Black Kite

Report. Danny Cooper 26th April 2011


Hi just a quick one, a black kite flew north over cornhill farm st blazey at 6.30am this morning. Also swifts over par the last couple of days and 2 male reed buntings at par pool yesterday morning. According to cornwall butterfly conservation web site there were 2 large tortoiseshells in luxulyan valley at the weekend. Cheers danny the pirate.


I would have liked to have seen the Kite Danny. Thank you for the report.

Penrice

My last visit to Penrice. Good Friday. 22nd April 2011  


Blue Tit x 2

Great Tit x 3

Jay x 1

Nuthatch x 2

Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1

Chaffinch x 1

Pheasant x 1

Robin x 2

Coal Tit x 3

Squirrel x 2

Plus a Stoat on the edge of the Bluebells.

A Walk to Gribben

Buzzard



Whitethroat near Booley



Heron at Par Pool


Report and photographs. Andrew Thomas (Shrewsbury)


I have been down for a couple of days. Disappointed not to see the Diver at Par Pool, but I have had a wonderful walk out to the Gribben today and I am enclosing some photo's. Nothing special, although the Buzzard put on a good show. Not all in focus, sorry - please use as you see fit, I will not be offended.

Glad your computer is better.


Thanks for the report and photographs Andrew.
I am not sure was has happened to the Red-Throated Diver but it was at St Andrews Pool Par. 
Can anyone give an update on the Diver?

Up and Walking.

Technical hitch......I wish it had of been just that. The computer had to be restored to its factory settings with a loss of many photographs and other stuff. It took a lot of messing about in the BIOS and other things to get it back working.
System Restore would not work...in fact the PC would not come on at all for more than a few seconds and then switched itself off.
Corruption in the Registry and other problems left me no option but to try a partial re-install to its original factory settings. (Recovery Disc)
This was tried after shifting the Boot sequence from H.D.Drive to CD. Nothing doing..it was a complete re-install or nothing.
Then it was a question of getting the ISP back up...not really a problem....but the wireless network was a different ball game. It was finding all the stuff..passwords and key phrases I set up four years ago...that took a little time.
Well..it is now up and walking...so send 'em in and let's get back running.

TECHNICAL HITCH

Due to technical difficulties with his computer Trevor is unable to post any reports at present.  Hopefully, normal service will be resumed soon!

Spit Beach

Report. Marilyn Edyvean.14th April.2011

 Went to Spit Beach today between 12 - 2pm. Saw 2 lovely Great Northern Divers in summer plumage, 1 Whimbrel in the Harbour, 6 Sandwich Tern and 2 Swallows. The 8 Eider are also still present. Hope this is of interest.

 Thank you for the report Marilyn. Anything from Spit is of interest. I am surprised the Eider are still around.

Baywatch Sites

Report.Angela Tonry

Garden bird list .– Chiffchaff 2, Dunnock 3, Starling 6, Robin 2, Blackcap 2 (M&F), Blackbird 5, House Sparrow 7, Blue Tit 2, Woodpigeon 5, Collared Dove 4, Carrion Crow 4, Herring Gull 3, Magpie 2, Great Tit 2, Wren 2, Coal Tit 1, Greenfinch 1, Goldfinch 4.
Garden butterfly list – Speckled Wood 3, Small White 1, Holly Blue 2.
Treskilling bird list – Buzzard 2, Kestrel 1, Linnet 8, Heron 1, Swallow 1, Skylark 1, Long Tailed Tit 1, Jay 1, Raven 3, Blue Tit 2, Great Tit 1, Robin 1, Dunnock 2, Chiffchaff (lots singing), Willow Warbler (lots singing).
Treskilling butterfly list – Brimstone 1, Small White 2, Orange Tip 2, Small Copper 1, Speckled Wood 2.
St Andrews – Red Throated Diver still and 2 broods of Ducklings 12 and 2!

Glad to see the Blackcaps about again.
 The Brimstone was a little beauty.

Red-Throated Diver. (Update)

Report and photographs. Chris Oates.

The RT Diver at St Andrews appears to be injured with damage to it's right leg/rump area.I watched it being harassed by a Canada goose and it only manage to swim in a right handed circle.The bird has always been quite confiding but today came within a metre of me as it tried to preen the affected area.The leg appears to be broken or dislocated but stays in an elevated position much like a Mute swan warming a foot.

2nd e-mail

I’ve been to the pond many times – the bird always appeared normal but now has feather damage and the leg is not working. Can only presume what has happened – the mating Canadas are a bit stroppy or possibly the bird tried to take off and hit a tree. Bird looked (anthropomorphising now) like it was asking for help ...it came within inches of me which Divers don’t normally do. Presume it won’t survive long as it can’t escape or feed.

Thank you for the report, photographs and information Chris.

I saw the diver late afternoon today....most of the time it appeared to be sleeping/resting with its head tucked around the wing. As we were leaving it had taken up its normal stance...but..I feel you could well be right about the birds survival chance.

Butterflies

Report and Photographs. A. Carey. 7th April 2011.

