Guiding on The Lizard

Todays clients, Claire and her husband from Colorado USA, requested a visit to The Lizard, having never been there before and in the hope of seeing Choughs and Grey Seals. They weren’t disappointed on either count! We headed straight to Lizard Point early to avoid the crowds where we were soon watching two female Grey Seals below the cliffs. We then walked east along the coast path adding Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Swallow, Fulmar, Shag, Cormorant, Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Turnstone, Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Stonechat, Dunnock, Wren, Jackdaw, Raven, Sparrowhawk, Guillemot, Blackbird, Meadow and Rock Pipit. After a short walk we arrived in the Chough ‘zone’ and didn’t have to wait long to see two birds at close range.

Our next destination was Kynance Cove, more to use the facilities and café than for birds to be honest, but we added Grey Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Skylark, Linnet, Buzzard, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Blue and Great Tit. For the second time this year we drew a blank on Dartford Warbler!
A drive east across the peninsular next, to Croft Pascoe Pool and Woods. This area is the destination for our Nightjar Excursions but we were a little bit early in the day for any crepuscular activity! However, we caught up with singing Willow Warbler and Blackcap, Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Goldcrest and Jay in the woods. The only bird of note on the pool was an elusive Little Grebe.

With our clients staying overnight in St Ives, we paid a quick visit to the Hayle Estuary on the way back. The tide was well out but new birds included two Whimbrel, three Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Grey Plover, Little Egret and Black-headed Gull.
We ended the day on 59 species of bird.

Paul Freestone (c) Cornwall Birdwatching Tours 2019