Birding St Ives

Greenland bound

2011-04-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

The bird highlights of the last week or so has been the number of Greenland/Iceland Wheatears moving through the county.

This bird was at Buttermilk hill.
At Clodgy A few Willow warblers moved quickly through whilst a good number of Whitethroats are lingering and Sedge warblers seem to be trickling in slowly. The local Swallows all seem to have arrived back safely while Stonechats are still non-existant. The first Common swift of the year passed over Trelawny road on the 19th.
A Grasshopper warbler put in a brief appearance on the 17th and a female Merlin passed through very quickly West with a small group of Swallows on the evening of the 20th. The same evening a group of 5 Balearic shearwaters also went West.
On the breeding birds front all the common species appear to be holding territories in good numbers and there now seems to be two singing male reed buntings in the area whilst the sighting of a female Bullfinch today and another calling on the 18th gives reason to believe there may be a breeding pair in the area.

Stop start migration

2011-04-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

Spring passage continues to stutter along with Chiff chaffs being the most notable arrivals during the past week or so along with occasional Wheatears and Black redstarts.
The first Sandwich terns put in an appearance on Wednesday evening when there were six feeding around Porthmeor and Mans head and the first Swallow went through yesterday morning along with a few Sand martins.
This morning all the action was at sea where Gannets, Fulmars and Auks were passing West in good numbers. Along with these were a first summer Little gull, 2 first summer Common gulls, a couple of dozen Lesser black backs and a second summer Mediterranean gull.
In addition 3 Sandwich terns were feeding off Porthmeor, a Great northern diver was on the sea there also and an early Common sandpiper was on the rocks at Mans head.
There are still, rather worryingly, no Stonechats although Linnet numbers have increased this week.
pa

Meadow and Rock pipits have been pairing up and displaying and their numbers seem to be healthy again this year.

No Eagles

2011-03-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

After last weekend Spring passage has just about managed to stutter along with a small influx of Meadow pipits and a Sand martin past Clodgy on Sunday and another Wheatear there today. Lesser black back gulls are conspicuous with a constant passage of groups of up to 10 individuals moving up the coast. The two Black redstarts from last week are hanging around frequenting the area between the bowling green and Mans head.
I was pleased to discover a pair of Reed buntings holding territory in the Clodgy cliff top reedbed and the local Meadow and Rock pipits are pairing up and displaying.

Definite signs of spring passage

2011-03-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

The last two days have seen the first spring migrants arrive with Wheatears at Clodgy point, Black redstarts (including a very smart male)at Clodgy and Mans head, a "new" Stonechat at the farm (all the resident Stonechats have been wiped out by the last two cold winters), a scattering of Linnets and a few Skylarks flying over. Also a Reed bunting was singing somewhere in the cliff top reed bed at Clodgy yesterday. A male Blackcap was at Ayr field and another was singing along Ocean view terrace. I have found trying to photograph Black redstarts and Wheatears extremely difficult.

2011-02-19T12:06:00.000-08:00

Nothing out of the ordinary to report this week but there has been some interest in the harbour/island area with a female Eider taking up residence, 3 Purple sandpipers at the Porthmeor end of the island and a regular high tide roost of Dunlin on the rocks just to the North of Bamaluz.

Great northern divers are becoming more visible with a bird quite close to the island this afternoon but it proved difficult to photograph as it would dive at just the wrong moment and then resurface too far away. i have found it problematic photographing birds on the sea. If the light is wrong from where you are standing then you just have to take pot luck as it's not like you can get the other side of the subject without a boat.

A male Kestrel has become a familiar sight hunting around the island

2011-02-13T15:22:00.000-08:00

Things have quietened down since the new year. The Goosander flock at Bussow fell from 24 to just 4, then 3 a day later then none, although birds still hung around the area with 14 off Porthminster on 29th jan.

The same day 2 drake Tufted duck and a drake Pochard turned the roundhouse pond in to a real "duck" pond.
Black redstarts continued to be seen at a variety of different sites around the town including a male and female together in Trelawney road. Bullfinches to have been seen more regularly this winter.
A female Merlin was at Buttermilk hill along with approx 150 Golden plover on 30 Jan.

Feeding Frenzy (The Return)

2011-01-24T05:59:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post there has been a large shoal/shoals of bait fish in the bay which I think are Sprats. These fish have been moving around in the bay and last week were coralled in the harbour. However as it was a neap tide they remained in fairly deep water. This weekend saw the return of spring tides and this provide some entertainment when a largish shoal got trapped in the large pool betwen the harbour and Porthminster. The gulls made the most of this as you can see from the photos.
I gave the birds a good scan and found they were 90% Herring gulls and, unfortunately, I couldn't find anything rarer than a med gull although the Little gull that has been hanging around was reported. Still, quite a spectacle though.

The Story So Far

2011-01-18T06:02:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a long time since I blogged but what with one thing and another i really haven't had time to keep it regularly updated so I thought it best to leave it alone for a while.
On to the birdy stuff......Last summers highlights on the patch were a male Bullfinch (surprisingly rare on the coast here) and a flyover Crossbill, both in July.
It was then very quiet until September 15th when there were 2 Whinchat in Tom's top fields, a Wheatear at Mans head and a Reed bunting (another local scarcity) at Clodgy. The bunting was living up to it's name and hanging out in the tiny clifftop reedbed just to the West of the head.This is a very odd place for a reedbed and I see no reason for it to be here.
Two days later, on the 17th, a short morning seawatch produced a Grey phalarope, 100 Manx shearwater, 4 Balearic shearwater and a Bonxie.
There was some real signs of common birds on the move on 19th when over 50 Swallows moved through along with 6 House martin and familiar warblers were relatively abundant with 12 Blackcap, 6 Chiff chaff, 9 Whitethroat and 1 garden warbler along the lane. There was also a Jay here. Sea bird interest was provided by 4 Sandwich terns feeding off Porthmeor and 5 Mediterranean gulls loafing on the beach there. The following day there were still good numbers of common warblers around along with the med gulls and there was a Little egret at Clodgy.
There was some more variety on the 21st when a Tree pipit flew over Clodgy, a Spotted flycatcher and a Great spotted woodpecker were at The Garrack hotel and a great northern diver was off Porthmeor. The Little egret remained at Clodgy.
breeding interest was provided on 22nd when 2 juvenile Stonechats were noted at Clodgy. This species has been extremely hard to come by since the freeze of last winter. There were 2 Wheatear here also.
There was another noticeable movement of birds on 27th when there were 63 meadow pipits up at the farm and 3 Goldcrests along the lane. it was good to see them as last year none at all were noted as they failed to arrive in Britain in any quantity due to adverse weather conditions in the autumn. Considering how cold it got they were probably fortunate in spending the winter elsewhere.. 2 adult Stonechat were also noted along the lane and again there was a good supply of common warblers. The rest of the month was quiet.
Octobers highlights were.... A Yellow browed warbler at Higher Ayr, 7 Ring ouzels at the garrack and along the lane, and 9 Siskins over the lane on 10th.
2 Yellow wagtail, a Brambling, a Merlin and a Lapland bunting over the lane on 11th.
Another 2 Ring ouzel over the lane and a Firecrest at Bullens lane on 14th.
A seawatch on 23rd produced 5 Balearic shearwater, 2 Sooty shearwater, 1 Manx shearwater and a Little shearwater, this is something I never thought I would ever see well enough to identify but his one was so obviously not a Manx. It's jizz was textbook, apart from being obviously smaller the wings were definitely more rounded and the flight was really fluttery. In addition 23 Bonxies 4 Arctic and 1 Pomarine skua passed West.
Things quietened down a lot after this and apart from a few Black redstarts dotted around and a noticeable increase in Med gull numbers during the month it remained this way until the cold weather set in during December.
The first sign of any cold weather movement was a Knot and a Sanderling in the Harbour

Goosander were the next species to make a show and there were birds in St Ives and Carbis bay along with up to a dozen Balearic shearwater, and at Bussow reservoir where numbers peaked at 24 (including 2 drakes) on Christmas eve. Other duck to put in a rare appearnce at Bussow were 4 Gadwall, 4 Shoveller, a Scaup, a Tufted duck, 60+ Wigeon and 50+ Teal.

