For the birds…
Yesterday’s trip gave us a full display of the incredible birds we get just out of Falmouth Bay. For the first half an hour all seemed quiet, aside from a little egret showing off his fishing skills. Then once we got out over the reef the auks and shearwaters started filtering through. We had many a Manx shearwater, ebbing and flowing along the horizon line. Following shortly behind were small groups of guillemots and razorbills fluttering across the flat calm waters, occasionally followed by a swallow hunting for insects that have been blown out from the land.
As we headed towards the Dodman I spotted a string of 7 birds that Captain Keith soon identified as whimbrels. When we started heading back towards Gull Rock, we were scanning the cliffs for birds when three ravens swooped out over the edge. The larger bird was being mobbed by a smaller corvid, which upon closer review of my photo we realised was a CHOUGH! Such a lovely sighting to have on the boat trip to show off our wonderful bird of Cornwall.
The great northern divers were also out in number today, their speckled summer plumage glistening in the sun. These were shortly followed by a quick stop at Gull Rock to search for our resident bridled guillemots. We were lucky enough to pick out two from the crowded rock face, as well as a sweet Little Rock pipit and a soggy grey seal.
(All photos by Em Forster)
