May 2025

25th. A summer plumage spotted sandpiper on Herriot's Pool. Two garganey also there. The sandpiper was seen distantly again on 26th, and a red-necked grebe, largely in summer plumage, was in the great-crested grebe flock. Both species were last sen at Chew in 2013 apparently.

10th. Painted lady on the Island - looks like a worn migrant. A Risso's dolphin with distinctive marks on its dorsal fin and 4 common dolphins too.

9th: An amazing display from the Risso's dolphins in St Ives Bay.

A walk from Church Cove to Cadgwith, with beautiful wild flowers including thrift and three-cornered leek. Early purple orchid too.

Some great sunsets at Porthmeor.

8th: the Savi's warbler was reeling on two occasions distantly at Marazion Marsh around 07.00h. Drake garganey also present in morning and yesterday evening.

A Cetti's warbler (below) gave close views in the open.

An infant Risso's dolphin is in St Ives bay. It swims alongside its mother, and sometimes torpedoes repeatedly out of the water.

In the afternoon I walked around Gwendreath Heath on the Lizard ascending from Kennack Sands. I saw and heard a cuckoo. Later in the afternoon news came through of red-footed falcons - I saw this first summer female at Croft Pascoe, and a first-summer male and female were near Gwendreath Heath too. there has been quite an influx this Spring.

6th: A bittern made four flights at Chew Valley Lake. Three hobbies also present. I missed the main attractions at Ham Wall, though saw thousands of Odonata, about 30 hobbies and a drake garganey. there was a strong swift passage today, with several hundred at both Chew and Ham Wall.

2nd: Slimbridge WWT: Glossy ibis, spoonbill, drake garganey, spotted redshank, common sandpiper, bar-tailed godwit, wood sandpiper, sedge warblers, lesser whitethroat singing, and the white-spotted bluethroat which has returned for its fifth summer.

A brown hare too.