Of all the wading birds found around the coastline of Cornwall during the winter, a Purple Sandpiper must be one of the easiest to photograph. Today, two Purple Sandpiper feeding on the rocks of Pendennis headland at the mouth of … Read More
Dropped in for a Bittern and came back with Bar-headed Goose, Barnacle Goose and Canada Goose. Well, it’s the thought that counts. Insight: The appropriately named Bar-headed Goose is not a native to the British Isles. It’s presence here is … Read More
Can there be a finer sight than a Cornish Chough and a Cornish pasty? Today we were lucky to see four Chough on the Lizard Peninsular, Cornwall, conveniently flying around the cliff top close to “The Most Southerly Cafe”! The … Read More
Common name: Bewick’s Swan Latin name: Cygnus columbianus Family: Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae) This photo: Stithians Reservoir, Cornwall Insight: The smallest swan found in the UK, it breeds in Siberia and over-winters here.
Birds photographed today at Pendennis Point at the mouth of the Fal estuary include a Purple Sandpiper and a Knot.
A single Knot was still present today on the rocks at Pendennis headland, Falmouth.
Common name: Knot Latin name: Calidris canuta Family: Sandpipers and allies (Scolopacidae) This photo: Pendennis Point, Falmouth, Cornwall Insight: A winter visitor to the UK with large numbers coming from their Arctic breeding grounds.
Common name: Grey Heron Latin name: Ardea cinerea Family: Bitterns and herons (Ardeidae) This photo: RSPB Marazion Marsh, Mounts Bay, Cornwall Insight: Europe’s largest heron. The RSPB nature reserve at Marazion Marsh in Cornwall is one of only a few … Read More
Common name: Brambling Latin name: Fringilla montifringilla Family: Finches (Fringillidae) This photo: Marsland valley on the Cornwall and Devon county boundary Insight: Similar in size and shape to a Chaffinch and often seen amongst mixed finch flocks feeding on Beech … Read More
Common name: Tufted Duck Latin name: Aythya fuligula Family: Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae) This photo: Swanpool in Falmouth, Cornwall Insight: There are more Tufted Duck in the UK in winter due to large numbers of visitors from Iceland and … Read More
Common name: Mediterranean Gull Latin name: Larus melanocephalus Family: Gulls (Laridae) This photo: Swanpool in Falmouth Cornwall Insight: A very rare bird in the UK on the 1950s but now seen in increasing numbers. Adults are similar to Black-headed Gull … Read More
Common name: Bittern Latin name: Botaurus stellaris Family: Bitterns and herons (Ardeidae) This photo: Marazion Marsh, Mounts Bay, Cornwall Insight: A secretive bird that depends on reed beds. There is a very small UK population with an estimated 75 breeding … Read More