Wednesday 31 May 2017

Land's End Cornwall, and we thought it was.!!

After leaving the Lizard peninsular area we headed off to our next port of call.  Any sun that had been struggling to show its face had definitely given up the cause, and was completely obliterated by low cloud. We headed for Marazion, and here we had always planned to do different things for the remainder of the day. The good looking one would visit St Michael's Mount, while I would go birding at Marazion Marsh. So on arrival at the marsh, my Daughter dropped me off complete with day sac, camera and tripod, she headed back to St. Michael's Mount car park, and had timed the tide right, she would be able to get to the mount by walking the causeway in her wellies. I could still see the car disappearing down the road as the first few heavy spots of rain began bouncing on my head. Undaunted I set off onto the reserve in an optimistic mood.
    The reserve comes under the umbrella (pardon the pun) of the RSPB, in fact its their most Southerly reserve, and has a large area of reed bed. I found the first footpath and set off to see what was about, just as I did a little brown flitty thing (this is my Daughters stock description when trying to explain what she has seen, it was a little brown flitty thing) caught my eye but quickly disappeared into a patch of thorn bush, so no ID there. Now the rain was really beginning to make its presence felt, I plodded on trying fool myself into thinking overhanging trees would keep the bulk of the rain off me, they didn't.
   Long story short, I covered most of the reserve and the only bird I saw (apart from the little brown flitty thing) was a Swan, which looked as miserable as I felt, as by now I am soaked through.
  I decided to head for the St. Michael's car park in the hope I might find some shelter, but there was only a small tea room, which was so tiny three people would fill it. By now the wind was blowing a hooley driving the rain horizontally, so I stood by the North side of the tea room waiting for my Daughter to return.
    When she did, she said she had enjoyed the Mount, but the walk back across the causeway had been a bit hairy because of the wind.
     We had already booked our B&B for the night in Marazion, so  that's where we headed , for warm showers and to try and get our gear dried out.

The famous Land's End signpost.
The following morning we left Marazion and headed for Land's End, driving through the beautiful village of Mousehole on the way, not the kind of place you would want to visit in the tourist season, as the streets are so narrow.
    Shortly after leaving Mousehole the fog rolled in and driving became hazardous, at first we thought we would drive out of it but we didn't, and in fact from that point on we didn't see a thing for two and a half days, welcome to Cornwall.
    We finally arrived at Land's End, and then had to pay an extortionate price for the privilege of parking there. The fog was so bad we could only see a about half a dozen cars distant on the car park. we decided to sit in the car and see if the fog would lift, we got quite excited at one point because we began to see buildings appearing, only for them to disappear again, leaving us nothing to look at but the nearest cars.
       
Jackdaw.

Again there was a bit of a break in the fog, so we made a move, and it stayed reasonably clear just long enough to get a few photos.

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)

The outlying rocks of Land's End.

Cormorants on distant rocks.

Adding to a nest somewhere on the cliffs, don't know where we never saw them.

28 comments:

  1. Desolate beauty -- I wouldn't want to live there, but would love to visit -- even if I didn't see any birds. But preferably not on a rainy day (not that you always get to choose -- it reminds me of the Oregon Coast like that).

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    1. HI Sallie, I agree entirly on the first point, and on the seconed, wouldn't want to visit again, LOL.
      Take care, Gordon.

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  2. A gorgeous series of photos, Gordon, and the Jackdaw is fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing.

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    1. Thank you Linda, yes Jackdaws are fascinating, I use to have one as a pet.
      Take care, Gordon.

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  3. A lovely adventure. Your images are great as well. Thank you for sharing.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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    1. Thank you for looking in, much apreciated, Gordon.

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  4. Hello, it would be nice if the weather cooperated on our outings. The Jackdaw is a handsome bird. Love the gull in flight. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!

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  5. I love the jackdaw. We need those in Florida.

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    1. You might get more than you bargained for, they have a reputation, along with Magpies for steeling, especially bright shiny things.
      All the best, Gordon.

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  6. Entertaining narrative, Gordon. Now - I think I will spend the afternoon in search of little brown flitty things. I wonder if our Canadian versions are different from yours. There's a whole area of study opening up here!

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  7. Thank you David, If it was up to my Daughter to decide, probably not. Gordon.

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  8. awww, your outing sounds a bit like some of mine. But from this vantage point, it was funny and enjoyable. Your pun was great!! I enjoyed seeing the jackdaw and the rocky views!!

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    1. Hi Debbie, thank you for dropping by, glad you got the sence of humour, it helps.
      Take care, Gordon.

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  9. Hello!:) Super shots of the Jackdaw,..they are handsome birds. Mousehole is a quaint name for a village.:)

    Thank you for an amusing witty read, but sorry about the fog, and you having to pay to watch it!! Enjoy your weekend.

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  10. Good of you to look in again, and if you enjoyed it that's great.
    Take care, Gordon.

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  11. Hello Gordon, just stopping back to say thanks so much for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

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  12. Thanks Eileen, happy weekend to you, Gordon.

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  13. Very beautiful bird. I have not seen it before.

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  14. Great photos of the Jackdaw!
    We see 'little brown flitty things' here, too!
    Have a great week-end!

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  15. Thank you Lea, they seem to be getting everywhere LOL.
    Have a good weekend, Gordon.

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  16. Weather can be such a nuisance, that I know. You're like me tho, not letting it stop us from 'hoping for a break'. You managed to get some great photos!! Love the colors of the Jackdaw...the head is extraordinary in proportion to its body. Very pretty it is. Love the distant rocky cliffs with the cormorants too.

    Thanks for sharing this weekend, at I'd Rather B Birdin'. Your participation is always so much appreciated Gordon!!

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  17. What a beautiful set of photos!

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  18. Thank you Jenn, kind of you to say so.
    Take care, Gordon.

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  19. Those are great photos. I have yet to be able to get one anywhere close to clear of a bird in flight.

    Storms are making photography difficult for me right now, too. We're supposedly in for at least a week of thunderstorms, on and off all day, every day. OY!

    It sounds like you had an interesting adventure in spite of the rain.

    Have a blessed day. :)

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    1. Thank you for droping by Suzanne,always good to hear from a new visitor.
      Take care, Gordon.

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A big thank you to everyone for looking in and leaving their comments, much appreciated, Gordon.