Cornwall and the despair of the darkest season by badger.

I've been a very lucky Badger this autumn being able to enjoy some fab autumnal feathered action and somewhat indulge my bird spotting obsession, and with the shortening last throws of the years third season waning and giving way to...
Y'know i'd like to continue within my melancholy, marginally, dare I say somewhat poetic narrative of the changing seasons and enthuse about the crisp cold winter days that are soon to be upon us but, to be honest...

I HATE WINTER.

The invariably damp, wet and short grey days that will make up the majority of the next four months...and although winter can include some truly wonderful birds and birding there is but one comfort, one small but vital little crutch to make the shivering, sniveling bleak winter even remotely brrrrrrrrrrrearable.

Badgers little helper

So, I digress, as is my tendency and in the process managed to depress myself....
brilliant...
anyway

Last month I went to Cornwall!!

The beautiful coastline near Perranuthnoe.

With a smattering of good birds and some fine weather plus the opportunity of spending some time with my lovely aunt and uncle, saw myself and Mrs Badger pootling off down the M5 in search of pasties, good times and glory. 

I didn't want to just drive from one rare to another and so spent some very enjoyable days 

birding some of the Kernow valleys, headlands and coastline, I also visited a few sites that 

I had heard of but never explored such as the areas around Polgigga and Bosistow Farm, 

and I even managed to find a couple of Yellow-broweds and a smashing Black Redstart.

Birding in Cornwall October 2016

Included in my imaginatively titled little video are the following:

Short-toed Lark: These sandy coloured Larks are a favorite on Lesvos each year with this one

discovered feeding happily around the cliff top car park at St Agnes Head in north Cornwall. 

Snow Buntings: Four of these beauties arrived at Godrevy Point just NNE of Hayle whilst 

I was in Cornwall so I went to watch them as they fed amongst the heather.

Isabelline Wheatear: Another Lesvos speciality, this buff-coloured Wheatear spent a couple of 

days again at the coastal hotspot of Godrevy Point

Black Redstart: Having missed this species on all of the recent forays to the northeast, I was 

really glad to see this one as it popped up on to the roof of Bosistow Farm.

Dalmatian Pelican: This well travelled bird first arrived in Cornwall last May before embarking

on a tour of the county with even a brief visit in to neighbouring Devon.There has been much discussion regarding the credence of the Pelicans origins, I however just enjoyed seeing this incredible bird wherever it had come from,and had a very pleasant day walking the Camel Trail between Wadebridge and Padstow.

Spoonbill: This juvenile had been at Hayle Estuary for some time and at the time of writing (10th November) was still there and had been joined by another Spoonie chum.

Pink-footed Goose: This bird had joined a group of resident Greylag Geese at the Gwithian 

Sands Nature Reserve near Godrevy.

Hudsonian Whimbrel: Undoubtedly my bird of the trip. I've only ever seen one before,distantly 

at Walney near Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria and it was longer ago than I care to remember. This Cornish bird has been happily probing the southern coastline near Penzance for some time now and seems to favour Boat Cove just west of Perranuthoe. It did in fact take some finding as it had moved from Boat Cove, to a few miles further east along the coast, I spent a very enjoyable hour or so watching and digiscoping this stripy North American vagrant.

 
Please view at 1080p HD

All in all another enchanted and beguiling holiday in Britain's magical coastal county.