Swanpool, Helston and Marazion

An early start at Swanpool to see if I could photograph the Common Scoter. When I arrived it was duly being fed at the pool edge where John Rowe said it had been for about 15 minutes.  I set up and it left in about a minute so just some record shots, may try again if it sticks around. But I most people have found out the large telphoto's are just to big when the bird is feeding in close!  Helston was quiet as was Marazion so here are some images from today. Early post due to persistent cloud at Maza!

Common Scoter

Common Scoter

Common Scoter

Coot

Wren with nest material

Cormorant over Marazion

Spring from The Freezer at Marazion

Ice cold conditions at Marazion, in fact positively Baltic, lol.  However this did not stop spring arrivals. A grey murk made photography difficult but I persisted and got some images for the record. Van will now be off road for a couple of days so I can stay in the warm now lol! Do wish we had some snow though! It would make excellent images. Well I will get onto the images from today:

Grey Plover?

Shoveller

Wheatear (apologies messed up the pp on this big style!)

Sand Martin

Sand Martin

Sand Martin

Redshank

A Robins Song

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Sunny/Wet day out

Around a fair bit today, Stithians, Marazion and Men an Tol.  It seemed to be fairly quiet everywhere today so I shall get straight onto the images:

Blue Skies and sunshine at Stithians well hail downpour actually  see bbc.crapweatherforecast.com 

Reed Bunting

Coot

Chiffchaff

Oyster Catchers

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Stithians and Marazion

A visit to Stithians and Marazion.  I was stalked today by grey cloud and bad light. I did not get many opportunities, but a close view of the Bittern at Stithians was a welcome surprise. So not much today, but there is always tomorrow, lol.

Water Rail

Wren

Bittern

Rat, cleaning up what the birds miss.

Grey Heron, my only shot from Marazion today

Helston and Marazion

Well another day and I thought I would try for the Firecrest at Helston, visit Marazion and then Men an Tol. Didn't get the firecrest and Men an Tol was cancelled due to rain which wasn't  forecast. (I think anyone who can predict the weather reliably should contact the BBC SW or Metcheck, lol)


Quickly onto today's pictures:

Chiffchaff

Long Tailed Tit

Bittern

Rabbits at play

Greylag Geese

Adder

Maza and Men an Tol

Another visit to Men an Tol and Marazion.  Hoping to get some more/better short eared owl shots. Unpredictable low cloud put pay to that, however still got some pictures and learn't a bit more about the owls hawking habits, favourite area's, perches etc. A couple of gulls fighting at Marazion was a bit of a spectacle, thought they were trying to kill each other! Well as I am running a day late I will get straight onto the pictures.

Gulls Fighting

And it went on for about 3-4 minutes

Little Egret fishing

Adder, proving very difficult to get a clear shot!

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owls

After waiting for weeks and on my fourth visit to the site, finally the weather, light, wind etc was in place. A pair of Short Eared Owls obliged for the camera for about 1 1/2 hours. Stunning birds providing some great photo opportunities. I have placed a selection below, there were a lot to choose from! So a fantastic end to the afternoon and worth waiting for!

400 Not Out

Fulmars at Hells Mouth

Well this is actually post 401, and still going strong.  A change of luck yesterday bought out blue skies and sunshine, coinciding with a change of luck on the wildlife front. So good I had to split the images from yesterday into two posts. This is the first one:

Whooper Swan

Mallard

Tufted Duck

Grey Seal

Starling murmuration over St Michael's Mount

Adder at Marazion