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Location: RSPB's Hayle Estuary, Hayle Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls I was really starstruck when I saw the SPOONBILL. It's such a lovely bird. Wildlife Sightings - 1x Spoonbill, 1x Iceland Gull, 1x Common Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Redshank, 1x Oystercatcher, 1x Grey Heron, 2x Little Egret, Shelduck, Canada Goose, loads of Gulls and different species of Corvids - 1x Speckled Wood (resident butterfly in our garden), Grampound Road
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Location: Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall St Clement, Truro, Cornwall Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls What a fantastic and fabulous "4 days off" this Easter. Me and Rob Nicholls had done some reflection and praying as well as having a great time bonding, walking, butterfly and birdwatching. We've been good in eating fish and vegetables only too. No meat at all. The Roseland Peninsula, or just Roseland, (Cornish: Ros, meaning promontory) is a district of West Cornwall. The 2009 film documentary “And Did Those Feet” suggests that Jesus Christ may have visited the Roseland Peninsula. The legend of Christ's visit to England is depicted in William Blake's poem "And Did Those Feet in ancient time". St Clement (Cornish: Moresk) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall. Aside from the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside they come to see the village church and its associated conservation projects that are maintained by members of the local community. Unlike some other villages in the district, the village of St Clement has changed very little in recent times. The parish of St Clement lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Wildlife Sightings - 2x Little Egret, 1x Grey Heron, 10++ Shelducks, loads of Gulls and different species of Corvids at Tresillan - 2x Orange Tip, 4x Peacock, 1x Red Admiral, 1x Small Tortoiseshell and 2x Small White, Ruan Lanihorne - 10++ Sandwich Tern, 3x Great Northern Diver, loads of Guillemots and Razorbills, loads of Shags and Cormorants, 2x Gannets,1x Kestrel, 2x Buzzard, loads of Gulls and different species of Corvids in the Roseland Peninsula - 1x Speckled Wood (resident butterfly in our garden), Grampound Road Location: Breock Downs Monolith, Rosenannon Crugmeer, Padstow Porth Reservoir, Newquay Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls What a fantastic and fabulous "4 days off" this Easter. Me and Rob Nicholls had done some reflection and praying as well as having a great time bonding, walking, butterfly and birdwatching. We've been good in eating fish and vegetables only too. No meat at all. 14 April 2017 - Breock Downs Monolith, Crugmeer and Porth Reservoir. St Breock Downs Monolith (or St Breock Longstone; Cornish: Men Gurta is the largest and heaviest prehistoric standing stone in Cornwall, England. It stands on the summit of St Breock Downs. It is believed to be Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age (around 2500-1500 BC). Crugmeer (Cornish: Krugmeur, great barrow) is a hamlet in North Cornwall. Crugmeer lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Wildlife Sightings - 1x Peacock, Mistle Trush, Buzzard, Pipits, Swallows at St Breock Downs - 2x Peacock and 3x Small White along the road in St Columb - 1x Speckled Wood (resident butterfly in our garden) at Grampound Road - 10++ Wheatear, 10++ Skylarks, 6x Oystercatcher, loads of Gulls and different species of Corvids at Crugmeer 15 April 2017 - Nare Head and St Clement The Roseland Peninsula, or just Roseland, (Cornish: Ros, meaning promontory) is a district of West Cornwall. The 2009 film documentary “And Did Those Feet” suggests that Jesus Christ may have visited the Roseland Peninsula. The legend of Christ's visit to England is depicted in William Blake's poem "And Did Those Feet in ancient time". St Clement (Cornish: Moresk) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall. Aside from the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside they come to see the village church and its associated conservation projects that are maintained by members of the local community. Unlike some other villages in the district, the village of St Clement has changed very little in recent times. The parish of St Clement lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Wildlife Sightings - 2x Little Egret, 1x Grey Heron, 10++ Shelducks, loads of Gulls and different species of Corvids at Tresillan - 2x Orange Tip, 4x Peacock, 1x Red Admiral, 1x Small Tortoiseshell and 2x Small White, Ruan Lanihorne - 10++ Sandwich Tern, 3x Great Northern Diver, loads of Guillemots and Razorbills, loads of Shags and Cormorants, 2x Gannets,1x Kestrel, 2x Buzzard, loads of Gulls and different species of Corvids in the Roseland Peninsula - 1x Speckled Wood (resident butterfly in our garden), Grampound Road 16 April 2017 - Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady Star of the Sea and Saint Anthony in St Mawes and Struddicks, Looe Struddicks, a short but fairly demanding route through an unkempt wilderness alight with vivid flowers and butterflies in the summer months. This