HOW LONG IS A GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO ?

Answer to the title question 6 1/2 hours, or between 5 and 6 miles. that is how long it took to pin this elusive customer down on Sunday, and not a decent picture to show for it. The hunt started at Bartinney Downs St Just at 06.30am, up to the area where the bird was seen on Carn Brea, on a beautiful frosty morning. So we searched the area along with a good number of other birders until 11.30, in this time only a brief distant sighting was recorded by another couple. At this point it was decided to call it a day, and make the long trek back to the car park. About two minutes after arriving another birder Royston from Truro had his scope still set up and looked back up the hill, what followed are as I remember were his exact words. "There is a bloke in the field near the top scoping something in the far hedge, now he's waving to other people up there. he's only gone and found the bloody thing". About 30 seconds later mobile phones started ringing all around as the message was passed down.So it was pick up all the gear and make the trek back up for what turned out to be Five minutes of great but distant viewing of this rare visitor to our shore's. Next it flew off to the top we followed it but only had another 30 second view. So finished a frustrating but memorable morning. Did get a couple of other pics while we were searching and have posted them below.

First shot of a Chiffchaff this year

Linnet looked beautiful in the Spring Sunshine

Even the humble Dandilion put on it's best face for Spring

Finally may I say greetings To Nancy Who found the Blog. Thanks for the nice comment and hope you continue to enjoy it.

BIRDING DRIVES ME CUCKOO

Hope's were high when leaving work at 12.30pm today, with Mark another work colleague headed off to St Just near Lands End to see a Gt Spotted Cuckoo that had been there all week, at a place called Carn Brea. When we set out it was quite sunny and bright with hazy visibility, as we neared the Penzance area the conditions started to get very overcast and dull. Arriving at the car park at Crows-an-Wra we set off on the long trek to the top of Carn Brea, 35mins later we met my Birding friend Mark (yes another one) at the top. He told us that a lot of other birders had been around all day and the bird had not been located, but he had seen a Ring Tailed Hen Harrier, and Dartford Warbler. well we trekked around the area for an hour but nothing was seen and the cloud was closing in, so in the end we called it a day and headed for home. Disappointed yes as this would have been a Lifer for me, but there's always tomorrow. Anyway Mark had this bird on Thursday afternoon and managed to get a record shot, which can be seen on the Cornwall Birding Website. So not having posted any thing since Monday I have pulled a couple of shots from the old library.

First is a juvenile Spotted Flycatcher taken at Nanquidno Valley about 5 minutes from today's location. The second is a Snipe at Stithians Res showing it's beautiful under wing pattern.

GLIDING IN HELLS MOUTH

At last I can catchup on the weekends activity, firstly on Saturday I went to St Gothian Sands to check for any Migrant's did not find anything so decided to move on to the North Cliffs. I thought some real gliding specialists could have turned up, I was not disappointed on arrival there were 23 Fulmers putting on a fantastic gliding display.These birds glide along hugging the cliff face and sometimes drop their legs as if to land then turn and dive vertically down the cliff face The first pic's are of the Hells Mouth area and these are followed by the Fulmer flying display

Sunday it was down to the Lizard to find the Cornish Choughs a member of the crow family that have been breeding there for the past five years, we did manage to find two but unfortunately did not get any decent photo's. Then it was on to Kynance Cove to look for Dartford Warblers which breed at this location. Again we only managed to get a brief glimpse of a female disappearing over a hedge, it was quite windy and this species likes to stay under cover in windy conditions. Finally we stopped at Helston Boating Lake to look for the Ring Billed Gull I had missed on two previous visits. But Luck was with us and we spent an hour with this bird in glorious sunshine as these photo, show. So it turned out to be a good weekend.

