Lizard, Cornwall pt 2 - Monday 11th Oct

We took a leisurely cliff-top stroll to Soapy Cove. Our first stop was at Pistil - where the only migrant was a vocal but elusive Chiffchaff. En route to Kynance a flock of 5 Pale-bellied brent geese performed a fly past, hugging the coastline as they flew north. At Kynance itself a Chough called repeatedly from a prominent rock - mobbed endlessly by Jackdaws it eventually relented and moved on.

A couple of Wheatear hunted the grassland above the Cove but apart from the ubiquitous Meadow pipits, we saw nothing else of note until reaching Soapy Cove.

Grey seal pup - Soapy Cove

Walking inland from Soapy, Willow Warbler, and Chiffchaff were in the scrub of the valley - we scanned a long time for anything else and found nothing. Before crossing the Ford to loop back inland to Kynance settlement - we stopped for our pasties.

"Ann's Pasties"

Kynance Settlement

We finished our walk, and quenched our thirsts, with a couple of pints of Proper Job at The Top House Inn.

Monday night's moth trap was a little underwhelming with 30 moths of 6 species - Feathered Ranunculus and Lunar Underwing joint first with 13 individuals apiece.

Adventures in Orchidaceae pt 9 .. upon a Chalk Hill Fort ..

Hambledon Hill (ascent from the South)

looking West

looking East

heading East

East end of Hill Fort

descending Westerlie

Adonis blue (Polyommatus bellargus)

Autumn Lady's-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis)

Adventures in Orchidaceae pt 3 .. Outer Hebrides ..

Other highlights of our Outer Hebrides road trip, will be documented elsewhere. However, in keeping with the "Adventures in Orch' .. " series, our only orchid species encounter on the Western Isles, was with the heath-spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza Maculata). First seen on the moorland of South Uist at Loch Druidebeg. Then seen again at Callanais II, and the unnamed stone circle at NB304230 via the B8011 on the Isle of Lewis.

Unfortunately, we failed to find any other species of orchid on the two week trip, although a couple of orchid rosettes were noted on a road verge at Shawbost, but I failed to photograph them for posterity.

Heath-spotted orchids, Loch Druidebeg, South Uist

Callanais II

Heath-spotted orchids, Callanais II

Stone circle at at NB304230 Uig, Isle of Lewis

Broch of Mousa, Shetland - archaeology and birdwatching in perfect harmony

We took two trips to the Isle of Mousa both on the same day - the first an afternoon visit to explore the island, its wildlife and the impressive remains of the Broch of Mousa, Scotland's most complete Iron Age Broch.

En route to Mousa

Historic Environment Scotland: Mousa Broch

Shetland wren (Troglodytes troglodytes zetlandicus)

The second visit was taken in the evening to capture the spectacle and soundscape of the Isles famous inhabitants .. the storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus). These sea birds use the field walls, the fortified brickwork of the Broch, and gaps within the large pebble / boulder beach rocks for nesting sites.

The petrels arrive en-masse in the twilight hours - and around the Broch itself they seem to swarm as do bats before entering the crevasses between the stones. Their purring call complete with shrill yappy croaks emanate from both these man-made and natural structures adding a haunting sound track to the light changes and the fade into Simmer Dim.

storm petrel in the Simmer Dim

Broch and A in the Simmer Dim

I spent a little time recording the calling of the storm petrels from within the Broch walls, along with the overhead drumming of a displaying snipe (Gallinago gallinago).

"selfie" in the Simmer Dim 00:23 27th May 2018

A return to The Devil's Jumps ..

The Devil's Jumps is a series of five bronze age bell barrows which are situated on Treyford Hill, Treyford, West Sussex. One of my favourite archeological sites, I return to them regularly when walking on The South Downs.