Cornwall Birding » CORNWALL SITE GUIDES

Swanpool Lake and Beach and Pennance Point – A Site Guide

Admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:43:52 +0000

This site just south of Falmouth has a good reputation in winter for attracting rare gulls. In past winters there has been as much chance finding an Iceland, Little, Mediterranean, Ring-billed or Glaucous gull here as anywhere in the south of the country. Activity really busies up when fishing boats use the estuary to stay safe from the weather attracting thousands of gulls (mainly herring). In winter the shoreline attracts purple sandpipers along with the more common turnstones and a black redstart might be found around the cliffs to the east or west of swanpool.
The lake itself used to be open to the sea but became silted up forming a brakish lagoon which the sea floods into every now and then. Breeding birds include little grebe, coot, mallard, moorhen and possibly reed warbler. Fulmars breed on the cliffs. But it is in winter when rare birds are more often spotted with overwintering warblers in the trees surrounding the lake including firecrest. Siskins feed in the lakeside alders.
Swanpool is a short walk south of Falmouth from the moor and is easily found by following signs to the beach. There is a walk around the lake with good views at the northern and southern sides. For seawatching there is a coastal walk from Falmouth all the way at least to Maenporth which encompasses most of the productive areas and this is a good area for an overwintering black guillemot (rare in the south).
Past rarities are numerous and include Britain’s first Forster’s Tern, Grey Pahalarope, Little Auk, Yellow-browed Warbler, Surf Scoter (2003+2006), Laughing Gull (2005), Black-necked Grebe (2005), Little Bittern (2003), Long-tailed Duck (2002)

By Bus – There is a bus stop at swanpool beach but it is only served by one service (the falmouth explorer) which isn’t regular so I recommend any bus to falmouth moor and then its just about 1 mile to Swanpool following woodlane then turning right towards Swanpool

Pennance Point
Not far south from Swanpool following the coastal footpath is this small headland of Pennance Point which offers some of the best seawatching in the area behind St Anthony head (on the other side of the Estuary) and Rosemullion head further south (beyond Maenporth). Strong southerlies or south-westerlies are necessary for great seawatching but often there is stuff around in the bay (protected from weather from the west by the lizard promontary), with a few Great-northern Divers and the odd Black-throated Diver present in winter and a bit further out always the odd gannet and guillemot.
Peak time for numbers in is autumn with birds migrating southwards when huge counts can be had including 100′s of Kittiwakes and Gannets, and a recent count of 176 Shag being exceptional. Rarer birds are likely to pass at this time of year with Great or Arctic Skuas possible and other treats such as Little Gull, Sabine’s Gull (if really lucky!) and others to pass by, fighting their way back out to sea.
Seawatching is tough in the ‘best’ conditions and few people regularly do it, but it can pay large dividends in finding some jems, that next black-browed albatross is just waiting to fly past Pennance!
Recent Rarities include – Sooty Shearwater, not much nationally rare but tricky stuff in Falmouth such as Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel and Skuas are rarities of the area.

Access
By Car – Driving along the A39 into Falmouth take a turning right towards Swanpool beach which is well signposted (just before Falmouth Docks). There is a car park here with beach cafe for a nice warm drink! Walk from the car park up the hill westwards and take a left turn onto the signposted footpath. In the wooded part further along take a left turn and follow the path along the point.

Thanks to Henry Cook for the above site guides kindly supplied from his Falmouth Birding website.

THE HAYLE ESTUARY – A Site Guide

Admin — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:13:46 +0000

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. The lower estuary is predominantly sandy, becoming muddier towards the western end and includes Ryan’s Field, an enclosed area to the south of the main estuary which can be viewed from a purpose built hide, best at high tide. (see also Copperhouse Creek Site Guide)

The Estuary from B3301 Causeway bridge; and looking across Ryan’s Field with hide in right hand corner.

