Location: Kynance Cove, The Lizard Peninsula Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Finally, we saw the Brown Booby at Kynance Cove. This bird is a first in the UK. I am super duper delighted that me and Rob drive-off immediately after my work otherwise we might have missed this once in a lifetime sighting. We also saw an unringed Chough. What a spectacular place for birdwatching. The Brown Booby breeds on islands and coasts in the pantropical areas of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They frequent the breeding grounds of the islands in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Brown Booby
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Location: Godrevy Head, Gwithian RSPB Hayle Estuary Nature Reserve Windmill Farm Nature Reserve Lizard Point, The Lizard Peninsula Kynance Cove, The Lizard Peninsula Loe Bar, The Lizard Peninsula Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Went out early to search for 2 rare birds: White Stork and Brown Booby. Our first stop was at Godrevy. The birds were no show but we saw Seals, Gannets, Black Tern, Sooty Shearwater, Whimbrel and a lot more... Our 2nd stop was at RSPB Hayle Estuary. Not many species. Just the usual ones. Our 3rd stop was at Windmill Farm. The only notable species we saw was this gorgeous Barn Owl. Our 4th stop was at Lizard Point. As always, I am delighted to see 3x Cornish Choughs showing off their acrobatic flight. Our 5th stop was at Kynace Cove, one of the most scenic spot in Cornwall. Our last stop was at Loe Bar to see the rare Sandhill Rustic Moth lead by Adrian Spalding. We've seen 21x in total.
Adrian Spalding is the author of the "Loe Bar and the Sandhill Rustic Moth: The Biogeography, Ecology and History of a Coastal Shingle Bar" and other wildlife books. In Loe Bar and the Sandhill Rustic Moth, Adrian Spalding examines the survival of plants and animals on Loe Bar, a shingle beach on the coast of Cornwall, in the context of its history, geomorphology and exposure to the Atlantic environment. He develops these themes within a detailed study of the Sandhill Rustic moth that endures this harsh environment where storm surges, high salinity, high temperatures, strong winds and burial by sand affect the wildlife that occurs there. Adrian Spalding MA (Cantab), PhD (University of Aberdeen), FLS, FRES is a former Director of the Cornish Biological Records Unit (University of Exeter) and currently Director of Spalding Associates (Environmental) Ltd. He has had a lifetime passion for moths and butterflies. Location: The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Had a lovely time at The Lost Gardens of Heligan. We came to see their massive collection of Dahlia and huge pumpkins. Location: North Cornwall Coast Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls The rugged coastline of the North Cornwall Coast is just picturesque. What a great spot for birdwatching and butterfly watching with Rob and Marcus Rhodes. We had a fantastic and fabulous time. We saw loads of amazing species: Grayling, Painted Lady, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Wheatear, Whimbrel, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Cornish Choughs and a lot more... The ruggedly beautiful North Cornwall Coast Marcus taking photos of the Graylings Thanks to the sharp eyes of Marcus, we saw a few Graylings and an egg-laying one too! Other wildlife species we saw Cornish Chough showing off it's acrobatic flight A pair of Cornish Choughs foraging
Please join us on our annual FUN WILDLIFE QUIZ and CHRISTMAS DINNER . This year will be more fun and enjoyable. There will also be a PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION, BEST CHRISTMAS JUMPER and RAFFLES”. Fantastic and fabulous prizes awaits the lucky winners.
