May 2012 - Lakeside & other Birds

Tuesday 29th: After finishing at work, a short drive down the road to Lakeside to put my camera through some more tests. Yes, another lovely warm evening. People around, enjoying the late afternoon sun.

This is a photo of contemplation. The Sikh is sat on the pebble beach communing with nature.

A Coot on her nest, resting in the warm sunshine.

A Black-headed Gull, unusually resting and quiet!

Great-crested Grebes often take to Donny Lakeside.

Suspect that this is a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

We get our far share of Herring Gulls too.

Close by, a clutch of Mallard duckings explored a sheltered cove under the watchful eyes of the parent Mallards.

Getting home I took advantage of the sunny and warm evening by sitting in the garden. In the conifers a few feet away was perched one of the Blackbird fledglings that had hatched a couple of weeks earlier. It was waiting to be fed by the male and in between feeds would close its eyes for a moments rest.

Sunday 27th: An early morning midday to Hatfield Moor (North) to test my new camera. Warm day with clear blue sky - great to be out in the countryside! While driving down the narrow country lane, between farms, several Turkeys jumped out in front of the car forcing me to slam on the anchors! Curious, a couple wandered straight towards the car, peering at me all the while! Then joined by others, they wandered into the adjacent ploughed field. This is the first encounter with wild Turkeys that I have experienced. Usually they are on my plate!

Friday 25th: The female Blackbird is not at all worried by the presence of us in the kitchen - she is too trusting! Both Mel and I can get to almost touching distance of her! In fact she tends to stand around if the bowl is empty and flick her wings in order to get our attention.

There's all sorts of wildlife in the garden. This green Weevil with orange legs provided a test of close (macro) photography by Mel.

Wednesday 23rd: Occasionally, a passing Greenfinch will stop off in our garden - probably on it's way to Sandra's!!

Tuesday 22nd: The Blackbirds and House Sparrows are regularly coming into the kitchen for live mealworms throughout the day. The male Blackbird predominately collects a beak full and feeds the fledling Blackbirds,while the female mainly feeds herself! The birds have young to feed and are not at all shy about dashing in to get a beak full of mealworms.

 

 There are still plenty of Frogs in the garden. Most are in and around the pond as is the one below.

Saturday 12th: Mel and I went over to Elizabeth's house to do some gardening and all the time in the front, this cheeky Robin would nip in between Mel and her trowel to grab a tasty morsel. A very confident Robin, it wasn't put off by the constant movement of us and noise!

 

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.