Grey Phalarope

What a charismatic little bird! Bobbing around in a flooded field at the side of the A66 near Penrith - it clearly had never seen humans before!

Cornish Field Sketches....

Given it was November, we were really lucky with the weather - on the dry days! Sitting out on the cliffs painting in warmth was a real treaat! So here are the majority of my sketches: 

From Sennen to Land's End: 

Porthcurno: rather minimalist as I was desperate to photograph the waves!

And Lizard Point to Kynance Cove: 

The Lizard

One of our favourite walks and a must do when in the area. We arrived as only the third carpark (Cornwall is empty!), to the sound of the fog horn. With a good sea still rolling in, we walked along the coast to Kynance (obligatory pasty) and then back across the peninsula to Church Cove and back round the point to the carpark. As always a fabulous walk. 

The fog horn pops its head over the top...

Erosion on the cliff top has revealed a mass burial site, that probably related to a shipwreck. Apparently a young lad found a tooth and showed it to a National Trust volunteer who happened to be a dentist, which resulted in the discovery of the site. Further investigation and recording is planned for next year.

Hottentot Fig - fully in flower.

A gloriously lichen-covered wall.

And gloriously lichen-covered rocks.

Spectacular ...

White Spindles also known as Fairy Fingers.

Wafts of fog ...

Sketching outside in November - quality! 

And at a table with a pasty - even more quality!

We were treated to some spectacular flying displays by this Peregrine as it was being attacked by first, by a persistent Kestrel and then Choughs,

St Wynwallow's Church - The most southerly church in the UK, on the way to Church Cove.

Plums and Custard (fungus).

And back along the coastal footpath ...

Mauve Stinger Jellyfish: Praa Sands

Unexpected finds on the beach this afternoon......this relatively small jellyfish (10cm diameter with three foot long tentacles) is uncommon and is usually found in warmer waters - however with global warming.....

One of the two Mauve Stinger Jellyfish we found...

And a few more photos...

And back to the Beach Bar for a very nice coffee.

Hayle Estuary birding

A wander around the RSPB reserve and the estuary...

Nice to have good views of both a Kingfisher and Spoonbill, even if the Kingfisher, when it came closest, sat behind a branch and the Spoonbill kept its bill mainly in the water! A Black-throated Diver was unexpected and we had good close views of Teal, Wigeon and Curlew...It was quite dark and I susect there was a layer of salt on the camera, despite cleaning, so the photos aren't the clearest.

Kingfisher...

Spoonbill.

Black-throated Diver.

Curlew.

Looking towards the mouth of the estuary.

Porth Leven

With an hour or so before the rain was due, we headed to Porth Leven for a pasty... it wasn't high tide, so not too dramatic - but dramatic enough! 

And it looked like it had snowed! 

Snow/foam flakes.

Praa sands: Portuguese Man O'War

With a stormy day forecast, a walk along the beach. A big sea, lots of By-the-wind Sailors and three Portuguese Man O'War. Rocky was very happy bouncing, woofing and playing ...quite a different set of colours today!

The 'bone' from a Pink Cuttle fish (8cm).

Lots of dried out By-the-wind Sailors reminding me of the winged keys in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.  

And plenty of fresh ones ...

Portuguese Man O'War and below...

A tree from the aarden above; an eroding coastline indeed!

Pill Box.

And a few more waves..

Happy boy...

..and his double.