Cornwall Holiday Friday 22nd to Friday 29th September 2023.

 

My wife had a big birthday this year and as a present my brother Bryan and wife Yvonne gave her a weeks holiday in Looe, Cornwall where they joined us for the week, it was from Friday the 22nd of September to the 29th. We set off heading for a coffee stop at Cartgate Picnic Area and while driving I realised I had left my binoculars behind DAM DAM DAM or words like that !!! Well after Cartgate we planned to stop at Topsham for lunch and so doing had to pass Darts Farm and here is an RSPB shop so we stopped where I purchased a cheep pair of Binoculars as a birthday present for me, as my birthday was on the 23rd. The weather was awful so after lunch we drove straight to our accommodation.

Brewers Cottage - Bath Birdwatcher

Saturday morning from the window I spotted a female Blackcap the only one of the week plus Magpie, Blackbird, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Wren, Robin and Dunnock. We then drove to Talland Bay adding Rook, Great Tit, Jackdaw and Buzzard to our weeks list. Talland bay is a beautiful spot with a small beach café  where we had coffee and liked it so much we stayed for a Cornish Pasty lunch, mmm it was gorgeous and I would highly recommend it to anyone in the area. We did spot a few birds as well Shag, Black Headed Gull, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Gannet, Carrion Crow and Pied Wagtail.

Talland Bay - Bath Birdwatcher

We had to visit Looe for some shopping and  parked at Hannafore and walked down towards Looe and caught the foot ferry across to the Town on the way we spotted  Cormorant, Rock Pipit, Swallow, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Great Black Back Gull, Mallard and a lovely male Eider a year tick for me. While the girls shopped Bryan and I sat on a seat overlooking the East Looe River, at this point its tidal and the tide was low so lots of mud with many gulls and egrets showing but nothing different. Walking back to the car we added Goldfinch.

Male Eider - Bath Birdwatcher

On Sunday we drove to Lostwithiel where we parked at Coulson Park where we did a walk along the Fowey River here we added to our week list Little Grebe and Pheasant but the highlight was a Dipper  that we saw flying up river towards us and dropped into the river and disappeared under the water and when it popped up it swan a few feet before again disappearing under the water before flying off up river. We then drove to Par for lunch here we saw a Linnet and Canada Goose. We then drove back home and while the girls were cooking lunch Bryan and I drove down to Looe and had a short walk along the river and here we disturbed a Kingfisher and a small flock of Long Tailed Tits.

Monday we drove to Polruan and walked to the foot ferry where we crossed to Fowey where we spent the day, we did see a few birds including Mediterranean Gull, Grey Wagtail Raven and Jay  when we got back to Polruan we sat and had coffee overlooking the river. Probably the best day of the week weather wise.

Fowey from Polruan - Bath Birdwatcher

Tuesday we visited Polperro another lovely Cornish town quite a walk from the car park but well worth it. Bird wise it was a non-event just a tame Herring Gull that decided to lunch with us.

Herring Gull - Bath Birdwatcher

Wednesday we went to Bodmin to visit the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, here as we were having coffee and cake a train pulled in pulled by a Small Prairie tank. It all brought back memories of my younger days when most trains were pulled by steam engines. 

Prairie Tank - Bath Birdwatcher

We then drove to Coliford Lake for a sandwich lunch but I have never seen a lake so devoid of bird life but it was so windy that there were white horses on the lake. After lunch we drove to Anthony a National Trust house where we enjoyed a cream tea, not remembering if a Cornish cream tea was cream first or last I put a layer of cream then jam and then a second layer of cream. National Trust scones are always nice but the double layer of cream irresistible, after we walked around the house and that was very interesting.

Thursday we drove eastwards along the coast road to Rame Head where we had coffee we took ourselves, then a short walk on the head itself but wow it was so windy, we were hoping the wind would bring a few sea birds close inshore but all we managed new for the week was Kittiwake along with lots of Gannets, Herring  Gull and a few Great Black Back Gulls plus a pair of Stonechats. Driving on to the adjoining villages of Cawsands and Kingsland we had sandwiches looking out to sea and here it was much more sheltered from the wind but it was trying to rain. Our final stop of the day was Mount Edgcumbe where we had tea and cake in the Orangery before making our way back to Looe.

Mount Edgcumbe - Bath Birdwatcher

Saturday was back home day but we  made a day of it by driving to Exmouth for fish and chips then a walk along the seafront for a cup of tea. The tide was right out and lots of birds were about but nothing that was new for the week. We arrived back in Bath around 16.00 after a great week

Tall ship leaving Plymouth - Bath Birdwatcher.


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