STONECHATS

 

Drift Reservoir

Apologies for the short text, I did a longer explanation, but Blogger crashed and deleted it all! So the short version is, went to Drift, saw an Osprey and a Wryneck then on my way home saw another Osprey at Hayle. Images below. :-)

Above and below - Osprey at Drift

Wryneck at Drift (record shot!)

Osprey (above and below) mobbed by crow at Hayle

Choughs at Nanquidno

Took a small group out on a mornings tour today in the hope of seeing 'Cornish' Choughs. Thankfully two performed superbly at Nanquidno!

St Gothian Sand NR

Having a new dog has given me a bit more of a reason to get down to my local patch at St Gothian Sands, so expect a few photos of commoner birds! I'll apologise now. :-)

Wheatear - St Gothian is a good spot for catching up with Wheatears during Spring and Autumn migration. Nearby Godrevy Head can also hold good numbers.

Pied Wagtail - common and in good numbers at this time of year.

Rare and Scarce: Blast from the Past (Part 1)

Having a trawl through Blogger and I cam across my old Blog, 'It's Just a Hobby'. Its actually a pretty interesting read! lol, so I thought I would have a look back at my photos of some rare and scarce stuff I've seen in recent years. These ones are pretty recent, but I will be going further back when I drag out the older images!

Very obliging Glossy Ibis at Marazion

The Lands End Grey Catbird, only the second record for Britain!

Great White Egret at Hayle - Although not a rarity any more, still a scarce bird in Cornwall and a nice patch tick!

White-rumped Sandpiper - This was found on my local patch the day before we left Scilly in October 2016. Luckily it was still there when we arrived back!

Pacific Golden Plover - This was only the 7th record for Cornwall and caused me a bit of grief after it was found on my local patch at Gwithian! Finally got to see it late in the day!

Bluethroat on the Isles of Scilly - Not the best of shots as it was quite distant but still a great bird!

My second Yellow-billed Cuckoo, this time on St Agnes. Sadly, as with most of these American cuckoos, it died when taken into care that evening.

Amazing find (and photograph) by my mate Mark Halliday! American Royal tern on the estuary at Hayle this year was my first lifer of 2019.

Superb Rose-coloured Starling that I found at Mexico Towans this year and my first full adult find!

Waders at St Gothian Sands LNR

Unfortunately, the best area for waders on my local patch is a small flooded grassland on the edge of the dunes which is unfenced and therefore more than liable to disturbance by irresponsible dog walkers! You would think with an entire ocean not 30 feet the other side of the bank they would let there canines off in the sea! But no, they are allowed to run amok through the flooded pools sending the waders up and off, expending energy they can't afford to lose! Anyway, today they appeared to have a little respite and fed and bathed with no dogs around!

Dunlin

Dunlin

Dunlin

Ringed Plover (adult)

Juvenile Ringed Plover (above and below)

Turnstone

Dunlin