Waxwings. Falmouth.30/11/2012

Waxwings have been turning up all over cornwall over recent days. A flock of seven found by Greg Wills have been feeding on the cotoneaster berries at Marlborough Crescent in Falmouth for the past three days.

I returned for another look at the Long-tailed Duck at Carnsew Pool. This time it came in a good deal closer and in the sunshine it was too good an opportunity to miss!

Long-tailed Duck and Spoonbill. Hayle. 9/11/2012

A gorgeous adult male Long-tailed Duck was discovered on Carnsew Pool, Hayle on the 5th. This marine species winters at sea, often in large rafts. The northern European population mainly wintering around the Baltic Sea with smaller populations found around Britain's coast. Cornwall gets a sprinkling each year and this one seems quite happy feeding in the tidal pool at Carnsew.




There have been two Spoonbills at Hayle Estuary for over two weeks. I caught up with one of them, a juvenile at Ryan's Field feeding in a small stream.

Peek-a-Boo

This well hidden Long-eared Owl was found this morning by Brian Mellow, a well known cornish birder, when it flew out of cover at Land's End. It was later re-found by Brian Field sitting in a small Willow bush almost invisible to the naked eye. It probably doesn't think it can be seen, but is keeping a close eye on the gathered birders.

Red-breasted Flycatcher. Kenidjack. 20/10/2012

Red-breasted Flycatchers are annual visitors to cornwall from Eastern Europe. The west Penwith valleys seem to attract the majority of birds mainly during the Autumn period, so it was no surprise that this little gem was found at Kenidjack.

Montagu's Harrier-revisited

Jamie Burney a musician from Derbyshire composed a piece of music for the fiddle and called it "Montagu's Harrier". Having seen my film of the Monty's at Croft Pascoe on youtube, Jamie asked if he could use the footage to put with his music. I gave Jamie the footage which he has edited to compliment the piece, I think it brings an atmosphere of wilderness to the monty's as it quarters the heathland. What say you?                  Nice one Jamie!
 For more of Jamies music visit http://www.restlesshead.com/ or http://www.jamieburney.com/

Red-backed Shrike, Housel Bay.The Lizard, 14/10/2012

I finally caught up with the juvenile Red-backed Shrike that has been around the Housel Bay area on the Lizard for the last few weeks. It was quite obliging, and was content feeding on Bumble Bees on the edge of a stubble field. What a cracking little bird!

Paddyfield Warbler. Church Cove.The Lizard. 9/10/2012

Paddyfield Warbler is a native of Asia and a rare vagrant to Britain in Autumn. The recent Easterly winds brought this one all the way to a small overgrown quarry in Church Cove on the Lizard. It was surprisingly showy, occasionally coming to within a few metres of the gathered birders, much to their appreciation

Olive-backed Pipit. Pendeen. 09/10/2012

Olive-backed Pipit is extremely hard to come by in Cornwall. The last twitchable individual was at Porthgwarra in November 2004, so when Ian Kendall found this one in a small valley at Pendeen in West Cornwall local and visiting birders took the opportunity to catch a glimpse. Though it gave excellent flight views it wasn't easy to see on the ground. Eventually it settled on a nearby hedge just long enough to get this short sequence. four seconds to be precise!

Pectoral Sandpiper, Truro. 22/9/2012

This juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was found feeding along the shoreline of the Truro River on the 19th September. There have been several records of this species at various sites in the county this autumn, This is the second to be seen in the Truro area, the first being an adult on the nearby Tresillian River in August.

Spotted Crake, Marazion Marsh, 8/9/2012

Spotted Crakes are secretive birds and are often very difficult to see when in their natural habitat of reed beds. This adult (one of three birds here at Marazion Marsh recently) showed quite well when it ventured into the open for a few minutes.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Marazion,1/9/2012

This adult Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found on Marazion beach. As is often the case with this species it was very approachable as it fed with a small group of turnstones on the tide line.

