Sunday 13th October 2024: Rarities at The Lizard

 

This was out first full day in Cornwall, after a lovely walk at the scenic Golitha Falls yesterday on our way down, where a Nuthatch was the highlight of a poor selection of birds, but the autumn colour was spectacular.

We met up at Kynance Cove with Steve from our local bird group, and his non-birding partner. We had chosen this area, due to reports yesterday of a Red-flanked Bluetail in the area, which would be a 'lifer' for us all. However, when we arrived there had been no more news, so we walked the coast path to Lizard Point. A mixed group of Meadow Pipit and Rock Pipit  were a highlight of the walk, allowing us to clearly observe the differences between these species in their fresh autumn plumage. At sea, we watched a Gannet pass purposefully by, its bright white body and contrasting black wing tips showing clearly against the leaden grey skies and rolling seas.  Both Cormorants and Shag were also found lounging on the rocks and feeding on the water. As we approached the Point, a stunning male Kestrel hovered just a few feet in front of us and a seal bobbed its head in the waves below. 

At the Point, the men enjoyed a delicious doughnut with jam and clotted cream. We walked another mile to the village, where the men purchased a Cornish Pasty, and we loitered with intent on the street corner, hoping the Rose-coloured Starling would appear. It didn't! 

We took a different route back to Kynance via Caerthilian Cove, but saw very little, in damp and murky conditions. We then drove to Goonhilly Moor, where we quickly found the reported Lapland Bunting showing brilliantly, feeding on the path just a short distance ahead, and seemingly unperturbed by our interest.

Christine rested in the car while we savoured this lovely bird, and returning to the car park, I noted the Bluetail had been refound in the Kynance area. However, frustratingly, we had already committed to a cream tea at Mullion, so patiently worked our way through yet more healthy food(!), before making our escape and returning to Kynance, By now it was around 4.30, and the light was already dropping as we set off on the long trek around the cove, the high tide making the beach impassable, eventually dropping steeply down to the base of the cove before scrambling back up the valley and storming across the cliff top, and along a muddy track between damp fields. At last we arrived at Soapy Cove, where an isolated house surrounded by tamarisk bushes was the temporary home for this bird. By now the light was dreadful, but a small movement caught Tim's eye, and there on the ground was the Red-flanked Bluetail, hopping about in a Robin-like fashion, and shimmering its tail. In the poor light, its pale throat was very conspicuous and the red flanks showed well, but it was difficult to pick up the blue colouring of the tail against the muddy ground, and it was too dark for photos. Nevertheless, we were delighted to add this lovely bird to our lifetime list.

By now, the light was dropping alarmingly fast, and we did not want to be picking our way back in the dark, so we set off at pace and route-marched our way back to the car. We had covered a total of over 23,000 steps today, but it was so worth it for some cracking birds.

Lapland Bunting