The biggest highlight of december though was definitely a Waxwing that spend a day on Cotoneaster bushes at Nanjivey terrace. I had been keeping my eye on these bushes for a few weeks and they came up trumps on 23rd.

In to the new year and interest has been centred mainly around the large sprat shoals that have been congregating in the bay. These have attracted a Little gull, Slavonian and Red necked grebes plus thousand sof Kittiwakes and Auks, mostly Razorbill.

2010-05-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

The highlights of what has been a poor spring birdwise for me both came in the last few days. On Wednesday morning my attention was caught by a little rattling song coming from the garden of a house along ocean view terrace. I looked up at the bushes to see a Male Serin sat at the top in full song. I watched him for ten minutes or so and then left thinking "you won't get much luck singing there mate, so you won't be there for long". Cracking views, though unfortunately I was camera less, not that they'd have been much good but you might have been just about able to see what it was.
The second highlight came this afternoon. Whilst driving to Truro a Male Montagues harrier flew over the A30 in the big dip between Hayle and Camborne.
Back at the patch a number of Sedge warblers have set up home with three singing males along Burthallan lane, another near Clodgy and another or two at the back of Mans head. I also had one singing in my garden briefly one morning. Whitethroats too are plentiful but the only Grasshopper warblers I've heard here seem to have moved on.
Meadow pipits appear to be doing quite well with three pairs in the Clodgy area, two of these are already feeding young.
A male Kestrel seems to be finding favourable hunting along the cliff tops and adders seem more plentiful this year.
A female Tawny owl has taken to occasionally roosting in the big Monterey cypress at the end of our road and sometimes is visible during the daytime as she does not like to share her roost with pigeons or crows and she makes quite a fuss if any of them try to sit in there with her!
A young female Badger has started turning up along our road between ten and eleven thirty but I have no idea where she comes from as I know of no sets on this side of St Ives.
Finally plant news and this years showing of vernal squill is the best I've seen for years and the first Early purple orchids are showing in the pony field behind the Garrack hotel.

She Wore Blue Elvin

2010-04-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

I mistakenly assumed that St Ives, like most of West Penwith, was built on granite but now realise that it is built on a much more dense and therefore heavier rock called Blue Elvin. I have looked it up and can find very little about it except that most people seem to call it "Blue Elvin" granite. I'm not so sure that it is granite as it is very different in appearance, texture and density. You cannot break it with a hammer and I would be intrigued to know how the bronze age people that built the local stone walls managed. The few people I have asked seem to think they probably heated it and then poured cold water over it. It would then shatter due to thermal shock.
All the walls around here are built of this stuff and anyone could be forgiven for thinking it was all granite because of the pale colour but this is just the lichen that covers most of it.
Anyway, on to the birds and migration has been very stop and start, so far after that first Wheatear. It was quite a while until 2 more turned up at the point on the 27th whilst the previous day saw 9 Sandwich terns feeding off the harbour. Linnet numbers peaked towards the end of March with 8 birds on the Ayr playing fields on 21st along with 10 in Tom Major's big field and another dozen or so down at Clodgy.
The first Hirundines appeared on the 27th too with 2 Sand martin moving through and 2 Chiff chaffs and a Willow warbler the same day.
The footpaths are now spangled at the edges in many places with Celandines, and Primulas have also finally decided to put in an appearance.
A Water rail was still present on the 2nd April along with a Snipe but the first Swallows didn't appear until the 4th when 3 flew quickly through West. The same day saw the return of Manx shearwaters with good numbers moving West but the following day there was a feeding party very close inshore of about 300 birds along with others passing further out.
Also on 4th there was a Long Tailed duck and a Great northern diver sitting about half a mile off the point.
The dead Water shrew and Common shrew in the photo's were found in exactly the same place along the lane but a week apart. I have now named this part of Burthallan lane "Dead shrew alley".
There was more migrant interest on the 8th when there was a Grasshopper warbler at the bottom of Tom's fields and a sedge warbler at the back of Clodgy. The same morning a Great spotted woodpecker was briefly on the ash trees next to the chicken run. Another Grasshopper warbler the next day was "reeling" from the reeds just West of Clodgy.
Odds and sods of Swallows and Sand martins have continued to trickle through whilst on the 11th an adult summer plumaged Mediterranean gull was off Porthmeor and a single Sandwich tern moved through with 2 "Commic" terns. Of further mammal interest, there was a Weasel at Clodgy on the evening of the 11th along with a dozen male Wheatears.
As soon as the weather warms a bit more I'm expecting a burst of migrant activity with the first Whitethroats appearing along with more Grasshopper and Sedge warblers and who knows what else. Here's hoping.
P.S. The drawing is the lane as it approaches Burthallan farm.

2010-03-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

I have been entertained by the local raptors this past week or so, particularly the Peregrines. There have been dog fights with Buzzards and, on one occasion, a Kestrel. One Buzzard in particular on Saturday morning got a real pasting.
I first noticed it sitting on a rock at the end of Clodgy looking like it had just had a power shower. It was soaked and looking very sorry for itself. I was suddenly aware of movement to my left and I looked round to see the male Peregrine approaching very fast and low and looking extremely pissed off. He stooped straight at the Buzzard calling, ke ke ke ke ke. The Buzzard manage to get itself airborne and it was then I noticed just how wet it was. It was struggling to fly and looked like it was missing half it's feathers. It flew down to a low rock a little to the East but this wasn't far enough for the falcon and it stooped until the Buzzard flew again. It kept going East, towards Man head this time and eventually settled on the top of there. No sooner had it done so however than the gulls began to mob it and it had to fly back to a point somewhere about half way between the two.
I also witnessed some co-operative hunting by the falcons. On this occasion both birds flew past me and out in to the bay. When about quarter of a mile offshore the male bird towered very high whilst the female cut back in towards the land and flew low over some willow scrub sending a whole load of Wood pigeons in to the air. The male, having singled a bird out from the flock then stooped from great height but was unlucky on this occasion.
As there have been no more Wheatears through and little sign of any other migrants, other than the return of one pair of Stonechats and a few Linnets the only other avian entertainment was at sea. Fulmars are now back on their ledges and cruising the shoreline doing circuits and bumps and looking very dapper in their Biggles style flying goggles.
Last Thursday there was a good number of Gannets feeding close in and as the wind was offshore the sea was very calm. This enabled me to see the Gannets dives continue underwater and I was surprised at just how far they travelled through the water aspecially when diving from a shallow angle. The wind was quite strong and blew the plumes of water from their dives away like puffs of white smoke.
Other than this there have been a few lingering Redwing and Fieldfare, some small parties of Meadow pipits and a Starling doing a passable impression of a Golden Orioles flutey song.
Saturday afternoon finally brought some migrant activity with 9 Sandwich terns fishing just off the harbour.
I at last saw my first Primrose of the year on Saturday too. To think that last year they were flowering in mid January.
There was also a Red Campion testing the air and, on the stone walls, this tiny white flower with red leaves. I have no idea what it is but the flower looks a bit like Stonecrop.
I have added a drawing of Pheasants feeding at Burthallan farm.

First Wheatear

2010-03-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

I can feel the earth, swollen with spring, ready to burst forth but those biting Easterlies are holding it back. The sunshine during the middle of the day barely gets a chance to warm the earth before the cold sets in again in the late afternoon. Here and there a Celandine timidly tests the air, though it's leaves remain dusted with frost and even a Red campion has had the audacity to sprout a couple of blossoms. The Gorse is blooming but without any warmth only gives up it's coconut scent at the risk of injured nostrils.
I was very surprised then to see a Wheatear appear in the Llama fields, in the company of thrushes, on Wednesday morning.
It was perched on top of the only rock in the field but was quickly on it's way with that strong swerving flight they have as if they're thinking "well I'm off but I'm not sure which way I'm going yet".
The Llama fields belong to Venton Vision farm and are roughly square unimproved pasture of about half an acre each. They are surrounded by ancient crumbling walls out of which grows gnarled old Blackthorn and wind sculpted Elder. Llamas don't seem to have a taste for Blackthorn shoots as they are sprouting up from the grass around the field margins and remain untouched. The fields slope gently up and away from the lane and in the top corner of the first field a forgotten, rotting touring caravan decomposes, it's thin aluminium hide, ripped off by the gales, exposing a feeble skeleton of thin wooden battens.
The strong Easterly winds, along with the sunshine, is just right for drying out the wet ground but it has flattened out the Atlantic swell and now creates fussy litle breakers that impotently fall upon the shore. Though just listening to them you could be forgiven for thinking they were a lot bigger.