ACCESS
From the Town of Hayle, head west out of the town along the B3301, the estuary opens up on your right hand side after the Tempest Factory Unit. Take the left turn just before the old petrol station, signposted St Erth, the almost immediately right, (if you go under the railway bridge, you’ve gone too far!) into the car park at Ryan’s Field RSPB. Once parked you can walk down to view the main estuary from the causeway bridge and also scan Ryan’s Field from the Eric Grace Memorial Hide.
The Old Quay House public house is again under new management and again has a NON-birder friendly Landlord. He is NOT happy for birders to use the car park to view from but we ask that you do not use the pub for refreshments. Alternative Parking and viewing, especially at high tide is the Park and Ride Car park at Lelant Saltings. Drive past the Old Quay house pub (on your right) towards St Ives then turn right onto the new housing estate (just after going under the railway bridge). Drive straight through the estate to the car park at the end of the road and walk up onto the railway platform to view the exposed mud at the western corner. (Note: If you tell the man taking the money for the car park that you are birding and not using the train you wont be charged for parking, they are very good like that!) There are other areas to view the estuary but the ones mentioned are best for high tide.

SPECIES
Although best known to birders as a stop off point for migrant waders, the first noticeable species are the Gulls. The larger gulls congregate along the main channel and are best viewed from the B3301 causeway bridge. Smaller gulls favour the sandy area at the northern end of the estuary off the west side of Carnsew Pool. The flocks consist of mainly Herring, Great Black Backed and Black Headed Gulls bolstered in late winter with the build up of Lesser Black backs and a few Common Gulls. Med Gulls are present in small numbers in most months and are joined on occasion by Little Gulls. Less common Iceland and Glaucous Gulls are recorded annually each winter.

Winter usually produces large numbers of Eurasian Teal and Wigeon on the Estuary and a Green-winged Teal or American Wigeon are usually found amongst them. Divers, Grebes, Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser occur annually in small numbers and favour the shelter of Carnsew Pool. Wader numbers in winter are generally low, with fluctuating numbers of Dunlin, Curlew and Lapwing. Other wintering waders can include Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey and Golden plover, knot and Greenshank. Kingfishers are much more evident in winter on the estuary and can be seen fishing on Ryan’s Field or flying past the station platform at Lelant.

Spring passage usually includes good numbers of Whimbrel with the odd Little Ringed Plover and Wood and Green sandpipers and Black-tailed Godwit recorded. Occasionally an Avocet or two drop in. This is a good time for Terns too with Black, Sandwich, Little, Arctic and Common Terns seen annually,
Autumn is undoubtedly the best time for Wader passage with good numbers of Dunlin and Ringed Plover and Turnstones on Carnsew pool. Scarcer migrants include Wood, Green, and Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Little Ringed Plover and Ruff. Little Egrets can be seen at all times of year and numbers can reach 20+ individuals in winter and late autumn. Resident species include, Grey Heron, Redshank, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Rook, Curlew and Meadow pipit with Swallow, swift and House Martin over during the summer months.

RARITIES
The Estuary is renowned for turning up rare and scarce species and the list is long and luxurious, it includes:
Spoonbill, Cattle Egret, Great-white Egret, Least, Western, Spotted, Bairds, Broad-billed, Buff-breasted, Pectoral and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-winged stilt, Wilson’s Phalarope, Franklins, Laughing, Bonepartes and Ring-billed Gulls, White-Billed Diver, Pied-billed Grebe, Black Kite, Citrine wagtail, Common crane, Whiskered, Gull-Billed, White-winged Black and Forsters Tern.

TIMING AND TIPS
The estuary can offer something to anyone at anytime of year, any time of day. Two hours before and two hours after high tide are proven to be best for waders. Ryan’s Field is best at high tide, particularly on extremely high tides when there is no where on the main estuary for waders to roost. Take care when crossing the road from Ryan’s field to the causeway bridge, many motorists drive like idiots along that stretch and once at the bridge, many think its very funny to use their horns illegally to make you jump. Best ignored!
At Lelant Saltings Platform, it is best to stand at the very western end to view the exposed mud as the platform can get very busy with tourists and the train will stop right in front of your view if you stand in the middle.

Paul Freestone ©Cornwall Birding 2008

Photos:
Green-winged Teal – B.McGeough; Pied-billed Grebe, Avocet, Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Long-billed Dowitcher – J.H.Johns; Waders in flight – M.Halliday; Spotted Sandpiper and views of estuary/Ryans Field - P.Freestone.

References:
Where to Watch Birds in Devon and Cornwall – N.Tucker
Birdwatch Magazine (numerous)
Sennen Cove Birdwatching Website
CBWPS Cornwall Bird reports (numerous)

The Carrick Roads – A Site Guide

Admin — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:06:39 +0000

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. Other species regularly encountered include: Red-necked and Slavonian Grebe, Red throated, Black throated and Great Northern Divers, Guillemot, Razorbill and occasionally Black Guillemot and Long-tailed Duck. Shag and Cormorant are regular here and flocks of up to 50 Red-breasted Merganser and similar numbers of Goldeneye have been recorded.

