A group of Trevone 'early birds' marched up Porthmissen hill and out onto the cliffs this morning with our binoculars to learn more about fulmars, herring gulls, kittiwakes, shags, razor bills, corn buntings. We also spotted peregrine falcons, sky larks and kestrels - all of which we were able to see in brilliant close-up through Tricia's tripod-mounted telescope. We 'ooh'ed and 'aah'ed at the fledgling herring gulls and learned how the meadow pipit falls "as if in a parachute" from the sky. We were told how fulmars spit from nostrils which are placed half way up their beaks ("Euuggh") and how the oyster catchers send out the alarm to the other birds. All this in a couple of hours of good company, turquoise sea and sparkly sky. A great success.
In addition we foraged in the hedgerows to see if we could name all the various flowers and identify anything that was edible. We managed to get a nibble of samphire, sea spinach, wild parsley and, the most exciting of all, sea radish which felt a bit like eating neat wasabi sauce. The swots in the group who had remembered to bring their Mitchell Beazley Wild Flower companion book were completely outdone by Ruth Binney who was visiting for a few days and joined the walk. She pointed out shyly that she had edited the book and there, sure enough, was her name on the credits.
Thanks Tricia, we look forward to another bird walk soon.
