Squacco Heron at Porth Hellick

This 1st summer Squacco Heron has been commuting with Lower Moors and Porth Hellick since it arrived 13 days ago and proved elusive at times. however, today it gave itself up by giving crippling views in front of the seaward hide at Porth Hellick

  Once again the fog had covered the islands and flights were put on hold to mid-afternoon when the sun came out. Just before they started flying, I got a call from mark Halliday telling me that the Squacco Heron was showing off at Porth Hellick! I had already been there earlier watching it from a distance, feeding well on lugworms, always hoping it would come closer. I arrived at the hide to find it giving superb views at very close range. The Greenshank was still present and a Whimbrel flew through. After 15 minutes it got up and flew over to the far side and I had to get back to work. Dave Carter got the sub-adult COMMOM CRANE from the Garrison on the NE headland of Gugh.

Earlier in the day it was 100 mile away on the other side, but...

 

What a stunning bird!!

The Grey Herons were always chasing each other around

Moorhen

A few of the 80+Swallow and 30+House Martin at Porth hellick

  yesterday at dusk, I observed the Squacco leaving Porth Hellick, after spending all day there, making it's way to roost at the Shooters Pool, Lower Moors. At the latter site, it's roosting in the same Sallows as the 2 adult Night Heron that are being seen every day to leave the pool just before dark to go and feed in the nearby bays. The female teal was on the pool and also yesterday on Tean, Will Scott got a Hobby and the female marsh Harrier. Just across the channel on St Martins, Steve and Jane Shotter got the adult Purple Heron, that hasn't been seen for a week, feeding in Perpitch Cove.

Adult Purple Heron, Perpitch Cove, St Martins, Steve Shooter

Tom Petty says he loves Kris Kristofferson haunting, somber rendition of his classic "Won't Back Down" in the first-look promo trailer for History's bloody new miniseries, Texas Rising. In which the 79 year old plays President Andrew Jackson. His weathered voice gives the song a whole new outlook, going from proud and optimistic to full of regret and pain, but resilient all the same.