FUN WILDLIFE QUIZ Winners will receive a medal and a prize. Maximum of 4 person in a team. Entry is just £2 per person. (For 18 years old and above only) PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION Winners will receive a certificate and a prize. Please bring “ONE” of your best photos taken this summer 2019. Two winners will be chosen: * Photo of a BUTTERFLY or a MOTH * Photo of a WILDFLOWER MEADOW. (For 18 years old and above only) Photos will be judged on the following criteria: * Creativity and Originality. * Technical Quality such as Clarity and Composition. * How well the photo captures the Natural Beauty of Cornwall. BEST CHRISTMAS JUMPER Winner will receive a medal and a prize. Please wear your "BEST and UNIQUE" Christmas jumper. One winner will be chosen. For bookings and enquiries, please contact Rowena Castillo Nicholls via mobile: 07711105485 or email: ilovecornwall8@yahoo.com. Kindly send your payment of £15.00 in advance (£13.00 for the “all you can eat buffet” and £2.00 for the quiz) by the 15th November 2019. Location: Roseland Peninsula Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Spectacular view! We came back again to this beautiful place to see the Long-tailed Blue with Rob, David Allan and David Conway. Unfortunately, the butterfly was not there anymore. But we still saw other species: Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Large White, Common Blue and Small White plus an Emperor Dragonfly and a few sea birds. But we should continue to keep our eyes open. Who knows what we might see! Clouded Yellow Some of the gorgeous butterflies we saw. Rob Nicholls, Dave Conway and Dave Allan
Location: Roseland Peninsula Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls What a great and successful day despite the occasional rain and wind. We've seen three migrant butterflies. I am a very pleased and delighted wildlife enthusiast and so is Rob Behenna Nicholls and Paul Miles. First migrant butterfly we saw: 100++ Painted Lady. 2nd migrant butterfly we saw: Clouded Yellow. 3rd migrant butterfly we saw: Long-tailed Blue. Other butterflies we saw: 3x Speckled Wood, 1x Small Copper, 5x Red Admiral, 2x Small Tortoiseshell, 10++ Common Blue, 10++ Gatekeeper, 10++ Meadow Brown, 10++ Small White and Large White Long-tailed Blue Clouded Yellow Painted Lady Cornish Seal Rob and Paul
Location: St Ewe Village Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Had a great time at St Ewe Country Fair with Three Bays Wildlife Group. A very local event. It's amazing to see a brilliant turn out. Heavy Horses Gorgeous Horses Birds of Prey Steam Engine Vintage Cars At the Horticulture Tent Beautiful Flowers Three Bays Wildlife Group Marquee
Location: Trelusback Farm Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls It's been an enjoyable and successful event. Everyone had a great time. A huge thank you to the 110 Cornwall Butterfly & Moth Society members and friends who came to our Summer BBQ and Wildlife Walk today! You made this event an enjoyable and truly memorable with your presence. I have 110 on my list but I know there are more. See you all again on our next event. Thank you Keith Wilson and Tony Wilson for hosting our enjoyable and fun-filled Annual Summer BBQ and Wildlife Walk to your spectacular Trelusback Farm. And of course, thank you to our amazing chefs Connor, Donna, Janet and Carole. Thank you Rosie Hadden and Simon for all the delicious cakes, Nicola and Hayden Veal for the sausages, Richards Stubbs and Diana Taylor for the drinks and fruits, Bernard Hocking for the veggies and to everyone who made a massive contribution. Queuing for the BBQ. Great food, great company! Keith Wilson giving a talk before we set off on our walk. I had a fantastic time walking around with all these lovely people. We had a brilliant walk lead by our very knowledgeable trustee Phillip Harris. We've seen loads of amazing wildlife. Dave Gibbon showing some of the gorgeous moths from his moth trapping the previous evening. So happy to see these beautiful people! With Keith Wilson, Sue Ofield, Patrick Saunders and Rob Nicholls
Had coffee, cake and chit chat with the International Women's Group. We had such an enjoyable time. The Portuguese cake is divine. Love it. Hope we'll have that again on our next meet up. Thank you Susie Brown for another successful day. Susie, Alex, Me and Gillian Susie, Alex, Me and Olesea
