Saturday 5th January 2019

Cold and overcast. Temperature this afternoon reached 5c.

Indoor Christmas decorations now packed away for another year.

            No green woodpecker today but the female great spotted woodpecker spent some time in the garden feeding on peanuts.

Trail camera showed up the one fox last night and a local cat carrying away a pigeon. Good to see the regular winter visitors appearing in large numbers, goldfinches, blackbirds, blue tits, dunnocks and great tits.

Monday 31st December 2018

Very mild day.
This morning visited Paradise Park which overlooks Hayle Estuary. Being such a clear day the views were magnificent. The gardens at the park were superb as were the animals that were able to roam free such as the red pandas, penguins and flamingos. I do have serious issues still with birds of prey and others that are caged. I understand and agree that certain birds are in serious decline so a breeding program is important but caging birds, is it really necessary? At the Park were caged buzzards and barn owls which I'm sure are not in such a decline that it requires a breeding program?
This afternoon enjoyed big time a coach trip along the little known heritage route from St.Ives to Lands End. Again with such a clear day we were able to enjoy some magnificent views of the Cornish coastline.
At Levant the driver parked up so we could enjoy a picnic of sausage rolls, Mindy pies, sherry, wine and lazed coffee. A superb idea.
Most unusual to witness Lands End without waves crashing against the rocks. The sea was that calm.
The return trip included a stop at Mousehole to witness the harbour lights which are the best you will see anywhere. The idea of lighting the harbour started in the 1980s in memory of lives lost in the Penlee lifeboat disaster. All money collected each year is awarded to the RNLI.
On arriving back at the hotel it was a quick change ready for the New Year celebrations. After a good meal and a few drinks we walked down to the harbour where it was suggested it would be packed with revellers all dressed in all manor of differing costumes. We were not disappointed, have never experienced a New Year like it. At midnight the crowd went wild as the first of the fireworks lit the sky. It was one massive firework display.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Friday 4th January 2019

Hard overnight frost. Cold and sunny day. Temperature reached 5c this afternoon.
All the tree uplighting disconnected, boxed and put away for another year. Has been a good showing.
Dead hellebore leaves pruned and composted. Flowers are in an advanced state of flowering.
The two bug/butterfly boxes (Christmas gifts) now fixed to the hide. New products from Handykam.
                    Over the moon at the sight of the green woodpecker again. Flew into the robinia tree where it went to sleep before ten minutes of preening. After a period of pecking at the tree it flew off in an easterly direction. The same direction as the two previous sightings.
This is a cracking start to 2019.

Image 1 - A good show of uplighting this year.
  "2 & 3 - Green woodpecker.
  "       4 - New bug/butterfly boxes. 

Thursday 3rd January 2019.

Cold day but at least dry.
First of the snowdrops now showing, a month early. Daffodils and all other bulbs are also very advanced.
Checked out all the SD cards after our few days away, no great surprises. Rats and the fox pair were out each night. No sign of the hedgehogs.
Large numbers of goldfinches and blackbirds in the garden now. Not in such numbers but dunnocks, blue tits, great tits, starlings, robins, magpie, jay and the female great spotted woodpecker also in the garden.

Image 1 - Snowdrops.
    "     2 - Sunset from the garden.
    "     3 - Sunrise from the garden.

Wednesday 2nd January 2019

Very mild morning at leaving the hotel with a superb sunrise as we drive across Bodmin Moor.
Arrived home at 1.30pm in a much colder temperature.
Slept most of the afternoon!

New Years Day Tuesday 1st January 2019

Very mild day.
Spent the day in and around St.Ives harbour. A completely different scenario to last night and not a bit of rubbish in sight. Watched a few hardy people take part in the annual sea dip. I was more interested in the sighting of a bunting bird, think it could have been a yellow bunting. Will require confirmation.
Found a good pub for lunch and an excuse for another drink before relaxing this afternoon back at the hotel.
Been a brilliant few days exploring this area of Cornwall and of course sharing in the New Year celebrations.

Sunday 30th December 2018

Left home at lunchtime for the journey to St.Ives. Mild and drizzling in Reading, dry and very mild in St.Ives on our arrival at 7.30pm.
Looking forward now to a few days celebrating New Year.