March 2012 - Falmouth and St. Mawes

Friday 16th: I travelled down to Cornwall yesterday to spend some time with my Dad. While there, we got out and about to Falmouth, and the Maritime Museum at the harbour. Well worth a visit, it has all things to do with Cornwall's maritime history, present and past. While at the museum, it is possible to go down to the basement of the building and gaze out through toughened glass at the harbour-bed below the water-line.

Barnacle.

Above: A replica Ye Olde English Galleon.

Falmouth Maritime Museum.

Interestingly for me anyway was a barnacle attached to the water-side of the glass. Viewing from the inside, I could see the 'feelers' of the barnacle moving as it adjusted itself. Small fish, I suspect they are termed "fry" we also seen.

Above: Three photos of, a (suspected) Nightingale at Helston.

Above: One of many, many Herring Gulls that frequent Falmouth and most coastal locations around the country...not seen any in South Yorkshire!

Above: Second winter Herring Gull.

Walking through Falmouth, I snapped away with my camera at anything that moved especially the Gulls much to the amusement of Dad! Well, we don't get many, if any where I live.

More Herring Gulls!

Do not feed the Herring Gulls...or any other types of Gull!

A lone Robin

A visit out to the headland where Pendennis Castle and the Coastguard Station is sited. Here more Gulls to be photographed; A Great Black-backed Gull and three Cormorants, Robin, Pied Wagtail and Magpie were amongst the gulls. There was also a 1st Winter Herring Gull calling incessantley until the adult returned with food.

Above: An adult Great black-Backed Gull with a Starfish.

The following day Dad and I drove out to a local lake where, unsurprisingly, there were more gulls, this time Black-headed Gulls, a Little Grebe, Mute Swan and a few Tufted Ducks. That afternoon we had planned to visit St. Mawes, On the way, we called on my sister for a much needed cuppa and then all three of us drove on to St. Mawes. spent a rather wind-swept and rainy afternoon there. All the time, I had my camera at the ready (much to the amusement of Dad) as most of the time I was photographing Gulls! From the Quay Road I took the photo (below) of the twin castles of Pendennis, at Falmouth and St.Mawes castle....in St. Mawes. They were built by Henry VIII in 1539 - 1540 to protect the coast and guard the entrance to the River Fal from our naval rivals of the era.

St. Mawes castle.

Pendennis Castle at Falmouth. From St. Mawes.

Pendennis and St. Mawes Castles, guarding the approaches to the river Fal.

 Rock Pipit - usually only found on the coast... amongst the rocks!

 As you can see, it checks every crevice for tasty morsels.

 The weather in St. Mawes was cold with a fair breeze. This Cormorant caught the fish, climbed up on the rocks and swallowed it...whole!

 You can see the two bulges in the Cormorant's neck as the fish goes down!

 Possible Baltic Gull.

 Great Black-backed Gull - the largest Gull in the world.

Here, we see the Great Black-backed Gull (white legs) and the possible Baltic Gull (yellow legs). The back is black as well. Lesser Black-backed Gulls have yellow legs but a lighter coloured back.

On the way back to Truro, we called in to a little place called St Just in Roseland, had a brisk walk past the church and down to the shore. Then Dad drove us to King Harry Ferry which provides a local service across a narrow stretch of the River Fal. A 10 minute ferry crossing and we were on our way back to Truro.

St. Justin Roseland Church.

Song Thrush in Truro.

Long-tailed Tit at St. Justin Roseland Church yard.

A grand day out sight-seeing. There's plenty to do in Cornwall and lots to see. Great to see my Dad and Sister again, but all too soon it was time to make the train journey home to Yorkshire from Penzance.

May 2010 - Bempton Cliffs RSPB

Friday 21st: As I came into this world on this day all those years ago, I decided to treat myself: take the day off work and drive out to the East Yorkshire coast near Bridlington for some birding on a gloriously hot and sunny day! My aim was to enjoy the coastal birds and see some Puffins. So where are all the Puffins? When I got to the Reserve I heard tell that there had been two seen today... but try as I could, I didn't see them! Scanning the cliff-face amongst the Razorbills and Guillimots is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Maybe it's early in the breeding season and they are all underground in their burrows. But surely the males must be constantly on the wing to supply their mates with a meal? Maybe the majority of them haven't returned yet...it may prove more profitable to make a return visit during June/July? I also over-heard someone saying that the surrounding North Sea is too warm and this will have an adverse effect upon their preferred prey; sand-eels. Well, lets hope there's a turnaround in the Puffins' fortunes and they return in numbers to inspire awe and wonder for visitors to this splendid coastal NR.




