Grey Herons.

7/9/09.
A strange call in the spruce trees in the garden this afternoon made me look further, could see a large bird high up but could not make positive ID, got a pair of binoculars and spotted a Grey Heron, I went out into the road for a better view but a noisy vehicle flushed it, it flew out only to be followed by another which I had,nt even seen.
8/9/09.
Another Heron flew down the valley early this morning.
Went for a walk today very misty and damp but this showed up all the spider webs makes you realise just how many there are, according to my wife they,ve all taken up residence with us.
Good numbers of flowers still out, Bindweed,Pink Campion, Bramble,Selfheal,Foxglove,Honeysuckle,Yarrow,Goldenrod,Hawkweed and what I believe to be Wild Angelica but have got to research that more.
10/9/09
Went to the NE quarry to pick blackberries, got just over two and a half pounds in a little over half an hour.While there a Peregrine flew over in close company with five Ravens and many Swallows overhead.
On the way back up through the woods a Dipper on the stream was a welcome sight as I had,nt seen one for some time and was begining to think they had deserted us, Jays also in the woods.
11/9/09
A female Tawny Owl was calling in the woods early this morning.Large numbers of young Swallows at Boskenna.
12/9/09
A Wheatear at Roselucumbe around midday. A male Slowworm in the garden when I got home and while moving a logpile a large Toad was evicted.

Update.

An item that I missed out when reporting on our walk on the 30/8/09, Emily found a small dead Adder on the coast path approx 9" long , it was the object of much interest particularly on how soft the skin was almost like velvet, Josh wanted to take it home, vetoed by dad !.
3/9/09
Autumn migration is now getting underway, there were severall Chiffchaffs in the garden today at midday.
5/9/09
A beautifull moon last night, lit up the whole valley and the Tawny Owls seemed to like it, much calling going on. A young Frog in the garden today was a nice sight, they do not seem to be as common as the Toads.

Hawk kill.

28/8/09.
Jo saw a hawk in the garden today, it was on the ground with its wings outstretched and had something white underneath it, she went out to see what was happening and found it was on top of a Collared Dove.
She tried to scare it off but it flew off with its prey.
From her description i would guess it was a female Sparrow Hawk.

30/8/09.
Took a walk today at the request of Warwick , those present were Warwick and Josh, Nicky and Emily and John and Molly+me (obviously!).
Started at the village hall with a demonstration of the spore dispersal of Earthstars, these are a fungus which occurs in the woods here, there is a picture on the blog and I believe Warwick videod it.
Walked up past the hotel with the children collecting seeds,flowers and leaves of various plants and trees. Showed them the galls on the Oak tree, three different types, and explained that they are all caused by different types of wasp.
Josh sampled a Sloe was not impressed, he said they made his teeth go dry , everybody else thought it was hillarious.
Went over the moors to Carn Barges looking a various things on the way but visibility was not good due to the mist and light rain so not much on the bird front.
At Carn Barges there were a lot of Gannets going by and a Shag on the rocks below, then Warwick spotted a Basking Shark and everyone was concentrating on that, it was moving roughly parrallel to the shore and gave some good views as we moved towards the cove .
We made our way up through the woods and so home.

Wildlife walk 16/8/09.

There was very little to be seen in the way of birdlife on this walk, just a few Gannets far offshore one Grey Wagtail by the stream and a couple of Rock Pippits on the way back to the cove. One item of interest was a small Oak with an infestation of Artichoke galls which are caused by a small wasp. We also found a Burying beetle along the coast path attempting to carry off a dead Bumble bee.

18/8/09 Treverven.
A Sparrowhawk flew over at lunchtime, several Buzzards at various times throughout the day,
a large number of assorted butterflies on Budleia and Hemp Agrimony.
19/08/09

A short walk around midday, Gannets offshore but not much else. The thing that is now very noticeable is that Autumn is not far off, vegetation is dying back and seed is being dropped ready for next year, Ivy is coming into flower which will feed the late insects and the berries are important food for birds in the winter. There are Sloes on the Blackthorn and the Hawthorn berries are ripening, Blackberries are ripening so will be collecting some soon for jam to go with the Apples in the garden.

Rain Damage.

9/8/09.

Jays in trees by village hall this morning (5) a family group.
Finches now starting to form flocks for the winter , a mixed flock of Greenfinches & Chaffinches by Chygurnow.
Gannets in good numbers off Carn Barges, adults & young of various ages, also a brief sighting of a Dolphin.
There are no young Fulmars on the nest ledges again this year ,down on one of the nest sites so there has been a chick but may have been predated, Gt Black Back ?.
Two Grey Wagtails along shoreline on the way back to the cove also Rock Pippits.
There has been a big build up of sand in the cove unlike last year when there was almost none.
Walked up through the woods and was struck by the number of branches broken off the trees
probably by the weight of rain.

Toads.

5/7/09.

Young Toad on path to Carn Barges, more of these later.
8/7/09.
Walked over to the Maidens, not an awfull lot about but a Kestrel over the Maidens field.
Large dragonflies now on the wing, emperor and southern Aeshna hawking for prey along the path to Carn Barges also Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood butterflies.
Over the sea two flights of Scoter one of 10/15 birds the other 25+.
Linnets with young along cliff path.
Comma butterfly in garden.
10/7/09
Going back to the Toads I picked up four in the garden this morning none of which were larger than a 5 pence piece they seem to have had a good breeding season.
11/7/09
A family of Jays were in the woods across from our house this morning at least 4 individuals.

Basking Sharks.

25/6/09.
Basking Shark between Lamorna Point and Carn Barges,Yarrow in flower, large green leaf beetle.
Manx Shearwaters and Kittiwakes offshore.
27/6/09.
Two Basking Sharks in the cove, divers in the water with them estimated one at around 8-9metres the other around 4-5.