.

So may I say welcome to Eddie who decided to follow the blog, hope you enjoy it.

Also as from tomorrow morning I am going to catch up on all of your blogs, and sorry that I have neglected them over the last couple of weeks.