It was Jasmina’s difficult task this week to try and select just one of the fantastic photos of some envious birds that appeared in Cornwall this week.

‘My goodness what a week for spring migrants and birds being blown off course with the strong easterlies off Europe. Cuckoos in good numbers, Whitethroat and Wheatears arriving to breed. Then came the influx into Walmsley of the Whiskered Tern, Black winged Stilts and summer plumage Ruff with a Purple Heron added to the mix.  Finally at Croft Pascoe plantation came an unexpected beautiful Lesser Kestrel with the Spotted Flycatchers back for breeding. 

Some great images from our photographers as always and with mixed weather images weren’t always easy to capture – always appreciate everyone’s efforts. 

Monday came a really good image of a Whitethroat by Martin Webb from Land’s End and I liked Aadil Khan’s Cuckoo from Baker’s Pitt near Penzance and Wheatear by Steve Rogers.

Tuesday was a special day at Walmsley with the arrival of a Purple Heron – what a beauty captured by Adrain Langdon, as well as a great shot by Steve Rogers of a summer plumage Bar tailed Godwit. I also liked John St Ledger’s Great White Egret at Stithians. 

Wednesday a singing Garden Warbler at Stithians by Bill Hall was a pleasing shot as were great  images of the Whiskered Tern at Walmsley by Barry Rankine, Jim Eames and Gill Fisher . My goodness, my job this week was getting harder….Aadil Khan was having a busy day at Respryn with some excellent shots of Grey Wagtail feeding young, a Wren feeding in flight, Sedge Warbler and the Purple Heron at Walmsley. 

So Thursday was quieter with images but did like the leucistic Blackbird by Tina Barrot in Coverack.

Friday saw more lovely Whiskered Tern images by Dean Pollard. However, the Lesser Kestrel turning up at Croft Pascoe with images by Nigel Rogers got the County moving west; though I liked Martin Webb’s Wren at Marazion a lot as I did Aadil Khan’s Cuckoo at Baker’s Pitt. 

Saturday was the day for the Lesser Kestrel – what a beautiful bird done justice by Aadil Khan and Gill Fisher.

Finally I think Sunday was quieter and my pic of the day was Paul Davies’ image of the godwits and Ruff flying together showing off their summer plumage.

At this point I was struggling with Martin Webb’s Whitethroat , Adrian Langdon’s Purple Heron shots, Gill Fisher’s Black Winged Stilt in flight and her Lesser Kestrel in flight on Saturday. I have to give it to Gill Fisher’s Lesser Kestrel. It was the sharpest of the images and showed it in its environment – What a beautiful bird (having witnessed it in Spain a few weeks earlier) at home. Well done to Gill and everyone else who has taken the trouble to send in their images.”

Many thanks Jasmina and congratulations to Gill in capturing a fine shot of what might well be our Bird of the Year