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.
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.