2010-02-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

It's been a cold week. Cold enough for frost early in the week. Thrushes continued to forage in the Llama fields as the morning sun glinted off frost etched mosses and ferns throwing them in to sharp relief. At the same time the local resident birds were becoming more vocal with Robins ticking, Dunnocks squeaking and Chaffinches and Great tits trying out some longer phrases.
Wednesday morning across the bay at Gwithian and Hayle Towans the sun warmed the damp ground creating blankets of white mist and Carn Brea struggled to make itself seen.
On a couple of mornings this week I've been greeted by a male Black redstart perched on my front fence looking like a Nazi SS officer with a smacked arse. Over the winter I have seen this particular bird everywhere from Back road west all the way up to Higher Stennack.
Up at the Roundhouse pool the dredgers have have been in and vandalised in the name of flood relief. I suppose in the long run it will do it good but I wish they could have been a bit more sympathetic. It now looks like a bomb hole filled with muddy water. However it was brightened by the intense cobalt of a kingfisher flying across the water like a luminous bolt from an invisible crossbow.
At the reservoir the surface was devoid of life but a Woodcock flew over looking like the strange hybrid offspring of Snipe and Owl.
This morning I was greeted by the spectral bridge that a rainbow made over the lane, seeming to have one foot planted in the fields behind Venton Vision and the other appearing to dissolve into the shoreline. Gannets passing at sea briefly turned red, yellow then green as they flew beyond.
On reaching Higher Burthallan I found myself attempting more photographs of Tommy Major's ramshackle old buildings.
Originally built at the turn of the century from local materials, time and circumstance have eroded them and they have been serviced and maintained on the tightest of budgets to evolve with the landscape and continue to be a part of it. Some may think they are ugly but I think they are beautiful.
Approaching Clodgy, which in a couple of weeks will be flashing with the white rumps of Wheatears, and echoing to the jingling of Linnets and chacking of Stonechats, the low sun cast long but definitely not lazy shadows from the granite outcrops and plunged the cliff face in to deep indigo shadow. To the east St Ives sat in glittering silhouette and a Meditteranean gull in almost full summer plumage quartered the little bay between Man head and Clodgy. Accompanied by Black headed gulls and Kittiwakes it stood out stark white against the blue sea yet almost completely disappeared where the blue sky was not reflected.

2010-02-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

I was walking past the Llama fields this morning, noticing that there were fewer thrushes today, when I heard what I at first thought was a Song thrush half heartedly singing (and not sounding quite right) from the hedge. I was surprised therefore to see that it was a Redwing and there were 2 more singing further along the lane. That's a first for me I must say.
Apart from that a water rail walking around the pony field was the only other sighting of note.

Just a comparison

2010-02-02T11:38:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd compare what I've seen here in St Ives in 2 years with what I saw in a similar sized area of Falmouth during the ten years I was seriously birding there.
My total for Falmouth is 181 species but I've limited that total to what I'd seen in a roughly 2-2.5 mile radius of where I lived. The other factor involved was that I did most of my birding in Falmouth in the winter. Spring and Autumn would see me elsewhere, usually the Lizard or somewhere on the North coast.
I have had to revise last years list already as I forgot to add Lapland bunting, bringing my total of new patch birds for last year to 14.

Revised List

2010-02-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

I last revised my patch list about 12 months ago a year after starting my patch here in St Ives. Just to re cap this is a list of birds that I have seen myself within 2 miles of my front door and by walking only.
Twelve months ago the list stood at 121 and this year I have added 14 species.
They are...
Slavonian Grebe
Great white egret
Goosander
Wigeon
Osprey
Dunlin
Redshank
Green sandpiper
Stone curlew
Green woodpecker
Nightjar
Pied flycatcher
Spotted flycatcher
Bullfinch
Lapland bunting

I'm fairly pleased with that but I'm not expecting to add so many this year but you never know. The right conditions at the right time of year can throw up all sorts of surprises.
I'm going to try and concentrate on the breeding birds of the area too this year, so plenty to get my teeth in to.

2010-01-27T09:02:00.000-08:00

There are still thrushes in the Llama fields and the Mistle thrush count went up to 4 today. This is more than you would get in twelve months under normal circumstances. The sea has also gone very quiet with little passing at the moment. There were 2 Great black backed gulls feeding off 2 seperate Auk corpses at Clodgy this afternoon and also a Common scoter settled there.
In my garden there are now 3 Blackcaps coming to the fat feeder, 1 male 2 females but they only come singly and when 2 arrive together there tends to be a bit of a scrap.

warm again

2010-01-17T11:13:00.000-08:00

It was so warm this morning when I went out that I had to sit down and take my coat off for twenty minutes. This was good as it gave me a chance to scan the sea in St Ives bay where I saw a Slavonian grebe which seemed to be commuting between Porthminster point and Carbis bay. The only other bird of note in the bay was a Great northern diver.
See my extremely dodgy and highly cropped pic ( of the grebe ).
I also had another attempt at the Black redstart behind the lifeboat station.

All Quiet on the Western Front

2010-01-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how quickly the birds have disappeared back out in to the wider country side and I'm quite relieved about it really because I would hate to think of our very small Dartford warbler and Cirl bunting populations being knocked back. It's taken a fair few years for the Dartfords to establish themselves and the Cirl bunting re-introduction is only just getting started.
This Fieldfare was one victim of the freeze and I'm sure for every visible casualty there are a lot more unseen.
There were still a few thrushes in the fields along Burthallan lane mostly Redwings and Song thrushes but with a couple of Fieldfares. 5 Golden plover flew over as I approached the double bend and looking out to sea from here there was quite a passage of Gannets and Auks moving West.
I sat on Clodgy for a while watching the passing seabirds but apart from one or two Kittiwakes there was nothing much else.
I searched desperately for a Stonechat but couldn't find a single one. Even in winter there are usually one or two still around, I really hope they've managed to survive the cold. I can't imagine Clodgy without them.
The bird of the day for me was a Mistle thrush in the field behind the David Bowie house. This field was quite lively with 4 song thrushes 10 Redwings and the first posse of Starlings I've seen for a few weeks.
Finally a female Black redstart was feeding on the rocks behind the Lifeboat station. i'm quite pleased with this shot considering I 've no equipment for taking bird photo's.

Another new St Ives bird

2010-01-11T15:29:00.000-08:00

My perseverance with the Roundhouse pond continues to pay off with a Green sandpiper there this morning. I know this is not a rare bird but I don't include Hayle estuary in my patch so any waders are welcome additions to my patch list.

Cold weather casualty

2010-01-10T12:00:00.000-08:00

I picked up a very weak Lapwing (see pic) down by the bowling green this afternoon. I'm trying to feed it worms but it's very weak.

Redwings and Fieldfares all over the place again today and down along the sea front between Barnoon cemetary and Man head there were 40 Golden plover (see pic) 8 Lapwing and thrushes all making the most of the relatively unfrozen ground down there. I never thought I'd be able to walk up to within 15 feet of a Golden Plover or a Lapwing but they'd found some respite and they were holding on to it. Thankfully it is forecast to warm up this week and probably just in time looking at the state of some of those birds.

Probably not so bad for the thrushes as they will come in to the gardens (there was a Redwing feeding right up against the front of the house see pic taken through the glass) and dig around under the hedges.

Redwings everywhere.

2010-01-09T06:34:00.000-08:00

A biting north Easterly wind and Thrushes flying in all directions greeted me as I stepped out this morning. There were even Redwings on the Ayr playing field, normally only inhabited by dog walkers and footballing kids.

Along Burthallan lane there were Redwings again in the fields but here they were accompanied by Fieldfares and Lapwings. The Llamas didn't appear to feel the cold though. I headed up to the farm and then inland across the fields to see more of the same. At Hellesvean farm there were also a dozen Snipe in a cow field with Lapwings and more thrushes.

