Cornwall continues to deliver!

After all the excitement of the previous day (Cornwall Delivers! - Day 1), I decided to walk from the house I was staying in and stick to the coastline immediate to me.  I knew the stretch of coastline well - after all it included one of our family's favourite swimming spots.  The circuit would take me out through Treleaver, along the mighty serpentine cliffs to Kennack Sands and then up a wooded valley before heading back across dairy farmland.

Of course, I hoped I might find a Yellow-browed Warbler with many being reported just the week before and the strong chance that some may have lingered.  I also dreamed of a rarer warbler - maybe in one of the wooded valleys along my path as I had noted the discovery of a Western Bonelli's Warbler further SW along the Cornish coast the day before.  But birds or no birds, it was going to be an enjoyable walk.

Halfway between Black Head and Kennack Sands I heard a wimpery bird call just ahead of me on the path.  I wasn't sure what it was but it recalled young Bullfinches or a young bird.  I turned the corner (probably too noisily) and saw a small bird fly into the one and only bush sticking out of the heather.  I got my bins focused and wow! A Wryneck!  Having never found my own Wryneck until just a month ago this was a real surprise not to mention a treat.

The bird stayed put just long enough for a quick 'record shot' before disappearing deeper into the undergrowth.  I waited for it to reappear but eventually had to move on leaving it to its disappearing act.

The Wryneck on 15th Oct 2024

The walk through Kennack Sands produced very little else save a few Chiffchaffs and the ubiquitous Firecrests.  However, as I climbed out of the valley by Trevenwith Farm I encountered the first foraging flock of warblers and tits of the day along with more Goldcrests and Firecrests.  I began to hear what sounded like a Yellow-browed Warbler but very faintly.  However, as the flock moved through it called loudly a few more times and showed itself very well right in front of me!  I managed to capture one call in a short video.

The walk had indeed been a success as far as birds were concerned but the next day the weather closed in limiting my options.  However, in the evening I returned to Treleaver valley and was reward with my first Ring Ouzel of the autumn flying up the valley along with quite a few Blackbirds.

The following day (17th) saw me join local birder, Steve Wood, for a seawatch at the Lizard Point.  From 7.30 - 9am we witnessed the continuing (and extraordinary) passage of Cory's Shearwaters - at least 60 past - along with smaller numbers of Manx Shearwaters and a single Great Shearwater.  Seeing large shearwaters regularly off the Lizard has become expected in the last 5 years but prior to that they were very scarce so close in and certainly not as late as mid-October!  A group of 7 Choughs also left the roost noisily at first light.

After the seawatch I traipsed around the Lizard fields looking for rarer pipits but with no joy.  The highlight, however, was a group of 20+ Ringed Plovers roosting in a freshly ploughed field.

Ringed Plovers on 17th Oct 2024

My final day on the Lizard saw me walk a long circuit of Kynance Farm and the surrounding moorland.  While the Bluetail appeared to have well and truly gone I was rewarded with another Ring Ouzel that dropped in near the ruins at Kynance Farm along with a flock of 60+ Golden Plover circling over Predannack Airfield.  Walking out across the moor and I encountered a couple of Dartford Warblers scolding me from the scrub along with 5 late Swallows heading south.  I finished the day with a late afternoon seawatch from Porthoustock that turned up very little save a steady flow of Mediterranean Gulls, a few Manx Shearwaters and a single Great Skua that I managed a distant photo of.

Great Skua going past Porthoustock on 18th Oct 2024

Dragging myself away from Cornwall I headed home but stopped briefly at Lower Tamar Lakes to year tick Willow Tit!  I had a good view of one very scruffy individual along with several smarter Marsh Tits.  I hope to be back soon but thank you again Cornwall!