Pentire
and Rumps Walks
will continue this year on every Tuesday in July and
August. We meet at 10.00am at Pentire Farm Map
ref: SW 936 803 Walks last for about four hours. Contact Bernard
Ide (01208 815621).
Sunday
25th May 0930am Leader Eric James (01326 573225)
Hell's
Mouth
A morning walk on the cliffs looking for breeding auks, etc.
Meet in the layby at Hells Mouth. Map Ref SW 604 428
Saturday 31st May 0930am Leader
Mike Lord (01326 290981)
The Lizard
A morning walk around the cliffs and valleys looking for birds
in land and sea, including the Choughs. Meet at the
village green. Map
Ref SW 703 125
Saturday 14th June 0900am
Leader Viv Stratton (01736 796487)
St.
Erth
A walk around the valley looking for resident and migrant birds.
Meet at the St. Erth Church car-park. Map Ref: SW
549 351
Wednesday 9th
July 6.15pm Leader
Gordon Mills (01209
718144 evenings)
St Gothian Sands,
Godrevy.
An evening walk around
the area looking for resident and migrant birds. Meet at the first
NT car park (fee payable).Map ref: SW 584 422
Saturday 12th
July
9.30am
Leader
Mike Lord
(01326 290981)Goonhilly
Downs.
A morning walk on the downs looking for moorland birds. Meet at the
Earth Station car park.Map ref: SW 736 206
Wednesday 16th
July 6.15pm
Leader
Gordon Mills (01209
718144 evenings)
St Gothian Sands,
Godrevy.
An evening walk around
the area looking for resident and migrant birds. Meet at the first
NT car park (fee payable).Map ref: SW 584 422
Sunday 20th
July 9.15am Leader
Gordon Mills (01209
718144 evenings)
Drift Reservoir.
A
morning walk around the reserve looking for gulls, waders and
ducks. Meet at the reservoir car park.Map ref: SW 436 288
Sunday 20th
July
9.00am
Leader
Simon Taylor (01209 614857)Stithians
Reservoir.
A walk around the
reservoir looking for resident birds and waterfowl along with summer
migrants and, hopefully, a rarity or two. This is a new walk which
may extend into the afternoon so packed lunch advisable. Meet at
the eastern dam car park (not the Golden Lion). Take the only
turning between Goonlaze and Hendra, this takes you to the car park.
Map ref: SW 714 364
Report on the above meeting:
Upon arrival at the
Dam at 08.45 I was greeted by a totally empty car park. Thinking
that becoming a Walk Leader may not have been such a good idea after
all, i scanned the rocky foreshore. Grey Wagtail bobbing about on
the waters edge was a good start, followed by 6+ Swallow's and a
Buzzard. People started to arrive and by the 9am start time numbers
had swelled to 11. Among the participants was Simon Marquis making
his first ever visit to Stithians. We set off from the dam heading
for the Golden Lion cut off and the creeks further round. It wasn't
long before a couple of cormorant flew in, with Buzzard putting an
appearance in again. Little Egret was seen on the shoreline until
it was flushed by a dogwalker. As the walk continued very quick
views of 2 House Martin were had, with the white rump being a
giveaway in this briefest of views. A few minutes later Simon
located one of the Black Swans that have been present for a few
weeks and as people were observing the Swan two eagle eyed birders
saw something fly onto the far bank. A quick scan with the scopes
found 7 Common Sandpiper which just happened to be my first of that
species for Stithians. Sedge Warbler and Little Grebe were
encountered soon after. As the group stood and watched a flock of
feeding Swallow i pointed out the first Swift of the day. As we were
watching this fine bird Simon Marquis came up trumps again by
finding not only the first Peregrine of the day, but the first
reported one for the year. It was high up, very high up, with sight
being lost as it crossed the sun. It was re-located and shortly
afterwards angled its wings back and plummeted down at a tremendous
speed. Once again it was lost to view this time behind the trees
possibly going for the feeding Swallow's. Once again it was
re-located as it started to gain height and this time it passed
overhead giving fantastic views for everyone. It was down the lane
by the houses that we had our first Willow Warbler. Very little on
the Golden Lion cut off so it was off through the Watersports centre
and off to the creeks. A very young Song Thrush came out of the
scrub and crossed the path quickly and frightened. Totally
unexpected it made jump out of my skin and was nearly trod on by
one lady who also nearly had a heart-attack with me. As we were on
the boardwalk area a pair of Bullfinch flew past with the first
Whitethroat being seen singing on top of some gorse. The second
creek gave us good birds with an adult GC Grebe with chick and the
Scaup that's been present for around a month. In all it was a very
enjoyable walk with 42 species being counted. Unfortunatly AUG 9TH
walk has had to be cancelled due to work commitments but the
September walk is likely to be a full day and full circuit subject
to weather. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the
participants for making the walk an enjoyable success.
