This Spring birding adventure centres on Devon and West Cornwall, an area we know very well after many years of both spring and autumn tours to the region. Here we will enjoy a mix of migration-based birding, among the secluded valleys and headlands of the Penwith district, with some top breeding birds on the fringes of Dartmoor. Meeting near Exeter, we spend our first afternoon and the next morning searching for some of the woodland birds for which the area is well known – Pied Flycatcher and Redstart, newly arrived to their breeding grounds, will be top billing. But we also have a chance of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker too, as the species is doing very well in this part of Devon. We will also visit the coast, to seek Cirl Bunting in it’s UK stronghold, and if time permits we may squeeze in some waterbirds around the Exe Estuary too.
Continuing down to West Cornwall, sites visited include The Lizard, Land’s End, Marazion Marsh, Porthgwarra, Nanquidno, Cot and Kenidjack Valleys. Given the right conditions, this could involve species overshooting their Mediterranean breeding grounds, adding a large dose of the unexpected to our birding. All of this against a backdrop of stunning scenery in a county where Spring arrives early. We’ve seen Hoopoe, Red-rumped Swallow, Glossy Ibis, Ortolan Bunting, Eastern and Western Subalpine Warblers and more on some of our recent Spring visits here. We stay at the ever popular Bosavern House a stone’s throw from the excellent Kenidjack Valley, and we could perhaps notch around 120 species. Five miles per day is the minimum required level on this tour, with some uphill sections and rocky paths too.
DAY ONE
The tour meets at our hotel near Exeter for check in around 1400. We then head out for our first birding excursion, to look for Cirl Buntings on the nearby coast. This highly localised species has it’s UK stronghold here and we will visit a couple of sites to make sure we get good views. If time permits, we may also check some of the nearby wetland areas for waders, gulls and terns.
Overnight Topsham.
DAY TWO
We rise early this morning to make a visit to Yarner Wood on the edge of Dartmoor. Our quarry here are the newly arrived Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers which breed in the woodland. We also have a good chance of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which breeds here. We then head on down towards West Cornwall, and will make a birding stop along the way – Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck are sometimes lingering on one of the Bodmin reservoirs, for example. We reach Bosavern House late afternoon for check in, followed by dinner. Overnight Bosavern House
DAYS THREE – SIX
We will spend our time exploring the valleys and headlands around St Just and Lands End for migrants and we will also spend some time on the Lizard Peninsula. It would not be entirely unexpected to find species with a Mediterranean flavour here as Woodchat Shrike, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Black-winged Stilt, Night Heron, Red-rumped Swallow or Golden Oriole can all occur, though of course these are uncommon birds and an element of good fortune would be needed for us to find them. Garganey, Dotterel, Whimbrel, Spotted Flycatcher, Ring Ouzel, Grasshopper Warbler and Whinchat are among the more interesting of the more expected migrants, while Chough and Dartford Warbler are resident species. A variety of seabirds can be expected including Gannets, Kittiwakes, Common Guillemot and Razorbill, while a few passage terns and shearwaters are usually noted, and species lingering from winter could include Black Redstart, Purple Sandpiper and Iceland Gull. Recent rarities at this time have included Brown Shrike, Bonaparte’s Gull, Greater Short-toed Lark, Citrine Wagtail, Black Kite and Montagu’s Harrier. Whatever we see, it is sure to be an exciting experience if the winds are in our favour.
We will also make an excursion to Marazion Marsh, Mounts Bay and the Hayle Estuary when the tide times are in our favour. Here we will be searching for a selection of migrant shorebirds, terns, gulls, warblers and possibly scarcer species such as Eurasian Spoonbill, Kentish Plover and Purple Heron, while resident species include Reed Bunting, Common Kingfisher, Water Rail, Little Egret and Cetti’s Warbler among others. A few seabirds may be passing offshore and there is always the chance of a lingering Great Northern or Red-throated Diver in the bay. Carnsew Pool and St Gothian Sands are both good spots for waders too, and Whimbrel often congregate here in decent numbers in late April. All the while we will be keeping tabs on the local bird news, and hoping to catch up with any scarce migrants or rarities present in the area – Subalpine Warbler, Glossy Ibis and Woodchat Shrike were all seen on our most recent tour.
Overnights Bosavern House
DAY SEVEN
This morning we have a final chance to catch up with any good birds that are around, or perhaps revisit one of our favourite sites from the tour. We conclude at lunchtime to allow for the onward journey home.
*Please note, public transport to and from Exeter works well for this tour. For anyone driving, you will need to bring your vehicle on day two for the journey down to Cornwall. Parking in Topsham for the first night is also very limited.
WHATS INCLUDED
Six nights en suite accommodation, meals from dinner on day one to breakfast on final day, ground transport, services of leaders and reserve entrance fees.
NOT INCLUDED
Travel to/ from Devon and Cornwall, travel insurance, drinks, lunch on day one and items of a purely personal nature.
WHAT TO BRING
Binoculars, telescope, camera, spare memory card and battery, clothing for all weathers, small rucksack, field guide, alarm clock and a thermos flask if required.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Exeter
