Another drizzly and misty day but mercifully quite warm with light winds. However a delightful interlude was on hand at David and Sarah Chapman's smallholding near Hayle where David had laid on a visit from a couple of falconers with an immature female Goshawk.
With great kindness and skill the falconer, Wayne, flew his bird so that we could all get the pictures we wanted of this magnificent bird.
 

Many thanks to David and Sarah for the photographic opportunity and for the lunch she laid on, and also to Wayne and Doreen for bringing their bird to show us.

The light was so poor that all the images were taken at ISO 2000, f5 and shutter speeds between 1/200s and 1/640s

A dull, dull day, so in two minds whether or not  to carry the camera around. Pleased I did though as there was a Great Northern Diver in Par Harbour. The little Gull was still on Par Beach Pool but I think I have enough pictures of that. Maybe if the sun ever comes out I will have another go at that one.
Finally a cold dusk at Tregonetha produced absolutely nothing.

Christmas Eve and a fine sunny morning (with a few showers) Against the low sun this Grey Heron struck a dramatic pose on Par Beach.

Around at Spit Beach by the rock pile near the harbour wall there were three and possibly 4 female Black Redstarts.

Summer must be on its way. The days are getting longer, the Black-headed gulls are coming into colour and the sun was out for five minutes today at Par Beach Pool!
Shown below are a well coloured Black-headed gull and the long staying Little Gull. Ideal subjects to try out a new 500mm lens on.

More shots of a Kestrel I am afraid, they seem to be everywhere at the moment. This one was at Marazion where I was trying out a  500mm f4.5 Sigma lens. The second shot shows it with an unidentified small, brown and furry mammal it caught in the short grass not so far away from where I was standing. The flypast with prey was at about 50m.

After the very low water levels in Par Beach Pool during the summer the level is now so high that even the causeway is under water. No sign of the reported Bittern but this Black-tailed Godwit suddenly appeared and started feeding along the near edge. It was quite approachable which gave me a chance to get this picture

A brilliant day today on a CWT Photographic Group field trip to St. Gothian Sands and Godrevy organised by David Chapman. Not only was there a good turnout but the weather was fantastic.
Below is an image of a Ring-necked duck that has been on the main pool at St. Gothian Sands for a few days. Also a Kestrel on the cliffs in the late afternoon sun.

Walmsley Sanctuary this afternoon. It started off sunny and then became overcast and finally turned to drizzle. There were large numbers of Teal, Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwits, Canada Geese and Lapwings on show. The photos below show the 5 male Pintail that flew out and part of the flock of about 100 Knot that flew in late in the afternoon.

Love them or hate them rats are part of nature and young rats can be very engaging. These youngsters were part of a family browsing on the edge pf St. Andrews Road Pool, Par. King Rat, who was immense, kept very much in the background but the little ones were very approachable.

18/11/2011 This is one of two long staying Little Gulls at Par Beach Pool that have been entertaining many photographers including on this day David Chapman and Dibs Davey.

The Raven is an imposing bird. This image was taken at the Cheesewring Quarry on Bodmin Moor

Peregrine have nested at St. Anthonys Head opposite Falmouth for many years. After several seasons of failed nesting they fledged two youngsters this year. This picture was taken from the public hide on the headland.

A detailed view of an Avocet's head and its preposterously shaped bill. Thi picture was taken inside one of the large walk in aviaries at the Pensthorpe collection in Norfolk

Black-tailed Godwits roosting at the CBWPS Walmsley Sanctuary near Wadebridge, lit with  a warm autumn light.

A Greenshank poised to land in the ultra still waters of the CBWPS Walmsley Sanctuary at Wadebridge

A Black-headed Gull is a common sight on our estuaries and is often overlooked for photographic opportunities. This image was taken on the Tresillian River near Truro and it catches the bird in a graceful pose.

I have always felt that this picture should do well in competitions but the judges don't see what I see in it.
This is a Whinchat in the DeLank Valley on Bodmin Moor on a rainy day.
The Moor has many faces and I think this captures one of them.

There is something sinister about a Grey Heron standing watch in the edge of the reeds waiting for the next meal to come by. This picture was taken from the Noahs's hide on the Shapwick Heath Reserve on the Somerset Levels at the end of  Sepember.

Earlier this year while waiting for one of Bruce Taggart's bird cruises I took this this atmospheric pictue of the two Tamar Bridges from Saltash Quay. I found the comparison between the iconic Brunel bridge and the 100 year newer road bridge very satisfying.