A Weekend on The Lizard

My wife and I spent this past Easter Weekend on the Lizard in Cornwall. A few days relaxing and unwinding at The Mullion Cove Hotel. Not a birding holiday, but as always, I can’t turn-down any opportunity to fit some birding in during the odd day, here and there! On previous visits to the area, I had seen Chough at the National Trust Watch Point, so on Saturday 4th April we paid a visit and spent the morning around the reserve on the Lizard. Unfortunately the Chough had moved location due possibly  to some major land fall, affecting the cliff area where the birds had been successfully breeding for a number of years. Slightly disappointing to say the least.

So we wandered along the cliff foot path looking at some of the early spring plants – Alexanders, Three-cornered Garlic, Bladder Campion and Primrose were all in flower. I decided to check some of the surrounding fields, in case one of the birds was feeding. My luck was in and very quickly I located a Chough in one of the nearby fields. Close enough for a record photograph without disturbing it. It was the male, due to the array of coloured plastic rings on it’s legs. Anyhow, we wandered back to the car well pleased. The following morning, Sunday 5th April, was glorious with bright blue skies and warm spring sunshine. After spending some time in the small village of Coverack, and a few hours at Helston Boating Lake, we headed back to the Lizard, in the hope of some further views of the Chough. I walked along the cliff footpath and found a bench with an ideal view of the cliffs and bay in front of me. A Wheatear and a Swallow were firsts for the year and numerous Fulmar were flying by. Several Manx Shearwater out at sea, then suddenly, I heard the unmistakeable call of a Chough. Boom!!, it dropped out of the sky and landed on a rocky crag no more than 100 yards in front of me. Calling quite excitedly, it was then joined by the female and both birds began to display to each other. A fantastic experience and an encounter I will never forget. It doesn’t always have to be rarities, for an enjoyable days birding. Along with some stunning sunsets, especially on Sunday evening, quite an incredible few days. The year list moves on to 161.

Chough – male – The Lizard, Cornwall – My first encounter of the holiday with one of the Cornish Coughs,  feeding in one of the cliff top fields – Tony Davison©

Chough – female – My second encounter, stumbling on the pair quiet by accident, a remarkable experience – Tony Davison©

Chough – The pair together – They displayed to each other within 100 yards of where I was sitting on a public bench along one of the cliff top footpaths – Tony Davison©

“Choughy” from  The Cornish Chough Society – In fine summer plumage – Tony Davison© – At this point this was looking like the only Chough I was going to see!!

Jackdaw – Plenty on the Lizard, this one feeding amongst the flowering Scurvy Grass – Tony Davison©

Three-cornered Garlic – Tony Davison©

St. Peter’s Church, Coverack – Tony Davison©

Coverack Harbour and Lifeboat House – Tony Davison©

The Old Post Office, Coverack – Tony Davison©

An Easter Cross for Easter Sunday – The beach at Coverack – Tony Davison©

Herring Gull – Above two images – adult summer – Helston Boating Lake, Cornwall – Tony Davison©

Herring Gull – second calendar year – Helston Boating Lake, Cornwall – Tony Davison©

Herring Gull – first calendar year – Helston Boating Lake, Cornwall – Tony Davison©

Coot – above two images – Helston Boating Lake, Cornwall – Tony Davison©

Mallard – Drake – Helston Boating Lake, Cornwall – Tony Davison©

Whooper Swan – adult – Helston Boating Lake, Cornwall – Tony Davison©

Robin – Helston Boating Lake, Cornwall – Tony Davison©

Cornish Scallop Shells – Mullion Cove – Tony Davison©

Herring Gull – The infamous Seaside Gull – Mullion Cove – Tony Davison©

Mullion Cove, Cornwall – Tony Davison©

Coastal Path at Mullion Cove, looking towards Church Cove and Polchu Point – Tony Davison©

Cornish Sunset, Easter Sunday  – Over Mullion Cove – Tony Davison©