Oddments

Here are a few images from Botallack, when I was photographing the Wryneck a few other species dipped in and out of the area .

I have also been dealing with a disaster ,as I lost all 28 Gigabytes of my RAW images. I have managed to recover some but I have lost a lot of good stuff.

Wryneck

I photographed this Wryneck today at Botallack, this has been a long staying bird and enjoyed by many. It was feeding voraciously today so I suspect it will be on its way down south soon. These images are not quite as good as Sensai's but I am reasonably pleased with them. The Wryneck is a member of the Woodpecker family for more information please click on the link below.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/w/wryneck/index.aspx

Juvenile Razorbill

A quick trip to Marazion tonight after work I photographed this young Razorbill just offshore from the beach. Initially I checked out the inland marsh with no real luck so I went down to the beach hoping for a wader. Fortunately whilst photographing a couple of Turnstones I noticed the Razor. I had great difficulty capturing eye glint from its beady eye.

Cornwall Wild Life Trust Photographic Group Field Trip

Yesterday I attended a field trip with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Photographic group, the meet was held on SSSI ( Site of Special Scientific Interest) land around Goldolphin Manor. Highlight of the day for me was studying and trying to photograph a Sand Digger Wasp nest. These intriguing insects do not sting and are quite nervous, to watch them carry their prey back to the nest was fascinating. Flies and caterpillars amongst others were on the menu.

Sand Digger Wasp Mellinus arvensis

Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea

Amethyst Deceiver Laccaria amethystea

Blue bottle eating dog faeces

Comma Butterfly

.

kingfisher

At Marazion whilst photographing the pectoral sandpiper, this kingfisher showed distant but well. it was nice to see the kingfisher as the last winter was exceptionally cold and kingfisher numbers can suffer in cold winters as frozen waters prevent them from feeding.

Dog Control For Hayle Estuary

Friday, 17 September 2010

Dog Control Order on Hayle Estuary
So far there have been 12 objections to the dog control order on the Hayle Estuary and only one letter of support! We hear so many complaints from birders about disturbance caused by dogs on the estuary so this is your opportunity to do something about it!! PLEASE write showing your support for a Dog Control Order on the estuary BEFORE27th September to the address below or send an e-mail to Tina.Beeley@cornwall.gov.uk The area to be covered by the DCO and further details can be seen on the Council’s webpages:
http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=25172
We suspect the number of objections has been helped by the letter in last week’s ‘The Cornishman’ newspaper in which a local resident expressed her views on the introduction of a DCO in no uncertain terms. Unfortunately, in spite of two excellent responses (by Cornwall Council and Dave Parker) correcting the misinformation and total nonsense in that letter, the paper has declined to publish these today. We are not surprised but of course very disappointed.
Please write if you can before the 27 Sept to:
Ms Tina Beeley, Legal and Democratic Services, Room 43, Cornwall Council, St Clare, Penzance,TR18 3QW
Thanks, Cornwall Birding and RSPB
Please support the DCO, remember the Swan that was mauled to death by a dog on the estuary a few years back!! Pass on the message!

Pectoral Sandpiper

This North American Wader, a Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was at Marazion today, the species was on return to its overwintering ground in South America and somehow landed at Marazion Marsh. Their are annual records of Pec Sand in Britain and are generally 1st winter birds they are either blown off course by weather systems, or have an under developed directional area of the brain. Please click on this link for more information. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pectoral_Sandpiper/id

Juvenile Red Back Shrike

Today I photographed this Juvenile Red Back Shrike at Kenidjack, this was a typical Shrike
moment as it was mobile and distant. However I have had slim pickins on the bird and photography lately so beggars can't be choosers. Click on this link for more info http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/redbackedshrike/ . Also click on the image for a better view.

Dotterel

We had a walk around Porthgwarra today and found the Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus), in the ploughed field opposite Arden Sawah farm along with seven Ringed Plover. As it was distant and we were walking I once again digiscoped rather than use the DSLR.

Lands End Cycle Track

Lands End Cycle Track Today gave up a Eurasian Wryneck, Jynx torquilla. The first image is one I digiscoped today, I just wish it didn't Wry its neck.The second and third image of a Wryneck and Lapland Longspur or Lapland Bunting, Calcarius lapponicus was captured the day previous day on Lands End, digiscoped by John Swann (thanks for the images John). As usual I wasn't there when along with the Lap three Wrynecks were found

Garden Watch

I nipped home for lunch today and it was raining like hell and whilst making lunch I noticed a Coal Tit on the feeders, a new bird for the garden. So I rigged up the camera for a record shot of the Coal Tit, got the shot and low and behold a Pied Flycatcher landed on the feeder stand, a species I have seen but always escaped the camera. The third shot is of a Willow Warbler. There is lots of movement of birds at the moment with high numbers in the garden. The shots were taken during an hours lunch break and through the kitchen window apart from the Coal Tit.

Bath Time

No rarities for me today.

Digiscoping Blue

I called this post digiscoping blue as generally when I am digiscoping the air is blue. Normally due to my failure to produce a reasonably image. Today I had another go at Hayle Estuary and theresults are nowhere near as good as the Master but here they are. The first image is of two Knot then followed by a Black Headed Gull feeding on an old fish head then two Black Tailed Godwit.