Sennen Beach Sunset

Hayle Estuary

 A Grey Plover in full breeding plumage

 Whimbrel

Grey Heron

Dunlin

Great Spotted Woodpecker nest

On my camping holiday in Penwith, at the Lower Treave campsite, I had the good luck to pitch my tent under a Great Spotted Woodpecker nest. The twitters from the chicks and the calls of the adults became the soundtrack of the week. The adults brought a constant stream of food, and I often saw them foraging on the ground, in the grass around the campsite. which is managed really sympathetically to encourage wildlife. As the week progressed the chicks became bolder and started to look out of the nest hole.

 This is an adult emerging from the nest

 Mr and Mrs. The faint red upper-breast marking on the left hand bird suggest this is the male.

 A rather muddy beak, full of grubs

 The juveniles have a red crown

 Very faint red upper breast markings suggest this is the male

Overall an enthralling experience and a real privilege to witness. I am sure the electricity board will probably want to replace the pole, but hopefully not until the chicks have fledged

Greater Black-backed Gull

From Mounts Bay

Cott Valley

The astonishing remains of the suspended beach from when sea levels were much higher

Sennen Cove

Early morning at Sennen Cove after an overnight drive down to Cornwall

 Nesting House Martins

 Rock Pipit

 Shag

View from the quay

Chilley Farm

 Reed Warbler

Reed Bunting

Sunset looking towards Belle Tout lighthouse

Birling Gap

 Dunnock

 Linnet

Juvenile Stonechat

 Magpies

Cygnets

In the Cuckmere Valley, near Littlington

Cuckmere Haven

 White Wagtail

 Grey Heron

 Great Crested Grebe

 Flowering Sea-kale on the shingle bar

 Stonechat

Meadow Pipit