Well, it’s near the beginning of 2016 and I haven’t written a blog post for a while, which gives you a big clue about my New Year’s resolution. Yes, it was to get back to blogging regularly about Cornwall’s wildlife and the places I’ve been as I continue to explore this wonderful end of Britain.
In order to ease myself back into it gently, in this my first post of 2016 I’m sharing a few photographic memories of some of my best Cornwall wildlife moments from last year. It serves as a quick catch-up on some of the things I got up to when I should have been blogging.
There were plenty of special moments – finding a rare Western Bee-fly, climbing Godolphin Hill (what an unexpectedly wonderful view!), discovering local woodlands, meeting the improbably but aptly named Swollen-thighed Beetle for the first time (and then seeing them everywhere). The weather wasn’t always great, but there was still plenty to see and do.
![Looking towards Goonhilly and Tregonning Hill Back to blogging…](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/139/1391331/back-to-blogging-L-b6OqIH.jpeg)
![Apples Back to blogging…](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/139/1391331/back-to-blogging-L-qHevSd.jpeg)
![Kennal Vale 19 June Back to blogging…](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/139/1391331/back-to-blogging-L-PFw7ag.jpeg)
![Kiefferia pericarpiicola gall on wild carrot Back to blogging…](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/139/1391331/back-to-blogging-L-lmnaEJ.jpeg)
![Green Shield Bug Back to blogging…](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/139/1391331/back-to-blogging-L-rt9gvq.jpeg)
![Silver-studded Blue Back to blogging…](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/139/1391331/back-to-blogging-L-_mDOeU.jpeg)
![Godrevy lighthouse sunset Back to blogging…](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/139/1391331/back-to-blogging-L-LMIEtd.jpeg)
![Swollen-thighed Beetle Back to blogging…](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/139/1391331/back-to-blogging-L-wz7PfF.jpeg)
![Western Bee-fly Back to blogging…](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/139/1391331/back-to-blogging-L-tmBOuP.jpeg)
![Lesser celandine 13 April Back to blogging…](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/139/1391331/back-to-blogging-L-Kjqaz9.jpeg)
Clockwise from top left, the photographs are:
The view from Godolphin Hill, between Helston and Penzance.
Water falling at Kennall Vale, a Cornwall Wildlife Trust-owned reserve near Ponsanooth.
Sunset at Godrevy.
The Western Bee-fly, which is like a mini Golden Snitch, and which I found on a beautiful sunny day at Poltesco on The Lizard. Here’s a link to a column I wrote about it.
Lesser Celandine lightening up a hedgerow on a lane near where I live.
The Swollen-thighed Beetle. What a wonderful insect it is!
Kiefferia pericarpiicola gall growing on Wild Carrot.
Kehelland Apple Day – lots of Cornish varieties of scrumptious apples, music and plenty of good fun.
Two Shield Bugs having a romantic moment in my garden.
A Silver-studded Blue butterfly, photographed on a wonderful day with Cornwall Butterfly Conservation near Godrevy.
Here’s hoping for plenty more special moments in 2016.