Squacco Herron

Lisa's Video of the Squacco Herron at Par. Finally worked out how to get the video straight onto the blog. Hope you enjoy it!

Cuckoo and Common Lizard

On Thursday evening a walk on the moors presented me with a cuckoo and common Lizard. Initially I spotted the Cuckoo low flying across the Heather and misidentified as a Sparrow Hawk. The Meadow Pipits were harassing it continually, meadow pipits nest seem to be a preferred site for them to deposit their egg in this area.

Common Lizard catching the last Rays of the sun.

Squacco Heron

By the time we arrived at Par this bird was demanding royalties as it qualified as the most photographed bird in the county. It was more timid than I had expected but what a stunning bird. Respect is the name of the game when presented with a bird so close, keep still, keep quite and put as much distance as you can between you and the subject.

Red Kites in the garden

Catch up in the garden today. I have neglected the garden and the lawn was like cutting hay so I was most annoyed when this Red Kite did a flyover causing me to run for the camera (Lisa's camera) and photograph it gliding by. I then had to stop for an hour drinking tea and sky watching. Lots of Buzzards around, one Cuckoo , swallows nesting in a neighbours garage and a Whitethroat in the back garden, Ah well back to the grindstone. What A spring!!!

Brown Shrike At Lands End

An Asiatic Brown Shrike was found at Lands End today, a female according to the more experienced birders. The bird was found by Mark Warren and a first for Cornwall ,and me, if you discount the Lizard Shrike who's ID remained balanced between an Isabeline and Brown . A major effort was made by several birders especially Martin Elliot to establish its ID. The photo's are mediocre as the subject was mobile and elusive. Please click on the images to enlarge. Thanks to John for the phone call.

Holidays

Here are a few images from our holiday, we recently spent 12 days on Tenerife and the birding was limited due to horizontalis sunbedii, but we did have a couple of coastal walks as we were away from the resorts. The country side and valleys were interesting although we regularly came across rubbish dumped in places I would compare with cot valley. The camera I took with me was my Nikon Coolpix compact. The Southern Grey Shrike (koenigi, Canary Island Great Grey Shrike) was found in one of the valleys we walked through, a family of four fledglings and their parents working hard to feed them. The juvenile Chiff Chaff was taken from the sunbed who was fed regularly by its parents right above me. Yellow Legged where in abundance and we were fortunate to see Osprey carrying fish. The roof top of the Hotel was a great viewing point.

Two Oyster Heads and Two Pheasants

Spotted Flycatcher and Whitethroat

We have been away for a couple of weeks sun bedding and boy have I missed a few special birds in Cornwall. We arrived back from Tenerife Yesterday and found the Spotted Flycatcher whilst for a short walk with the dog. The Whitethroat was taken just before we left for our Holiday at Brew Pool, Sennen. No Golden Eagles or House Finch.