The spring passage of Whimbrel is in full swing in Cornwall at the moment. A flock of over 60 birds has been seen during the last week circulating between Pendennis Point and Rosemullion Head. These images were taken of the … Read More
There were a few female Tawny Mining-bees visiting the flowering Winter Heath in the garden at the weekend. They were not as numerous as the Ashy Mining-bee. Insight into Tawny Mining-bee (Andrena fulva): a solitary bee that flies in springtime … Read More
The most common wasp found in our garden is the Common Wasp. So that’s well named then! Insight into Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris): can be identified by a combination of features. There is usually a black anchor like black mark … Read More
Three Unarmed Stick-insects found in the garden at the weekend were our first records of the year in our garden in Falmouth. They were all about 30mm in length with one found on a Carnation and the other two on … Read More
There are lots of different bees feeding on the Winter Heath in the garden at the moment. The most numerous is the Ashy Mining-bee which is a very distinctive black bee with ashy grey hairs. Insight into Ashy Mining-bee (Andrena … Read More
When confronted with a Heron sitting in a tree gazing down at your prize goldfish you are faced with a dilemma: to grab the camera and stealthily stalk closer to get a picture or wave your hands around like some … Read More
The identification differences between Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) and Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus) can be seen at the moment amongst the gull flock on Swanpool lake in Falmouth, Cornwall. One or two of the Black-headed Gulls and the often solitary … Read More
Little Grebes must be one of the most frustrating grebes to photograph unless you have a 500mm plus telephoto lens. They have an annoying habit of popping up well within range of a hand held 400mm lens only to dive … Read More
The long-staying Yellow-browed Warbler in Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Swanvale Nature Reserve at Swanpool on the edge of Falmouth didn’t appear today but several Chiffchaff were active in the early morning sun. Insight into Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita): a common warbler that … Read More
This winter-plumaged Great Crested Grebe has been seen fishing on the brackish pool recently. These grebes do not visit this stretch of inland water on the edge of Falmouth in any numbers with only the one or two periodically flying … Read More
Nature’s calender seems to be all over the place at the moment here in sunny Cornwall. Yesterday we had our first butterfly of the year in our Falmouth garden. What was so surprising was that it was a Speckled Wood, … Read More
There are always flowers and wildlife that appear at a time of year when they’re not expected but this winter has been so mild, so far, that it’s difficult to remember what is usual. This Summer Snowflake is currently flowering … Read More