Stithians Southern Cut Off and Lands End

Well my first blog post for 2020, at last a sunny day which was most enjoyable. Unfortunately most of the images here were in poor light or at a distance. However they are still fine for web use. Firstly I spent a couple of hours at Stithians Southern Cut off, highlight here was a little grebe thrashing around a stickle back for about ten minutes, backlit by the low winter sunrise.  A few more of the local birds feature in the images. Then it was on to the countryside near Lands End for Short Eared Owls again they did not disappoint but were distant.

Great Spotted Woodpecker in the frosty grass

Little Grebe with stickleback

Chiff Chaff (I think)

Magpie

Jay

Long Tailed Tit

Short Eared Owl

Shorties squabbling over hunting grounds

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl stands his ground protecting his prey from thieving corvids

New Years day visit to Stithians

First outing in 2018. Off to a good start with a Mandarin Duck although some distance from the camera in poor light. Light was challenging at times but the sun did make some welcome brief appearances. Nothing unusual today no rarities I am afraid. Still here are some of the birds that did pose for the camera!

Blue Tit

Moorhen

Grey Wagtail

Coal Tit

Mandarin Duck

Great Tit

Hedge Sparrow

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Last Photography Outing this Year

Another visit to Stithians, again dogged by poor light/rain despite a forecast of sunshine!!!! Still stuck it out and got rewarded with some shots of the local birdlife.

Long Tailed Tit

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Kingfisher

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Goldfinch

Stithians Southern Cut Off

A spare couple of hours and sunshine forecast decided to pop down Stithians for a short time. Well the sun did a "no show" so light was challenging and high ISO settings were used throughout. Our efforts were rewarded somewhat though, with Kingfisher sightings, Great Spotted Woodpeckers not on the feeder, chiff chaff, some vibrant plumage on the Greenfinch, a Goldcrest which typically would not sit still and finally a multitude of Long-Tailed tits feeding a the same feeder sometimes up to ten in number.

Greenfinch

Long Tailed Tit

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Chiff Chaff

Goldcrest

Long Tailed Tits at lunch

This week at Stithians and Helston

A mixed bag of weather and photo opportunities over the last few days. Three visits to Stithians to try and capture the Sparrowhawk in the open (failed) but plenty more birds to keep the camera shutter going including a Great White Egret. I also paid a very quick visit to the boating lake in Helston which may be worth another visit in better weather. I will get on to the images as there are a few, some record shots included.

Robin

Great White Egret

Bullfinch

Sparrowhawk

Blackbird

Goldcrest record shot

Water rail, record shot

House Sparrow

Greenfinch

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Magpie

Gadwall

Muscovy Duck

Visit to Stithians

Well with the weather being a little pants the only option really was the Southern Cut off hide at Stithians. It was a tad wet and a little windy but you tried and make use of the conditions as best you can.  Some of these images were shot at ISO 12,500 so light levels were not fantastic. 

Goldcrest

Goldfinch in the rain

Squabbling at the feeders

Greenfinch

Not sure on the left hand duck?

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Goldfinch