Black Kite. Polgigga

It took weeks, but we eventually caught up with the Black Kite over Polgigga as it fed in mid air on a Rat it had picked up from a nearby ploughed field.

Baird's Sandpiper

After several attempts Kate and I eventually caught up with the Baird's Sandpiper at hayle Estuary on the incomming tide. It treated us to superb views despite the gathered birders ant the constant traffic noise.

Pectoral Sandpiper (Drift Reservoir)

Kate and I were excited to find this Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper roosting on rocks in front of the hide. It gave superb views while we were there.
Pectoral Sandpipers are annual vagrants to Cornwall, normally during the autumn months, September being the optimum period. Over the years Drift Reservoir in West Cornwall boasts the Lions share of records, This juvenile is the first record so far this autumn.

Waders at Drift Reservoir

The Pec had a supporting cast, Curlew Sand, Little Stint, Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers

Wasp Spiders

Wasp Spiders are one of our most strikingly colourful spiders. Originally from mainland Europe they have colonised large parts of southern England and are believed to be spreading further north, this is thought to be due to climate change. Their colours resemble wasps and bees on which they prey along with other insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, flies etc.
Their webs can be found low down in long un-grazed grassland and have a prominent zig zag pattern,spun in silk below the centre of the web know as a stabilimentum. They are harmless to humans though have been known to occasionally bite.
This colony was discovered just outside of Truro in Cornwall

Western Bonelli's Warbler, Pogigga, West Cornwall

Western Bonelli's Warblers are rare visitors to Cornwall, normally during the Autumn. This one was found by local birder Mark Wallace while working his local patch at Polgigga in West Cornwall on Saturday 20/08/2011

Bentley Wood Butterflies

A day trip to Bentley Wood near Salisbury, Wiltshire, in search of butterflies. Steve Rogers and I left Truro at 5.30am, the weather was perfect so the day promised to be "Butterfly Heaven". Our target species was of-course the enigmatic Purple Emperor, which is not always guaranteed. On our arrival at 9.00am we encountered countless Siver-washed Fritillaries and good numbers of White Admirals and a Purple Hairstreak or two, just in the car park. Further afield we came across hundreds of Ringlets, a few Dark Green Frits, Brimstones, Marbled Whites, Silver-washed Frits were everywhere, including the rare female form Valezina, yet more White Admirals, Small and Large Skippers and a couple of White-letter Hairstreaks another of the impressive Bentley Wood cast. Fortunately we stumbled into a small group of fellow enthusiasts who had just found a female Purple Emperor sitting on a leaf. After a short while she flew off, straight past me and around a corner. I TOOK OFF in HOT PERSUIT keeping my eyes on it at all times. She appeared to land low down on a Hazel bush, but as I rounded the corner I noticed her on the ground beside a puddle where she stayed for several minutes giving us all superb views. Later in the day I saw a male flying along one of the many tracks, but he refused to land and dissapeared over the trees. On returning to the puddles we found two more females one of which stayed for about half an hour. Photographers took full advantage and rattled off to their hearts content. All in all if you want a memorable butterflying day out, you can't go wrong at Bentley Wood in July.