Thought it might be good to send you my list of butterfly sightings and some pics from today:

At Pontsmill, unfortunately without Roger, between 12.45 and 1.45

Brimstone x 8 Small White x 2 Green Veined White x 4 Peacock x 1 Comma x 1 Holly Blue x 4 Orange Tip (at least 3 males) and afterwards at

Par Beach Wilderness:2.15 - 3.00pm

Small White x2 Green Veined White x 3 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Comma x 1 Speckled Wood x 8 at least Holly Blue x 4 Red Admiral x 1 (my first for some weeks

In addition to this list Roger and I saw a Small Copper and a Painted Lady at Pontsmill yesterday, and Roger saw a Large White at Holmbush. The picture of the small copper is interesting, because the butterfly has considerable left-side damage, and yet still looks (to me at least) quite fresh where undamaged. Begs the question about attempted predation or accidental (e,g. bramble) damage.

A nice collection Andrew. I particularly like the Orange Tip. I have tried for a good photograph of them... but so far have failed.

Muscovy Duck Hybrid?

Photographed at St Andrews Pool

Hirundines

Report.R.Lane 3rd April 2011

Only a trip to the Manoa Sewage Works today, maybe last report of hirundines there. Incidentally to I.D. them it is necessary to drive across cattle grid, turn left and drive uphill some 300metres to the crest of the hill leading to Menagwins farm, and park on the unworked field so that drivers side faces the sewage works. Good binoculars will show the I.D. of the 3 hirundines, and later(May) Swifts too. Today all 3 species were there, as follows:


15+, Sand Martins (in flight), 15+ Swallows(on wires) and at least 1+, HOUSE MARTIN, new for patch 2011?

Thanks for the tip Roger. I will follow it up on my next visit.

Sewage Works.

Report. R.Lane. 1st April 2011

Only a short trip out into the murk today and not a lot to show for it ! At St.Aust.Sew Works there were: 30+ Sand Martins (in flight) and 12+, Swallows 'drying out' on 'phone wires ! (No House Martins were identified, due to the fog !


Thanks for the report Roger. I will have to make a visit on a wet day.

Sand Martins and Swllows

Report . R.Lane. 31st March 2011.

Hope you caught up with the RTDiver at St.Andrews this evening, and maybe some Sd.Martins came into Par Pool, or maybe not !


This afternoon I visited the Sewage Wrks (Manoa) and there were 10+, SAND.MARTINS and at least 2 x SWALLOWS

Visited Porthpean where there were 2 x Gannets; 20+, Fulmars; 6 x SAND.TERNS; 8 x Comm. Scoter and 1 x G.N.Diver.

On St.Andrews was of course the Red-throated Diver, almost certainly the same one as before.

But nothing of note was seen at Par.

Yes we did manage to see the R.T Diver at St Andrews this evening.... the Bush Telegraph kept us informed most of the day. . As we had Hesper with us it was a very brief visit that did not include Par.

Photograph Mediterranean Gull

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Report and photograph. Nigel Climpson. 30th March 2011

 This full summer plumage Mediterranean Gull put in a very brief appearance at Par Beach pool this afternoon.

Well captured Nigel. Definitely a fine specimen.

Med Gull at PBP

Report. John Rance. 30th March 2011

Paid a quick visit to the Pool this afternoon; whilst enjoying good views of the still very obliging RT Diver, a cracking full summer-plumage Med Gull dropped in for a few minutes, looking very smart indeed as it settled on the water for a preen before heading off towards the sea. Also the two male Shoveler still present, several Chiffchaff and a solitary Swallow.

Thanks for the report John. So far Angie and myself have missed the Diver. Our dog has had an operation and someone has to be with her in case she scratches the stitches out....we hope to catch up with it if it still on the Pool late tomorrow.

Red-Throated Diver in Flight.

Report and photograph Nigel Climpson. Monday 28th March 2011 ..

I spent some time at PBP today trying for a good picture of the Red-throated Diver. I got one just as it departed seawards at about 3.pm..

That is a beauty Nigel.

Spitting Spider

Danny Cooper replies to R.Ford .

. Hi there, first lots of great photos on the site. As to richard fords sightings the spider is a spitting spider scytodes thoracia which is uncommon, the blue is a holly blue they emerge earlier than common by a few weeks!

Thanks for clearing that up Danny.

More Diver Photographs.

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 Report and Red-Throated Diver photographs. Richard Ford. .

 It's a little late but I thought I'd share a few quick shots of the Red Throated Diver at Par Lake from Sunday afternoon. I've only had time to crop them and run a quick contrast/brightness on my laptop (the screen of which has not been calibrated), so if you want to use any of the website(s) and wish to play with them then please feel free.

Great photographs of the R.T.Diver Richard.

Red-Throated Diver

Dipper and Grey Wagtails

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Report and photographs. Richard Ford.

. I don't know if you do spiders, but I haven't seen one of these outside of Wiltshire before and thought it may be of interest (it was in our conservatory). Also, could you confirm if this is a Holly Blue? My butterfly knowledge is lacking I'm afraid. It was from Black Head on the 20th - a second example was taken on the wing by a robin... The Dipper and pair of Wagtails were from the Manoa valley the weekend before - thanks for the tip on where to go for them too. :)

Thanks for the great photographs Richard.

I do not take many macro shots... and spiders I know nothing about. Saying that ..I am sure it will be of interest to some of the Blog readers.

It looks like a Holly Blue to me......but our expert Butterfly man is Roger Lane who I am sure will confirm it is indeed a Holly Blue or tell us what it really is. My butterfly knowledge is gradually improving but as yet is a long way behind Roger, A.Carey and probably many mores of the Blog readers.

Glad you found the Dipper tip useful.