Wood and Green Sandpipers at Walmsley sanctuary. Sat 28th July 2018.

Wood Sandpiper

Our usual late summer Green Sandpipers have been joined by a Wood Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper this week in at Walmsley sanctuary.

Photos are a bit distant but seeing them all in close proximity to each other is a great way of getting the ID's sorted out.

Wood Sandpiper

2 Green Sandpipers at left and a Wood Sandpiper right.

Barn Owlet at nestbox entrance, Wadebridge, Cornwall 27th July 2018.

A few pictures from the nest box in the garden of friends on the outskirts of our town.

A cloudy evening which turned to some of the first rain for many weeks but also very dark by 9:30 pm.

Fortunately one of the owlets, probably the eldest posed for some portraits before the daylight totally disappeared.





Here are a few pics.

Ocean Sunfish, North Cornwall. 26th July 2018.

 We came across at least 5 Ocean Sunfish today on our Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust marine survey on the North Cornwall coast from Newquay SW to beyond St.Ives.

 

The ocean sunfish or common mola is the heaviest known bony fish in the world

The average size of a mature sunfish is usually several hundred pounds. However, the very largest can be 10ft in length, 14ft vertically and weigh around 4,500 – 5,000lbs, making the sunfish one of the very largest bony fish species in the world.

Common Dolphins "Bow-riding", North Cornwall 26th July 2018.

Something really special about looking down at a Common Dolphin "bow riding" the boat on our CSGRT marine survey on the North Cornwall coast today.

Sandwich Terns at Brownsea island Dorset. Thurs 5th July 18.

We spent a great day on Brownsea island in Poole harbour, Dorset on Thursday.

It was all about Terns really as the Sandwich and Commons were actively feeding young.

It was also an eye opener to see the variety of fish being brought to the chicks which included sand eels, squid and what I guess to be sprats.

There seemed to be plenty of fish available to feed the 160 pairs of Sandwich terns on the little islands in the lagoon. That was encouraging!

Cornwall Beaver Project 4th July 2018

Beaver kit

I was lucky to be invited to the Cornwall Beaver Project at Ladock near Truro yesterday and delighted to get some photos.

Initially cynical about re-introducing European Beavers back into Cornwall after a gap of about 1000 years I think I've been won around by the professionalism of the project and those involved.

Seeing what the animals have done in a small Cornish valley and how it has slowed down the water run off is impressive.

Looking forward to the future now with the beaver becoming a part of the Cornish fauna!

Also a couple of videos taken when it became too dark to take stills!!

Beaver kit eating. Cornwall Beaver Project 4th July 2018.

 

Adult beaver feeding in virtual darkness. Cornwall Beaver Project. 4.7.18

Adult beaver

Beaver kit

Beaver kit

Beaver kit

Adult beaver

Adult beaver

Adult beaver

Beaver kit

Beaver kit

Beaver kit

Beaver kits tail