Cornwall 2012 Days 5 & 6

Day 5 was cancelled due to apathy. We managed to raise ourselves from our sofa-based stupor for an hour or so, in order to visit the Hayle estuary. Well, it's all fine and dandy scouring sycamores for small flitting things but at least on an estuary you're guaranteed to see some birds. And so we did - the best of a scattering of waders were 2 Curlew Sands & the lingering juv Little Stint. There were also 3 each of Med Gull and Sandwich Tern. Having a lie in on Thursday was well advised. Even at 10am it was, quel surprise, still raining. Joy. The mizzle was slow to clear, despite the wind increasing from frisky to blustery. We went to the Lizard with the hope of finally filling in by far the tartiest gap in my list, the mythical Ortolan. Reported in the morning, the scene of fields full of wandering birders told the story. I couldn't be arsed to hang around, so we went shrike hunting. I do like the Lizard peninsula, it has the feel of undiscovered country, a poor relation to it's Land's End brethren. Housel Bay is a perfect example of the great habitat that's there. A small valley, a stream running down to the bay, nice cover for migrants, and at the valley head, small fields with stone walls and scrubby areas. With the wind blowing in rain, a couple of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests were the best we could dig out from the stream area. Luckily, the juvenile Red-backed Shrike was showing well, looking distinctly chilly as it sheltered from the wind behind a hedge. Such a smart looker though, with that rakish eye mask. Back at the car park, Merlin, Chough and Peregrine flew over in quick succession. On leaving our original plan was to head for Nanquidno (my fave of the local valleys), where a RBF had been found. But news wasn't good - it had only been seen once before zipping into trees the other side of Nanjulian Farm. So with the north-westerly quickening, we went to Pendeen to indulge Lucy's unfathomable liking for seawatching (must be the sitting down. Fair enough). Bumped into Lee - again. But at least he wasn't slow in calling out birds as they passed. Disappointingly we didn't see any skuas, but there were good numbers of Balearics, plus a handful of Sootys, in addition to an impressive Gannet passage. Another good day then, despite - or more accurately, due to - the weather. But on our last day it would be good to go out and try to find out own birds, rather than pursue the somewhat unsatisfactory practice of chasing other people's. We've neglected the aforementioned Nanquidno this week, so weather permitting we might go there.