November 2025

30th. Goldcrest and a small group of long-tailed tits in the Bristol garden.

28th. Black redstart on The Island. Chough flew over town on 29th.

25th. My last day of work was on 17th, and life has been hectic with house renovations since. I took lots of boxes to St Ives on 24th, and on 25th saw a red-throated and 2 great northern divers from the Island, together with 3 common dolphin. I then visited the Hayle Estuary - the hitherto elusive female blue-winged teal was showing splendidly.

Also present were 1 female peregrine, 5 goosander and some showy lapwing.

12th. Two snow buntings on the Island. I wonder if there are 3 birds in the area over recent days based on plumage characteristics. Five purple sandpipers too.

There were 4 female-type black redstarts in Barnoon Cemetery, including 3 together on one of the paths. There seems to have been a recent influx.

11th. Helston Boating lake where the common sandpiper is still approachable.

A male lesser scaup arrived about a week ago, and was soon joined by a female.

On 10th I saw a snow bunting on the Island at St Ives.

A herring gull ate a garfish.

Two painted lady butterflies and a small tortoiseshell (only my second of the year) were flying in the warm sunshine.

On the Hayle Estuary there was a greenshank and kingfisher on Ryan's Field, and a goosander from the causeway.

2nd. Skylark calling over the Bristol garden. Male blackcap too.