Simon Taylor..
Wednesday 23rd
July 6.15pm Leader
Gordon Mills (01209 718144 evenings)
St Gothian Sands,
Godrevy.
An evening walk around
the area looking for resident and migrant birds. Meet at the first
NT car park (fee payable). Map ref: SW 584 422
Saturday 26th
July
4.00pm
Leader Steve Madge
St John's Lake,
Torpoint.
A meeting along the
Torpoint foreshore of St John's Lake to count the moult gathering of
Mediterranean gulls that assemble there in late summer. Also to
check for terns and early passage waders. Meet towards the central
part of Chapeldown Road. Map ref: SX 434 546
Sunday 27th
July
9.00am
Leader
Viv Stratton
(01736
796487)
Hayle Estuary.
A morning walk
looking for early passage waders and terns. Meet at the Eric Grace
Hide, Ryan's Field. Map ref: SW 549 362
Sunday 3rd
August
9.00am
Leader
Viv Stratton
(01736 796487)
Porthgwarra.
An all day walk
looking for migrant birds and maybe some sea watching. Bring a
packed lunch. Meet in the car park (fee payable). Map ref: SW 371
218
Wednesday 6th
August 6.15pm Leader
Gordon Mills (01209 718144 evenings)St
Gothian Sands, Godrevy.
An evening walk around
the area looking for resident and migrant birds. Meet at the first
NT car park (fee payable). Map ref: SW 584 422
Saturday 9th
August
9.00am (NB was Sunday 24th) CANCELLED Leader
Simon Taylor
(01209 614857)
Stithians Reservoir.
A walk
around the reservoir looking for resident birds and waterfowl along
with summer migrants and, hopefully, a rarity or two. This is a new
walk which may extend into the afternoon so packed lunch advisable.
Meet at the eastern dam car park (not the Golden Lion). Take the
only turning between Goonlaze and Hendra, this takes you to the car
park. Map ref: SW 714 364
Sunday 10th
August 9.15am Leader
Gordon Mills (01209 718144 evenings)Godrevy
Headland.
A morning walk around the headland looking for resident and migrant
birds. Meet at the first NT car park (fee payable) Map ref:
SW 584 422
Sunday 17th
August
10.00am
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Goss Moor.
A morning walk
around this Natural England reserve, by CWT, to look for
dragonflies, butterflies and birds. Meet at Lay-by on the old A30
Indian Queens to Bodmin road. Map ref: SW 934 599
Wednesday 20th
August 6.15pm Leader
Gordon Mills (01209 718144 evenings)St
Gothian Sands, Godrevy.
An evening walk around
the area looking for resident and migrant birds. Meet at the first
NT car park (fee payable). Map ref: SW 584 422
Wednesday 27th
August 6.15pm Leader
Gordon Mills (01209 718144 evenings)St
Gothian Sands Godrevy.
