Many thanks to Adrian Langdon for taking time out of his busy schedule to review the latest photos submitted to the Bird News page.  These are always appreciated so keep them coming. Congratulations to Steve for winning PotW.

Monday May 19th started with a super image a male Red-footed Falcon taken by Steve Rogers down at Nanquidno in what looks to be the potato fields where two falcons had been feeding for several days. This is a great image and shows it off in flight just a few inches over the ground, helped by a lovely catch light in the eye.
Also on Monday, a nice Sedge Warbler singing at Walmsley sanctuary taken by John St. Ledger caught my eye.
Martin Webb showed us a couple of fine photos, a Great-crested Grebe and a Great Black-backed Gull both taken at Drift reservoir just outside Penzance.

On Tuesday 20th a stunning image of a “reeling” Grasshopper warbler taken by Adrian Lea near Carnkie, Redruth. Another photo that caught my eye was the beautifully backlit shot of the Sand Martins by Gerry Gillard.

On Wednesday 21st only 2 images were submitted with a stand-out image being a male Kestrel hovering on an updraught at Poldhu cliffs by Jonathan Warner.
It must be a quiet time of the year with our photographers leaving breeding birds alone at this time of the year as there were no photos uploaded to the sightings page on Thursday 22nd.

On Friday 23rd, photos of the Bonaparte’s Gull started to arrive with pictures from Steve Rogers and Simon Willson with the bird showing well at RSPB Ryan’s Field at Hayle. Some were good record shots and others showing various parts of its wing pattern to aid ageing and identification. However, for me the image of the of the day was a Reed warbler beautifully shown through a gap in the reeds, by Adrian Lea and taken at private ponds at Stithians.

On Sunday 25th a good set of image images of the Bonaparte’s Gull taken once again at RSPB Ryans Field at Hayle, many showing good a good comparison with a Black-headed Gull in terms of size and plumage, thanks to Caroline Taylor. Marazion Marsh turned up a nice male Stonechat for Martin Webb producing a great image and a surprise visit of a non-breeding Spoonbill to Maer Lake at Bude gave Nigel Bastin a few good shots.

Surprisingly few photos to choose from this week but strangely that doesn’t make it any easier!

I’m pleased to select a photo that I loved from the beginning of the week for “Photo of the Week” and it’s Steve Rogers’ cracker of the Red-footed Falcon in low level flight at Nanquidno.
Congratulations Steve, I’m envious!

Adrian Langdon.