Ryan's Field, Hayle, Cornwall, UK.

A wet visit to the Hide looking over the field.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

We got up and headed out for a look from the hide which over looks Ryan's Field along side of the Hayle Estuary, we arrived in the rain and made a dash for the hide.

Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta).

We got inside but seating was a bit difficult as two photographers were using most of the area where the benches were to rest their tripods on, as we stood there we did see Eurasian Teal (Cerceta Común / Anas crecca), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Shelduck (Tarro Blanco / Tadoma tadorna), Common Moorhen (Gallineta Común / Gallinulas chloropus), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), 100s of Northern Lapwings (Avefria Europea / Vanellus vanellus) in the air and down on the fields and good numbers of Golden Plovers (Chorlito Dorado Europeo / Pluvialis apricaia) most of which passed over in several large flocks, a few did drop in with the Lapwings.

A couple of Kingfishers (Martin Pescador / Alcedo atthis) were also seen, one put on a good show in front of the hide hovering several times before diving in into the water, we also had Dunlin (Correlimos Común / Calidris alpina), Common Redshank (Archibebe Común / Tringa totanus), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus), Great Cormorant (Cormorán Grande / Phalacrocroax carbo), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Meadow Pipit (Bisbita Pratense / Anthus pratensis), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula) and Pied Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

We decided to move on and headed back to Lynn and Steve's but quickly made a stop on the estuary at Copperhouse where we added Eurasian Wigeon (Sibón Europeo / Anas penelope) and Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos).

Back at the house we sat and watched the birds in the garden, adding Blue (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Greenfinch (Verderón Común / Carduelis chloris), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis) and Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus).

Later the rain eased off so we went for a walk to the top of Godolphin hill, we had planned to do this on my last trip but the weather had not been good, today it was still rough but we had a nice walk to the summit where we had great views of the local area and also saw Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus) and Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata) which were new for the day.

Travelling South to Cornwall.

On my way down to see friends Lynn and Steve.

I set off after breakfast as the weather was a tad rough so I waited until it was light, I went down the M54, M6, M5 and then the A30 to Godolphin Cross.

On my way I saw Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Canada Geese (Barnacla Canadiense /Branta canadensis), Mute Swan (Cisne Vulgar / Cygnus olor), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Little Egret (Garceta Común / Egreeta garzetta), Mallard (Anade Azulón / Anas platyrhynchos), Black-headed (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus), European Herring (Gaviota Argéntea Europea / Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Gaviota Sombria / Larus fuscus).

Once I crossed the boarder into Cornwall I had another Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Blackbird and Redwing (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus).

I arrived at Lynn and Steve's where we had a chat and Lynn cooked some amazing Pasties, later we sat and spent sometime chatting and watching some TV.

Shifnal Sewage Farm, Shropshire, UK.

A muddy walk near Shifnal.

Ebird List.

Long-tailed Tit (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus).

The weather was looking less horrendous than it had, so I thought I would go for a walk and do some birding, I parked just outside Shifnal and took to some rather muddy public footpaths.

On my way out to the Sewage farm I picked up Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus), Redwings (Zorzal Alirrojo / Turdus illacus), Collared Dove (Tórtola Turca / Streptopelia decaocto), a fly over Peregrine Falcon (Halcón Peregrino / Falco peregrinus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Dunnock (Acentor Común / Prunella modularis), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Jackdaw (Grajilla / Corvus monedula), Common Magpie (Urraca / Pica pica), Common Starling (Estornino Pinto / Sturnus vulgaris), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Coal  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater), Great (Carbonera Común / Parus major) and Blue Tit (Herrerillo Común / Parus caeruleus), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis), Siskin (Lúgano / Carduelis spinus) and over the sewage beds good numbers of Black-headed Gulls (Gaviota Riedora / Larus ridibundus) and a few Pied Wagtails (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla yarrellii).

In the area around the reedbeds I found Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), several Long-tailed Tits (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and a couple of Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus) mixed in with the flock.

On my way back towards the car I added Rook (Graja / Corvus frugilegus), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Song Thrush (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Fieldfare (Zorzal Real / Turdus pilaris).

Al and his Harley.

Later in the day I was over the moon to get a visit from Alan my son who came over on his Harley.

A Boxing Day afternoon walk around Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield, Staffordshire, UK.

A walk with the family.

Arriving at the Cathedral.

After we had some lunch we all headed out to the City and after parking we walked to the Cathedral to see the small Christmas trees that local businesses and schools had decorated.

I always enjoy visiting impressive buildings and the Cathedral certainly fitted the bill and it was even better doing it along side the family.

We went back to the house a bit later and after a little while I said my thanks for a great time and my goodbyes to them all after three absolutely brilliant days.