Getting jiggy…

So the sun isn’t always shining down here.  On Sunday I spent my shift peering into the fog for a glimpse of our mature pair, redred (see pictures from last entry) and blueorange.  This pair have a good history of getting away broods (http://www.cornwall-birding.co.uk/category/choughs/), so the fact that I barely saw them all day is not too much of a concern.

Yesterday I spent time watching the young pair, who were mostly out feeding all day, but are spending a bit of time around the suspected nest site.  Back at the Vean, I did see what I’m fairly sure is a female black restart, so that was cool.

Today, the weather was pretty bleak to start with – 100% cloud, visibility maybe 5-10Km.  Again, watching the young choughs, they are spending more time nearer their base, and our man, brownblue, is getting quite fiesty with anyone that comes near.  This involves him landing within maybe 20 feet of them and calling whilst occasionally pecking the ground.  Invariably this leads to people stopping, pointing at him, and then standing there taking pictures.  He’s a bit of a character, I have a bit of a soft spot for the little fella, but he doesn’t do himself any favours.

Still, he must be doing something right, because our lady, whitebrown, made it quite clear, with a fair bit of stooping and wing fluttering, that he was the man for her.  Jiggyness ensued, although I must admit, I didn’t have to look away for too long.

I’d been watching it come over the sea for some time and at half one there was a break in the weather and the sun came out.  Visibility was excellent, maybe the best it’s been while I’ve been down here. All the lighthouses, etc, in the distance were clearly visible, the sea became a deep azure blue, to mirror the sky.  All the local birds, gulls, jackdaws, the choughs, pidgeons, took to the air and were all whirling up and up, and we were all suddenly very happy.

The choughs seemed especially upbeat, circling higher than I’ve seen them go before, and then flying sensationally together, before she went back to base.  He came over and checked me out, still rising up and diving and spinning in the air, before heading back.  I said hello and suggested that he calm down around people, but, he probably wasn’t listening…