Alpine Swift. Newquay. 18/8/2012

 I caught up with this Alpine Swift at 8am after it had gone to roost the previous evening. It was the first autumn individual I had encountered, all the others I have seen have occurred in early spring (March/April). Arial birds like these are notoriously difficult to film as they are fast and very agile, making them tricky to keep in frame. I just about managed with this one

Monochromatic Odonata

A short film of Dragonflies and Damselflies in monochrome. Set to the music of Stefan Gustafsson - Clear Blue Skies

Duke of Burgundy Fritillary. Noar Hill, Hampshire.13/05/2012

The Duke of Burgundy Fritillary is Europe's only representative of the Riodinidae family. Having never seen one in Britain and with the weather forcast looking good, Kate and I went in search of the little gems at one of Britain's prime sites for the species Noar Hill in Hampshire, a fabulous Hampshire Wildlife Trust reserve, a good three and a half hours from our home in Cornwall. We were not disappointed, finding three almost immediately and it just got better as the day went on, with a total of over thirty by the time we left at 3.30pm. The majority being males.......FANTASTIC!

Kentish Plovers. Marazion. 11/05/2012

It's been several years since I last saw a Kentish Plover, so when I heard that there was a pair on Marazion Beach I took the opportunity to see them early this morning. I was rewarded with superb views of both as they rested on the tideline. They were simply Stunning!

Ouzels and Redstart at Rosewell Hill

There have been several Ring Ouzels at Rosewall Hill near St Ives over the last few days, so Kate and I decided to pay a visit in the hope of finding some. We bumped into fellow birding friends John and Sue Rowe, Paul Dinning and Farley and Jean Rice. We were all delighted to see, three males and a female showing well on occasions and staying in view long enough for me to capture these shots. Later we were also treated to some fantastic views of a stunning male Redstart. What a great day's birding!!!

Ring-necked Duck Trelusback Farm, Penhalvean, nr Stithians, Cornwall 1 4 2012

This drake Ring-necked Duck has been visiting the lake at Trelusback Farm, Penhalvean, nr Stithians over the winter. I caught up with it on a fine spring morning before it's imminent departure north with the accompanying Tufted Ducks

Hoopoe, Lower Bosistow Farm, Polgigga

Caught up with one of the two Hoopoes at Bosistow this afternoon, it showed well on and off for over an hour. Just can't get enough of these exotic migrants!

Night Heron, Polgigga, St Leven, Cornwall

It's been several years since I last saw a Night Heron in Cornwall,so when news of this adult at the duck pond in Polgigga, West Cornwall broke it was too good an opportunity to miss. As their name suggests they are birds of the night, so initially it was content to roost in the dense vegitation on the island. it stayed hidden for a couple of hours or more , but when it eventually ventured out into the open..... "WOW"!!!

Bufflehead. Trelusback Farm, Penhalvean, nr Stithians, Cornwall

I received a phone call at 5pm today from Keith Wilson from Trelusback Farm, Penhalvean, nr Stithians, to say he had a small duck with a white cheek patch on his lake, and did I know what it could be?. I replied, it could be a Bufflehead I'll be right over!!! Kate and I jumped into the car and went to have a look, and sure enough it was as I suspected a Bufflehead, probably the loe pool bird as it was in the same juv/female plumage. As it was on a small lake, views were down to about 20-30 metres and as it was associating with Tufted Ducks size comparisons could be made.

Adult Glaucous Gull, Newlyn Harbour. 18/02/2012

Glaucous Gulls are regular visitors to West Cornwall, but adults are few and far between. This one is a very confident individual, hanging around the harbour waiting for free hand-outs from the local fishermen. It's an easy life for some!!!

First Winter Lesser Scaup, Newquay.

This first winter drake Lesser Scaup was found today by Steve Rowe on the small boating lake in Newquay. It was fairly confiding considering the number of people around the lake making the most of the fine weather this Sunday.

Glossy Ibis, Chapel Amble, 13/01/2012

This Glossy Ibis was discovered feeding on farmland at Chapel Amble near Wadebridge, Cornwall. I must thank Will Delacour for puting the news out so promptly, and to Shaun Hawkey and his family at The Olde House http://www.theoldehouse.co.uk for welcoming us on to there farm, where we were able to get superb views of it feeding in this flooded field