Thursday 21st March 2024: Pendeen sea watch and Kenidjack Valley

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We set out this morning for a walk at Kenidjack, but stopped off en route for a quick look at Pendeen. The wind conditions weren’t really right for seawatching, with a northerly element needed for this site, but nevertheless we could see groups of auks flying through, so decided to get the scopes out for a short watch from the sheltered area beside the wall in front of the lighthouse. There were many auks flying through, but we found it difficult to clearly identify them. We felt probably we had both Raxorbills and Guillemots, but couldn’t be sure, and with many reports earlier in the week of Puffins they were always another possibility. More obvious was a Manx shearwater which passed through at a reasonably close distance, showing longer wings, white underparts, and a dark edging to the underwings. Tim also found a diver, but I was not able to locate this on the wide expanse of sea.

As we packed up and headed to the car, we found another couple, with more experience of seawatching, who confirmed they had seen Manx Shearwater and Red-throated Diver, plus both common species of auks. Wind conditions tomorrow should be more favourable, so we shall consider a return tomorrow for another attempt. 

After a pasty stop for Tim in St Just, we drove to Cape Cornwall, and set out around the headland for Kenidjack Valley. This was largely quiet, despite walking the length of the valley, listening for bird song, with a few Chiffchaff being the highlights. Next we walked up the coast path towards Botallack, and at the headland over the valley on this side, we were treated to several minutes observing four Choughs swooping and diving around the entrance to the valley, stooping peregrine-style towards the sea. One was carrying nesting material. 

We returned to the valley and ate a late lunch by the sea, hoping for a Black Redstart which we have seen here in the past, and had been reported recently, but no luck. By the time we returned to the car it was late afternoon. We called in at Sennen Cove, but the tide was high and there were few gulls on the rocks. Our last stop was at Carn Brea Chapel, where we scoured the fields for Short-eared Owl to no avail, before heading for home.

Cape Cornwall from above Kenidjack Valley



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