There haven’t been any big influxes of migrant Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies into the south west of Cornwall so far this year. Since April there have been odd ones scattered about and this worn specimen was seen at Windmill … Read More
Common Blue and Azure damselflies have been flying in numbers at various sites we’ve visited in Cornwall over the last few weeks. The first records were in April but numbers have built up gradually. Now the British summer seems to … Read More
This Common Tern was feeding in Falmouth harbour, Cornwall at the beginning of the week. This is our first sighting of one in the harbour this year and we guess it was forced into the sheltered waters following Sunday’s strong … Read More
The moth caterpillars responsible for spinning these extensive silk webs coating Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) at Poldhu Cove on The Lizard peninsular in Cornwall at the weekend, had already pupated (shown left). It seems likely they were Orchard Ermine but to … Read More
A mass of these beautiful purple flowers were on the slopes above Kynance Cove on The Lizard peninsula at the weekend. Insight into Bloody Crane’s-bill (Geranium sanguineum): a native usually found in north and west Britain, it is also found … Read More
Two Hummingbird Hawk-moths were seen nectaring on Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber) at Poldhu Cove on The Lizard peninsular on Saturday (one shown above left). So far this year there haven’t been many to report but in the last few days … Read More
A pair of Mute Swan at the RSPB Marazion Marsh reserve near Penzance seem to have managed to raise only one cygnet this year. This means of course the surviving youngster receives all the attention and is utterly spoilt. Insight … Read More
As the water warms, shoals of Mullet are showing in increasing numbers in the estuaries and harbours around the Cornish coast. This fish was one of severel seen feeding on algae in shallow water in Falmouth harbour yesterday. Insight into … Read More
Linnets seem to have benefited from the fine spring weather with parents busy feeding fledged youngsters a common sight in south west Cornwall at the moment. This male and female Linnet were photographed feeding young on the edge of Penhale … Read More
Walking up a lane from Helford Passage on the Helford Estuary in Cornwall we passed this male Meadow Brown butterfly nectaring on Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris). Insight into Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina): common throughout Cornwall and the UK it has a … Read More
Razorbills have been busy feeding on Sandeels and other small fish in Falmouth Bay in the last few days. This Razorbill appeared when we were scanning the oily calm waters for Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) which disappointingly proved illusive once … Read More
The coastal wild flowers in Cornwall in late spring are an astonishing scene. The sea slopes and cliff tops are alight with vivid yellows, pinks, oranges and reds as a carpet of Kidney Vetch and Thrift, amongst others, weave across … Read More