in-falmouth.co.uk,
2, Emslie Road
Falmouth
TR11 4BG
Tel: 01326 212230
If you are interested in bird watching, then Cornwall has a lot to offer with
one of the largest county bird-lists in the country. Bird watching in Cornwall
consistently rewards its devotees when winds from the easterly quarter bring
scarce migrants. There are so many potentially good bird watching sites in Cornwall
which are under-watched, that birders have plenty of opportunity to find their
own birds in peace and solitude.
Anywhere around the coast look out for the Peregrine Falcon, now well established back on our cliffs, and listen for the grunt-like call of the Raven the largest of the crows in Europe. . Yellowhammers, Pipits, Linnets, Goldfinches and Stonechats are also common around these coastal sites and of course in spring or autumn anything could turn up.
If you are visiting West Cornwall and wish to go bird watching, then Falmouth makes an ideal base from which to plan your field trips. There are many bird watching sites within easy reach, each with its own particular character.
The shoreline of this estuary is well-wooded
in areas. Curlew, redshank, oystercatcher, dunlin and black-tailed godwit are
numerous. Spotted redshank and greenshank often overwinter due to suitable
weather conditions. Red-breasted merganser and goldeneye are the highlights of
the wildfowl.
The Carrick Roads is a site between the Fal and Truro
rivers and the sea. The site hosts grebes, divers and sea-duck in winter. The
population of black-necked grebes is believed to be the largest in the
country.
Birds of Fal Estuary and Carrick Roads
A mile of rocky shoreline with small shingle beaches extends from Pendennis Castle. A wooded valley runs down the west side of Falmouth to Swanpool, a site of special scientific interest where over 100 species of birds have been recorded.
Birds of Falmouth Bay, Swanpool and Rosemullion
This 274 acre reservoir is the largest in the western half of Cornwall and is considered by many as the best birding reservoir, it's muddy banks making it ideal for waders. The reservoir is quite shallow over large areas and a margin of mud is quickly esposed at its further perimeters as water levels drop. Autumn brings greenshank, spotted redshank, and ruff on a regular basis; green wood and common sandpipers are more occasional visitors. Winter sees flocks of golden plovers and lapwings to surrounding agricultural land, along with snipe and jack snipe to the edges of the lake. Also good numbers of wildfowl such as gadwall, goosander, mallard, wigeon and teal.
The Lizard is the most southerly peninsula in England. High cliffs provide good points to sea-watch, with gannets almost always in view. In winter, turnstones and purple sandpipers come to the shoreline; in spring oystercatchers and rock pipits breed there. Best times are during migration when large numbers of birds can be seen. Large numbers of swallows, swifts, warblers and flycatchers can be found, dependant on the weather conditions.
Marazion Marsh is opposite the famous St Michaels Mount, just inland from the sandy beach. The marsh with its extensive reed beds and other unique habitat is an RSPB reserve with a hide on the east side. In summer Reed and Sedge Warblers are here as well as the Cetti's Warbler now established in the marsh and spreading along the adjacent wet valleys. In August and September two special birds visit on migration - spotted crake and aquatic warbler.
Hayle's estuary is host to tens of thousands of winged visitors - some of them rare. This is only estuary in the far west of Cornwall and is very sheltered from the sea. The main basin has become an RSPB reserve, and Ryans Field, across the main road from the estuary, is an extensive scrape also managed by the RSPB. This area is well known to bird watchers for migrant waders and wintering ducks. An RSPB information hut and hide are located in the grounds of the Old Quay House restaurant, and birdwatchers are allowed to use the Old Quay House car park.
|
|
in-falmouth.co.uk, |
|
