Surprised to hear of a report of a Hawfinch visiting feeders in a local garden ,most reports of good birds are from right down west so something on my doorstep made a change. I contacted the householders and they kindly allowed me to go and take a look. Only the fourth I've seen in Cornwall I think.
Decided to have a day out on Bodmin moor, mainly to look for and hopefully get some photos of Cuckoo. I knew where to find them but getting close enough was never going to happen. At least five males flying around the area calling and one female heard bubbling but always too far away. There was also a pair of Green Woodpeckers in the place I have always seem them but I just cant find where they have made their nest, I'll find it one day. A nice surprise though was at first hearing a reeling Grasshopper Warbler and managing to creep up and see it at close quarters. The other usual moorland species were in good numbers including Wheatear, Redstart, Stonechats and Linnets. I also happened on a pair of Grey Wagtails feeding young in a nest beside a small stream and sat watching them for some time.
I reckon the garden birds will be glad of the rain that is forecast, it will have been hard finding food for their young in the hard ground. Here's a Robin enjoying a dip in my pool which I have made sure has been kept topped up during the recent dry spell.
Thought I'd take a quick look out around Crowdy reservoir to have a look for the reported White Fronted Goose , but no luck with that, so took the compulsory drive around Davidstow airfield thinking I may find some Whimbrel, but no birds at all except for this nice surprise ,a lone Little Ringed Plover feeding around the small pool.
Small mounds of earth on the lawn alerted me to a colony of Grey ( also called Ashy) Mining Bees , Andrena cineraria. The small mounds have holes in the top which are the entrance to the females nesting cavity. I lay on my stomach for a while trying to get a few photos.
This female Brambling has been a recent visitor to our feeders, staying around for four days alongside the resident Chaffinches, Yellowhammers etc. Only the second I've seen here. Lovely subtle colours.
It was good to find this female Reed Bunting joining the Yellowhammers at my feeding station. Don't see them here too often.