The access points to view over the Carrick Roads are few and far between but Loe Beach near Feock seems to be best. Alternatively Turnaware Point on the East side of the Carrick Roads affords closer vies of the grebes that usual feed on the east side. It can only be accessed by car though.
Past rarities include:- Great White Egret, Spoonbill (both upstream of the roads on mudflats), Osprey, Honey Buzzard, Surf Scoter x2, Laughing Gull.

Access -
By Car – Leave the A39 at Playing Place and follow the B3289 for two miles towards Feock, continue through the small village on a road leading down The Roads, this should be Loe Beach where the closest views are.

By Bus – The Truronian (T8 Service) runs from Truro to Falmouth and back via Mylor Bridge which is just 15 minutes walk to Restronguet Weir on the coast overlooking the Carrick Roads. It’s not the best but as good as public transport goes around here. A bike would be preferable as you can cycle to Feock and Loe Beach which gives better views.

Site Guide by Henry Cook (Falmouth Birding) See Cornwall Birding Site Map for location of Carrick Roads.

Stithians Reservoir – A Site Guide

Admin — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:03:24 +0000

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. Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Pochard and Goldeneye are often present but in smaller numbers. Pretty much anything can drop in, with grey geese often taking a liking or the odd Bewick’s or Whooper Swan with luck. Breeding birds are surprisingly few but include Little Grebe, Coot and Moorhen. The surrounding farmland holds Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and other farmland species. The autumn brings good numbers of waders depending on the level of the water which should ideally be low at this time of year. Greenshank, Ruff, Little Stint and Curlew sandpiper occur annually taking advantage of the exposed mud. Surprisingly Redshank are a bit of a rarity.
Most of the reservoir can be walked around but the most productive viewing points are at the northern causeway and southern causeway. There are hides at both ends and the Dam on the east side offers a good view. Be careful on the causeways as cars race along here too fast.
Past rarities are too numerous to mention all of them, but include: Ballion’s Crake, Pied-billed Grebe (1994), American Golden Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Baird’s, Semipalmated, Solitary and Pectoral Sandpipers (Pectoral being annual!), Crag Martin (Britain’s First), Black Duck (2002), Blue and Green-winged Teals, Black Kite (2004), Caspian Tern, and finally Wilson’s Phalarope (2006).

Access

Easily reached by car – head towards the village and follow signs to the reservoir, best time of the day is in the morning as sailors and wind surfers arrive soon after and some birds move on. Parking is tricky but there is a car park at the dam and another in the ‘Golden Lion Pub’ next to the northern casueway which is worth stopping for a meal at too! At the southern causeway you just have to bank the car onto the grass verge so be careful here.

Site Guide by Henry Cook. (Falmouth Birding) Photos: JHJohns

Argal and College Reservoirs – A site Guide

Admin — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:04:30 +0000

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).

College Reservoir at around 35 acres is the smaller of the two but has a fair sized perimeter of deciduous woodland. The main interest arrives in winter on the water when up to 200 Wigeon, 200 Coot, 50 Tufted Duck, 50 Pochard and 50 Canada Geese occur as the most common wildfowl. Of the other birds, Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls dominate with the odd Great Black-backed Gull and Common Gull often present. The first few months in 2007 saw several rarer white-winged gulls visit with 2+ Mediterranean, 1 Ring-billed, 1 Glaucous and 2 Iceland Gulls, which certainly made going through the fairly large number of birds worthwhile. Other wildfowl that turns up from time to time in smaller numbers include Goosander, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe (which has bred in the past), Little Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and Greater Scaup. There have been rather a lot of scarce and rare winter visitors in the last few years on the water with 5 Ring-necked Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, Ferruginous Duck, and Lesser Scaup. Cormorants are present and roost in trees on the island often with a local Little Egret. Depending on the severity of winter, the woodland fringe sees flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares join up with small numbers of Starlings in the surrounding arable fields. Passerines in the woodland are very varied for such a small area. Marsh and possible Willow Tit are present in tit flocks with Long-tailed, Blue, Great and Coal Tit, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Goldcrests, and Chiffchaffs are all present and Firecrest is a real possibility with five seen in the autumn of 2007.