Location: East Pool Mine Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Had a fantastic and fabulous time at the National Trust's Summer Party in East Pool Mine. I had a great time playing the games with my team. And we are the over-all winner. Congratulations and well-done to us. Thank you Ian Marsh, General Manager for West Cornwall Countryside National Trust for inviting us to this fun and enjoyable event. The winning team!!! Sooo delighted that my team won the games!!! With Kate Evans, Senior Visitor Experience Officer, West Cornwall Coast & Countryside I really had sooo much fun with the games. Ian Marsh, General Manager, West Cornwall Countryside National Trust It's lovely to meet everyone. East Pool Mine
Location: Roseland Peninsula Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls The weather is absolutely glorious. Sunny and warm. Hope it will stay like this for the whole summer season. Fingers-crossed. Fresh and clean Cornish sea. I can't help myself going for a dip after that long walk to cool me down. Rob is on his elements. He just loves swimming especially on this sunny and warm weather. Beautiful crystal blue waters. Butterflies and Dragonflies
Location: Aish Tor, Dartmoor National Park Bovey Valley Woods, Newton Abbot Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Had an amazing time in Aish Tor, Dartmoor. Sooo happy to see one of UK's rarest butterfly, the High Brown Fritillary. After Aish Tor, we went to Bovey Valley Woods to see the White Admiral. We saw a few worn out ones and 2 in good conditions. What a successful day! The beautiful High Brown Fritillary, one of UK's rarest butterfly. The lovely White Admiral at Bovey Valley Woods.
Location: National Trust's Trerice House and Garden
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls I just love the Knot Garden at National Trust's Trerice House and Garden. The design of the knot garden, planted in 2013, was inspired by the decorative, geometric plaster ceiling in the Great Chamber that overlooks the space from the house. Location: National Trust's Lanhydrock House and Garden
Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Had a great time at National Trust's Lanhydrock House and Garden. The flowers are all in bloom in various colours and shapes. I felt sooo happy and relax surrounded by the beauty of nature on a glorious day. Location: Truro, Cornwall, UK Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Sooo delighted to watch the Partial Lunar Eclipse this evening. The sky is clear. Saw a few planets, stars, satellites and planes. The world is really full of mystery. This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission launch that put man on the Moon. The Apollo 11 mission carrying Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins blasted off on 16 July 1969. Four days later Armstrong became the first man to step on to the Moon's surface. During a partial eclipse, some - but not all - of the Moon passes through the darkest area of shadow behind the Earth, the central region called the umbra. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth crosses between the Sun and Moon - casting a shadow on the lunar surface. The lunar eclipse takes place between Tuesday July 16 and Wednesday July 17. The "maximum eclipse" will peak at 10.31pm UK time, so that's when you'll want to go outside and look skyward. The first stage of the eclipse, which is called the penumbral eclipsing, begins at 7.43pm UK time. Then the partial eclipsing finishes up at around 11pm, followed by the last stage – another penumbral eclipsing – at 1.17am. Partial Lunar Eclipse
Location: Portmellon Valley Portmellon Beach Gorran Old School Rooms Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Congratulations Jeremy Roberts and Three Bays Wildlife Group Committee, Volunteers and Wildlife Walk Leaders for the successful Portmellon Valley Bioblitz this weekend. It's such a great event. We are really impressed at how organised you are. The event went really smoothly. Looking forward for the next one. 8:30 am – Moth Trap see what we have caught – Starting the shack Portmellon 10:00 am – Explore shore and Snorkel Safari (booking essential for snorkelling) at Portmellon Beach 11:00 am - Bird Walk– Starting at Gorran Old School Rooms 1:00 pm – Butterfly and Bumble Bee Walk – Starting at the Shack Portmellon 3:00 pm – Wildflower and plant walk – Starting Gorran Old School Rooms 5:00 pm – End of BioBlitz Social gathering – The Rising Sun Portmellon Jeremy Roberts and Robert Wells Tea/Coffee and delicious bacon bap to start our day! Di and Susie, our 2 excellent caterer today with Jane and Linda. Thank you Di for my sweet pea flowers. Posing for a photo opt before embarking to a wildlife walk. Having a rest after the enjoyable walk. Me and Rob had an amazing time! Rob can't wait to jump off the sea!!! Drinks at The Rising Sun Inn after the successful Portmellon Valley Bioblitz weekend. Cheers everyone!
