We’re already in February and it is Adrian Langdon’s turn to give us a run down on his favourite photos. Thanks Adrian.

‘Another excellent week of photography from our members, with a strong showing of many of our long-staying, overwintering specials including Lesser Scaup, Great Scaup, Lesser Yellowlegs and Ring-necked Duck. It is particularly noticeable that several species are beginning to show signs of breeding plumage, adding extra colour and quality to what is already a superb selection of images.

The week began on Monday with S. Wood submitting a striking photograph of three Red-necked Grebes together at Frenchman’s Creek; a very unusual sight to have all three birds in the same frame. In the same general area at Flushing, John St Ledger produced fine images of Black-necked Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser, both photographed on the water.

On Tuesday, Caroline Taylor followed up with three Sanderlings captured on the pebbly beach at Marazion near Penzance, while Martin Webb delivered a stunning close-up of a drake Teal taken at Hayle. Robin Chiffers continued the week with an excellent Marsh Harrier in flight over Longrock Pool at Marazion.

Thursday’s picture of the day went to Martin Webb for a beautifully lit portrait of a Goldfinch taken in a private garden in Hayle – a simple subject executed perfectly in lovely light.

Friday produced a wealth of quality images. Adrian Lea shared strong shots of Chiffchaff and Firecrest taken at Porthoustock, while Stephen Rowe revisited the Lesser Yellowlegs at Truro. Kathy White enjoyed a productive visit to Helston Boating Lake, capturing a Coot in flight and an impressive wing-flapping Lesser Scaup just after preening. Gill Fisher visited Loe Pool and secured two excellent images of Bittern among the vegetation: never an easy bird to photograph. Another standout was Martin Webb’s Oystercatcher photographed at Mousehole with a limpet in its bill, a wonderful behavioural moment.

Steve Rowe also had success at Hayle with images of an adult Caspian Gull and a first-winter Ring-billed Gull, both challenging birds to pick out among the hundreds of gulls currently on the estuary. A striking close-up of a Raven at Trevose Head by Caroline Taylor also caught the eye.

Sunday maintained the high standard. Dean Pollard submitted a beautifully atmospheric image of a Little Egret in the rain at Tresemple Pool near Tresillian. Nick Watmough produced two top-quality images: the Lesser Yellowlegs at Truro and Black-necked Grebes at Flushing. Rowena Castillo Nichols contributed a fine Caspian Gull taken at Mevagissey Harbour, and Jim Eames delivered another excellent image of Purple Sandpiper. Finally, Vic Booth shared a pair of garden birds from Carbis Moor, a female Blackcap and a male Great Spotted Woodpecker. both photographed well.

Thank you to everyone who contributed this week. The standard continues to be exceptionally high, and the variety of species across the county is impressive. Please keep the photographs coming, whether rare visitors, overwintering specials, coastal species or garden favourites.

In conclusion it was a good week for high quality images, especially considering the ongoing winter weather. To that end I’ve selected an image that included the raindrops, the Little Egret in flight at Tresmple pool by Dean Pollard as this week’s Photo of the Week. It is perfectly exposed considering the white plumage, a good size in the frame, not over-cropped, the bill being partially open and the classic yellow feet hanging behind all add to the quality of this picture.

Congratulations Dean!’