The weather does make for great birding but I really do feel for them, they are struggling now.

There was even a Lapwing on the Roundhouse pond along with the usual Water rail. This remains unfrozen as the river Stennack flows through it.

I found the reservoir still half covered in ice and two more St Ives ticks came in the way of a Redshank and a Wigeon. Not rare birds obviously but not the sort of thing you see in St Ives too often. In the adjacent fields there were more thrushes and another bunch of Snipe and Lapwings all clustered round a soft patch in the middle. A mangy looking fox slunk off across the stone wall as I approached but the birds let me get far closer than they normally would.

This afternoon there were thrushes flying East over the harbour and out across the bay towards Godrevy. I can't help thinking they'd have been better off flying West towards Scilly.

Pictured here are the partially frozen res, the Roundhouse pond a garden Redwing and an unfrozen Llama.

Frozen movement

2010-01-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

There was a lot of activity today in the way of birds moving out and in. Out was the Goosander at the reservoir as it had almost totally frozen over and out were birds feeding in the adjacent fields as these to were frozen. A handful of Redwings and a solitary Lapwing flying over there. The Kingfisher was again at the Roundhouse pond.

At the pottery a first year male Black redstart was hanging around the windowsills and the roof of the old workshop and the cottage, whilst under the car park tree near the feeders up to 20 Redwing and a few Blackbirds and Song thrushes fed amongst the fallen leaves.

White stuff

2010-01-07T11:11:00.001-08:00

We finally got some snow this morning but St Ives got very little compared with the rest of Cornwall.

There were Black redstart, Redwing, Chaffinch, Song thrush and Goldfinches in the garden at 8.00am with Meadow pipits and Blackbirds along the road digging around at the bottom of the walll.

The Goosander was still on the res but unaccompanied. There were a few Redwings, Song thrushes and Lapwings in the adjacent fields and there was a Snipe at the Roundhouse pond.

I took these two photos of the view across the bay from the front garden about 2 minutes apart. The other one of the garden shows just how little snow we got.

Slush not snow.

2010-01-06T01:40:00.000-08:00

It snowed briefly late yesterday evening but by morning it had almost completely melted along my road. There was no evidence of any snow down at the harbour either. The wind was blowing in from the North quite strongly so there were quite a few gannets and Kittiwakes passing and one Balearic shearwater. A Black redstart, 2 Rock pipits, 2 Pied wagtails and 4 Turnstones were behind the lifeboat station. On returning home another Black redstart flew up from the path and there was a Meadow pipit, 2 Song thrush, 2 Blackbirds, a Blackcap and 4 Goldfinch's in the garden. That is good for my garden even though I put food out. We have only been here a couple of years and there was nothing in the garden when we moved in so as it matures I hope to see more birds. Great view, though right across St Ives bay and I've got Arctic, Pom and Bonxie on my garden list plus all the other seabirds that pass regularly and are identifiable at range.

Before going in to work I nipped up to the res (a lot more snow up here) to see if any more wildfowl had dropped in but it was completely empty (the Goosander was still there yesterday morning). I then had a quick look at the Roundhouse pond to see if there were any Water rails out in the open. There weren't but there was a Kingfisher and you don't see them in St Ives too often !

New Years day Patch Tick

2010-01-01T07:32:00.000-08:00

Beautiful this morning so I thought I'd head off up Burthallan lane and then cut across the fields to Hellsvean and on up to Bussow reservoir.

As I turned the corner out of our road to walk up the hill a Merlin flew over, two minutes earlier and it would have got on my garden list, still, never mind a good start and a good bird to get flying over the town.

Walking along Burthallan lane it was obvious that thrush numbers were still up. I counted 40 Song thrush, 38 Blackbirds and 11 Redwings feeding in the fields along here with one field in particular hosting the majority.

It was pretty quiet over the Hellsvean fields, but this is normal as they are so called "improved" pasture. Improved for what? That's what I'd like to know.

On then up to the reservoir and I was hoping to find some loafing gulls to scan through but the water was deserted except for a single drake Goosander. I was not expecting this at all and is a St Ives tick for me.

Please excuse the blurry record shot but it is a Goosander, honest.

Boxing day

2009-12-27T12:39:00.000-08:00

At last managed to get out for a couple of hours yesterday. A beautiful day and there was definitely some evidence of cold weather movement.

Every field had at least 3 Song thrushes with the first Llama field along Burthallan lane holding 6 plus 8 Redwings and 5 Blackbirds too. The field immediately behind the David Bowie house held another 7 Song thrushes and 13 Blackbirds.

Back along Burthallan lane and the spring where I've done a bit of tree planting opposite Venton Vision farm held at least 3 Water rails with two clambering around the vegetation and another one screaming away from within dense cover.

Out on the sea off Clodgy it appears that the sprat shoals have arrived back with a 100 or so Auks (mainly Guillemots) loads of Gannets, Kittiwakes and gulls, including 1 Med and 1 Bonxie making the most of it. Also there were at least 10 Balearic shearwaters but as they were feeding amongst the other birds it was hard to tell exactly how many as they were flying in all directions, there could have been a few more and 10 is a conservative estimate.

2009-11-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

A bit of a non weekend bird wise really. Never got out at all yesterday and spent most of today down the workshop. I walked home past the harbour which contained a handful of larger gulls with 20 or so Black headed and 2 Med's. One of these was the make up artist from a few days ago. It seemed a lot colder today, not sure if that was the case or not or me just feeling a bit shitty.

I found this on you tube and it reminded me of a great album by The Inspiral Carpets so I'm going to have a listen now.

Osprey? In November?

2009-11-15T03:52:00.000-08:00

This morning couldn't have been more different weather wise so I thought I'd go out to Hain walk first to see if there was anything remaining in the bay that had been sheltering from yesterdays winds. And there was very little. 2 Great northern divers and 2 Common scoters was all I could find so I headed back towards town intending to walk back along the coast to Clodgy. A quick glance at the gulls loafing in the harbour revealed nothing more than the usual Herrings, Great black backs and Black headeds and even the pasty eating Turnstones were nowhere to be seen.

As I reached man head some half a dozen Meadow pipits flew up from the short turf there and there were 2 Black Redstarts springing around the shelter.

I sat on Clodgy for 10 minutes just to see if anything was passing and then headed on up the hill towards the farm. I was just thinking "there ought to be a Snow Bunting out here somewhere today" (this was approximately 10.00am) when a bunch of gulls appeared from behind the first cliff West of the point making a right old racket. Thinking there was a Buzzard around or the local Peregrine had just gone through I scanned the gulls and you can imagine my surprise when an Osprey suddenly drifted in to view! it was about 300 metres away and flying just above the cliff tops (they are not very high here though). It continued to circle gaining height and moving in a North Easterly direction. I watched as it drifted off in the general direction of Trevose head until it was just a speck in the distance.

In light of the weather over the last couple of days and the fact that it is mid November, where might this bird have come from? Could it have crossed the Atlantic? We will never know I suppose. This bird could well turn up on the Camel estuary considering which way it was flying.

Surprise skuas

2009-11-14T08:39:00.000-08:00

As I thought the wind was all in the South West today I didn't go out this morning but took my bins down with me to the workshop in case there was anything in the harbour.

I left the workshop early and noticed the wind had gone round to the North West. So off I trotted out to the island where I managed about an hour before the wind dropped off completely. In that hour I managed to see 8 Bonxies, 1 Arctic skua, 3 Balearic shearwaters and 2 Great northern divers plus a LOT of Kittiwakes.

As I was walking back past the harbour I noticed flocks of birds wheeling around and settled on the sea in the bay. Closer inspection revealed these to be mostly Kittiwakes with a few Black headed gulls closer in. As I was scanning through these a colour ringed adult Med gull dropped in to the harbour right in front of me but it was too quick for me to get anything on the rings apart from one was green and one white (I think!). Anyway once in the water I could see nothing else of them. I will say it had a very handsome head pattern though. Some Med gulls in winter can have quite vague or blurry head markings but this one, with it's blood red adult bill as well, looked like it had been experimenting with mascara and lipstick!!