Location: Portmellon Valley Portmellon Beach Gorran Old School Rooms Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Well-done Jeremy Roberts and Three Bays Wildlife Group Committee, Volunteers and Wildlife Walk Leaders for a brilliant day at the Portmellon Valley Bioblitz. I had an enjoyable and fun-filled time. Loads of amazing wildlife walks and activities. 8:30 am – Bird Walk – Starting at the Shack Portmellon 11:00 am – General Wildlife Walk – Starting at Gorran Old School Rooms 1:00 pm – Butterfly and Bumble Bee Walk – Starting at the Shack Portmellon 3:00 pm – Wildflower and plant walk – Starting Gorran Old School Rooms 6:00 pm – Explore shore as the tide drops - join us for a drink at The Rising Sun 8:30 pm – Bat Walk – Starting at the Shack Portmellon I had a great time at the base camp with Steph Wild. Everyone was happy with their wildlife walks. They've seen loads of amazing wildlife species. Rob went to the Butterfly and Bumble Bee Walk today. He had a great time. He's looking forward to go the the Bird Walk tomorrow. Some of the delectable food at the Gorran Old School Rooms, Jane and Linda, our excellent caterer. Moths, Butterflies and Stick Insects Thank you Madeline Lowe for bringing your gorgeous Stick Insects and some Moths too. We all had a go at holding the gorgeous Stick Insects.
Location: Portmellon Valley Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Had an enjoyable time doing the Butterfly Transect in Portmellon Valley with Rob and Simon. We've seen loads of gorgeous butterflies from our Butterfly Transect today: Comma, Painted Lady, Small Copper, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Small White, Large White and a lot more... Beautiful Butterflies
Location: Dodman Point Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls I just had the most enjoyable time Sea Watching - spotting marine mammals in Dodman Point from morning till evening. Robert Wells, a marine expert from Three Bays Wildlife Group lead the fieldtrip. We've seen loads of amazing marine life, sea birds and butterflies. Looks like sea watching is going to be my new interest!!! We've seen loads of amazing wildlife: Marine Mammal: a pod of Dolphins and 2x Seals Mammal: 1x dead Shrew Bird: 20++ Cormorant, 2x Fulmar, Swallows, Swifts, loads of Gulls and a lot more... Butterfly: 1x Marbled White, 30++ Wall Brown, 30++ Meadown Brown, 30++ Ringlet, 20++ Gatekeeper, 5x Red Admiral, 5x Small White, 2x Large White, 3x Speckled Wood and a lot more... Dragonfly: 3x Golden-ringed Dragonfly Dodman Point is the highest headland on the south Cornwall coast, measuring 374 feet (114 m). It is also known by its earlier names of the Deadman and Deadman's Point. It hosts the remains of an Iron Age promontory fort, and at its seaward end is a large granite cross, erected in 1896 to help protect shipping from this headland. It is mentioned in the shanty Spanish Ladies. Below the large stone cross, there is a way down to the bottom of the small cliffs and there is some climbing there on the faces mainly bouldering as it is rarely scaled so there are no fixed anchor points. Our most notable sighting at Dodman Point were a pod of Dolphins. It's just awesome to see them jumping off the waters. Unfortunately, this yellow boat with a very noisy motor is going straight to the pod. He just keeps on going straight to them. Really causing a wildlife disturbance. Grey Seal Birds Butterfly Dragonfly A dead Common Shrew Flowers Great day! Granite Cross Sooo exhilarating to be on the cliff edge!!! I always have an adrenaline rush. But I love it.
