Nesting Starlings

Great to find a pair of Starlings nesting in this Cornish church again this year, although the usual pair nesting in an old Woodpecker hole in a nearby tree has'nt been used. A species which seem to be declining as a breeding bird in this area.

A Dartmoor wood.

A visit to a woodland on Dartmoor to look for typycal summer species of that habitat, including these Pied Flycatchers carrying food to their nestboxes and being treated to a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers visiting the nest in a rotting fungi covered birch. Used to always see Wood Warbler here but sadly no longer.

Dartford Warblers

Nice views of this Dartford Warbler gathering food for its fledged young. Devon.

Wood Mouse.

We usually get a couple of Bank Voles underneath the bird feeders finding tit bits that have been dropped, and was pleased to find this little Wood Mouse had joined them, mopping up any leftovers. I had'nt managed to photograph these before so took a bit of time trying to get one to pose for me. I found a piece of wood that I thought would make a nice backdrop and then set up my low level tragopan hide and waited.

Two sides of the Coot.

Some photos showing two sides of the Coot, the tender side with the parent gently feeding its chick and then the agressive side with birds fighting between themselves.Taken in Helston, Cornwall.

Early mornings at Roadford lake.

Roadford Lake is just a couple of minutes drive for me, so I go along there quite often. Its a big resevoir and to be honest is often dissapointing bird wise, especially waterbirds with just the usual Canada Geese and commoner ducks in small numbers and the odd Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant etc. ( although it does every now and then throw up a surprise ). But smaller birds are easier to find ,especially at this time of year when everything is singing and in nesting mode. So I've spent a few very early mornings wandering around to see what I could find, and pleasantly surprised to see quite a lot of our commoner birds in good numbers ,including singing Garden Warblers,Willow Warblers, Blackcaps,Linnets, Greenfinch , Bullfinch and Reed Buntings among others.