Tawny, but not an Owl

2009-11-09T10:51:00.000-08:00

Beautiful out this morning and the birds seemed to be enjoying the respite from the recent windy conditions. There was a small flock of Meadow pipits and Goldfinch in the field behind the David Bowie house and 2 Blackcaps in the garden there. A very large, loose flock of Thrushes flew East consisting mainly of Redwings but with a few Fieldfares. There were probably some Song thrushes in there too as there were plenty around the hedgerows.

3 Skylarks flew East too and a large pipit with a longish tail and calling "prrt" flew from Man head and headed towards the town. I can't put this down to being anything other than a **Tawny pipit** although it is a little late in the season.

Finally 3 Med gulls were feeding off Porthmeor beach along with a dozen or so Black headed.

Diver day

2009-11-07T11:35:00.000-08:00

I managed an hour and a half sea watching this morning. I thought, 'it's going to be cold sat there' so I put 2 thermal tops on, trousers and thermal waterproofs and my waterproof coat and by the time I'd walked out there I had to take half of it off again until I'd cooled down, phew!

Any road up it wasn't too eventful but divers put in an appearance with 6 Great Northern divers and 2 Red throated divers passing along with 2 Bonxies. There were fewer Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks today. Tomorrow looks like it might be better.

2009-11-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

I managed to get half an hours sea watching in before work and apart from the many Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks I managed to see 1 Pomarine skua, 2 Balearic shearwaters and 1 Med gull.

More was seen from the island during the day apparently.

2009-11-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

Sunday mornings sea watch was a bit of a disappointment with just Gannets, a few Kittiwakes and 4 Med gulls passing through.

A cursory glance at the sea this morning revealed much the same except there were quite a few Auks passing but I didn't have time to linger as I had to got to work I may try and spend a bit longer tomorrow morning.

2009-10-31T07:52:00.001-07:00

I thought I'd make the most of this morning in light of the weather we've been told to expect tonight.

Walking along Burthallan lane it was clear that birds had arrived overnight with the Song thrush, Blackbird and Robin populations very obviously increased. Goldfinches too were evident having been reduced in numbers for a while. It was calm and warm walking along the lane and a few Starlings were taking advantage of the Palm berries. I quickly scanned through these for any sign of the Rose coloured starling that has been seen at the Island on and off this week but to no avail. There never seems to be any pattern to the way they feed on these trees, never staying on one tree or group of trees until they've stripped them bare. They are likely to disappear en masse at any time and go and find another tree. I have seen other birds eating these berries eg. Blackbird, Blackcap and Woodpigeon but I think the Starlings take the bulk of them.

On reaching the first of Tommy Majors fields past the second double bend I noticed small birds feeding among the grass. I lifted my bin's expecting them to be Meadow pipits but to my surprise saw *3 Black redstarts* feeding on on what looked flies amongst the grass. Up at the farm there were another 2 and then another 2 later on along Ocean view terrace.

A *Mistle thrush* was an unusual sight halfway down the track to Clodgy. This bird had probably arrived with the other thrushes but it seemed strange there were very few Redwings and no Fieldfares.

Off Clodgy there were Gannets and Kittiwakes feeding on fish fry and amongst the gulls flying around mopping up the leftovers were 2 adult and 1 1st Winter Mediterranean gulls .

Finally to round off an eventful morning there were 7 Blackcaps and 3 Chiff chaffs split between the David Bowie house garden and the trees at the end of Orange lane, also a Green woodpecker was amongst the hedges of the horse fields there.

It looks like it could be a very good sea watch in the morning, providing I don't get blown away walking down there that is!

The Black redstart photo is courtesy of realbirder.com (link at top right) and is not of the birds seen today.

2009-10-26T12:17:00.000-07:00

Not a lot of activity from either me or the birds this weekend. However a late walk down to Man head yesterday evening saw a large flock of Kittiwakes settled on the sea about half a mile out and there were a few groups of Razorbills and Guillemots passing accompanied by a lone *Pomarine skua*

This morning was grey and misty and horrible but there were a number of flocks of thrushes moving around the Clodgy/Burthallan lane area. Mostly Redwings but with a few Fieldfare amongst them. Also the Long tailed tit flock was still hanging around and there were a few bunches of Starlings marauding the Palm trees, they love the berries.

There was apparently a juvenile **Rosey starling** on the Island on Wednesday and Thursday but it has not been seen since. It is most likely amongst one of the mobile flocks and could be anywhere.

2009-10-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

Things were quieter Saturday and Sunday morning but a *Black redstart* was around the roof tops of the Scrapyard house and the adjacent property on the double bend.

There are still some Blackcaps hiding out and feasting amongst the Blackberry bushes, another Water rail was in the marshy area opposite Venton vision farm and the Long tailed tit flock seems to have taken up residence in the area.

2009-10-16T03:34:00.000-07:00

The Autumn so far has been a bit up and down as far as migrants are concerned and I have not been able to get out as regularly as I would have liked. However this week has seen some movement. Tuesday morning was the highlight when a **Yellow browed warbler** was in the vicarage garden at St Johns in the Fields, it was very elusive though. First heard calling it was a further five minutes before a decent view was obtained.

The first Redwings of the Autumn were 4 over Bullens lane on Wednesday morning and 2 over the Leach pottery yesterday.

This morning there were a lot of Thrushes around, mostly Blackbirds with a few Song Thrushes and Robin numbers have certainly increased over the last week. Bird of the morning was a *Merlin*, which sent a flock of Meadow pipits in to complete panic closely followed (not literally) by a Green woodpecker.

Also in evidence this morning were Long tailed tits looking like a flock of flying lollipops.

2009-09-26T12:14:00.000-07:00

It's been a quiet week after the last fortnights flurry of migrant activity.

Up until yesterday morning passage birds were practically none existent and consisted of 1 Water rail along Burthallan lane and a flyover Snipe at Clodgy.

Yesterday morning there was a further Snipe and 2 more Water rail plus at least 10 Chiff chaff and the first Song thrush for a few weeks was seen near the Zennor footpath.

With Westerly winds blowing across Northern Europe things don't look set to improve but birds can and will be unpredictable. A Little bunting at Portland bill today is testament to that.

2009-09-13T12:51:00.000-07:00

Three totally unrelated photo's of a Garden spider a dark bush cricket and a rather attractive boat prop at Hayle estuary.

The weather has been fantastic especially today. Migrants have continued to filter through the patch with plenty of Blackcaps and Chiff chaffs and a few Willow warbler and Whitethroat. Swallows and House martins have been extremely abundant gathering on the wires along Burthallan lane. As they sit there making funny little whirring noises and chattering you could imagine it being peoples conversations being translated from the phone lines the birds are sitting on.

On the scarceer migrant front there was a Spotted flycatcher in the spring bushes along the lane and 2 Lapland buntings flew over the house with all the old cars in the garden yesterday morning.

2009-09-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

2009-09-09T14:35:00.000-07:00

2009-09-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

2009-09-09T14:31:00.000-07:00

2009-09-09T14:19:00.000-07:00

There have been a few migrants throught this week. Sunday morning saw my first Bullfinches for the patch. There were 3 juveniles behind the Gunnera patch along Burthallan lane. They were bobbing in and out of sight like objects in a fairground shooting gallery but I eventually got good veiws. There was quite a lot of activity in this area with plenty of Whitethroats, a few Blackcaps appearing and disappearing from within an Elderberry bush and a handfull of Chiff chaffs and Willow warblers . The following afternoon there was still some activity with Blackcaps and Whitethroats but with the added attraction of a Pied flycatcher. The same morning there was an Icterine warbler and a further 2 Pied flycatchers in a garden along Alexandra row.

This evening was a very good one for butterflies, especially Red admirals but Painted ladies and Small tortoiseshells were also evident. With this fine weather if you can find some flowering Ivy in the evening sun and out of the wind you may well find large congregations of these butterflies.

2009-09-04T13:53:00.001-07:00

I managed to get out for an hours sea watching before work and an hour after work. The wind was in the right direction but could perhaps have been a bit stronger. This morning there were thousands of Manx shearwaters passing and stopping to feed and a lot of gannets too. Some of the Gannets were diving in like Stukas right close to the rocks. A Pomarine skua went through with determination as they always do followed by six of their smaller cousins the Arctic skua. One of these was a light phase bird the rest dark. A single Storm petrel was seen flittering amongst the shearwaters and a Kittiwake briefly masqueraded as a Sabines gull.

