A distant Barn Owl hunting at 3:30 pm today in Cornwall. 28th Jan 2019.

I spent some time this afternoon watching this Barn Owl quarter the wet meadows in North Cornwall.

It crashed down on what looks like a vole and spent a long time in the grass trying to despatch it before finally flying off to a perch just the wrong side of the hedge to where I stood!

I saw it again later over the reed beds hunting.... a fantastic sight.

Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust POLPIP seal survey 24th Jan 19.

Bit of a swell around Gulland island

 

 

 

Out of Padstow harbour this morning in somewhat "challenging" weather conditions for seal spotting! 

 

Very few seals hauled out and often too misty and drizzly to see the rocks or the beaches!

However lots of Auks on their ledges and lots of Gannets diving about 2 miles offshore. 

 

Cold, wet & tired but that's my kind of retirement!

 

Blow hole near Tregudda Gorge Padstow

Kittiwakes at Marble Cliffs, Porthmissen

Auks at Gulland

Auks at Gulland

Auks at Gulland

Gulland

Auks at the Mouls

Guillemots off the Mouls

Gannets

Homeward bound!

 

Temminck's Stint at Chapel Amble 8th Jan 19.

A few distant shots of this tiny wader that migrates between its High Arctic breeding range and Africa every year.

The bird is tiny and was dwarfed by a Pied Wagtail standing next to it at one time.

Common Crane at Walmsley 3rd Jan 2019 "A flying visit"!

A distant shot of this Common Crane that briefly dropped into our reserve at Walmsley sanctuary.

It may have been there overnight as it was first spotted by John Mitchell at first light but it was gone again by 11 o'clock.
Disturbed by the noisy squabblings of Canada geese it took off and soon gained height in a South-Easterly direction.