2022 Highlights

What better way to start a new year than by reflecting on our highlights of the year that’s just gone with a brand new Blog!

What a fantastic year 2022 was for our family and our wildlife encounters! The year started off with a camera- trapping project, in our friend’s garden, focussing on badgers, the occasional fox, and lots of cats! Using trail cameras and a DSLR camera trap, we documented the lives of a clan of badgers, who successfully raised two adorable cubs. Some of the footage captured was beautiful, show casing the cubs as they grew, bigger, braver and bolder. Also of importance was the fact we made some builders allow access to the badger sett, as they had blocked access due to a development. A call to the authorities put that right, and they left a few access points to local fields for this badger clan.   

For about six weeks, each Sunday, Noah (our 5 year old) accompanied me to the local bird hide, at our ‘Bird Club Before Breakfast’. This was at the end of the summer / start of autumn, and we saw a whole host of action. Highlights included the resident female kingfisher, the one -legged peregrine falcon, egrets, herons, and the usual wading birds. Not only was it a great opportunity for myself to attain some decent photos, I believe it has also strengthened my bond with my son, as he loves seeing the different birds, writing what he saw on the notice board, and then we’d often draw some or make some out of play doh upon returning home. His knowledge of birds and facts about them is amazing, and I hope he continues with the same enjoyment and passion. 

There was a great white egret on a local pool for at least a month, I would often take both Noah and Ruan to watch it. We got some great photos of the bird – and the boys ate plenty of blackberries whilst watching it. 

The kestrels and choughs at an isolated cove were on good form during the spring and summer. Many early starts proved successful, and many lovely encounters were had. 

I spent about a fortnight watching a family of foxes locally to us which we named the ‘rock-foxes’. They were a joy to watch, the young cubs frolicking and fighting with each other amongst their rocky den. 

Two greater spotted woodpecker nests were found, and Ruan (3 years old) and I spent many hours quietly watching the birds go about their business. We also spent one morning in the presence of a green woodpecker, which was fantastic, as they are usually very skittish. 

Our friend’s farm proved successful for watching a pair of barn owls during the summer, and once more some lovely moments were had, notably when one of the owls flew right over our friend’s son’s head, as we were hidden away in the hedge watching one of their favoured hunting fields. Watching the fledglings was one of the highlights of 2022 for sure. 

At the start of the autumn I was lucky to be able to start a new camera trap project in a friend’s garden. Some great images of visiting badgers were taken, plus some of a very curious young red fox. Noah and Ruan helped me set up the camera kit, and ate Pat out of the cucumbers she had grown. 

Kingfishers were documented in our village, but I only managed to get the adult pair together a few times, but still very thankful they are still here, and seemingly thriving. The local herons and cormorants were very active here too. 

In August we were glad to once again be able to sell our wares at the Cape Cornwall Arts and Crafts Exhibition in aid of Cancer Research, after a 2 year hiatus. In just 12 days they had over 3700 visitors and over £29,000 was raised for Cancer Research UK.

An absolutely brilliant memory was a family visit to a pool near Truro. The boys had a great time on the muddy walk, threw sticks in the stream and to all our amazement an osprey turned up! This location is a special place for Zoe and I, as it was the day after a trip here five years ago that we found out that Zoe was expecting our first son Noah. 

Chough 20

I think the best highlight from 2022 was during the summer holidays being involved with ‘Chough 20’, celebrating 20 years since the return of the Cornish Chough. The National Trust contacted us asking if we’d like to be involved. Our first book, ‘Choughs & Chums’ was played (as a video narrated by Edward Rowe (aka ‘Kernow King’), at the Count House, Botallack.  We were proud to be part of the celebration, and thankful to all involved in Chough Watch.

You can see a snippet of the storytelling at Botallack by clicking to watch the video on the right >>

Click here to read more about the Chough 20 celebrations “TWENTY YEARS OF CORNISH CHOUGHS AND ANOTHER BUMPER YEAR”.

Around Christmas time, I upgraded my camera lens and was lucky to coincide this with a cold snap in the weather. A visit to a frozen local pond proved dividends, as I managed to capture some very unusual behaviour by a pair of redshanks, who were fighting and slipping on the ice. A great wildlife sighting and successful test of the new lens. 

Just before the New Year I checked one of my camera traps, and was ecstatic to discover a pair of otters! I have got a pair before, but never to the standard of this image!  

Goals for 2023 include continuing to document and look out for our local wildlife, as well as myself getting involved as an active volunteer for The Cornwall Badger Group’.  Our third book, ‘Badger Bill’ is high on our agenda, with a hopeful publishing date for Easter. We are also hopeful that ‘The Badger Trust’ will become involved, helping us to increase our sales, and therefore subsequent donations to their charity. 

As a family we hope to stay healthy and happy, and continue to enjoy our nature walks together, whatever the weather. We encourage our boys to read and learn about animals and birds, and hope they continue to enjoy this lifestyle. 

Thank you to our friends and family for the support for Chough Rock, and also to our friends who allow us on their land to watch and document the wonderful wildlife around us. 

Martin (Author)