We have to thank Adrian Lea for looking through our media gallery for the pictures submitted this week. Amongst some cracking shots two stood out. Here’s his commentary:

”On Monday the Laughing Gull was still showing well at Penzance/Longrock and provided some excellent photographic opportunities with Alex McKechnie and Mark James each contributing some excellent images, with Paul Sharpe adding to the portfolio when he photographed the gull the following day at St Ives.

On Tuesday Robin Chiffers submitted an unusual image of a Kestrel dining on an Emperor Moth caterpillar at Chapel Carn Brae, and I would also commend the Swallow and Sand Martin photograph taken by Gerry Gillard at St Gothian Sands. The autumn migration seemed to be accelerating on Wednesday, with an increasing number of sandpiper sightings and a Little Ringed Plover being photographed at Colliford Dam by Andrew Tomkins.

On Thursday and Friday we were fortunate to see images of the Little Stint taken by David Collins and Joe Jones at Goonhilly Downs while Gill Fisher provided a beautiful Cattle Egret photograph taken at Walmsley.

Sunday certainly delivered some excellent birding with Simon Wilson kindly providing some important record shots of a White Stork in the sky above Hayle while John Irvine submitted some excellent photographs of a Great Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater and a Wilson’s Petrel from his Falmouth pelagic, what a trip!

My choice for photo of the week is between two main contenders, the Laughing Gull in flight by Alex McKechnie and the Great Shearwater in flight by John Irvine. Both are excellent photographs, but I think that the Laughing Gull by Alex is a worthy winner this week.

Many thanks once again to everyone who has taken the time to submit sighting reports and photographs to our sightings team, it really is greatly appreciated.”

Congratulation to Alex – winning for the second week in a row and capturing a bird that gave many photographers the run around.