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Today is "World Wildlife Day". We're birdwatching the whole day to celebrate. First we went to Trevose Head. There's been quite few birdwatchers looking for the "Lapland Bunting". 2nd Bedruthan Steps, 3rd Beacon Cove, 4th Mawgan Porth and 5th Watergate Bay.  Trevose Head Lapland Bunting Bedruthan Steps Mawgan Porth Beacon Cove Watergate Bay On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March, the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. The UNGA resolution also designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN calendar. World Wildlife Day has now become the most important global annual event dedicated to wildlife.
World Wildlife Day will be celebrated in 2019 under the theme “Life below water: for people and planet", which aligns with goal 14 of UN Sustainable Development Goals. The ocean contains nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may be in the millions. Globally, the market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at US$3 trillion per year, about 5% of global GDP. Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. Marine wildlife has sustained human civilization and development for millennia, from providing food and nourishment, to material for handicraft and construction. It has also enriched our lives culturally, spiritually, and recreationally in different ways. The capacity of life below water to provide these services is severely impacted, as our planet’s oceans and the species that live within it are under assault from an onslaught of threats. As much as 40% of the ocean is now heavily affected by the most significant and direct threat of over exploitation of marine species as well as other threats such as pollution, loss of coastal habitats and climate change. These threats have a strong impact on the lives and livelihoods of those who depend on marine ecosystem services, particularly women and men in coastal communities. This is the first World Wildlife Day to focus on life below water. It is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the breathtaking diversity of marine life, the crucial importance of marine species to human development, and how we can make sure it will continue to provide these services for future generations.
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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: 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
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 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: 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/ |
Rowena
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