Cornwall wildlife hotspots

jon teague · #1 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 03:20 PM

hello all

I have just joined the forum in the hope to better my knowlage of natural history and photography. i have started a course at falmouth uni in marine and natural history photography and was hoping for any advice of tips of any good wildlife hotspots nearby (or anywhere in cornwall as i have a car).

Many thanks Jon

rogpow · #2 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 03:58 PM

Hi Jon, and welcome to WAB.

If you can, get hold of a copy of "Wild About Cornwall" by David Chapman.
It features 40 sites across the county, detailing what to see, best time of the year to visit etc. with excellent colour photos. Sells or about £11.99 and worth every penny in my opinion,
I get down to Cornwall four or five times a year and always take my copy with me. Helped me find and film lot of flora and fauna that don't occur in my own neck of the woods.

Rog

tufftie · #3 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 04:23 PM

Hi I used to live at Kelynack - not far from Sennen Cove. There are lots of great places to go in Cornwall! Depends what your interest is really? Kynance cove is a great place for wildflowers and insects! Porthgwarra is great for early morning birds. Cot Vally for migrating birds and Monarch butterflies - sometimes. From around Zennor to Newlyn you get dolphins and can see the water spouts from whales. Godrevy is another good location. There's lots - if you could be more specific I could help you a little better!

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 04:50 PM

The Lizard has lots of extremely rare + localised plants. Tuftie mentions Porthgwarra which is an exceptional sea-watching site- especially late July-September- lots of shearwaters, Storm Petrels, Sabine's Gull possible, dolphins, Basking Shark possible + some good butterflies including migrants. If winds are from northerly aspect St. Ives Bay can produce good seabirds.

The Hayle Estuary + Marazion outside Penzance can be excellent birding/general sites. Drift Reservoir sometimes produces a rarity such as Lesser Scaup or Ring-necked Duck.

A fabulous county with some amazing scenery. Look out for the recently re-colonised Choughs.

jon teague · #5 (**permalink**) 15-02-2010, 10:54 AM

Hi all thanks for the fast replies

I was actually thinking of getting that book after seeing it in waterstones but now that you have mentioned it im going to order a copy now. The lizard is right at the top of my list of places to go as you guys have mentioned. Im pretty much interested in all wildlife, but the two im most looking for are otters and reptiles.

Thanks again jon

Lancashire Lad · #6 (**permalink**) 15-02-2010, 03:47 PM

"Wildlife In Cornwall - A Naturalist's View Of Britain's South-Western Peninsula" by Rennie Bere, could be another book worth looking out for.

Paperback, 148 pages, about A5 in size, and about 15mm in thickness.
(No ISBN number is shown in the book).

Published in 1970 by D.Bradford Barton Limited of Truro, and printed by H.E.Warne Limited of St.Austell.

I doubt whether it would still be in print, but you might be able to pick one up second-hand.

I obtained a copy via Tor Mark, many years ago, for the princely sum of £0.95 - a bargain.

(The book encompasses most of Cornwall's wildlife, including several references & suggested locations for otters, adders, grass snakes, slow worms etc. etc.).

Regards,
Mike.