Landscapes with the new Nikon D800 SLR

  Last weekend I was lucky enough to be allowed to try out the new Nikon D800 SLR camera. With a 14-24mm lens attached John and I headed to West Cornwall to take some landscapes. I took several photographs during the day, but I have shown just a couple in this post. The first is of the engine houses at Botallack. 

  Perhaps my favourite picture of the day was this one of St Michael's Mount in the stormy clouds. The advantage of the 14-24mm lens is that as it is so wide it allows you to capture those large moody skies in the picture.

Mute Swans at Tresemple Pool, Truro River

  This evening we had a short walk along the Truro River from St Clement to Tresemple Pool. The tide was going out and feeding on the mud opposite Tresemple Pool was a beautiful Black-tailed Godwit in summer plumage. Unfortunately it was quite distant but I managed to take a record shot as shown below.

                                                  


  On Tresemple Pool feeding at the edge of the water were a pair of Mute Swans who were accompanied by a Common Sandpiper. Whilst watching the swans another male Mute Swan flew in from the river and landed on the pool. He immediately raised his wings and started charging through the water towards the pair of Mute Swans already there. 

  The resident male responded to the challenge and launched himself into the water with his wings raised and they circled around each other before he chased his rival to the other side of the pool!

  A few moments later we saw the resident male chasing the female across the water, making a big splash in the process. 

Night Heron at Polgigga Duckpond

The days birding started with a walk around Lands End where we had a beautiful male Black Redstart who would occasionally start singing. He was accompanied by a male Wheatear, my first for the year. We had also seen a couple of Sand Martins so it feels like spring is on its way! 

We then went to see the Night Heron which has temporarily made its home on the duckpond at Polgigga.  

Lesser Scaup at Newquay Boating Lake

  John and I would like to thank Steve Rowe for telling us about this male Lesser Scaup, that he had found on Newquay Boating Lake this morning. It had made friends with a one male and two female Tufted Ducks and spent it's time swimming up and down the boating lake with them! 

Below is  John's video of the Lesser Scaup :-

Glaucous Gull at Newlyn Harbour

  This morning John and I visited Newlyn Harbour to have another look at the adult Glaucous Gull. For a large gull it was surprisingly difficult to find! Luckily it was attracted to the scraps of fish being thrown out by the fishermen and landed on the jetty.  Unfortunately the gull has acquired an oil spot on its belly.

 I have shown this last picture as it shows the Glaucous Gull in its environment amongst the fishing boats in the harbour. 

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Spent today birding around the Exe Estuary and finished the day with a walk on the beach at Dawlish Warren, where we saw these colourful beach huts.

A good days birding!

Today John and I decided to go to the Lizard. Our first stop was Brays Cot, a good vantage point to look across Goonhilly Downs for raptors. We had a Marsh Harrier,  Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and two Merlins. 

John spotted a Richard's Pipit fly up from the heathland and land in a nearby tree where we had good views. Our friend, Dan Eva arrived just in time to see it fly out of the tree and head east calling as it went. I was very happy as the Richard's Pipit was a new bird for me!

Next stop was to see the six Common Cranes. As we arrived we saw them flying in so I was able to get a few flight shots before they landed in the stubble field next to the road to Cadgwith.