Adult Glossy Ibis at Long Rock, Cornwall

The adult Glossy Ibis behind Long Rock pool in the soggy field was present for its sixth day on Sunday 7th Feb. I managed to see it in good light yesterday morning at close range, viewable from the road. This is probably the most unconcerned Glossy Ibis I have seen. Glossy Ibis occurrences are now annual in the county with appearances becoming more frequent.

 

Nikon D800e, 500mm F4G, ISO 1600, F16, 1/1000s, WB Cloudy. Original file size 43.8 MB.

Nuthatch and Kingfisher on the Lizard today

I was pleased with some images taken today at a friends farm on the Lizard.  Despite the appalling weather and poor light, the Nikon D810 still managed to deal with things at 5000 ISO!

 

Ross's Gull at the Lizard, Cornwall

I managed to see the adult Ross's Gull today at the Lizard, albeit distantly some 300 metres out at sea.  It was found by Tony Blunden on Saturday 2nd Jan.  

 

Its the 8th record for Cornwall.  The last record in Cornwall was way back in 2002 when two adults were recorded, at Torpoint on the 15th Feb and at Sennen on 19th Feb.  The first was at St Ives in 1977, then Poldhu 1988, Newlyn 1989, Lynher 1996 and Maenporth/Swanpool 1998.

 

Fave images from 2015

Black Skimmer, Cape May beach, September 2015, after several hundred shots to get a pair together skimming!

Adult male Common Yellowthroat, Cape May, New Jersey September.

Common Pauraque on the nest, Estero Grande, Texas in May this year.

Common Nighthawk, Texas in May this year.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Bentsen SP Texas in May.

Adult Stilt Sandpiper at Port Aransas, Texas in May.  We saw hundreds of them at this wader hotspot.

Snow Bunting at St Gothians, Cornwall in January.

Hudsonian Whimbrel at Little London beach, Marazion. A first for Cornwall and tick for me as well.

Ring Ouzels at Buttermilk Hill. I saw a maximum of 22 in flock in April here.

Meadow Pipit in late evening sunshine in April on the Lizard.

Recent images from round the county in December

Fem Black Redstart, Penzance

Male Black Redstart, Penzance

 



Goldfinch, Ryan's Field Hayle

Great Northern Divers in boat reflection, Newlyn

Great Northern Diver, Newlyn

Purple Sandpiper, Battery Rocks, Penzance

Turnstone, Battery Rocks

Yellow-browed Warbler, Ryans Field Hayle.

All taken with Nikon D4s, 500mm VR F4 and 1.4x Teleconverter. Despite the appalling light that we are getting at the moment, I did manage to get these shots on the rare occasion when there was some sun!

Hudsonian Whimbrel at Little London beach, Cornwall

I took these images early this morning.  Its been here since Friday afternoon and is the same bird that was on Scilly last week. Its the first record for Cornwall.  It was split from Whimbrel in 2011.

Rose-coloured Starling at Land's End

Images of the very tame Rose-coloured Starling at Land's End.  The bird spends most of the time with the Starling flock within the complex and regularly comes to feed off the speciality doughnuts!

 

Some Cape May images

Below are a few images from a recent two week trip to Cape May, New Jersey.  Whilst it was not a classic in terms of what this famous migration watchpoint can sometimes achieve, it was good enough for me.  There were some huge falls of Tree Swallow in the tens of thousands, close raptor views especially Bald Eagle, close views of terns, skimmers and waders on the beaches plus the colourful neotropical warblers.

Tree Swallows feeding on bayberry bushes.

Palm Warbler, seen in decent numbers daily.

Forster's Terns seen in hundreds on the beaches, plus Caspian, Royal, Sandwich, Common.

Black Skimmers, juvs, About 800 were seen on Cape May beach.

Some waders around North Cornwall

Juv Dunlin at Davidstow

Juv Ringed Plover at Davidstow

Juv Curlew Sandpiper and adult Spotted Redshank (left) Camel Estuary

Spotted Redshank and Redshank 

Juv Dunlin at Davidstow

All taken with Nikon D4 and 500mm F4 with 1.4x teleconverter.

Recent images with Nikon D610 and 500mm F4

Some images taken in the last few days with a used Nikon D610 and used Nikon D4 and new 500mm F4 FL ED VR.  All tripod mounted. Taken at Stithians and St Clements.

Squacco Heron at Marazion Marsh

The Squacco Heron at the marsh today was decidedly elusive, preferring to stay for long periods at the back of the reed bed.  It flew past me and settled briefly before returning again to the back of the marsh.  It was found yesterday by Dave Flumm and is the second record in Cornwall this Spring.  In addition to the Squacco, Brian Loader and me had a Bee Eater calling at 7.38am over the east end of the marsh.

Hummingbirds in Texas

We saw three species of hummingbird on our travels to the Gulf coastal region.  Buff-bellied was commonest and Black-chinned was the scarcer of the three.  We saw several Ruby-throated at High Island and Goose Island areas but elsewhere they were replaced by Buff-bellied.  They are indeed blessed with good looks and intrigue and they have only made me want to see more of them!  There's a knack in photographing them as well.  Its called patience and getting your background sorted.