Info -
This area North-East of Falmouth and Penryn is the best area to view the large carrick roads area of the Fal Estuary. Being so deep it regularly attracts sea-going birds in the winter. Its speciality is the prescence of one of the largest flocks of wintering Black-necked Grebes in the Uk (over 40 some years!). The times i've tried for them they have showed, but often very distantly and a scope is recommended (they favour the northern area near Loe Beach). Other sea birds to be expected every now and then include:- Red-necked + Slavonian Grebe, All 3 Divers, Guillemot, Razorbill and rarely but annually a Black Guillemot. Shag and Cormorant are redular here with the water being so deep and flocks of upto 50 Red-breasted Merganser and similar numbers of Goldeneye are a couple of the winter highlights of the area.
The access points to view over the Carrick Roads are few and far between but Loe Beach near Feock seems to be best. Alternatively Turnaware Point on the East side of the Carrick Roads is best and probably closer to the grebes usual hide-out on the east side. It can only be accessed by car though.
Past rarities include:- Great White Egret, Spoonbill (both upstream of the roads on mudflats), Osprey (2005), Honey Buzzard (2005), Surf Scoter x2 (2003), Laughing Gull (2002) |
