A Panorama of the Percuiel River on the beautiful Roseland Peninsular.

There are several Waxwings around the County at the moment and I caught up with two in Gerrans, a small village on the Roseland peninsular, today. The birds were in trees and cotoneaster bushes on the main road through the village and seemed totally oblivious to the traffic and passing people. Sadly my main camera is in for repair and these pictures had to be taken with a compact, albeit one with a 20x zoom

I also found this Goldfinch snacking off a Teasel.

Brown Willy from Rough Tor

If you have never been Rough Tor on a winter's late afternoon to watch the Starlings flying in to roost then you have missed a treat.
A million or more birds fly in from all points of the compass,  occasionally displaying in that iconic way that masses of starlings do before settling down for the night in a conifer plantation. The whirr of thousands of wings passing over, the noise from them squabbling and the smell if you are close enough is unforgettable.
At present a  good place to watch is from the Rough Tor car park or the roads leading to it. To get even closer, walk onto the moor and turn left. On a clear night you should be in the car park by about 4pm, earlier if it is overcast.

 

 

On a more sombre note, below is a monument to Charlotte Dymond who was murdered close to Rough Tor in 1844 by Matthew Weekes. The monument was set up by public subscription.

It can be found  outside the car park just to the right in a marsh. It must have been a very lonely spot in 1844

 



The gloom of the last few days has lifted so a stroll down to Spit Beach was in order.

 

The rock pile at the entrance to the harbour is always a good place in the autumn to look for Black Redstarts and so it proved today with a pair showing from time to time when they weren't being chased off by a pugnacious Robin.

 

 

 

To add to the excitement I found a veritable forest (well a small copse) of these fungi growing in my lawn. I believe they are Geoglossum cookeianum with the english name of Earth Tongue

 

 

Two images from the Camel Trail today. A Spotted Redshank and a Common Gull.

The Luxulyan Valley near St. Austell  is a place of stunning natural beauty despite having an extensive industrial heritage. It is also a quiet place for an autumn walk.

 A clapper bridge over the rather turbulent river running through the valley. Dippers  breed near here.

Two Fungi found in the hedgerow. I wish I knew more about them. 

 

 

Detail on bark

The main shaft with driving gear of a 34ft water wheel which initially pulled wagons up and down the Carmears incline which leads to Ponts Mill.  In later years it powered  china stone grinders situated on either side of the shaft..

 

Tregoss Moor, part of the Goss Moor in mid-Cornwall, was today bursting with Fieldfares and Redwings. Small parties were milling about and one mixed flock of about 150 birds was seen.

Fungi are a fascinating part of the natural world about which I know very little. It helps if you can go out with the Cornwall Fungi Group as I did this morning on Goss Moor. I will do my best to convey the information I was given about the fungi I photographed.

The large fungus (which is really quite small!) is Mycena epiptygeria and the smaller protrusions are another fungus Spinellus fusiger which is infecting it. The siver white globes of the latter eventually turn black and rupture to release the spores. A couple in the black phase can be seen at the lower edge of the Mycena in the first picture.

This is Tremella mesenterica which is to be found on Gorse stems but is actually parasitic on another fungus  Peniphora resupinate which is growing on the Gorse.

Unfortunately I don't know the name of this one but I am sure somebody will tell me. I just liked its setting.
I have now been informed by Pauline Penna of the Cornwall Fungi Group that this is Laccaria laccata. English name 'The Deceiver'. Many thanks.

Dodging the showers on Par Beach this afternoon I came across this Dark bellied Brent Goose and a pair of Rock Pipits that provoked much discussion since they appeared quite yellowish but Rock Pipits they were.