The highlight of spring is a large gathering of migrating Sand Martins. Up to 400 have been reported which must look spectacular on a sunny day. House Martins and Swallows soon join them with 20+ of each. Lesser Black-backed Gulls pass through on passage in decent numbers. The woodland soon reverberates to the sound of Chiffchaffs with a count along the circular walk in 2007 revealing 21 singing males! Blackcaps are present in smaller numbers, their lyrical song brightening up the leaf-shaded pathways with the accompanying carpets of Bluebells providing a great spring experience and making up for the decline in wildfowl. A pair of Marsh Tits often stays on to breed.
Few wildfowl breed with possible Canada Goose, Coot, Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck the pick of the crop. Several pairs of Mallard breed with Moorhens and Mute Swans in the bog bean and marsh grasses in the south-west corner of the reservoir.
Kingfishers are present all year although are not thought to nest at the site. If mud is exposed at the edge of the reservoir in the autumn then there is chance of a few waders. The water in 2007 was high all autumn and no waders were recorded here at College but in the past Long-billed Dowitcher and Least Sandpiper has been recorded. This site is less good for visible migration with the closed canopy of trees but similar birds to Argal can be heard flying over in autumn including Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Siskins, Wagtails and the early arrival of winter thrushes in some years.
Rarities occur on an annual basis and are only beaten in terms of quantity by the famous Stithians Reservoir. Recent rarities have included Purple Heron, Night Heron, Hobby, Merlin and as mentioned already some rare wildfowl.

Argal reservoir at 65 acres is a larger body of water but seemingly less welcome to wildfowl. Fishermen are always present and a new aerating system will not help but the south-west section is designated as a nature reserve (marked by white buoys on the water). The reservoir is surrounded by pastoral farmland and shows up a different selection of birds to College Reservoir. However scarcer water-birds still visit from time to time with Goosander, Goldeneye and Great Crested Grebe all possible. This is a better site for finding Mediterranean Gull amongst the wintering flock of 50+ Black-headed Gulls. Firecrest is a winter visitor which may be found around the car park with tit flocks. Cormorant and Little Egret are present all winter in ones and twos.
Spring has seen small groups of migrating Black Terns arriving often after bad weather and thunderstorms, but are rare in the South-west as a whole. The odd Stonechat may be found over the winter the many brambles which provide homes for summering birds.
The emergent vegetation surrounding the reservoir is perfect for Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and plenty of Willow Warblers. Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard breed in the surrounding farmland and there is a chance of all three species on any walk. Skylark and Meadow Pipit also breed locally and may be heard from the walk. Garden Warbler and Sedge Warbler pass through on northerly migration in May but only the odd one or two. Grey and Pied Wagtail are present all year and breed nearby. Bullfinch, Goldfinch and Chaffinch all breed around the reservoir with Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin and Long-tailed Tits.
In autumn the site is good for terns migrating south to their wintering grounds. Sandwich and Arctic have visited in recent autumns, often as juveniles. The water levels were low here in the autumn of 2006 and a Common Sandpiper was noted several times from the hide at the South-west end of the reservoir. Pectoral Sandpiper has occurred and scarce waders might include Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover or Greenshank if lucky.
Rarities are noted here less often than at College Reservoir but have included Purple Heron, Pied-billed Grebe and Great White Egret so there’s always reason to be hopeful with a visit to these two bodies of water at any time of year.

Access is off the A39 at the junction for Mabe Burnthouse taking a left turn at the junction at the top of the hill in the village. Follow this road to the next junction taking the left again down a hill and turn off to park on the right signposted Argal Reservoir. Access to College is from across the dam and crossing the road then through woodland for 300m. Both walks require wellies or stout footwear in winter as the paths are often muddy. Viewing opportunities over the water at College are limited but there are more spots on the right hand fork of the path as you approach from Argal but be cautious as this area can become very muddy in winter. The path at Argal Res. follows the water closely and viewing is not difficult. Foxes, Badgers, and Grey Squirrels are all resident and add a bit of spice to the mix of birds. In spring there are many Dragonflies and Damselflies at College in the marshy area.

For more info on latest sightings and photos from this lovely area and other local areas please visit Falmouth Birding website.

Site Guide by Henry Cook. (Photos by H.Cook, P.Freestone, JHJohns and M.Halliday.)