Drake Shoveler at Par

Just a handful of ducks now remain at Par beach pool including this drake Shoveler.  For some reason this bird has always chosen to stay at the back of the pool until this morning.  I managed to get this shot when it was about ten yards away.  The lens is very close to the water surface, hence the out of focus "boket" effect.  Aperture is F/5.6

The Goosanders have now departed the neighbouring St Andrew's Pool but I took this shot a couple weeks back.  After a review of the images, I overlooked this shot.

Female Goosander at St Andrew's Pool, Feb 2012.

Cornish breakers

Black and white conversion of breaking waves from a boat looking back towards the shore.

North Cornwall coast

I went out on an eight hour pelagic from Trevose Head to St Agnes Head on Wednesday. Ten university graduates completing a Marine Studies degree were monitoring seabird populations and invited me along.  Sue Sayer from the Cornwall Seal Group was also monitoring Atlantic Grey Seals. Its also a rare view to see the Cornish coastline from a mile out so readily accepted the offer.  The highlights were a couple Peregrines, several Guillemots and Razorbills, Sandwich Tern, scores of Oystercatchers on territory, 60 Kittiwakes, a Common Scoter and several seals, mostly females.  Perhaps its a bit early but next month numbers should increase greatly.  Below are some shots of the day.

Female Atlantic Grey "perescoping"

"Medallion Man" just returned to Newquay harbour

The different shade is actually a moult of older skin.

An unusual view looking back towards Trevose Head

Yellow-browed Warbler at Carnon Downs

I took this shot today of the resident Yellow-browed Warbler at Carnon Downs sewerage works.  It was calling all the time so not difficult to find.  This one has been ringed on the right leg and has been seen with at least two other birds. Another dozen or so Chiffy's were also present along with a couple greyer individuals.  The Chiffchaffs were singing and I was hoping that the Yellow-browed would start, but no such luck. 

Goosanders at St Andrew's Pool

I checked St Andrew's Pool today for the Goosanders which have been seen here recently.  Goosanders are a regular sight here; last year I counted seventeen females.  Today I saw three females and a splendid drake.  

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Redwing at Par

Redwings have been in short supply this year in Cornwall.  The mild climate failed to entice the large numbers experienced last year.  However, I came across twenty this morning feeding by the road at Par beach.  In the next couple weeks these birds will disappear as they make their way back north to breed.

Lesser Scaup at Newquay

This first year drake Lesser Scaup was found on Sunday at Newquay Boating Lake.  It's an unlikely location but Steve Rowe will nonetheless be delighted with this find.  Presumably its the same bird relocating from the Bodmin Moor reservoirs.  The shots below were taken early this morning in fairly poor light, thus there is little colour showing in the bird.  The key features such as the dual toned wing bar, small black nail in the bill tip, head shape, head colour and relatively small size can be seen. (Please note that these shots are all copyright of Steve Rogers and not for onward publication without permission).

(Please note that these shots are all copyright of Steve Rogers and not for onward publication without my permission).

Sanderlings on Marazion beach

I took these Sanderling images last Thursday on what was the warmest and brightest day of the year.  The light was simply stunning.  The shutter speed was naturally high so I was able to achieve at least F11 aperture.  For the last month or so I have reverted to Programme Mode, rather than Aperture Priority just as an experiment to see if results are different.  The obvious difference is greater depth of field.  The downside though is a slower shutter speed and more out of focus images. 

Waders at Jubilee Pool, Penzance

I took these shots yesterday on the rocks near the Jubilee Pool.  The tide was turning quickly and caught out this Purple Sandpiper feeding on the seaweed.

 

Turnstone feeding in the seaweed.

Shooting in to the sun

These shots were taken last week with the lens pointing near the sun's rays.  The effect is a warm glow to the edge of the subject.  The trick to achieving the desired effect is to increase the exposure either manually or with exposure bracketing.  If I was using film it would have cost serious dollar to find the perfect setting...

Unusually tame Redpoll



Male Brambling

These shots of a male Brambling were taken this week near Thetford.  They were taken from a hide with some seed feeders close by.  This stump was virtually the only natural looking perch and I had to wait for four hours for this bird to land on it!