This evening two Bonxies were almost the first birds seen and the Manx shearwaters were still streaming past. If they had been passing at this rate all day then there must have been tens of thousands flying West during the course of the day. A single Balearic shearwater was amongst them. Finally two Puffins fizzed past with a Guillemot and best of all, amongst a flock of five Arctic terns were two Black tern.

2009-08-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've had any news or photo's to put up on here. Apart from being busy with the workshop th dreaded Swine flu got me last week so I've been convalescing.

There are a lot of young Swallows and Starlings around at the moment along Burthallan lane and returning Wheatears have been feeding on the short turf at Clodgy. Not much news on passing seabirds as the weather conditions have'nt been right but at Porthgawrra they have had a few Cory's and Great shearwaters and a single adult Sabines gull passed Pendeen on Sunday.

Just a few insect pictures this time along with one of our Willow and a very obliging, if mangy, fox that was encouraged to come closer with some squeaking noises made on the back of my hand.

2009-07-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

Managed to get out to Clodgy this evening, first time for a while due to work commitments and the weather.

Fairly uneventful visit but the sight of a long, dark and light grey dorsal fin ploughing through the water briefly set my pulse racing. I quickly realised, however, that it wasn't an Orca.

A quick look at the Seawatch Foundation website on returning home told me it was a Risso's dolphin which, although I haven't seen one before, is what I suspected. They are occasional visitors to Cornish waters and have been seen from Clodgy before.

2009-07-26T13:36:00.001-07:00

PAH !!

2009-07-14T12:38:00.001-07:00

Very little to report as I've only managed to get out to Clodgy once in the past week. Managed to take these few shots and a few shots of the immature Mediterranean gull that has set up residence in the harbour. It seems to favour the wet area just in front of the black wooden shed just before you get to the Sloop slipway. It is there every afternoon/evening at the moment. This is a bird that would have been hatched last year. They breed in Southern and South Eastern Britain in very small numbers but are increasing and are a fairly common Winter visitor. However there are large breeding populations in The Netherlands and Belgium. Note how they are bulkier than a Black headed gull with a heavier, 'drooped' bill. When this bird becomes an adult it will have no black in it's wings at all. The wing tips will be pure white. In Summer it's head will be jet black with a conspicuous white eyelid.

2009-07-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

It appears to have been a successful breeding season for resident and migrant birds in the area. Stonechats have second broods as do Linnets and, possibly, Meadow pipits. Rock pipits are definitely feeding new young too.

Sedge warblers along Burthallan lane and near where the stream falls out over the cliff are suddenly vocal again after being quiet for a while whilst Whitethroats have become harder to see.

There were quite a few Manx shearwaters passing close in to Clodgy last night (due to the stiff North westerly breeze) along with Gannets and the occasional Razorbill and Guillemot. A single Puffin passed West too as did a handful of Kittiwakes.

St Ives is one of the best places in the world to watch Autumn sea bird migration when the weather conditions are right. Late August through to the end of September is the best time but its always worth keeping on eeye on the sea as you never know what could pass by or fly in as illustrated by the Great White Egret I saw the other week.

Linnets were flitting around the rocks and feeding in the short grass and a Rock pipit was singing in between collecting food for it's young.

Apparently Clodgy is a top site for Glow worms so I will be doing a late one soon when we get a nice still warm night again.

2009-07-07T10:02:00.001-07:00

Now I've identified them here are a few more moths from the weekend.

From the top down this time.

Dot moth.

Sharp angled peacock.

Clay.

Dusky brocade.

2009-07-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

No luck finding Otters again the other night but I managed to get my re-vamped moth trap out for the first time this weekend. I set it up in the garden of the Garrack hotel, courtesy of Micheal Kilby.

No migrants or rarities were trapped but most people are surprised at the beauty of moths when they see some of them. Probably because they don't get to see them as they fly at night ( to state the obvious). Those pictured are, from the bottom up........

Common rustic.

Buff ermine.

Drinker.

Bright line brown eye.

True lovers knot.

Burnished brass.

Buff tip.

Two Garden tigers.

White ermine.

Ghost swift.

2009-07-02T05:47:00.000-07:00

Walking down to Clodgy last night I found this nice Hedge woundwort up by Burthallan farm.

It was so warm and still, sitting on the point felt like sitting in the front room and looking out the window. And the sea was mirror calm as can be seen in the photo. It is very rare to see passing sea birds reflected in the water. The poor old Gannets prefer a bit of wind to give their large bodies some lift so it was strange to see what few their were flying just skimming inches above the surface like Albatrosses.

The best thing of all though, and probably only because of the sea conditions, was the sight of an Otter rolling and diving and swimming in and out of the rocky crevices. I watched him (I feel sure it was a dog Otter as it was quite large) for a few minutes before he was lost to veiw. I knew they were around as they have been seen at Drift and Hayle estuary but I didn't expect to see one in the sea. I'm going to have another look tonight as it was apparently seen two nights ago in the same place.

2009-06-26T03:30:00.001-07:00

Firstly some bird news from the patch. Tuesday and Friday last week a Nightjar was heard and seen at dusk along the track that runs up to Burthallan from Clodgy point, just uphill and West of the Blackthorn "tunnel". They do breed locally at Bosigran, Foage valley and near Towednack but this is the first ever record for Clodgy.

On Monday evening there was a Harbour porpoise off Clodgy and a Sooty shearwater and 5 common scoter flew West.

I just managed to get these photos of the first Meadowsweet, Hemp agrimoney and Hogweed before putting my back out and ending up in bed for the last two days. Feeling a bit better today hence me sitting up doing this. And it was worth getting up as I found this Scarlet tiger moth sitting outside the backdoor. Superficially similar to the Cream spot I found a couple of weeks ago but it has yellow spots on the inner forewing which is dark metallic green rather than black and the hindwing is deep red with black markings. You can just see it peeping out in the photograph.

2009-06-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

With all this plant excitement going on I forgot to mention that I had a Great White egret at Clodgy point on Monday evening. It flew in off the sea and continued inland. I thought it was a Grey heron at first as it was in silhouette but as the light got on it I could see it was all white with dark legs and feet and a yellow bill. These are rare birds in Britain but sightings are increasing every year. I'm sure it won't be long before they join Little and Cattle egrets as British breeders. I also had an Arctic skua flying West with some Manx shearwaters. Manx's are conspicuous as they fly West to feed in the mornings and evenings, with some of them travelling as far as Biscay.

A few photos from the garden, Mullein, as promised Jude, a couple of tiny hoverflies which I have yet to identify and some strange plant that looks like Maidenhair fern but true ferns don't have flowers so I have no idea what it might be. It just grew!

2009-06-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

I went back to the Hayle causeway orchid site today and found a Bee orchid. So they are still there but obviously not in the numbers that they were a few years ago. I also found out that even though these are probably the only Bee orchids in Cornwall the tiny Grass vetchling is far rarer on a national scale so here is another photo of one.

This Common flax looked enirely white until I got the shot on to the PC and saw the lovely subtle blue in the petals.

When I was young we used to call Burnet moths "Buzz bombs" and this was one of several of the Six spot variety that were very active there this morning. One of the "day flying" moths that are very conspicuous.

2009-06-15T05:51:00.000-07:00

I have identified the pnk/red flower and it is Grass vetchling. It's not something I have ever seen before but it is , apparently, not uncommon on unimproved pasture/ grassland. Maybe that's why I haven't seen it, because there is very little of that habitat left!

And the "deliberate", not, ;-) mistake I made was to call "The Old Quay House", "The Old Coach House"!

I photographed this caterpillar in my garden. It is the larvae of the Mullein moth and it was feeding on ? Yes, you've guessed it, Mullein. I have 8 Mullein plants in the garden that have self-seeded themselves so, as there are only 11 caterpillars on 4 plants, I'm happy to let them be. They are very beautiful anyway and I don't mind having them. It encourages biodiversity in the garden and this in turn keeps pesky pests to a minimum. I still haven't found a friendly answer to slugs and snails though.