EGRETS A PLENTY

On leaving work last night it was a quick run down to the Hayle Estuary to see nine Cattle Egrets which have been dropping in late in the afternoon's for over a week. When I arrived another local birder was there and informed me they were out in the middle of the Estuary, setting up the scope I had good but distant views. We watched them for between five and ten minute's when suddenly all the birds in sight took to the air. So what caused this a Peregrine Falcon or maybe a Sparrowhawk,not so it was a Common Buzzard which only takes other bird's in rare cases. But it was still enough to give everything a fright, so grabbing my camera I hoped the would come closer for a few shot's. After circling around a couple of time,s they came right across in front of us at a distance, I managed to get a few record flight shots. Cattle Egrets are not resident in the UK at this time, but we have had good numbers occurring over the last Two years, so who knows. The first shot shows all nine in flight , and in the second shot I managed to get eight. After this they flew off to the south west and did not return. So now it's looking forward to the weekend for hopefully some more goodies as the wind has been East/ South East for a few days' and will hopefully push some migrant's across our area and maybe turn up a rarity or two. So to everyone who follows the Blog thank you and have a very enjoyable weekend

RINGS, CHATS & BALLS OF FLUFF.

Well after a few will it won't it evenings I seem to have got most of my software conflict problems sorted out. My intention tonight was not to post another bird subject, but still having a few probs with the raw software on the G10,so the post about a local landmark will have to wait for a few more day's. So for tonight's post I have three pic's taken at Marazion on Sunday, First up is a little ball of fluff The Long Tailed Tit,to see these flitting through the trees picking off insects is a great sight. Second on the right is a Ring Plover these are quite common during Autumn and Winter IN Spring they move North to their breeding grounds. The last Picture is the Stonechat so called that when you hear its clicking call it's like someone hitting two stones together. This bird is an all year round resident especially in coastal areas.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR EVERYWHERE I LOOK AROUND

I arrived at St Gothian Sands nature reserve at about 6.55am, it was a lovely clear morning although a strong breeze was coming in off the Atlantic. The forecast stated that wind speed would be about 23 mph which I thought was about Right. St Gothian Sand's is quite a new reserve about 4 yrs in existence and was a sand excavation works for many years. Two areas have been fenced off to keep the dreaded dog walkers out and to give wildlife a chance. Don't misconstrue my comments I like dogs ,its their inconsiderate owners most birder's find the problem, leaving dog fetus everywhere even when they have taken the trouble to place it in plastic bags and instead of putting in bins provided leave it hanging off bushes and on pathways'. As most people know plastic and wildlife do not mix. Ok moan over back to pleasure, I had three species in mind to look for today two are early Spring migrant's the Sand Martin (which overwinters in West Africa) and the Northern Wheatear (which also winters in Africa). The third Species is a Ring Ouzal which normally migrates' south but one had been around the reserve for a couple of months, although very elusive. So how did I fare with today's objectives, please read on to find out. First two pic's are of St Gothian Sands.

So after about a hour at the Reserve I met up with Brian another local birder who informed me he had just spotted the elusive Ring Ouzel that I had been trying to see for a few weeks. So we walked into a small closed in area an sure enough on the far grassy bank was the Bird I'd been waiting to get. Things were beginning to get pretty good. So below are three pics of said Ring Ouzel

This is the earliest Spring arrival here in the UK, it is the lovely Sand Martin. I walked round the reserve on the first circuit and saw nothing then out of the blue there were 30+ of these feeding on the wing over the main pool. They were there for about 45 mins, then were gone as quickly as the came. Obviously continuing their migration northwards

last but not least is my very favourite spring arrival, This is the Northern Wheatear. I never fail to get bowled over by its beautiful neat appearance considering it has just flown all the way from Africa. Along with the Sand Martin these are usually the first Spring arrivals on our shores.

SO UNDERATED !!

Why is it that some species of bird's when seen are just given a cursory glance through binoculars or telescope and passed over. But if they were rarities we would be drooling over them for their colourful plumage and raw beauty. I am mainly talking about, The Mallard, The Shelduck Magpie Jackdaw and Wood Pigeon. This is but a few as there are numerous others that could be named. I admit that in the case of Wildfowl Hybrid and confusion species can be a problem. So next time you see one of these birds ignore their raucous nature, take a good look and try to think of something more beautiful. Top Shelduck and Jackdaw. // Middle Wood Pigeon and Magpie. Bottom last but not least The Humble Mallard.

