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.