As November draws to a close, it falls upon Nick Watmough to review from a fine collection of photos. Many thanks Nick.
“Consistency is a trait that I greatly admire and in what was a slow week for submissions it seemed a good opportunity to celebrate a few of our more consistent contributors. None more so than Martin Webb who submitted good quality photos with his observations on no less than six days during the past week. Spoiler alert – neither Wednesday’s Snipe or Sunday’s Stonechat whilst extremely good images were Martin’s best work this week.
Consistency of a different kind comes from Rupert Kirkwood who it seems every time he takes his Kayak out comes back with a memory card full of great images – this week was no exception with flocks of Avocet and Lapwing in flight from Saturday’s trip on the River Lynher. Another regular contributor, Stithians warden John St Ledger, is currently thwarted by the low water levels keeping the birds distant – but relocating to Pendennis point he captured a winter plumage Guillemot on the rocks. Consistent quality is the hallmark of the small number of image Steve Rogers sends in – this week was no exception as he reminded us that the pair of Lesser Scaup were still in residence at Helston with a fine portrait of the drake. Another duck, a female pintail was caught mid-flap on Millbrook Lake by another regular, Deena Sharp. And finally, a mention for Sarah Talbot whose female Bullfinch from Swanpool was the latest in a series of consistently well (and imaginatively) composed submissions.
Other great photos this week included Dougy Wright’s Lesser Whitethroat of one of the eastern races from Windmill – such a shame the complexities of subspecific identification don’t allow us to use his image to figure out where in Eurasia this individual originated. Neil Best had a good Tuesday on the Hayle where he caught up with the Blue-winged Teal (is that duck always asleep?) and the roving Greenland White-fronted Goose. The goose was also well caught by Jamie Hicken and Martin Webb. Also on the Hayle, Simon Willson turned up an unseasonal Curlew Sandpiper whilst photographing the Goosander.
The Mounts Bay area was clearly a happy hunting ground in a difficult week for photographic targets, and I liked the way Jonathan Warner composed his Marsh Harrier hunting over Marazion. I also enjoyed Alex Mckechnie and Lynn Colliver’s shots of a Great Northern Diver in Penzance Harbour. Lynn also submitted a moody image of a Purple Sandpiper from the same site. At which point re-enter Martin “hold my beer” Webb who provided us with an absolutely “worldie” of the same species. The rocks around the Jubilee Pool must be amongst the best places on the planet to see Purple Sandpiper well. Unfortunately, many photos are marred by the photographer looking down on their subject from an acute angle. In this instance the bird is captured more or less at eye level and is both well exposed and very sharp and evidence that even when your work is consistently good excellent can still stand out”.
Congratulations Martin on achieving your fifth Photo of the Week this year. Only four weeks left before we start to think about Photo of the Year 2025. Doesn’t time fly!
