Lizard Point, Cornwall, 29th August, 2011

Bright start to the day, stayed good most of the day, a few white clouds

05.30 hours, we are out of the hostel and on our way to Marazion seeing

Common Buzzard, many
Stonechat
Linnet
Reed Bunting

The local bird ringers were making a lot of noise with loud Aquatic Warbler calling ! !
We did not stay long.

Common Buzzard

Stonechat

Reed Bunting, f

Moved on, stopped for breakfast, then up to the point and Lighthouse area of the Lizard
On arrival, 2 Chough were on the old lifeboat station roof

Chough, 2
Jackdaws everywhere
Black Kite thermaled high for a five minute show
Common Buzzard
Raven, 2 flew over two times
Rock Pipit

Chough

Common Buzzard

Rock Pipit

Common Buzzard

A very nice little cafe at the point made the best apple crumble with ice cream and coffee ever.
M.S. and I made two visits and had TWO portions, nice birding !

Late afternoon, Jackdaw

Jackdaw

 Jackdaw

                             Jackdaw

Day finished at 18.30 hours for the long journey home.
Delayed by 7 minutes to change a tyre, (puncture)
Dropped the chaps of in South London at 00.30 hours.

What a bank holiday weekend that was !  !

The Lizard for a Pelagic, Cornwall, 28th August, 2011

Picked M.S. and Kevin up at 04.00 hours for the 320 mile drive to Helford Point on the Helford River, Cornwall for a Pelagic out 12 miles south of the Lizard.

Around 10.00 hours we arrived, breakfast and a brief look about.

Weather was good, some moving clouds, but generally bright, very light breeze.

Onto the boat about noon. About 30 mins out to sea we stopped to catch mackerel to chop up for chum.

This done we headed out South of the Lizard about 12 miles, on the way seeing many passing distant Manx Shearwater, the chum was put over the side, chopped up fish was put over the side at intervals and we waited for the birds to come in, no time to wait, first came the Fulmars,

Fulmars, all day close
Manx Shearwater, 700 +, distant
Sooty Shearwater, 2, close flyby
Balearic Shearwater, 4, distant
Great Shearwater, 1, close

European Storm-petrel, 20 sightings, not close

Great Skua, 4, about 6 visits in 2's and 3's coming very close to the boat

Kittiwake, 2 very close

Gannet, many
Whimbrel, 2 flew over
Guillimot, 1

Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull

Fulmar

Fulmar

Fulmar

Fulmar

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Kittiwake

Great Skua

                             Great Skua

Great Skua

Great Skua

Great Skua

Great Skua

Great Skua

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Sooty Shearwater

Great Shearwater

Great Shearwater

Great Shearwater

Gannet

Manx Shearwater

Finished and back on land at 20.00 hours.

An incredible good day out !

Thanks goes out to Paul of Cornwall Birding who put me onto this trip

and also to Tony and Steve, the organisers

Fish and chips and sleep at a bunk house ready to be up for dawn in Cornwall tomorrow !