Our group of 13 was based near St Just. Day one started at Hayle’s Carnsew Pool, showing Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Greenshank, Sinensis Cormorants with extensive white head areas, and Little Grebes; another visit added Shags. At Hayle Estuary, we saw Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Grey and Ringed Plover, Curlew, Dunlin, Redshank, Common and Yellow-legged Gull, with a Grey Wagtail on the river sluice, and a Buzzard.
Next day we pursued a Rosy Starling in the village of Lower Boscaswell, and were lucky enough to find it quite quickly in bushes in an enclave of post-war housing – this pretty bird’s plumage already turning a convincing pink.
On to wild sea watches at adjacent Pendeen Lighthouse and Cape Cornwall, where we got better at picking out the Kittiwakes and Fulmar cruising the thunderous waves with Gannets (and a possible Manx Shearwater), and spotting the small Auks and the Shags through storm-vibrated optics. Then to the strikingly calmer Newlyn to hunt ‘white’ gulls – a Kumlien’s and Glaucous – in the fishing harbour and shore just west. A persistent search found the rare Kumlien’s (a variant of Iceland Gull from northern Canada) placidly floating in the harbour: a dainty gull with small bill, shadowed eyes, pink legs, and wing tips elegantly barred in a pale grey. We also found a Red-throated Diver there – a handsome sleeping juvenile in pale grey winter plumage – as well as a Great Northern Diver in the bay, Mediterranean Gulls, Shags, Cormorants and Turnstones, an abundance of strapping Great Black-backed Gulls and young, and Meadow Pipit.
On our third day we began at Penzance’s Jubilee Pool, finding Purple Sandpipers with Turnstones (the latter looking almost impossibly tiny next to adjacent Great Black-backed Gulls). At Marazion’s seaweed-piled Little London Beach was a dark bellied Brent Goose pottering with Oystercatchers, Curlews, Shags and Rock Pipits.
Back up through Hayle to the pools at St Gothian’s reserve in the dunes by Godrevey Point, showing Tufted Ducks with Little Grebe, Coot, Canada Geese and Mute Swan, and a massive stormy surf beyond; then zigzagging back to Marazion Marshes to see a Grey Heron in its nest, Great and Little Egret, displaying Teals, our first Mallards – and excitingly our first Warbler, a Chiffchaff breezing about in willows. Also seen from the van en route – a lovely flying flock of around 300 Golden Plover, and as the sun lowered, on to Sennen Cove just south of Cape Cornwall for Choughs. Many Jackdaws came swirling in and included some Choughs, though only the quick-eyed picked them out. Finally, a crepuscular mystery adventure: Jane took us to a remote landscape near our residence, and as we watched, two Short-eared Owls flew in to hunt – pure sorcery! This special site can get as many as six.
On our last day we returned to Hayle Estuary, seeing more abundant gulls and waders including four Goosanders, another Mediterranean Gull, and Golden Plovers; and within Ryan’s Field reserve behind, Great White Egret (snuggling with Grey Herons), Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwits and Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch. Finally a last twitch for Glossy Ibis at Chapel Amble near Wadebridge, where we were lucky enough to find eight of a reported eleven feeding busily on flooded meadow with Shoveler and other ducks, and a Water Pipit. Total 83 species. Great food and accommodation at Bosavern. Massive thanks to Jane for brilliant and surprise filled leading, and to our accomplished new drivers Alison and Jeremy Pilling. Lois Pryce