Cornwall - Sat 17 Oct - Sat 23 Oct

A week away...at last...as we were due to take this family holiday back in March until the whole COVID-19 lockdown business and it was great to get some time off work and get away for a proper break. A Red Kite was one of the first birds we saw after crossing the Tamar in to Cornwall and after arriving at the holiday cottage after dark on Saturday night a pair of Tawny Owls were calling from the garden, so a good start to the trip! The following morning my first Fieldfares and Redwings of the Autumn flew over as well as a good number of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. A trip to Pendower and Carne beaches produced a total of four Clouded Yellows as well as a Whinchat with a few Stonechats on the coastal path.

A Firecrest in the garden was a good start to Monday and this was further improved by the presence of a Cirl Bunting. A trip to Portscatho yielded half a dozen Common Gulls and at least ten Mediterranean Gulls off the harbour and a couple of Rock Pipits were unsurprisingly feeding on the rocks.

We then headed to St Mawes where I found a Firecrest and a couple of Chiffchaffs whilst on a walk to the east of the town. The River Percuil estuary held Greenshank and Redshank as well as a couple of Curlew.

Tuesday afternoon saw me pop out for a hour or so to check out Ruan Lanithorne where with the tide being low I managed to find a few waders including a lone Black-tailed Godwit with seven Lapwings and a single Common Sandpiper. Two Little Grebes were on the river and a nice flock of around fifty Stock Doves was seen over the adjacent fields. That evening a Clifden Nonpariel moth alighted on the cottage wall, and it was still present the following morning, albeit a little soggy.

A walk around the churchyard (though they are more like gardens) at St Just at Roseland on Wednesday in what was pretty poor weather, however, I did find another Firecrest along with a Blackcap and Goldcrest. In the afternoon we popped over the river on the King Harry Ferry and took a wander around the National Trust site of Trelissick, though nothing much in the way of birds other than common seaside species.

More garden action on Thursday morning with two Tawny Owls belting it out at 6.50am. After breakfast we found two Firecrests in the garden feeding just outside the front door.

Later in the day we headed to Towan Beach where at least five Grey Seals were present and three Mediterranean Gulls were offshore.

On Friday morning I popped down to Pendower for an early morning seawatch which produced five Great Northern Divers, of which three were in fine summer plumage. A single Kittiwake and several Gannets were out to sea and three Razorbills were noted.

Later in the day we popped to Melinsey Mill for a cream tea and whilst there saw a couple of Marsh Tits amongst commoner fair. Another beach walk rounded off the day and then before we knew it it was Saturday morning and we had to pack up and come home. A brilliant week away and batteries fully recharged!