Dalmatian spotted

Title of post shamelessly stolen from the Birdwatch office midweek ...

Travelling to see this Dalmatian Pelican, which has been touring Cornwall for the best part of a week now, was really one of those insurance jobs that'll likely get you nowhere in the long run - think along the lines of Chinese Pond Heron, Demoiselle Crane and indeed Great White Pelican ...

This is the second pelican I've seen in Britain following the Great White in Kent in August 2006; that bird proved to be an escape. This one is a little less clear-cut and is, on paper, as good as it's going to get over here - a bit more info on its status and history here. The problem lies with the unknown number of unringed, free-flying (or escaped) continental birds that are on the loose.

So, I doubt this beast will ever make it on to Category A, but it was quite an impressive sight to see it cruising around the skies of west Cornwall.

The autumn that just keeps on giving...

Hermit Thrush, Porthgwarra, 30th October 2013

Two hours after dawn and we were all going through the motions, slowly accepting that the bird had gone. Then, as if by magic, up it popped - and what a cracker it was! Though it could disappear for extended periods, we enjoyed some stunning views, although it was almost always obscured hence the ropey shots. The bottom pic was taken through a load of grasses and twigs hence the slightly hazed look.