Monday 31st March: Hayle and Godrevy

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 We started our day back at Hayle, searching for some of the unusual gulls which have been reported recently. Frustratingly, many were again at some distance, making identification of fine details very tricky. Tim eventually picked out a possible candidate for Bonaparte’s Gull on the most distant sandbank. It appeared to have a black bill and shortish legs, but this was difficult to discern at such a distance. The bird then flew even further away, so we relocated to Carnsew Meadows for a closer look. Unfortunately by the time we got there, it had moved again! However, we were now more easily able to compare it to a nearby Black-headed Gull and it was noticeably smaller, so combined with the other features, we concluded this was indeed a Bonaparte’s Gull! A good result, but we had spent a lot of time here.

Our main objective for the day was a walk from Gothian Sands to Hells Mouth and back on the Southwest Coast Path. On the lake we added Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard and a Little Grebe in gorgeous summer plumage to our holiday list. By the stream, our first Sand Martins of the year had returned to their usual nesting colony, but we were also pleased to find more birds nesting some distance further along the sandstone cliffs, an area where we have not observed them before.

At Godrevy we found both male and female Wheatear, and several Rock Pipits calling as they moved around the grassy banks. We counted around ninety seals in their usual cove, and noted at least six Shag nests on a sheltered rocky inlet, with a canoodling pair resting together and another bird which revealed a single white egg as it moved position. In the sunshine they looked stunning, with glossy green heads and golden gular patch heightened by the light.

Seals at Godrevy

Shag with egg

As we crossed the Knaveocks, we were serenaded by Skylarks but failed to spot any; luckily Meadow Pipits and Linnets darting and chirruping across the scrub were more obliging. Arriving at Hells Mouth, we were disappointed to find no sign of nesting Guillemots or Razorbills, presumably still too early in the season for them, although we had encountered plenty on our recent seawatch. It was also disappointing to find the cafe closed!!!

Hell’s Mouth Cove

We retraced our steps, pausing to observe a Peregrine soaring high in the sky overhead and a few showy Stonechats popping up on the bushes as we passed. We were pretty tired by the time we got back to the car, but called again at Hayle estuary for another go at the gulls. The views were much better this evening, but no rarities could be found. On Ryan’s Field some godwits and the Spoonbills and Little Egrets ended the day with a flourish.

Spoonbill and Little Egret





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