Birdwatch UK October 2017

WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS

http://www.birdguides.com/birdwatch Birdwatch•October 2017 23

F

or those interested in the

pursuit of scarce and rare birds,

especially fi nding your own,

then the valleys of the west Cornwall

coast should be high on your agenda

during October. Nanquidno, Cot and

Kenidjack to the west of St Just o er

tired migrants and vagrants varied

habitats in which to shelter and feed.

Rolecall of rarities

The valleys have long been

synonymous with rarities and past

records include Varied Thrush, Red-

fl anked Bluetail, Isabelline and Black-

eared Wheatears and Red-eyed Vireo.

Cornwall has an enviable reputation for rarities and

scarcities, and a trip to Nanquidno, Cot and Kenidjack

Valleys on the county’s west coast should be on any

birder’s October agenda, says Paul Freestone.

❯

St Just can be reached via the A30

on either the B3306 or A3071, and

both Cot and Kenidjack are signposted

from the village. Nanquidno is easily

accessible from the B3306. Start your

day here, at the most southerly of the

three valleys. Take the minor road

that runs along the northern edge of

Land’s End Airport and follow this to

the small parking area at the end of the

public road.

It is worth using the passing areas to

view the airfi eld , where American

Golden Plover can occasio nally

be found among the small fl ocks

of its European cousins. Land’s

MARK RAYMENT

(^1) SITE OF THE MONTH
THE CORNISH
VALLEYS
Carefully check any roaming fl ocks of tits as
these can harbour a migrant Firecrest.
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Travel information
and timetables

• Traveline:
  0871 200 2233 or
  http://www.traveline.info.


• Traveline Scotland:
  0871 200 2233 or
  http://www.traveline
  scotland.com.


• Traveline Cymru:
  0871 200 2233 or
  http://www.traveline-cymru.
  info.


• Stagecoach Bus:
  http://www.stagecoachbus.
  com.


• Arriva Bus: 0844 800
  4411 or http://www.
  arrivabus.co.uk.


• National Rail: 0845
  748 4950 or http://www.
  nationalrail.com.


• Sustrans:
  0117 926 8893 or
  http://www.sustrans.org.uk.

National bird news

BirdGuides.com: for all

bird news and to report

your own sightings, call

0333 577 2473, email

sightings@birdguides.

com or visit http://www.

birdguides.com.

Mapping

The maps reproduced in

the following pages are

provided by Ordnance

Survey: http://www.

ordnancesurvey.co.uk.

Further information

• County bird recorders:
  http://www.bto.org/volunteer-
  surveys/birdtrack/bird-
  recording/county-bird-
  recorders.


• Books: for discounted
  birding books see
  http://www.birdguides.com/
  store.

USEFUL CONTACTS

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The Cornish valleys.

Page 23

Waxham, Horsey and Winterton,

Norfolk. Page 26

Sanday, Orkney.

Page 27

Tory Island, Co Donegal.

Page 28

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2

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4

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4

Where

to watch

birds

to watch

birds

SEE WWW.BIT.LY/BGWHERETOWATCH

FOR MORE GREAT DAYS OUT



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