Perranporth Cliffs and Beach

27th September 2021

This was my first visit to Cornwall and we were based on the cliffs at Perranporth. The scenery is absolutely stunning, although the birds were few and far between not helped by the strong prevailing westerly winds which were mostly enjoyed by the surfers and the local female Kestrel. The winds were not only strong by also fairly constant so it was possible for the Kestrel to just hang in the wind looking for prey without a single wing flap.

There was also a pair of Stonechats centred on a couple of brambles on the top of the cliff. The Stonechats were fairly weather dependent and would hunker down when the wind was at its strongest. However, when the wind dropped to more reasonable levels, they would sit up and enjoy the sunshine. This is the female.

The male was never far away and would normally select the highest perch.

I then ventured down towards the beach which apart from a handful of gulls appeared to be totally devoid of birds. As I walked towards Perranporth Bay I came across some rock pools at the base of the cliff and heard a single call of a Rock Pipit. It took some time to find it as they are supremely camouflaged for this type of terrain, but once you get your eye in the more you look the more you see.

After rattling off a few shots it soon became apparent that the resident race petrosus found on the west coast are far more tame and approachable than the migratory scandinavian race littoralis found on the east coast, to the extent that at times the birds would run towards me

Well, only three species but what quality!!