Location: Trelusback Farm Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls I had an enjoyable meal with Keith Wilson, Rosie Hadden, Simon Toft and Adrian Spalding at the The Golden Lion Inn and Lakeside Restaurant. Thank you Keith Wilson. It was lovely to see everyone. We had a great time walking around the conservation area of Keith Wilson's Trelusback Farm. The "Scaffold Tower" is already set up near the oak tree. Yessss! Looking forward to our sumer BBQ on the 17th August. Can't wait. Stithian's Lake At The Golden Lion Inn and Lakeside Restaurant Lunch at The Golden Lion Inn and Lakeside Restaurant Trelusback Farm The "Scaffold Tower" is already set up near the oak tree. Yessss! Some of the amazing wildlife in Trelusback Farm.
Location: North Cornwall Coast Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls The sunset was 9:36pm. Spectacular! Happy summer solstice. SUMMER SOLSTICE is here, meaning people in the Northern Hemisphere will experience the longest day of the year today, Friday, 21 June 2019 - UK will enjoy 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight. The sun will rise at 4:43am and will set at 9:21pm. The solstice officially marks the beginning of astronomical summer, which ends when the autumn equinox falls on September 23. The summer solstice (or estival solstice), also known as midsummer, occurs when a planet's rotational axis, or geographic pole on either its northern or its southern hemisphere, is most inclined toward the star that it orbits. On the summer solstice, Earth's maximum axial tilt toward the Sun is 23.44°. (Likewise, the Sun's declination from the celestial equator is +23.44° in the Northern Sky and −23.44° in the Southern Sky.) This happens twice each year (once in each hemisphere), when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky as seen from the north or south pole. The summer solstice occurs during the hemisphere's summer. This is the northern solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the southern solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the summer solstice occurs sometime between June 20 and June 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and between December 20 and December 23 each year in the Southern Hemisphere. The same dates in the opposite hemisphere are referred to as the winter solstice. As seen from a geographic pole, the Sun reaches its highest altitude of the year on the summer solstice. It can be solar noon only along that longitude, which at that moment lies in the direction of the Sun from the pole. For other longitudes, it is not noon. Noon has either passed or has yet to come. Hence the notion of a solstice day is useful. The term is colloquially used like "midsummer" to refer to the day on which solstice occurs. The summer solstice day has the longest period of daylight, except in the polar regions, where daytime remains continuous for 24 hours every day during a period ranging from a few days to six months around the summer solstice. 2016 was the first time in nearly 70 years that a full moon and the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice concur on the same day. The 2016 summer solstice's full moon rose just as the Sun set. Worldwide, interpretation of the event has varied among cultures, but most recognize the event in some way with holidays, festivals, and rituals around that time with themes of religion or fertility. In some regions, the summer solstice is seen as the beginning of summer and the end of spring. In other cultural conventions, the solstice is closer to the middle of summer. Solstice is derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still Spectacular sunset on Summer Solstice. Watching the sunset. Surrounded by the gorgeous poppies. Photographing the gorgeous poppies. The most beautiful poppy field.
Date: Saturday, 22 June 2019, 10:00am to 5:00pm
Location: St Austell Town Centre Save the date for St Austell's annual Garden Festival showcasing our local famous Cornish gardens, our fabulous local attractions and facilities and our grassroots community groups. All are welcome to come to the centre of St Austell for a day of all things gardening and to celebrate our fresh green future! Location: Portmellon Valley Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Had an enjoyable and fun-filled time doing the Butterfly Transect. The weather had been lovely: a little bit warm with a some sunny spells and a gentle breeze. Butterflies Dragonfly and Damselfly Bee and Solitary Wasp Fungi Wildflowers
Location: Portmellon Valley Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls It's been an enjoyable and successful Butterfly Transect Training with Jeremy, Harriet, Walter, Michelle, Gordon and Jackie. We've seen quite a few species despite the weather. Butterflies, Moths and Bees Dragonfly and Damselfly Butterfly Transect Training Lower Portmellon Valley Portmellon Beach
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Rowena
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