Introduction
Renowned as a bird migration hotspot, the rugged headlands of West Cornwall offer some of the best vantage points in the whole of the UK to view seabirds on autumn passage and the chance to see Choughs. The area also boasts a wide variety of habitats with estuaries, bays, wetlands, reedbeds and woodlands, all magnets for migrant birds at this time of year.
Join your Natural Links leaders for a birdwatching break packed with the best of bird migration in West Cornwall combined with all the comfort you would expect from the Harbour Hotel & Spa in St. Ives, one of the top Hotels in Cornwall.
Harbour Hotel & Spa
The Harbour Hotel & Spa was named as the Best Seaside Hotel by the Sunday Times and has featured in the Independent for Best Hotels in St. Ives and Best for Spa Breaks. It is described by Muddy Stilettos as `Relaxed sea-side luxury with jaw-dropping sea views steps away from beautiful Porthminster Beach and a mere stroll into picturesque St. Ives’.
Dining is in the Harbour Kitchen, Bar & Terrace and the Hotel prides itself on seasonal menus with Cornish flavours. The luxurious bedrooms are seas-side inspired and you will have access to HarSPA during your stay, including 2 pools, sauna, steam room and gym.
Birdwatching
West Cornwall is renowned for autumn seabird passage, especially from the vantage points of its many headlands such as Porthgwarra, Land’s End, Pendeen Watch and St. Ives Island. With a favourable wind, several scarce species can be seen, particularly Great Shearwater, Cory’s Shearwater (pictured above), Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, plus Arctic, Pomarine and Great Skuas. Other species are possible, Sabine’s Gull, Black Tern, Roseate Tern and Storm Petrel are all seen annually. The headlands are also the haunt of Choughs, which returned to Cornwall to breed in 2001, after an absence of almost 30 years and now number around 200 birds.
The sand and mudflats of the estuaries and some of the bays are a magnet for wading birds. Among the common waders, several scarcer species can be seen including Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank. Gulls and Terns often feed in the shallows with Mediterranean Gull, Little Gull, Arctic Tern and Little Tern possible. Shelduck are resident and other wildfowl may start to return in September, including Teal and Wigeon.
Passerine movement south can be very evident in early September, especially Wheatear, Whinchat, Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, Common Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher. The reedbeds of Marazion Marsh can hold large numbers of roosting Swallows and are also known as a staging post for rare Aquatic Warblers on their southward journey to West Africa.
Resident birds of prey can be seen in a wide variety of habitats, particularly Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard, with possibilities of others passing through, Hobby, Osprey and Honey Buzzard. Resident owls include Barn, Little and Long-eared with Short-eared Owls a regular autumn visitor.
Many of the sites we will visit have recorded scarce or rare birds in recent years such as Spotted Crake, Pectoral Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-winged Stilt, Cattle Egret, Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes, Melodious Warbler, White-winged Tern and Citrine Wagtail.
Provisional Programme of Site Visits
Monday 8 September
Guests arrive at Harbour Hotel from 3pm Check-in time onwards.
Late Afternoon: Meet your leaders, Dave Fairlamb and Graeme Ruthven in the reception area of the Hotel followed by a relaxed birdwatching stroll from 4pm to 6pm along Porthminster Beach to Porthminster Point and return.
Tuesday 9 September
Morning: Hayle Estuary including Carnsew Pool and Copperhouse Creek
Afternoon: St. Ives Island and Bay
Wednesday 10 September
Morning: Porthgwarra and Land’s End
Afternoon: Sennen and Pendeen Watch
Thursday 11 September
Morning: Marazion Marsh and Mount’s Bay
Afternoon: Drift Reservoir
Friday 12 September
Morning into early Afternoon: The Lizard Peninsula, finish by 3pm
The tariff for `Bird Migration in Cornwall’
£1,150 per person when sharing a double or twin room
£1,290 per person for single occupancy of double room
The price includes VAT, and covers:
• 4 night’s accommodation at the Harbour Hotel & Spa
• 4 x Continental breakfasts
• 4 x 3-course Dinners
• All guided birdwatching excursions
• Evening Illustrated Talks and Quizzes
• Access to HarSPA Leisure facilities during stay
Not included in the price:
• Lunches (Packed Lunches are available to order at own expense from the Hotel at varying prices or can be purchased at nearby shops)
• Car parking fees at some of the birdwatching sites
• Travel to birdwatching locations
Terms & Conditions
Payment Schedule
Deposit of £400 per person to secure booking and payable on receipt of booking confirmation from Natural Links.
Outstanding Balance to be paid by 31 March 2025
Cancellations
Due to special group rates secured with the Hotel and Natural Links, cancellations can only be made up to the day before the outstanding balance is due, 31 March 2025, with £400 deposit per person either returned or used as credit towards future Natural Links events/holidays bookings.
Changes to Itinerary
The itinerary stated above is provisional as factors outside the control of Natural Links may result in changes to the itinerary.
Travel in Cornwall
We courteously ask guests to car-share for travel around birdwatching sites in Cornwall.
