Some pics from my last two days on the Cornwall coast

So, my time walking and monitoring the coast of Western Cornwall has come to an end.  For now.  But the last couple of days have provided some of the best surprises.  Firstly the wind on Thursday morning provided a fantastic looking swell rolling into the beaches, where I was able to watch seals and cormorants swimming amongst the waves.  Then I spied a basking shark gliding about in the waves, the birds were all flying acrobatically in the wind, and one of the choughs performed an amazing roll and dive into the nest site at one point.  On top of all that I saw a bird that looked something like a stone curlew blown in with a flock of jackdaws.  It lingered just long enough for me to make out the two yellow lines down its back/wings, but then, as it flew away inland, its wings just didn’t seem dark enough.

Then, yesterday, the weather was still, sunny and hot.  I met Nic (Shanks, of the chough project) at our watch point and the little ones were still not out.  I’ll miss seeing them fledge.  Instead nature rewarded me with dolphins and a basking shark, and a clear view of the isles of Scilly.

I guess you’ll want to see pictures…

28 May, 2011 | Categories: National Trust, RSPB | Leave a comment

Early morning is the best time

Walking anywhere during early mornings, is almost always rewarding.  This morning (before sunrise) and yesterday morning I’ve seen over 20 species of birds, at least 4 species of butterfly and numerous moths and insects.

We wanted to see what time the Choughs were getting up, it turned out to be 0536.  As a great example of how nature works I was able to watch as a raven came overhead, and the jackdaw’s started alarming.  Almost immediately the choughs appeared and immediately set chase after the raven.  Later I saw them mobbing a pair of peregrines that were carving up some prey on the rocks in the distance.  However, peregrines are a greater threat, and are treated with a little more caution than the ravens.

25 May, 2011 | Categories: National Trust, RSPB | Leave a comment

My first bit of rain in ages, and a fox and a seal

I haven’t seen much rain while I’ve been down here in Cornwall and, apparently, most of the South West is pretty dry.  When I left my camper this morning (after a day off) it looked bleak though.  The mist and rain persisted until after midday (although I’ve seen worse), and then it cleared into another beautiful, bright day.  The choughs were good, I saw a fox again, and watched a seal up close for a while.  My walk home was through wild flower meadows, with deep blue sea and skies, and the Scillonian slipping past on its way back to Penzance.

23 May, 2011 | Categories: National Trust, RSPB | Leave a comment

Seals and rare flowers

It’s always fantastic to see seals, especially as they are shot in large numbers by fish farmers, within the law (please remember this if thinking of buying farmed salmon).  Seal numbers have declined enormously in the last 10 years, with harbour seal numbers halving in some parts of Scotland.  There are likely to be other contributory factors, such as reduction in food availability, but this is, in my opinion, a significant indicator of how we are mismanaging our seas.

If you haven’t already done so, read up about Hugh’s fish fight, follow the links on the site to the other organisations involved in marine conservation, work out whether you really need to eat (so much) fish (there are plenty of food stuffs that contain the oils thought to be so valuable in fish, e.g. hemp, flax, etc), and make an effort to find out where your marine based products are coming from.  Out of sight, out of mind, is this why we treat our oceans so badly?  Would people react differently if we were to trawl fields to catch lambs, and at the end of the field empty the net of all the birds, mice, voles, insects, etc, into a heap to die.

Anyway, I digress somewhat, apologies.  Today was a busy one.  All of the Cornish chough nests were checked out (not by me, I just met the team briefly as they passed on through), and seem in good order.  However, the latest expected date for fledging is now another two weeks or so, which might, sadly, be after I’ve left.  Further news will be available here:

http://www.cornishchoughs.org/

After an early start, I finished early so I comforted myself by taking some time out to go and view one of the rarest plants in the UK.  I’ll be impressed if anyone can tell me what it is (I do know what it is.  Obviously.)…

18 May, 2011 | Categories: National Trust, RSPB | Leave a comment

A trip to the lizard, and more of the sedge.

There was a chough team party down the lizard yesterday.  It was my first visit to the Lizard and it was great to make acquaintance (sort of) with the legendary Lizard pair.  The Lizard pair were the first pair of choughs to nest in Cornwall since 1952.  In 2002 they reared three young, and have successfully reared young each year since.  Apparently they are prone to showing off to the crowds, but today, they were very business like, and didn’t come close enough for me to get pictures.  Choughs are known to live up to 16 years, so hopefully they will be there for a few more years yet.

I also got the chance to meet the rest of the chough project team, and watch the sun set over the Lizard Lighthouse.

Today, back on my patch, there was a cold wind blowing in from the sea (there often is), and the choughs didn’t seem to be about much.  There was a bit of raven action at one point, and I managed to get a rather poor shot of the slightly illusive sedge warbler.

