Cirl Buntings on the Cornish coast 30th March 2023.

 

Enjoyed some time watching Cirl Buntings feeding at a garden feeding station and also bathing in a large puddle at the side of the road.

These birds are Schedule 1 and whilst they aren't nesting yet I will keep the location to myself to keep disturbance to a minimum.

They were feeding alongside Yellowhammers, Greenfinch, Chaffinch & Goldfinch on mixed seeds.

I was particularly pleased to get some shots of an adult male bathing in good light.

For these interested the water shots were taken with a Nikon 500 f4 lens, Auto ISO which was 250, 1/2000 sec at f4. Exposure compensation was +2/3rds of a stop.

Female Cirl Bunting

Red-rumped Swallow at Walmsley sanctuary Cornwall 16th March 2023

 

 

A day of heavy showers and low mist and drizzle brought in my first spring migrants at our reserve Walmsley sanctuary.

Not only that though as one of them was a rare Red-rumped Swallow which has probably overshot its northely migration and missed the Mediterranean region completely.

It was in the company of about 20 Sand Martins, a day late for me as I usually reckon on them being on the River Camel on the 15th March!

A photo hit Facebook earlier of a swallow and then the jungle drums started and there was talk of it being a Red-rumped so I thought I'd best make an effort and get myself down to the reserve.

Sure enough when I arrived I found the bird feeding high over the tower hide and it seemed to be flying differently to our normal swallows so I rattled off a few photos just for record shots. Luckily I caught a few of the distinctive markings which proved that it was indeed a Red-rumped.

 

Apologies for the quality of the photos but the weather was shocking and the bird was flying high in the mist, however I am really pleased to be able to show proof of another good bird for the reserve.

 

 

 

More Common Dolphins today 24th January 2023.

 Another survey on the North Cornwall coast today and within 5 minutes of leaving harbour we were surrounded by common dolphins eager to spot humans in their oceanic domain.

Well into 200 animals came alongside or appeared in our view in the following hour and it was yet again an amazing sight.

Some of the students onboard had never seen a dolphin in the wild so it was quite an experience for them. I've now seen many thousands but they still excite me and I'm always trying to better the last picture.

Here are a few from today... it's our 4th consecutive day of surveys tomorrow so fingers crossed for more of the same!

Mother and calf

Common Dolphins off North Cornwall coast 23rd January 2023.

 

Probably well over 200 Common Dolphins off the coast today and in very enthusiastic mood, bow riding, leaping and generally putting on a show!

They came to us as we surveyed for seals down the coast from Newquay towards St.Ives and were a joy to watch. We'd previously seen a few Harbour Porpoise en-route but they are rarely showy and usually dive deep when a boat comes along but these were totally the opposite.

Yet on our return journey back to harbour we met a few smaller pods and they weren't interested in us and were just lolling around on the surface...maybe they'd just fed and were digesting!

Thanks to Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust and skipper Chris Lowe aboard Atlantic Diver.

Newquay sea safaris and fishing.

Anyway here are some photos to portray the scene!...... Often they were too close even for a wide-angle lens!

Barn Owl in the marshes. 12th Jan 2023.

 Wonderful to watch this female Barn Owl quartering the marshes in bright sunshine this afternoon.

This was after the surprise of putting a Bittern to flight as I approached....it saw me before I saw it!

This owl has either damaged it's alula (bastard wing) on it's right wing or it's dived into the vegetation and messed up its plumage and failed to preen it out.

It'll be interesting to check over the next few days on how it looks. However it doesn't seem to have affected its flying ability although maybe some of its finer flight skills will be reduced.

Here are a few more images both in the sunshine and as the light began to fade to dusk.

Avocets in the Camel estuary. Sunday 8th Jan 2023.

 

So pleased to see these 2 Avocets this afternoon at Pinkson Creek on the Camel estuary.

My thanks to Rowan for calling me with the "heads-up".

I've not seen an Avocet on the estuary since March 2018 when one was at Treraven marshes.

They rarely turn up west of the River Tamar so maybe these are just sussing the place out before bringing the whole flock next winter!

To see 2 together and then be privileged to a very close 'walk by' made it super special.

Here are a few images from my trusty Nikon.....