Whimbrel or Curlew ?

Even though I've seen both Whimbrel & Curlews many times, just can't make my mind up about these - the eye & head stripe is not clear enough and as for the beak size I'm not sure. Their call was just a short ripple - not the full one that is so beautiful ! Must start going out earlier in better light !

Oystercatchers

Quite a few Oystercatchers around this afternoon from Trenow along to Boat Cove.

Little Egrets

Sunset over Perranuthnoe

Just after we got back with the dogs, we noticed the sunset - I took this from the Balcony

At the top of the drive !

I decided that I might get a good photo from the top of the drive, so off I went to collect the wheelie bin, complete with camera ! Lovely view from up there and fewer wires across the view as well. I stood there for a while as not only was it a good view, it was also accompanied by the gentle sound of a flock of Whimbrels - who flew past us out near Men Dhu Point and had obviously gone to their favourite spot in Boat Cove - nice.

From the end of the drive you can just see the castle on The Mount - nice to see some lights on.

Ponies on Cudden Point taken from home

The Shetland Ponies seem to like this spot on the top of Cudden Point - they seem to be reasonably sure footed.

As I got to Wherrytown (between Penzance & Newlyn) the sun came out, which was lovely after a couple of very grey days.

Some Penzance Harbour views

Looking the rigging into the wet dock - with Gry Maritha's berth emptyon the right as she is on the way back from Scilly at the moment.

Looking across the harbour to the car park & boat enclosure at low tide.

Still some work going on, but looking good !

As the sun was out she looked so bright it made your eyes hurt !

Scillonian III getting her name back !

Nice comfy seat !

Oops ! ! a bit of a nudge already !

Shame to spoil the new paintwork !

Jubilee Pool, Penzance

Waiting for summer !

Looking across the bay to Perranuthnoe beach from Penzance

The far side of The Mount taken from Lighthouse Pier Penzance

Tuesday

An absolutely beautiful start to the day - blue sky and sunshine, which sadly didn't last beyond 10am, thereafter it was a grey & still day. I needed to go to Penzance and made my usual visit to Marazion Marsh on the way home.

Penzance Harbour

A very still harbour at lunchtime.

But meanwhile in the boat enclosure there were signs that Spring isn't far away as the sound of various works being done to quite a few of the boats was evident.

Looks like Louby still needs her bottom finishing off Keith !

Ross Bridge work

No idea what's going on in the tent - do hope they're on schedule as it's a real nuisance not being able to drive along Harbour Road.

Still working hard on one of the Zennor gigs.

Lighthouse Pier

You can hardly see where the sky ends and the sea begins

St Michaels Mount

Barely a ripple at lunchtime

Even more scaffolding on The Mount !

A close up of the castle showing the that boys from SCS Scaffolding, Long Rock are still at work (look at the left side of the pic.) There even looks like the workmen have a "hut" up there as well. These guys really are top class as their job - the work they did for us must have been a doddle compared to this !

Sorry about the quality !

The pair of Grey Herons are building a nest right at the front of the reed bed on Marazion Marsh, unfortunately, they're just that little bit too far for my camera's 18x zoom to get quality shots and the male was so busy this lunchtime collecting twigs that I just kept clicking away ! I've put them on the blog because I think it's wonderful to see how hard they have to work each Spring & even having lived right down by the side of the Tresillian River I've never seen the nest building process before.

Nest Building for the supersize bird !

A quick circle around before landing

Incoming !

Stunning wing feathers !

A very tricky landing !

She doesn't look too happy !

It's just not big enough - more twigs !

Might be some suitable twigs in here

Off he goes twig in beak - sorry about the quality

More twigs needed

He's going to need to bring in a lot more twigs to make a safe nest for the offspring !

Snipe

There were at least three Snipe feeding on the grass in front of me - just as this one was getting quite close a Rabbit made a dash at it & sent him packing - not seen that before !

Oystercatcher

A lone Oystercatcher flew in whilst I was watching the Herons

Beautiful relections this morning

New foal at The St Piran's Stud, Perranuthnoe

I think this is the first of this years foals at the St Piran's Stud, it was really difficult to get a decent photo as he was too friendly and kept coming right over to me. Great care was needed also because they have one mother of an electric fence around the fields & so you have to poke the camera through the wooden fence very carefully ! ! - wouldn't want to blow it up !

"Mum" seemed to be completely unconcerned

Crumbs, I don't think Perranuthnoe is ready for Coach Trips !

Ocean Predator

The latest vessel the Ocean Predator to come in & anchor in Mounts Bay.

Violets

I spotted this little patch of Violets peeking through the other plants on the track towards Trenow, now I know that Spring is just around the corner !

Sudden opening in the clouds in front of Mousehole !

Little Egrets

Four Little Egrets in Boat Cove. You can see their more lustrous plumes that they have in the Spring blowing in the breeze.

The Greeb

Everyone on this side of The Greeb at high tide this evening, to shelter from the NE breeze.

Sunday

A strange day, started just rather grey, then we noticed that the cloud had become very low & fast moving. It never came right over us - just stayed out in the bay.

The low cloud seemed to disapear quite suddenly, so off we went with the dogs & when we got to the other side of the village, there it was still hanging over Penzance & Newlyn, just didn't clear any further.

Closer view of the low cloud behind The Mount

Patricia

The Trinity House ship, Patricia sailing into the gloom on the other side of Mounts Bay.

We've seen lots of groups of these flying low across the water. Judging by the beak I think they may be Whimbrels.

Little Egret

This Little Egret came flying across in front of us & landed on a stone, I just love their feet, they seem so incongruous compared to the beautiful elegant body.

Looking East, lovely blue sky & sea & the Rayben Star still anchored off The Lizard

Saturday - a circular walk

A glorious start to the day tempted us to pack some sandwiches & set off on a favourite circular walk from home, up to Trebarvah and right across to Prussia Cove, a stop for lunch & a rest and return along the coastal footpath to Perranuthnoe. More clouds bubbled up at lunchtime, but it was still a very pleasant day. Hard to believe it's still February & it was snowing a fortnight ago !

View from Trebarvah to Mounts Bay

This is taken from near Trebarvah Farmhouse, which has featured in many sunrise photos during the winter. The view down to Mounts Bay is superb. We haven't used this footpath for quite a while as it was ploughed up when the farmer planted his cabbages & then the wet weather made it really unpleasant to use.