14 May, 2011 | Categories: National Trust, RSPB | Leave a comment

Bugs and a sedge warbler

Today I follow the choughs about a bit to determine their feeding sites.  This should also give us a good idea of where they might bring the chicks when they fledge (which we’re hoping should be around the end of the month).  The birds are busy collecting food, but still take time to groom each other, with Mr Brownblue occasionally running over to Lady Whitebrown with a food offering.  Both the birds still look in top condition.

Today I saw, and heard, my first sedge warbler.  Excellent.  They have an incredibly complex and varied call (the RSPB recording doesn’t really do it justice, as it usually goes on for a lot longer), which makes them sound ever so slightly mental.

12 May, 2011 | Categories: National Trust, RSPB | Leave a comment

More sun, sea and sightings, peregrines included.

After a day off I’m obliged to wander the cliff tops looking out for choughs again.  Our pair are mildly agitated by what I’m fairly sure is a female peregrine today.  But she (the peregrine) doesn’t give them the same stick as in previous days.   My impression is that it’s the smaller male that seems to take pot shots at most birds.  Not that I’m able to spend time tracking the peregrines to know whether it’s just the one pair that I’m seeing, or how successful they are, but I get the impression that the male I’ve seen is a bit more laid back and mischievous than the female, who’s probably just battering prey out of the sky while I’m not around (peregrines tend to hunt early).

It’s a bit damp first thing today, but the sun comes out before I start walking, and I hear a plethora of bird song as I hit the coast paths.  Blackcaps, whitethroats, chiffchaffs, finches, tits, swallows, blackbirds, song thrushes, etc.  I’m lovin’ it.

11 May, 2011 | Categories: National Trust, RSPB | Leave a comment

Saxicola Rubicola

Ha, Saxicola rubicola.  Such a quality name.  Saxicola means rock dweller, and rubicola means to drink red fizzy pop.  These birds are also known as stonechats, because they often make a call exactly like the sound of two small stones being knocked together.  On the coast they hang about in the scrub, eating insects; further in land they like heathland and small scrub.  Whilst walking this evening I was lucky enough to see male and female feeding a juvenile.  I’m afraid I only managed a decent shot of Mrs Rubicola, but I think it’s one of the most exciting photos I’ve ever taken.

The male, by the way, really is a striking fellow.  See a previous shot of him here (not the same one you understand, there are more than one pair in Cornwall, thankfully)

In other news, a peregrine was about today, at one point giving the choughs quite a hard time.  They both kept low on the rocks for a while, until it moved on.  It also swooped for a gull, and a house martin while I was watching.  It didn’t seem to be putting much effort in, just gliding along and then darting towards something before gliding on again.  Magic to watch.

9 May, 2011 | Categories: National Trust, RSPB | Leave a comment

Getting carried away

I walk about in the sunshine wondering if all is ok (see previous entry).  Apparently the choughs haven’t been seen at their usual feeding site this morning.  But then I see one, and then the other.  In fact they spent a lot of the day feeding near me.  And it’s beautiful day, and I maybe get a bit carried away, taking pictures of everything I see…

8 May, 2011 | Categories: National Trust, RSPB | Leave a comment

Cornwall choughs and species mission

I’ve returned to Cornwall to join up with the chough project again.  My role is, essentially, to monitor the young pair that I was observing before the Scotland trip.  I will be camping, and wandering up to 5 or 6 km of coastal path on a daily basis.  Why am I doing this?  Ha, you’ll see.

On my first day back I catch up with the male Brownblue first thing.  He seems well, and a little while later both him and Whitebrown are feeding within a few metres of me.  When I last saw them they had eggs, now they are parents.  We think it’ll be about 3 to 4 more weeks to fledging time.

I also see stonechats, whitethroats, kestrel, jackdaws and gulls a plenty.  And there are so many other species of plants, invertebrates, etc here that it gives me a great opportunity to indulge the nature geek in me.  It’s a great day right up to point where a raven comes a calling.  Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against ravens, (in fact, like all birds, they are my favourite bird) but they are known to take other bird’s eggs and young.  Our young choughs are well aware of this and make a point of attempting to beat the crap out of any raven that passes over their territory.  As they do this the raven glides along and skilfully performs its 180 degree evasion technique, where it turns upside down whilst flying.  It’s amazing to watch.

Anyway, last thing today there was a big commotion involving a raven, the choughs, some jackdaws and, I think, a kestrel, although I was surprised to see the kestrel flying away from the seen, as they usually don’t get involved.  As the raven flew away it clearly had something small and black in its mouth.  I couldn’t see what it was, but the other birds were disturbed.  Unfortunately, I had to leave shortly afterwards, so I walked home feeling a little worried…

7 May, 2011 | Categories: National Trust, RSPB | Leave a comment