HELSTON & THE RING BILLED GULL.

I was up at Dawn this morning looked out of the window and great stuff it was dry and clear. definitely not what the forecast said. So today its of to the town of Helston, about 12 miles to the south to try and see a Ring Billed Gull that's been on the boating Lake there for quite some time.Arrived just after 7am and it was bright and sunny first thing it was out with the Canon G10 to record the scene for the Blog

(see first two pic's above). After that I spent a couple of hours walking around the area taking shot's of some of the local Bird life. At about 10am the heaven's opened and had to run for shelter (see pic three).

When this had passed I decided it was time to head for home as it looked as if more rain was on the way.

So for the bird photo's today, first pair up are a Pied Wagtail followed by a Grey Wagtail.

The two bottom images are of a male & female Tufted Duck, so did I see the Ring Billed Gull I did not,I left at 10.30am and heard later it turned up at 11am. Well that's birding for you.

REED BUNTINGS & FOG

Great had a lie in this morning, got up around 6.45am had brekkie and decided to go down to St Gothian Sands NR. Drove over the top of Lanner Hill and dismay could not see the coast for fog. Plan "B"was put into place up to Stithians Res, got to Golden Lion Cutoff more fog, only place to go the hide's on the south cutoff. Not much from the main hide just Two Gt Crested Grebes and a couple of Tufted Duck's. So went to have a look at the feeders on the cutoff hide, things were a bit better with quite a few species visiting the food supply. Did not take many shots but managed to get a couple of decent pics of a male & female Reed Bunting that I have posted below. Got the post in early today as my wife and I are babysitting our Grandson tonight so won't have much time later.

WILLOW TIT A REAL CORNISH TREAT

This is an addition to Sunday's post, I have just received this photo from my birding friend Mark Halliday, its of one of the Willow Tit's that we saw in the Upper Fowey Valley on Bodmin Moor. Willow Tit's are a rare species in Cornwall with only one known breeding site on The Gossmoor. The Bird's we saw moved through the area very quickly, Mark managed to grab a few shots where as I was slow on the shutter release and did not get any. So Many thanks to Mark and for the permission to put it on the Blog. As a footnote Mark and I started Birding together about 10 yrs ago and get out most weekends, we have had some really great birding day's together. So many thanks mate and hope we have many more. WILLOW TIT COPYRIGHT OF MARK HALLIDAY.

NUTHATC & TREECREEPER

So here are two of to days bird images, on the left is a Nuthatch I managed to catch this one with a nice juicy beetle in its bill.

On the right is a Treecreeper ,we saw about three of these during our short walk at Golitha Falls.

For the interested here is a list of today's best birds seen.

Hawfinch 1 Willow Tit 3 Red Kite 1 Jay 1 Nuthatch 5 Treecreeper 3 Dipper 2 Marsh Tit 3.

GLAUCOUS GULL ROUND TWO.

Well thought it was time I got back and added another post to the Blog.

Not to good last week with a rotten cold and some family commitments at the weekend. On Saturday my birding pal Mark rang to see what was up for Sunday, said I did not mind so he said about going to Newlyn for the Glaucous Gull as he still needed to get some photo's of it.

We got there early on Sunday morning and looked around for 45 minutes before it turned up, what followed was 2 hours of great fun. At first the bird was landing on boats and we were able to get to within 1 1/2 metres of it. Then it obliged with some flight shots, at this point a fishing boat came into port and started to unload it's catch, so whit bits of food falling into the harbour a free for all took place, and as you can see it certainly held its own against the rest of the gulls.

Thing's happened fast and furious and some of the shots are not the sharpest due to the fast movements, but they do give a feel for what happened.

Finally Hi to Sam and Lisa had a look at your Blog and must say some great pics on there.