walk climbs high above the cliffs to give spectacular views. Thanks to the landowners' conservation strategies, the area is brimming with wildlife. The rocks, steps and stile along the coast path give the walk an adventurous flavour. Wildlife Sightings - 4x Pearl-bordered Fritillary, 30++ Holy Blue, 10++ Peacock, 10++ Wall, 10++ Speckled Wood, 5x Small Copper, 2x Small Tortoiseshell, 2x Red Admiral, 1x Painted Lady, 1x Comma, loads of Gulls and different species of Corvids Struddicks - 2x Brimstone, 1x Holy Blue, 1x Large White, 1x Small White and 1x Orange Tip, Lostwithiel - 1x Speckled Wood (resident butterfly in our garden), Grampound Road 17 April 2017 - Hayle Estuary Wildlife Sightings - 1x Spoonbill, 1x Iceland Gull, 1x Common Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Redshank, 1x Oystercatcher, 1x Grey Heron, 2x Little Egret, Shelduck, Canada Goose, loads of Gulls and different species of Corvids - 1x Speckled Wood (resident butterfly in our garden), Grampound Road Location: Seaview International Holiday Park, Boswinger, Gorran Holywell Bay, Newquay Botallack, Tin Coast, St Just Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Sooo ecstatic to see the gorgeous HOOPOE again in Cornwall. Wake up at 6:00am today to go and see this bird at Sea View International Holiday Park, Boswinger, South Cornwall Coast. After seeing the Hoopoe, we went birdwatching in Holywell Bay in the morning and Botallack in the afternoon. The weather is just sooo cold with gusty blustering wind, with thick fog and mist. The Cornish Choughs were no show in Holywell Bay but we saw 2x Choughs in Botallack. In the evening we attended a workshop on - "Supporting Wildlife Recorders: preparation for the inevitable, witnessing wildlife disturbance" by Cat Lee, National Trust, Lizard and Sue Sayer, Cornwall Seal Group. Great speakers. I really enjoyed my evening. As it was so late by the time we reach home, we just had fish and chips. Such a busy day on my day off. We're out of the house by 7:00am and we came home at 11:00pm. But I love it! Gives me self satisfaction and happiness. Location: Our Lady Star of the Sea & Saint Anthony Catholic Church, St Mawes, Roseland Peninsula Pendeen Centre, Penzance Geevor Tin Mine to Levant Mine and Beam Engine, Penzance Trewellard South Cliff to Whealcock Zawn, Penzance Roscommon Cliffs to Botallack Head to the Crown Engine House, Penzance St Michael's Mount, Marazion, Penzance Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls The weather is gorgeous today. Finally, I had a day of sunshine. Hoorah! Attend the Sunday Mass at the Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady Star of the Sea and Saint Anthony in St Mawes in the morning. After the mass, off we go as quickly as we can to Pendeen Centre to attend the "Pre-Nesting Gathering of Chough Watchers" Unfortunately, we were a bit late as it took as one hour and forty five minutes to get there. After the talks from great speakers, we went for a few miles walk from Geevor Tin Mine to Levant Mine and Beam Engine to Trewellard South Cliff to Whealcock Zawn to Roscommon Cliffs to Botallack Head to the Crown Engine House. It was an enjoyable and fun-filled walk while chatting with all the lovely people who loves wildlife most especially the Cornish Choughs. And Jenny me told me all the stories about Levant Mine on our way back. Very educational. And of course, our day is not complete without seeing the Cornish Choughs. We saw 2x flying gracefully. We heard them first before we saw them. We even saw 1x Peacock on the coast path. My first butterfly for 2017. Looking forward to see more this coming weeks. After the walk, we went to Marazion to admire the beauty of St Michael's Mount. One of my favourite places in Cornwall. It never seizes to amazed me. Super duper tired. I have no more energy to cook so we just went for a Chinese buffet. Hmmm happy tummy!!! Location: Home Sweet Home, Grampound Road Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls Every year, I participate with RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. We have loads of bird feeders in our garden all throughout the year. Our garden has always been wildlife friendly. We have our wildlife residents as well as regular wildlife visitors. Here's what we spotted today in our garden: Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Robin, Song Thrush, Starling, Wren Location: Breney Common Nature Reserve Drift Reservoir Cabilla Woods Nature Reserve Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls "My 2016 Spectacular Wildlife Sightings in Cornwall" - DALMATIAN PELICAN, LAMMERGEIER, the bearded vulture, Heath Fritillary ABERRATION, Roseland pair had produced 3 CHOUGHLINGS and Silver-washed Fritillary VALESINA. 8th October 2016: The Cornwall Chough Watch Team won the RSPB's President Award. Me, Rob Nicholls and Mark Hayhurst went up to the International Convention Centre in Birmingham to received the RSPB's President Award in behalf of the Cornwall Chough Watch Team during the 125th Annual General Meeting of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 25th July 2016: Went to Cabilla and Redrice Woods Nature Reserve and saw the 1x Silver-washed Fritillary VALESINA. 