Friday 27th March 2026: Gerrans Bay and Portscatho

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 Today was a gloomy and drizzly day. We drove across to Gerrans Bay hoping to find Black-throated Divers, which we had seen here previously when walking the South West Coast Path. They had also been reported the day before. In the event the abysmal weather rather scuppered our chances. Although there were a number of divers out on the water, the appalling light and rain on optics made it difficult to determine the species. We definitely had Great Northern Divers, but could not definitively identify a Black-throated. We were unable to spot the distinctive white marking on the flanks, usually seen on swimming birds. It was very frustrating.

Rather easier to identify, due to the distinctive shape and flight pattern, was a Sandwich Tern flying close to the shoreline.

Great Northern Diver

After waiting in vain for the rain to stop, we moved on to Portscatho. Again we found Great Northern Divers here, much closer, and with a more sheltered location, the rain was less in our faces enabling good views. 

A very tame Pied Wagtail strode along the wall in front of us, then wandered around our feet, an exceptionally obliging bird. 

Pied Wagtail

Taking a short walk around the corner of the bay, we found a nice selection of birds around the scrubby vegetation, including Linnet, Stonechat and the regular tits and finches.

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