Sunday 17th March 2024: Hayle estuary, Hell’s Mouth and Godrevy

 After a long drive yesterday, we decided to stay fairly local today. We had a leisurely start to the morning, as low cloud meant we couldn’t even see Godrevy lighthouse from our apartment. But as the weather began to improve, we had lovely views of Gannet feeding out in the bay, diving deep into the water with a super splash.  A male Bullfinch was also seen feeding in a bush in the garden, its gorgeous red breast and solid black cap showing well, despite being partly obscured by vegetation.

The weather soon lifted and it turned into a really pleasant Spring day. We started our travels at Ryan’s field at Hayle, where highlights included another Bullfinch, this time a female, calling softly and nibbling the blossom, and a juvenile Spoonbill, although this spent most of its time asleep, occasionally lifting its bill for a quick preen. There were a few Teal asleep on the bank and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose was also noteworthy, as we mainly see dark-bellied in Sussex. 

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

Scanning from the causeway, there were plenty of Lesser Black-backed Gulls alongside the regular Herring and Black-headeds and a group of around five Goosander loafed on a mudbank. On the far bank we could just make out some groups of Redshank and Greenshank, a few Oystercatchers, and some Wigeon swimming in the channel.

A walk to Carnsew Pool was pretty fruitless as the tide was too high for any waders, just a few Shelduck to be found here. Returning to the car at Ryan’s Field, we had a Mediterranean Gull circling over the hide, with its breeding plumage black hood showing very clearly.

By now it was nearly lunchtime, so we drove to Hell’s Mouth for a sandwich, and spent some time observing a number of Fulmars circling the cove and canoodling on the cliff ledges. Several Shag were flying over the water, but we were unable to find any Guillemots or Razorbills on their usual ledges, perhaps a little too early for them. 

Fulmars

After lunch we walked the coast path to Godrevy and Gothian Sands, encountering the usual scrubland species here - predominantly Meadow Pipit, Dunnock and Wren, but also Linnet, Skylark and Kestrel. Our  star bird though was a newly arrived Wheatear in pristine plumage, our first for the year.

Wheatear

At Godrevy Tim photographed a Shag sitting on a nest at a spot he recalled from previous visits and there were several Rock Pipits around the cliffs.

Shag

 The sheltered bay where the seals rest, was stuffed full with more seals than I ever recollect seeing here. They are obviously doing well, with several youngsters amongst the sleepy crowd.

Seals galore!

We tried at Gothian Sands for an early Sand Martin, but there was no sign. The area was, however, heaving with people and dogs! By the time we returned to the car we had walked nearly 8 miles and were feeling pretty tired, but it had been a good day, and lovely to be back in Cornwall and visiting our favourite places.

Godrevy lighthouse