Autumn is now with us and the leaves are falling I love the woods at this time that lovely rustle and crunch of the dead leaves.
The Ivy is coming into flower and the scent is everywhere bringing in the insects to feed, Ivy is very important at this time being one of the few plants that blooms in such profusion at this time and with the promise of the berries to come to feed many birds through the winter, the downside to this are the black sticky droppings that decorate the cars and anything else they choose to poop on.
23/9/09
Short walk today. Kestrel and Oystercatcher in the Carn Barges area.
24/9/09
Tawny Owls both male and female calling in the woods early this morning, they always seem to become more vocal at this time or perhaps with the shortening days we coincide more.
26/9/09
Walked through the woods and up to the quarry then back over the downs, very quiet on the bird front but was struck by the amount of berries etc everything has produced a lot of fruit this year. Coming back over the downs there were Violets along the path.
27/9/09
Two Herons flew up the valley this m0rning and a small flock of Swallows appeared late afternoon, did,nt stay long.
29/9/09
More Swallows at Treverven today.
1/10/09.
T00k my usual walk today out to Carn Barges good numbers of Herring Gull roosting along the shore also Oystercatcher, male and female Stonechats along the coast path and a bull seal making his way out of the cove.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Swallows.
13/9/09.
Large flocks of Swallows building up all over the area, will soon be joining together to fly south.
A Whitethroat along the coast path another species which will soon be on its way to Africa.
14/9/09.
Flocks of Swallows even bigger today, a Peregrine flew down the valley this morning.
15/9/09.
Treverven, more Swallows plus a Whitethroat on the way there this morning, a Newt in the garden.
16/9/09.
Took a walk today up past the hotel and over the moors to the coast path, at Chygurno picked up a male Slowworm off the road and moved it to safety in the hedge.
A Green Woodpecker by Sara,s bungalow probably feeding on Ants in the short grass.
Common Lizard on the coast path between Carn Barges and the stream, to quick to get a photo.
2 Ravens flying along the coast in the same area.
Walking back through the woods there was a Gray Wagtail on the stream and by the bridge near Edmund,s house a Dipper flew up the river.
17/9/09.
A grey Heron flew up the valley this morning probably trying to get down to the stream to catch a Trout or two, they have some difficulty getting down through the trees until the leaves have fallen sufficiently to give them clear access.
19/9/09
Today a Kestrel along the coast path was a welcome sight as I have,nt seen one for some time and they did,nt nest in the quarry this year, male Stonechat near Tremellyn.
20/9/09,
After a long time without a sighting of a Kestrel another one flew over the garden around midday
Goldcrest in the garden also a young Goldfinch.
Large flocks of Swallows building up all over the area, will soon be joining together to fly south.
A Whitethroat along the coast path another species which will soon be on its way to Africa.
14/9/09.
Flocks of Swallows even bigger today, a Peregrine flew down the valley this morning.
15/9/09.
Treverven, more Swallows plus a Whitethroat on the way there this morning, a Newt in the garden.
16/9/09.
Took a walk today up past the hotel and over the moors to the coast path, at Chygurno picked up a male Slowworm off the road and moved it to safety in the hedge.
A Green Woodpecker by Sara,s bungalow probably feeding on Ants in the short grass.
Common Lizard on the coast path between Carn Barges and the stream, to quick to get a photo.
2 Ravens flying along the coast in the same area.
Walking back through the woods there was a Gray Wagtail on the stream and by the bridge near Edmund,s house a Dipper flew up the river.
17/9/09.
A grey Heron flew up the valley this morning probably trying to get down to the stream to catch a Trout or two, they have some difficulty getting down through the trees until the leaves have fallen sufficiently to give them clear access.
19/9/09
Today a Kestrel along the coast path was a welcome sight as I have,nt seen one for some time and they did,nt nest in the quarry this year, male Stonechat near Tremellyn.
20/9/09,
After a long time without a sighting of a Kestrel another one flew over the garden around midday
Goldcrest in the garden also a young Goldfinch.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, 6 September 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, 30 August 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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
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.
Monday, 10 August 2009
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.
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.
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