2009-06-13T12:10:00.001-07:00

I have just started another blog called Sculpted boxes, you can get to it from my profile.

2009-06-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

A trip away from the patch today to photograph Pyramidal orchid.

This is normally a species of chalk grassland but for some unknown reason there is a patch of them opposite the Old Quay House at the end of Hayle estuary. There used to be Bee orchids here too but they haven't flowered for some time now.

There is a large patch of Southern marsh orchids and the Pyramidals are in amongst them.

There was also this tiny pink flower, I have no idea what it is and I can't find it in any guide.

EDIT. It is called "Grass vetchling"

2009-06-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

The migrants may have stopped but our residents are looking dapper as illustrated by this male Stonechat (a little blurry but my camera isn't really up to this sort of shot).

A 'knot' of Slow worms was found basking under a piece of old rubber, there are actually four in the photo, a mixture of male and female.

The photo of the bottom of a telegraph pole shows where a Badger had found something appetising last night.

I couldnt resist adding some more orchid shots, this is a really stunning example of Heath spotted and probably the biggest Southern marsh I've ever seen.

Other plants showing off today were this 'cushion' of Sea mayweed and some Sheeps-bit reflecting the blue of the sea and sky.

The tiny yellow flower growing at the back of Clodgy as yet remains unidentified, any suggestions as to what it might be are welcome.

Finally the tiny Herb robert always looks good and some Oxalis which I'm not sure is wild or escaped from someones garden.

2009-06-08T03:36:00.000-07:00

Ragged robin, along the path to Clodgy

There really is a stunning display of wild flowers on show at the moment so get yourselves out and make the most of it.

2009-06-08T03:34:00.000-07:00

Hemlock? water dropwort, Clodgy

2009-06-08T03:32:00.000-07:00

Southern marsh orchid, Clodgy point

2009-06-08T03:30:00.000-07:00

Heath spotted orchid, Clodgy point

2009-06-08T03:29:00.000-07:00

Speckled wood

2009-06-08T03:26:00.000-07:00

One of the umpteen millions of Painted lady butterflies that have arrived here from Africa in the last couple of weeks

2009-06-08T03:24:00.000-07:00

This magnificent Cream spot tiger moth was found along Burthallan lane

2009-06-08T03:20:00.000-07:00

Spring migration seems to have completely petered out. The last birds on the patch were a Red Kite over Clodgy and The Stennack last Friday morning, a Hobby and half a dozen Swifts the same evening and a late House Martin went through Sunday evening.

There is still plenty of interest around with insects and plants now taking over.

2009-05-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've had chance to do any birding but managed to get out this morning and what a morning it was, weather wise anyway.

A Hobby zoomed over Ayr field being chased by a couple of Swifts as I came round the corner and this got my hopes up for more of the same but it is now that time of year when most of the migrants have passed through with the exception of a few tardy stragglers like the three Wheatear that were at Clodgy and the Grasshopper warbler singing halfay down the Clodgy track in the overgrown field. Fantastic views of this bird though. The thing with Grasshopper warblers is that they are easy to hear (providing you have decent hearing) but seeing them can be a different matter entirely. This one was very obliging though as it sat out on top of a sprig of bramble, in the sunshine, reeling away.

It looks like all the local Stonechats are incubating second broods whilst the surviving members of their first broods are looking after themselves now.

To round the morning off there was a pod of c8-10 Dolphins in the bay.

2009-05-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

There was an incredible passage of swallows today. They were passing through at the back of Clodgy at a rate of c100 per hour. There were very few other Hirundines with them either just one or two House martins and Sand martins.

There now appears to be two male Sedge warblers holding territory opposite Venton Vision farm.

They are very charismatic birds with their distinctive facial pattern, scuttling up out of the herbage and proudly and excitedly singing their buzzy chattery song from the top of the Blackthorn.

I have estimated the total Whitethroat population for the patch is probably now about 12-15 males holding territory but not all these will successfully find a mate and breed.

Of the four pairs of Stonechat two have definitely fledged young but it is unclear how many as I only saw 1 young with each pair. No doubt they will both attempt another brood.

The photo is of a Sedge warbler but not taken by me.

2009-05-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

It was good to get back to the patch this morning. Whitethroats are now very much in evidence. I anticipate their arrival so anxiously yet almost as soon as they arrive I become so blase about them, sometimes forgetting that they've just flown god knows how many miles from the Sahel region of Africa (why they would want to spend the winter in such an apparently inhospitable place I have no idea). It was not that many years ago that the British breeding population crashed due to there being a drought in their winter quarters so I should not take them so much for granted. It's easy to forget that, with migratory birds, environmental conditions in one country can affect the population of a particular species on their breeding or wintering grounds. I'm sure some of our summer visitors would be much more numerous if they weren't shot by people in Southern europe and the Med whilst on their long flight North. Turtle dove being the most obvious example.

Anyway, back to the Whitethroats and I managed to count 10 singing males between Burthallan lane and the allotments. This is a circuitous route so there are probably a few more within this area.

I was surprised to come across a 30+ flock of Linnets in the far field. I'm not sure whether these are non-breeders or just the local population getting together to feed. Nevertheless they are my favourite British finch.

I was hoping to at least hear Grasshopper warbler as they do breed here regularly but just because I didn't hear them doesn't mean they're not there.

2009-05-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

Jacob Bodilly and I arrived home with a curry last night to hear the sound of Whimbrel passing overhead on their journey North. There seem to be far more passing through this year.

A rare journey away from the patch today saw myself and Willow checking out Pendarves wood. This is a Cornwall Wildlife Trust reserve near Praze-an-Beeble. On arrival we found there were no dogs allowed but luckily there was a bridleway that skirted the perimeter of the reserve so we had to make do with that. The track seemed to be an old cart road of somekind and was immediately adjacent to the woodland which was full of woodland birdsong. Chiff chaff, Great tit, Blue tit, and Nuthatch were all conspicuous. About half way along I caught the thin high call of a Treecreeper but couldn't see it at all. Some thumping and tapping from above helped me locate a Gret spotted woodpecker which seemed determined to annhialate the dead branch it was stabbing. It suddenly ceased it's headache inducing bashing and seconds later a male Sparrowhawk whistled past my right ear sending alarm calls up from the resident Blackbirds, Wrens and Robins. We left them chinking and ticking awayas we headed back to the car. it made a pleasant change to walk in woodland as there is so little of it in West cornwall but next time Willow will be staying at home so I can explore properly.

2009-05-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

The lifeboat slip

Two views of the harbour

St Ives Parish church

2009-04-29T05:18:00.000-07:00

Awful weather and work commitments have stopped me getting out much in the last few days but I managed to get out to Clodgy yesterday evening.

Bird activity was limited to a Sedge warbler, a couple of Wheatears and 2 Purple sandpipers down on the rocks, one of them approaching full summer plumage.

The sunset though was beautiful.

2009-04-21T12:01:00.001-07:00

The first thing I saw this morning as I walked out the gate was the local Peregrine falcon heading down town for brekky.

Walking out to Clodgy the path was frothing white at the edges with Three cornered leek and occasional Stitchwort and this in turn was punctuated by clumps of Red campion, Primulas and a smattering of Violets. The top of Clodgy is now a carpet of Violets. I love watching out for the different species to appear. It will soon be the turn of Thrift, Sea campion and Vernal squill.

Quiet on the bird front today with singles of Whitethroat, Willow warbler and Grasshopper warbler.

The local Swallows are now all back on their territories.

I noticed a group of Gannets feeding off the point so, as I'd heard there were Dolphins about, I sat around for a while. Sure enough within 5 minutes they appeared. About a dozen animals including a couple of young ones put on quite a display for ten minutes until the shoal of fish moved on and they went with it.

Finally as I returned along the path a successful Peregrine hurtled along the cliff top carrying it's prize back to the waiting young.

2009-04-19T13:32:00.000-07:00

Things really started to move this morning. Sedge warblers were bubbling away excitedly all over the place it seemed, Willow warblers reached the dizzy heights of 5, there was another Grasshopper warbler reeling away near the farm (so close I could have probably reached out and touched it if I could have seen it. They love to sing from deep thick cover but will occasionally come out and sing from the top of a bramble bush. It's either one thing or the other with them), there were more Chiff chaffs around but less Wheatears, a Whitethroat was by the farm and another in the Orchid field where a Lesser Whitethroat was singing in the Blackthorn break by the stile there, as it happens the same place as there was one last year.

