Cornwall + Somerset 23-24/7/12

Day 1
I left home at midnight on Sunday night and arrrived at Porthgwarra around 5am. I seawatched on Gwennap Head for 9 hours. There was always a steady stream of Manx Shearwaters passing by. Other totals included:

Balearic Shearwater - 3
Strom-Petrel - 24
Pomarine Skua - 2
Arctic Skua - 1
Great Skua - 1
Puffin - 1

Common Dolphin - 15

I then visited Cape Cornwall and walked round the area. I managed to see 7 Chough all in one flock.

Later on I went to Land's End for the sunset and an Oceon Sunfish was offshore.

Day 2
Up early again but the wind was non-existent, however I still went to Gwennap Head and apart from hundreds of Manx Shearwaters, there wasn't much else so I left for Somerset.

Porlock, Somerset - IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF 1 male
Blagdon Lake, Somerset - FERRUGINOUS DUCK 1 drk in moult

Quail 17/7/12

Saw and heard a Quail on the path heading towards Bo-Peep in the evening whilst out running.

Weekend in The New Forest 14-16/8/12

This weekend was spent the with the girlfriend in the New Forest, mainly just chilling and doing activities such as Go-Ape and bike riding etc. However on the 16th I got told a site (many thanks James) for Bog Orchids and I saw 28 of these very small orchids.

Other bits included a Dartford Warbler, Silver-washed Fritillaries and a Glow Worm.

Bog Orchids in The New Forest

Burnt Orchids 8/7/12

Counted bang on 100 Burnt Orchids around the Frog Firle/High and Over complex this morning.

Hawk Moths of the week

Sabine's Gull - Herts/Bucks

1st Summer Sabine's Gull at Startop's End Reservoir, Herts/Bucks

Nightjar Heaven 25/6/12

My tree climbing skills came in good again this evening. I went to Wilmington Wood and had amazing views of a pair of Nightjars.

One started churring at 9.20pm, and 20 minutes later the pair were performing just out of sight, so I climbed a tree to view the whole area. Both birds were seen briefly until out of nowhere one bird perched in clear view about 20 metres away from me, where it stayed for about 10 minutes.

Then in the tree I was standing in, a Nightjar was churring at the top of it's voice. Whilst watching it at about 8 metres range, it started hovering and then hunting right in front of me before dropping down to the ground and flying off.

The pair then started displaying in view and a bit of wing clapping was also seen. The presumed female carried on returning to the same branch in full view and also did the occasional hunting.

At 10.10pm I left the site, and on the way back a Glow Worm was on the path.

A great evening.

Glow Worm in Wilmington Wood