Darrell Clegg
Well-known member
From Torpoint take the A374 to Antony. Take the B3247 to Tregantle, turning right onto the coast road for Rame. This peninsula is one of the less well known Cornish birding sites, visiting birders preferring to head further west to the 'big sites' Porthgwarra, Nanquidno etc. The area is watched by no more than a dozen hardy regulars, who have turned up some spectacular birds over the years.
The best time to visit, like most coastal sites, is in Spring and Autumn. Start at Rame church, and carefully check all the bushes around the Churchyard. This made the news in 1999 when a Red-flanked Bluetail spent a week here, joined later by a splendid Chimney Swift. Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs are the most likely birds in the sycamores, but the occasional firecrest, Redstart or Pied Flycatcher can also be found. The church itself is a great place for Black Redstart. Once you have thoroughly checked all the bushes here, check the trees around the farm and the big house. The Western Palearctic's only Wilson's Warbler was found here in 1985 - so goodies can - and do turn up. Both Yellow-browed and Pallas' Warbler have been seen here, as has Red-breasted Flycatcher and Scarlet Rosefinch. Last April a superb Little Bunting was found in the farmyard.
Once this area has been thoroughly checked, walk along the military road, signposted to Penlee Battery. Check each field very carefully. Short-toed Lark, Tawny Pipit, Ortolan, Woodchat Shrike, and Corncrake have all been seen here in the past. Wheatear and Whinchat are more likely. This is a fantastic place for raptors, especially in Autumn. Hobby, Merlin, Peregrine, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owl all pass through. In 1986 one lucky observer found a Gyrfalcon here - the first of 3 at Rame!!
Penlee Battery could take up a whole day in itself. This is now a Cornwall Wildlife Trust Reserve, and the bird list is enormous! All the common migrants can be found in the trees and bushes, and every year something good turns up, whether it be Roller, Hoopoe, Northern Parula, or Golden Oriole. For those whose interests extend to lepidoptera and odonata, Monarch is almost annual, and Europe's first Green Darner was found here in 1998.
Time to head down to the coast path and make for Rame Head. The views here are breathtaking and make the whole walk worthwhile. This is the first landfall for many migrants who find temporary shelter in the abundant gorse. Stonechat and Yellowhammer are resident here, and you can watch the Ravens, and occasionally Peregrine patrol the coast. A Black-headed Bunting was a good find back in 1992. Out at sea Gannets, Gulls and Fulmar can be seen most of the year, with Manx Shearwater during the summer. Seawatching is not as productive as elsewhere, but dedicated watchers have found all the pelagic goodies here. A Feral flock of Fallow Deer are usually present on the slopes and elicit lots of 'ooohs' and 'aaahs' from holidaymakers.
The car park and Coastguard lookout at Rame Head are often good for Black Redstart and Wheatear, and again the surrounding fields often hold some surprises. A Cirl Bunting pair took up residence here for a while. The stone walls have attracted Wryneck and even Melodious Warbler.
Polhawn Cove, on the West side of Rame Head often holds good numbers of birds - especially if the wind is from the south or east. Ring Ouzel seem to love it here, and Dartford Warblers have recently recolonised after some 15 years absence. This side of the headland is known as Whitsand Bay. The most likely bird to be found is Great Northern Diver with up to 50 having been seen at any one time in the bay.
If you come to Cornwall, why not take a detour and check the place out - you never know what you might find!!
The best time to visit, like most coastal sites, is in Spring and Autumn. Start at Rame church, and carefully check all the bushes around the Churchyard. This made the news in 1999 when a Red-flanked Bluetail spent a week here, joined later by a splendid Chimney Swift. Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs are the most likely birds in the sycamores, but the occasional firecrest, Redstart or Pied Flycatcher can also be found. The church itself is a great place for Black Redstart. Once you have thoroughly checked all the bushes here, check the trees around the farm and the big house. The Western Palearctic's only Wilson's Warbler was found here in 1985 - so goodies can - and do turn up. Both Yellow-browed and Pallas' Warbler have been seen here, as has Red-breasted Flycatcher and Scarlet Rosefinch. Last April a superb Little Bunting was found in the farmyard.
Once this area has been thoroughly checked, walk along the military road, signposted to Penlee Battery. Check each field very carefully. Short-toed Lark, Tawny Pipit, Ortolan, Woodchat Shrike, and Corncrake have all been seen here in the past. Wheatear and Whinchat are more likely. This is a fantastic place for raptors, especially in Autumn. Hobby, Merlin, Peregrine, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owl all pass through. In 1986 one lucky observer found a Gyrfalcon here - the first of 3 at Rame!!
Penlee Battery could take up a whole day in itself. This is now a Cornwall Wildlife Trust Reserve, and the bird list is enormous! All the common migrants can be found in the trees and bushes, and every year something good turns up, whether it be Roller, Hoopoe, Northern Parula, or Golden Oriole. For those whose interests extend to lepidoptera and odonata, Monarch is almost annual, and Europe's first Green Darner was found here in 1998.
Time to head down to the coast path and make for Rame Head. The views here are breathtaking and make the whole walk worthwhile. This is the first landfall for many migrants who find temporary shelter in the abundant gorse. Stonechat and Yellowhammer are resident here, and you can watch the Ravens, and occasionally Peregrine patrol the coast. A Black-headed Bunting was a good find back in 1992. Out at sea Gannets, Gulls and Fulmar can be seen most of the year, with Manx Shearwater during the summer. Seawatching is not as productive as elsewhere, but dedicated watchers have found all the pelagic goodies here. A Feral flock of Fallow Deer are usually present on the slopes and elicit lots of 'ooohs' and 'aaahs' from holidaymakers.
The car park and Coastguard lookout at Rame Head are often good for Black Redstart and Wheatear, and again the surrounding fields often hold some surprises. A Cirl Bunting pair took up residence here for a while. The stone walls have attracted Wryneck and even Melodious Warbler.
Polhawn Cove, on the West side of Rame Head often holds good numbers of birds - especially if the wind is from the south or east. Ring Ouzel seem to love it here, and Dartford Warblers have recently recolonised after some 15 years absence. This side of the headland is known as Whitsand Bay. The most likely bird to be found is Great Northern Diver with up to 50 having been seen at any one time in the bay.
If you come to Cornwall, why not take a detour and check the place out - you never know what you might find!!