3rd July 2016: The Roseland pair had produced 3 choughlings and fledged. The last Chough seen around this area was in the 1820’s, which was 200 years ago. 2016 has been record breaking in the “CHOUGH WORLD"! There’s 23 choughlets in total. 6th June 2016: Went to Greenscoombe Woods Nature Reserve and saw 2x Heath Fritillary aberration (at first, I thought I only saw one but when I went through my photos on my computer when I got home, that's when I realize I have two). 23rd May 2016: Sooo lucky to be the "FIRST" one to have seen and photographed the LAMMERGEIER, the bearded vulture in Helman Tor. 16th May 2016: Went to Drift Reservoir and saw the DALMATIAN PELICAN. Location: International Convention Centre, Birmingham Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls Videographer: Rob Nicholls The Cornwall Chough Watch Team won the RSPB's President Award. Me (Rowena Castillo Nicholls), Rob Nicholls and Mark Hayhurst went up to the International Convention Centre in Birmingham to received the RSPB's President Award in behalf of the Cornwall Chough Watch Team during the 125th Annual General Meeting of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on 8th October 2016. The award was presented to us by the RSPB President, Miranda Krestovnikoff. Miranda Krestovnikoff is a British radio and television presenter specialising in natural history and archaeological programmes. She is also an accomplished musician, as well as a qualified scuba diver (which has led to co-presenting opportunities in programmes with an underwater element). It’s a great pleasure to be part of the Cornwall Chough Watch Team since I moved to live in Cornwall in 2009. I felt so much at home being out there on the cliffs watching the Choughs on the North Cornwall Coast and on the Roseland Peninsula. And to be part of the team who won the RSPB’s President Award is just brilliant. It’s an honour to attend the 125th Annual General Meeting of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds at the International Convention Centre to received the award in behalf of the team. It’s a once in a lifetime experience. Something I will treasure for the rest of my life. Cheers to a wonderful year in the Chough World. Cheeeooowww… www.cornishchoughs.org/2016/10/chough-watch-team-receive-rspb-presidents-award/ www.cornishchoughs.org/2016/09/chough-watch-on-the-radio-today/ www.cornishchoughs.org/2016/09/chough-watch-on-the-radio-today/   Location: Helman Tor, Cornwall, UK Photographer: Rowena Castillo-Nicholls Sooo lucky to be the "FIRST" one to have seen and photographed the Bearded Vulture, also known as the LAMMERGEIER or OSSIFRAGE in Cornwall. Me and my husband Rob Nicholls cannot believe our luck. We were actually in Breney Common doing a butterfly survey in preparation for our butterfly fieldtrip on Monday, 30 May 2026 to see the rare Marsh Fritillary. It was a sunny afternoon, about 2:30pm. We were looking up towards Helman Tor when a large bird, soaring high, came into sight over the ridgeline, heading in a south westerly direction. It’s just gliding gracefully in the sky. The wingspan was probably 9 feet or more, 3 metres. It was very high, maybe up to 2,000 feet and had a small bird in tow - which was not getting too close. The small bird turned out to be a buzzard! The Lammageier did not flap its wings. It was just gliding gracefully across the sky. It was huge and unlike anything usually seen in the skies over Cornwall. Luckily I was already prepared with my camera and was able to take some pictures. We were able to watch it for about 12 minutes, before it went out of sight. Perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime sighting. It's nice to sometimes be in the right place, at the right time! Species seen in Breney Common: Lammergeier (bearded vulture), Marsh Fritillary, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Small Copper, Common Blue, Small Heath, Read Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Speckled Wood and a lot more... Species seen in Goss Moor: Dingy Skipper, Large White, Small White, Orange Tip and a lot more... Species seen in South Cornwall Coast: Cornish Choughs, Painted Lady, Wall and a lot more.. This is the West Country www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/cornwall_news/18152448.rowena-castillo-nicholls-photographed-rare-species The Packet, Falmouth Packet www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/18152448.rowena-castillo-nicholls-photographed-rare-species BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-36369185 British Birds britishbirds.co.uk/article/bearded-vultures-in-northwest-europe Bird Guides www.birdguides.com/articles/rarity-of-the-decade-vote-now Bird Shop www.birdshop.co.uk/news/bearded-vultures-in-northwest-europe Birders Market www.birdersmarket.com/acatalog/UK_BIrd_News_May_2016.htmlfbclid=IwAR0OIZi_w7uMow0YT5wTZny0XuA04qYx1cLSf60P67YuVYCqoe_1uv_oVMY Rare Bird Alert www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/WeeklyRoundup2016-21.aspx?s_id=78424876 Rare Bird Alert rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/gallery.aspSpeciesID=29&fbclid=IwAR0tTP2Xlb4r53TZNXk8pXGBLDDD1aG3HBLC6JOQ0GJKnu55CXHmW36o3Hs  
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