Many thanks again to Adrian Lea for reviewing this week’s photos that were sent to our daily sightings team; and not an easy task to select just one from some fine images.

“An excellent birding week with some glorious sunny weather. I particularly enjoyed the Sand Martin photographed at St Gothian Sands by Martin Webb on Monday, this is often a great place to sit and watch our smallest hirundine in action.

Another great photograph by Martin on Tuesday, this time a feeding Little Egret at Stithians.
Wednesday saw Rebecca Bowyer venturing to Portscatho and Nare Headland where she was able to see some Great Northern Divers and breeding Guillemot while James Savage was photographing Curlew at Looe Island.
Thursday saw Martin Webb at Marazion, evidenced by some finely detailed Great White Egret photographs while John St Ledger was fortunate to photograph a beautiful singing Yellowhammer at Tregonetha Downs.

Friday appears to have been the ‘birding day of the week’ with a glorious Crossbill photographed by Gavin Williams at Wilsey Downs, a lovely juvenile Stonechat photographed at Goss Moor by Dean Pollard and a beautifully translucent hovering Kestrel at Hells Mouth by Aadil Khan. The Spotted Redshank at Devoran, conspicuous in its predominantly black summer plumage not often seen here in Cornwall, has been the subject of some excellent photographs and Regina Griffiths kindly provided some great comparison images of this bird alongside our regular Redshank.

Saturdays ‘photo of the day’ was a justly deserved juvenile Green Woodpecker photographed by Peter Crumpler at Alverton, Penzance an excellent photograph of what can often be a very elusive bird.

Sunday saw the submission of some stunning photographs, including another lovely juvenile Green Woodpecker, this time at Ruan Lanihorne by D Hall (courtesy of Julie), hovering Kestrel at Carne Beach by C Taylor, an apparently very vocal Swallow at Marazion Marsh by D White and a beautifully detailed juvenile Long-tailed Tit at Camborne by G Rogers.

My choice for photo of the week this week would be split between the Sand Martin (Martin Webb), the juvenile Green Woodpecker (Peter Krumpler) and the Kestrel (Aadil Khan). These are each great photographs and well done to all three photographers. But, I need to select a single photograph and I particularly like the feather detail and sharpness of the Kestrel by Aadil Khan, a classic image of such a stunning bird. 

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