Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE CORNISH CHOUGH
You won't have any trouble spotting a seagull around the coastline of Cornwall, but you'll be extremely lucky to
catch sight of the elusive Cornish chough (pronounced
chuff
). A member of the crow family distinguished by its
jet-black plumage and bright orange beak, this elegant bird is an enduring symbol of Cornish culture - legend has
it that the chough embodies the spirit of King Arthur, and the bird even features on Cornwall's coat of arms.
The chough was once a common sight around the county's shores, but suffered a huge decline in the 20th cen-
tury, probably due to intensive farming and a general decline in habitat. Happily, the first pair of choughs to nest
in Cornwall for over 50 years arrived in 2002, and the success of recent breeding programs has led to hopes that
the chough will again establish itself along the county's clifftops. The Lizard is one of the best places for chough-
spotting.
Bird Life
The southwest is a dream come true for twitchers. For a quick fix the coast is the best
place to start: you're bound to catch sight of the most common birds, including the razor-
bill, guillemot, gannet, cormorant and, of course, one of several types of seagull. Most
common of all is the herring gull, distinguished by its grey plumage, light-coloured feet
and black wingtips; if you're being harassed by a gull for a bite of your pasty or you've
just been blessed from above, chances are it's thanks to a herring gull. Less common are
the slightly darker black-backed gull and the smaller common gull (which, despite its
name, actually isn't all that common). Gulls of all descriptions have become something of
a nuisance in recent years thanks to the attentions of unsuspecting tourists and the growth
in rubbish tips and street litter - whatever you do, don't feed them, as it only makes them
bolder and certainly won't win you any friends among the locals.
There are also puffin colonies on the Isles of Scilly, Long Island near Boscastle and, in
smaller numbers, on Lundy.
Inland, you might catch sight of birds of prey hovering above farmland and stretches of
open countryside. Species to look out for include the sparrowhawk, kestrel and, most
common of all, the buzzard. By night keep an ear cocked for the hoot of the barn owl or
tawny owl in remote countryside.
River estuaries are also good for a spot of birdwatching, especially for wading birds,
and various species of duck, grebe and goose. The estuaries around the Tamar and Exe
Rivers in Devon, Dawlish Warren near Exmouth and Hayle in Cornwall promise espe-
cially rich pickings for twitchers.
