In the week that included Valentines Day we were treated to some wonderful photos submitted to our sightings team. Website issues mean that most pictures this week went uncredited which made Adrian Leas’s task of writing the summary somewhat challenging. Thanks Adrian for persevering.
It would be a great help if photographers could caption their images – species, location, date and photographer – rather than just the DSC or IMG number.
Here’s Adrian take on the week

“The week certainly had a good start with some excellent Treecreeper and Coal Tit photographs taken at Respryn Bridge by Mark James.

The murky weather on Tuesday clearly dampened spirits and Martin Webb did well to photograph the Greater Scaup at Longrock Pool, Penzance so well given the uncooperative prevailing weather – but I wish I’d been at St Issey where Margaret Ellis was fortunate to photograph approximately 50 Cattle Egret, that’s quite an egret-gathering! Brighter weather on Wednesday encouraged our intrepid birders to venture out once again, their endeavours reflected in the number of reports and images submitted to our sightings team.

I particularly liked the two Barnacle Geese at Treraven Meadow by B Rankine, the juvenile Iceland Gull at Newlyn by N R Rogers and the lovely grebe images taken at Stithians by Gill Fisher. Some blue sky on Thursday allowed the excellent flow of sightings and images to continue, Martin Webb was back at Newlyn Harbour, where he captured a splendid Kittiwake flight shot and a lovely Great Northern Diver and Steve Ford was able to submit some great photos of a Black-necked Grebe at Flushing. If we needed any convincing that spring is coming Deena Sharp clearly provided this on Friday with a classic composition of two Dippers on a log at Respryn, what a great sight to see.

The Fulmar flight-shots taken by Mark James at Hells Mouth were also great to see, and the Grey Plover and Greenshank at Copperhouse Creek, Hayle by Martin Webb. The Bittern photographed at Loe Pool, Helston by J Hawkey on Saturday made me smile, an excellently captured image of an often shy and elusive bird.

I would also commend the reflection and feather detail in the Little Egret photograph taken by Martin Webb at Marazion Marsh and the classic Chough photograph also submitted that day.

Sunday was a very mixed-weather day, with great rewards for those venturing out, including Rupert Kirkwood who was able to provide an excellent Avocet tri on the Lynher Estuary, and Adam Holmes with his Red-necked Grebe photographed on the Helford River at Calamansac.

My choice for photo of the week this week is between the Little Egret at Marazion Marsh by Martin Webb and the Great Northern Diver at Par by Paul Davies. On balance I think that the Great Northern Diver takes the prize, what a great action shot.
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.”

Congratulations Paul, nice shot!