CORNWALL SITE GUIDES

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The estuary at Hayle is the most westerly in the County and is renowned nationally as a great birding area, turning up many rarities in the past. The estuary is owned by the RSPB and is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its wintering wildfowl and waders. Read more »

This area North-East of Falmouth and Penryn, part of the Fal Estuary is known as The Carrick Roads. Being so deep it regularly attracts sea-going birds in the winter. The roads are renowned for good numbers of wintering water birds and traditionally hold one of the largest flocks of wintering Black-necked Grebes in the UK. Read more »

Stithians Reservoir is undoubtedly the best area of open water for birdwatching in the county, equalled arguably by some, only by Drift Reservoir. The highest numbers of birds in winter and during passage times. Most of the reservoir is pretty shallow and dabbling rather than diving ducks dominate with 100 each at least of Teal and Wigeon. Read more »

These two reservoirs owned by South West Water and managed as nature reserves by the South West Lakes Trust are situated on a south-west to north-east line just 2 miles from the center of Falmouth. There are circular walks around both reservoirs each requiring about an hour and a half (at a birders pace). Read more »

Copperhouse Creek is well known as a great birding site, famous for numerous rarity sightings in the past and close to the Hayle Estuary, the Creek can offer plenty for birders wanting to escape the crowds on the main estuary…. Read more »

Rame Peninsula.

This area has some fantastic coastal walks and some great birding.The best time of year is in the Spring and Autumn, you can walk here in early spring and not meet another person except the odd bird watcher who visit here on a regular basis. This area can get busy in the summer months but still not that bad. It is best to start from Rame Church were you can park but do not block the farm gates in this area as it is a working farm and we have good relations with the land owners at present. It is worth checking the bushes and trees in the church yard as this can turn up the occassional goodie. This is also a good spot for Black Redstart in the autumn, as well as Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and the odd Firecrest. There have been some great finds here in the church yard in the past, you just don’t know what will turn up. In 1999 a Red-flanked Bluetail was present for a week and was later joined by a Chimney Swift! Now make your way down the lane past Rame Barton. Check the trees around here as there have been some good birds found. A Wilsons warbler was seen in this area in 1985. Also Yellow-browed Warbler and Pallas’ Warbler have been found along here as have Red-breasted Flycatcher, Scarlet Rosefinch and Little Bunting. Walk back towards the Church and turn left and follow the military road that takes you to Penlee Battery, checking the fields on the way as these turn up some good birds as well as the more common fare. Short-toed Lark, Tawny Pipit, Ortolan Bunting, Woodchat Shrike, Turtle Dove, Little Owl and Corncrake have all been recorded in the past.

Red-flanked Bluetail (1999) (Photo:J.Heaton)

Penlee Battery

You can park here for free if you don’t want to do the full walk but don’t leave any valuables in your car as this is a very quiet spot. The police do make the odd patrol here. This is a good area for Moths and Butterflies as well as some rare Orchids.You see most of the common birds here, aswell as the odd rarety. Roller, Hoopoe, Golden Oriole, Red Kite, Hobby, Merlin and Ring Ouzel have all been seen in this area. Head down to the coast path towards Rame. You should see plenty of birds and butterflies and the odd herd of deer on the lower slopes. These paths can turn up all sorts. This is where the Sub-Alpine Warbler was seen this spring, which had been found in the upper field above this path the day before. Good views of the Ravens and Peregrines can be had all along this stretch of coast. The sea is underwatched from this point but should be worth a look at peak times.

Polhawn Cove

Good in a southerly or easterly blow . Therewere 9 Ring Ouzel here in one day in autumn 2006. Dartford Warbler can be found here most times on the lower scrub as well as Stonechat, Yellowhammer, Wheatear, Whinchat. The whole Peninsula is a good for raptors in the autumn – Short-eared Owl, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin, Hobby, Kestrel, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.

The whole area is fairly underwatched and would benefit from more coverage and as mentioned earlier seawatching could result in some good birds.

Queener Point at Polhawn (photo:C.Buckland)

Site Guide and Photos (unless otherwise stated) by Chris Buckland (July 2007)

In the summer of 2005 the sand works between Gwithian and Godrevy was officially declared a nature reserve by the Mayor of Hayle. The newly named Saint Gothian Sands Nature Reserve has long been known as a good area for birds with a number of rarities to its name including a Killdeer in 2002.
Once the remaining sand extraction has finished, in the near future, work will start to create lagoons and more habitat for wildlife. A sand martin bank has already been cut into an existing sand wall in hope of attracting birds from the small colony that have recently begun nesting in the nearby cliffs at Godrevy and fencing has been erected around the main lagoon to keep out the dog walkers!

 
Winter on the site can be bleak but ducks and gulls keep up the interest. Glaucous and Iceland Gulls have both been seen recently with Scaup, Pintail and shoveler in the duck category. The sea can be seen from the north bank overlooking Carbis Bay and is good for grebes and Divers. An American Robin turned up in the winter of 2004 on the nearby Towans and Black redstart and Water pipit are annual at this time of year. Gothian is a good site for early migrants attracting Wheatear, Sand martins and Little ringed plover. Woodchat Shrike has also occurred at nearby Gwithian. Waders recorded include Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Wood and Green Sandpipers and Ruff on Passage. The Towans are occasionally visited by Ring Ouzel and Merlin and Peregrines and Raven are regularly seen flying over. Smaller birds are under represented due to lack of vegetation but Stonechat, linnet, meadow and rock pipit and winter thrushes are recorded regularly. The reserve has ideal habitat for Twite, so checking finch flocks could be worth while. Snow bunting is also an occasional visitor.

If the dog walkers are kept at bay and with the correct management the reserve should continue to be a great birding location on the north coast.
Saint Gothian Sands Nature reserve can be found along the B3303 coast road between Hayle and Portreath adjacent to the Godrevy Towans National Trust Reserve. It is owned by Cornwall County Council and forms part of the Towans SSSI. Free parking is available but limited during peak holiday times and particularly if the surf is good. Until such time that dog walking is totally banned on the reserve, Sunday morning visits are not advisable!