An evening walk around
the area looking for resident and migrant birds. Meet at the first
NT car park (fee payable). Map ref: SW 584 422
Thursday 28th
August
2.00pm
Cornwall C.C. (01872
323468)
St
Gothian
Sands, Godrevy.
A history and nature
walk around the reserve, led by Cornwall County Council, looking for
birds and other wild life. Map ref: SW 586 415
Wednesday 3rd
September 6.15pm Leader
Gordon Mills (01209 718144 evenings)St
Gothian Sands, Godrevy.
An evening walk around
the area looking for resident and migrant birds. Meet at the first
NT car park (fee payable) Map ref: SW 584 422
Wednesday 10th
September 6.15pm
Leader
Gordon Mills (01209 718144 evenings)
St Gothian Sands,
Godrevy.
An evening walk around
the area looking for resident and migrant birds. Meet at the first
NT car park (fee payable) Map ref: SW 584 422
Saturday 13th
September 9.30am
Leader
Andy Pay (07971 815554)Windmill
Farm, Lizard.
A morning walk around
the reserve, paths can be wet so wellingtons recommended. Meet at
the Farm car park. Map ref: SW
694 152
Sunday 14th
September 9.15am Leader
Gordon Mills (01209 718144 evenings)
Loe Pool and Helston
Boating Lake.
A morning walk to the
National Trust hide looking for woodland birds, gulls and wildfoul.
Meet at Helston Amenity Area car park. Map ref: SW 654 269
Thursday 18th
September 1.00pm
Leader
Eric James (01326
573225)Tresillian/St
Clements.
An afternoon walk along
the river bank looking for waders, ducks and gulls. Path can be
muddy so strong footware recommended. High tide approximately
8.00pm. Meet at St Clements car park (can be restricted). Map ref:
SW 852 439
Saturday 20th
September 9.00am
Leader
Steve Rowe
(01637 875 788)Porth
Joke. A
morning walk around the area looking for migrant and resident
birds. Turn off A3075 (Newquay road) to Crantock. Take first left
between Crantock and West Pentire past Treago Farm and meet in NT
car park (fee payable). Map ref: SW 776 599
Sunday 21st
September
9.00am
Leader Simon
Taylor
(01209 614857)Stithians
Reservoir.
A walk around the
reservoir looking for resident birds and waterfowl along with summer
migrants and, hopefully, a rarity or two. This is a new walk which
may extend into the afternoon so packed lunch advisable. Meet at
the eastern dam car park (not the Golden Lion). Take the only
turning between Goonlaze and Hendra, this takes you to the car park.
Map ref: SW 714 364
Saturday 27th
September 9.30am
Leader
Mike Lord
(01326 290981)
The Lizard.
A morning walk
around the Lizard looking for resident and migrant birds including,
hopefully, Choughs. Meet at Lizard Green car park (voluntary
contribution). Map ref: SW 704 125
Sunday 28th
September 9.30am Leader
Gordon Mills (01209 718144 evenings)
Bude Marshes and Maer
Lake.
An all day walk, the Marshes in the morning and the Lake in the
afternoon. Meet at the main town car park by the canal, bring a
picnic lunch. Map ref: SS 206 065
Sunday 28th
September 10.00am
Leader
Roy Phillip
(01736 351 793)Levant
and Kenidjack.
An all day coastal walk
from the Levant car park to Kenidjack to look for resident birds and
sea or land migrants depending on weather (126 species have been
recorded here). Please bring packed lunch. This walk is not
considered suitable for dogs. Turn off St Ives to St Just road
(B3306) at Trewellard onto Levant Road, on road parking at the end
on the road. Map ref: SW 368 342
_________
We would like to
increase the range of locations of meetings that we run. Do you have a
bird-watching walk that you would like to share with others? If so, let
us know. If you are hesitant about your identification skills we can
usually arrange support. Please e-mail (click):
secretary
(Photos courtesy of
Terry Hasdell and
www.richardbedford.co.uk)