A Whimbrel called from overhead somewhere this evening and Swallows seem to be moving through in good numbers now.

It has just struck me that I ought to post a map of the area on here, you may be able to picture better where I'm talking about.

2009-04-18T13:40:00.000-07:00

It had to happen sooner or later. Migrants have started to arrive but still not en masse. There was a Sedge warbler singing opposite Venton Vision farm and another on the track to Hellesvean cliff. Also a Grasshopper warbler was singing between Hellesvean and Clodgy. At Clodgy there were 3 Wheatear. Swallows are now very much in evidence with birds constantly passing through along the coast. There was a Woodchat shrike at Cot valley today so high hopes for the morning. Ever the optimist.

This is a very poor record shot of a Woodchat shrike that I took at Hengistbury head in Dorset a few years ago.

2009-04-16T06:23:00.001-07:00

Well, I know I've been constantly threatening recently to give news of migrants arriving back for the summer. The thing is, they haven't been, at least not in any great numbers.

Apparently the weather in Southern europe has been worse than here so this is holding birds back.

I've normally seen Whitethroats by now and heard Grasshopper warbler. There seem to be a few Willow warblers in and Swallows continue to trickle through in dribs and drabs but it is awfully slow considering it's mid April.

Maybe we will get a huge fall as they all come over in one go, that is something I have only experienced once before in Cornwall about 12 years ago at the Lizard. The trees and bushes were dripping with warblers and the fields were carpeted with Whinchats and Wheatears. I'm sure it's much less likely to happen to that extent on the North coast though. It would certainly need a very special and complex set of weather conditions.

Meanwhile here is a drawing of a Hobby as a taste of things to come hopefully.

2009-04-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

This is another one from the same visit.

The light was intense and I had to use a polarising filter to tone it down.

I waited another twenty minutes for another set of waves as big as these but none came.

2009-04-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

The wiew along the coast looking West towards Pen Enys from Clodgy today.

2009-04-12T15:39:00.000-07:00

Looking down to Clodgy across the scrubs

2009-04-12T15:37:00.000-07:00

Primulas

2009-04-12T15:35:00.000-07:00

Early morning Stitchwort with melted frost

2009-04-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

Higher Burthallan cottage, beyond a foaming sea of Blackthorn

2009-04-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

A rather blurred Swallow on wires along Burthallan lane

2009-04-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

Another stunning morning that produced practically nothing in the way of returning Summer visitors apart from a Blackcap and a Willow warbler singing in the scrubs and two a couple of Swallows along Burthallan lane. With light South Easterly winds, clear skies over Brittany and a front coming in off the Atlantic one would hope for a reasonable fall of migrants tomorrow morning though.

It appears there is a new alien species threatening the peace and quiet of our countryside and wild places. It goes by the name of Joggerus nikevestii. An easily rcognised species despite the wide variety of plumage. They plod around puffing and panting and occasionally stop to perform stretching, bending and bowing rituals to nobody in particular. Their actions seem to achieve nothing except waste energy and disturb the peace and quiet. They have long been a feature of the towns and cities but seem to be invading the countryside in ever increasing numbers. They must be stopped as they threaten the sanity of people who go out early in the morning precisely to avoid this sort of behaviour.

2009-04-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

I was surprised this morning by a Willow warbler singing from a garden at the top of Bullens lane. This could be good, I thought to myself.

It turned out that there had not been a huge fall of migrants as I hoped, nevertheless there was a bunch of Hirundines zooming around the old quarry that included 5 Swallow, 2 Sand martin and 2 House martin but, apart from another Swallow swooping along the low cliff at Clodgy, that was it. No first Grasshopper warbler of the Spring and no first Whitethroat. Maybe tomorrow.

2009-04-08T11:36:00.000-07:00

Today the air was so crystal clear and the light so sharp it was breathtaking.

The sea and sky have never been bluer and the beach and the buildings were dazzling. It made me realise how lucky we all are to be living here.

In the words of one of my favourite bands. "throw those curtains wide, one day like this a year will see me right"

2009-04-07T15:40:00.000-07:00

Seems like ages since I've put anything on here or seen any birds worth talking about. I've been very busy with Carol, getting the workshop sorted out and making stuff to sell in it.

The weather is terrible at the moment for migrant watching so I've just been taking the dog out and only been looking for birds with half an eye.

The Robins up at the Leach pottery have hatched their young and are busy feeding them. There also appears to be a pair each of Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Collared doves and Goldcrest.

These are a few shots I took down the harbour one morning.

2009-03-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and today saw some firsts for the year.

Monday morning a Swallow was hawking briefly around the field behind the David Bowie house (so called because there is a rumour that he once considered buying it) and this morning 4 Sand martins flew past Clodgy and there were a couple of Willow warblers in the scrub area. 2 male and 1 female Wheatear were at the point. Things are looking good for the next few days with settled weather. There was an Alpine swift at St Just today so who knows what may turn up.

2009-03-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

What a difference a day makes! After yesterdays bloody freezing cold that actually made me feel ill this morning there was not a breath of wind. Still not ideal migration weather but a beautiful morning nonetheless.

Out at Clodgy, at present there appears to be 2 pairs of meadow pipits on territory 1 pair of Rock pipits, 2 pairs Stonechat and 3 pairs of Linnets.

This morning there was a Black redstart, briefly. A first summer male Wheatear was doing the bird equivalent of the 100 yard dash across the short turf and 3 Sandwich terns passed East. Also 5 Wood pigeon flew in off the sea, God knows where they came from but I'd be quite happy for them to return immediately.

2009-03-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

The weather has changed and really couldn't be much worse for birding. Very little to report. A brief walk along Long rock beach (way out of my area) found a small group of Sanderlings accompanied by a single Ringed plover and a Dunlin and there were a couple of Cettis warblers singing at Marazion marsh. This is a very poor shot of some of the Sanderlings.

2009-03-22T14:19:00.000-07:00

With cold North Easterly winds and bright sunshine it was no morning to be out looking for migrants, at least not on the Nrth Cornwall coast so i headed down to the harbour with my camera. The guy was down there setting up his lobster creel making demo. I had a quick chat with him and he told me he was the only person still making them in the traditional way with withies.

I began to regret my decision not to go out Clodgy when I received news of a Great Spotted Cuckoo at Chapel Carn Brea. However that definitely doesn't mean there was one out at Clodgy.

2009-03-21T14:07:00.001-07:00

Returning from Clodgy this little group of Violets looked stunning in the early morning sunlight.

2009-03-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

Up at the farm there was at last some signs of migration beginning with a male White wagtail and a Black redstart both gracing the roof of the barn conversion.

Tommy's cows were busy over breakfast and looked very atmospheric with the rising sun and the steam from their breath casting a glow around them.

Down at Clodgy there were even more signs of returning birds with a male Wheatear at the point and a Chiff chaff singing in the scrub. Meadow pipits were also conspicuous with their parachuting display flights.

2009-03-21T13:51:00.000-07:00

This is one of the Llamas at Venton Vision farm along Burthallan Lane. Why they are there and what future is intended for them I have no idea.

Heading on out to Burthallan farm Old Tommy was off in a rush to town so I didn't get chance for a chat today.

2009-03-19T12:07:00.000-07:00

Still very little sign of migrant nactivity this morning with a few more Meadow pipits and the same or another fieldfare. However there was more indication of breeding activity with several pairs of Linnets around and three pairs of Stonechats on territory.

Had another chat with Tommy this morning, "when you're de gassing a beast make sure you get the tube in the right side otherwise all the dishes will fall out the cupboard ha ha".

2009-03-18T15:10:00.001-07:00

Conditions this morning looked ideal for a few early migrants but aside from a small arrival of Meadow pipits and a single Fieldfare it was extremely quiet.

I had a bit of a chin wag with Tommy Major and he told me that in the great drought of 1976 the fields dried up so much that they were giving the cattle their winter feed in August !

2009-03-16T13:07:00.001-07:00