One pair of Moorhen on Swanpool Local Nature Reserve are feeding three chicks at the moment. Many bird species have suffered from one of the wettest and coldest Aprils on record with failed nests widespread. Most species appear to have … Read More
Maturing Herring Gulls are now changing into their summer plumages and this one photographed at Swanpool, Falmouth had an unmottled grey back indicating that this summer would be its third.
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
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
The Stinking Iris (above left) is very common on the sea cliffs around Cornwall at the moment. Its colouring is a bit dingy so its easily overlooked but its form is just as beautiful as the more widespread Yellow Iris … Read More
This female Scaup was on Swanpool Lake feeding amongst the resident waterfowl, including the similar looking female Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) shown, on floating bread thrown by visitors – a strange diet for a diving duck designed to feed on … Read More
Flowering on the grassy slopes above Swanpool Beach, Falmouth. Insight: Red Dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) flowers from March to October and is common throughout most of the British Isles.
Alexanders flowering yesterday in the warm spring sunshine on the coastal path above Swanpool in Falmouth. Insight: According to Culpeper, it is “effectual against the biting of serpents“.
This Black-headed Gull photographed on Swanpool Local Nature Reserve lake was showing the chocolate brown summer hood breaking through the white winter head plumage. Insight: The Black-headed Gull is the most common Gull in the UK and may be found … 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