Places Of Interest

 St.Austell Sewage Works

A sewage works that really comes into it's own in winter providing plenty of food for a multitude of bird species. Species seen her regularly are Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit & all the normal common birds. Rarer species seen include Siberian Chiffchaff, Firecrest & Yellow-browed Warbler.

The Moorland

This is not this areas proper name due to schedule 1 birds being present here. I try not to advertise the presence of certain birds (especially in the run up and during breeding season). All birds are protected in some form, but some species have additional protection during the breeding season as do their nests, eggs and dependent young. To disturb these you must obtain a special license in advance. For more on these birds have a look here.

This place is a re-claimed area of China Clay land now owned by Imerys. It offers really good views of the surrounding area making it great to spot migrating birds as well as common and un-common British birds. I've only been birding here awhile but already I have spotted Dartford Warbler, Willow Warbler, Wheatear, Reed Bunting, Red Kite & Common Whitethroat.

 Par Beach & Pool

The area sits on the Meadfoot Beds of the Lower Devonian - essentially various layers of mud stones, siltstones and sandstones or sandy siltstones. These are covered by alluvium (sediments deposited by flowing water) to the north of the sand dunes and with sands to the south. The soil is generally neutral to moderately acid.

The dunes are still building which is unusual in the UK as most sandy coastlines have retreated in the last 100 years. In fact the high tide mark moved about 100m towards the sea between 1885 and 1985. The dunes are an important flood defense, to the north of the dunes the low lying ground was sea until the sand bar formed at the end of the 1700s and was flooded regularly until the late 1970s.

The "Bird Lake" is a brackish pool which was once a model boating pond, it is connected to the sea via a sluice gate and a channel. It isn't shown on maps in 1870 but can be seen at half its present size, in aerial photographs taken in 1946. Brackish pools normally change over time to freshwater, but as there is the sluice gate (which is opposite the old car park toll hut) in theory at least, at the highest of tides, seawater can enter.

Previously seen species here include : Ring-necked Duck, Bewick Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Osprey & Bittern.

For more information click here.

 

 

The Fowey Estuary at St.Winnow 

 

St Winnow is a civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Its name may be connected with either that of Saint Winnoc or Saint Winwaloe. It has a population of 304, which had increased to 328 at the 2011 census. The church town is on the east bank of the River Fowey south of Lostwithiel. Part of the village of Lerryn lies within the parish as does the Chapel of St Nectan. The Redlake Meadows & Hoggs Moor, a Site of Special Scientific Interest is also in the parish.  

This spot being right on the eastern boundary of my circular patch is going to be vital with it being the only estuarine habitat in the area. This of course will hold some unique species that will go towards my overall total such as Shelduck, Greenshank, Redshank and hopefully some bonus waders and birds along the way.