Penwith Peninsula

The plan was to catch the train to Penzance, bus to St Just, then walk down Cott valley to Porth Nanven.

Then walk on up the coast till dusk & camp on the cliff tops.            Walking on on Sunday to St Ives then home.

All went to plan to start with.

Porth Nanven.

 A couple at more normal shutter speeds.

 I want you to forget this next one.  When I offer my lightly used & well looked after camera for sale in the distant future you will not remember this photo ok!!  :o)

 So as you can see I spent quite a lot of time boulder hopping & dodging sea spray.  My photo assistants where as ever diligent & guarded my rucksack.  A bag within with three days supply of dog food is a good incentive. 

By the time we walked on up over the cliff evening was already drawing in & light levels dropping so camping & food took priority.

Dawn was still grey but there was more definition in the sky so before breaking camp (phhh sounds like I'm Bear Grylls,  his real name's Teddy BTW ;)) we took the camera & photographed Cape Cornwall & the mine remains in the valley.

 Then back to camp for a quick coffee & pack up before walking on.   Whilst packing the tent I heard some distinct calls that I've heard just once before, & as I looked up seven Choughs flew over us heading for fields not far away.                              Everything got quickly bundled into the sack, the camera & telephoto mounted on the tripod & settings checked.  Two hours later I had taken loads of photos & thought the birds might prefer some privacy.

 

I can't tell you how blown away I was with seeing those seven birds.  For most of my life they have been all but extinct here in their native land.  Prior to recent success the last pair to raise young was in 1947.   By fate & others misfortune the foot & mouth outbreak of 2001 shut the cliff paths & three birds from Ireland dropped in.  Two of which decided to stay & bred the following year, & have done every year since.   Long lived monogamous creatures Choughs.

Fourteen years later there are now about eighty resident birds but still only four breeding pairs. The RSPB monitor & guard every site & hopefully generations to come will be able to enjoy their jinking on the updraughts.    RSPB Cornish Chough Project. 

So anyway by now it was late morning & my chances of getting near to St Ives by evening narrow so Woody & Chip wimped & said lets go back to St Just for an all day breakfast.  I was still to blown away seeing nearly a tenth of Cornwalls Chough population in one go & was to weak to argue.

As always if you click on the images & then right click, view image for full size.

 To be continued.