But the cliff-faces were lined with hundreds of Guillimots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Gannets. I never cease to look in wonder at the Gannets, such a large and sleek bird. When they are fairly close, as was one bird that can be seen from the photo gathering nesting material...they are huge! I also found an area where all the Rock Pigeons seem to congregate in numbers for safety, though I didn't see any of their predators, Peregrine Falcons. Too soon in the breeding season, I suspect later when chicks are out and about then these masters of the sky will be cruising the skies.

The sea water looks unusually clear. From the cliff-tops I could clearly see beneath the surface to the bottom and in some circumstances, see the patterns made by the volcanic lava that was laid down millions of years ago and now hardened to form rock. As can be seen with the photo of the Guillimots at the base of the cliff, large amounts of lava has hardened to rock and little holes can be seen where once the air bubbles escaped the cooling lava.

As for Passerines, there were plenty away from the cliffs. Pied Wagtails, Tree Sparrows, Chaffinches and Goldfinches are very common around the feeders. Carrion Crows and Jackdaws are the Corvids in residence. Lots of Barn Swallows were evident. Sky Larks and Meadow Pipits were in good numbers...but the highlight was the close sighting of a Whitethroat....which proved to be the one that got away as I spent a good 30 mins stalking it to get a photo which never happened!

Sunday 13th June - addendum:

I have since heard that some Puffins have returned to Bempton Cliffs! A work colleague, Jayne went to the NR with her family over the last Bank Holiday and her father saw 20 Puffins!

September 2009: Sea Swans & RSPB Marazion Marsh

Thursday 10th: While down in Cornwall visiting relatives, I took time-out and drove 30 minutes along the coast to Marazion, a small town lying in the shadow of Penzance. Marazion Marsh is a small reserve across the road from the beach. Getting there at 9:15am, the blue sky was bright with the Sun and contrasted wonderfully with the blue sea. Immediately I spied 2 Little Egrets, an adult Mute Swan with 2 juveniles close-by. The Reserve is mostly reed-beds surrounded by heath type ground. What is readily apparent is the great abundance of rabbits on this heath! I must've counted 20+ rabbits in one small area alone! Plenty of Jackdaws about and House Martins. I did also see a Buzzard through binoculars, but it was far off over farm land and was not circling my way. I had been told of a Hide deep within the reeds but time was limited and I wanted to get on the beach to check on the bird life there.

When I arrived at Marazion, the tide was in. Some waders were on the shore and small flocks of Wagtails, both Pied and Yellow dashed abouts. A local birder had mentioned to me that a Pectoral Sandpiper, Citrine Wagtail and a Corncrake were in the area. Well, I wouldn't know a Citrine from a Yellow Wagtail or a Pectoral from a Common Sandpiper and the Corncrake required some serious time amongst the reeds of the marsh! Time I didn't have!

Now the tide was moving out rapidly revealing the Causeway to St Michael's Mount. Intriguingly, a group of sea birds had gathered at a point where a fresh water stream trickled from the marsh, across the beach and into the sea. These sea birds - a mixture of various Gulls and Mute Swans - appeared to be drinking seawater! Swans on the sea! Yes...Sea Swans and really sailing on the sea. The pictures here are proof of that! It transpires that the Swans as with other birds (and Butterflies) swim, sail or fly from the island mount to the Marazion beach. Several Cormorants were also perched on the rocks and although I saw a group of Sandpipers, I need to examine the video footage of them to see if one or any was a Pectoral Sandpiper!

Visiting Truro, I stopped by Truro mud-flats as I had heard that many Bar-tailed Godwits descend on the flats. Unfortunately only Gulls were in residence at the time of my visit. Neil, apologies for not getting over to see you, time was very limited. Hopefully next year! Below are some images from Truro.