Seventeen bird species and a rare moth at Mevagissey Harbour

Six pairs of eyes, one working harbour, and a morning warm enough to bring the butterflies out. A small group of nature and wildlife enthusiasts spent a sunny few hours birdwatching around Mevagissey Harbour, and the list they came away with was longer than a bird count alone.

📷Cormorant

A warm morning on the water

The weather played its part. Sunny and warm throughout, the kind of day that has people looking up as much as out to sea. Six enthusiasts made up the group.

The outing was organised by Rowena Castillo-Nicholls, founder and chair of Connect with Nature, RSPB Kernow Group Leader, and Publicity Officer of Cornwall Birds. Rob Nicholls led the field trip.

📷Oystercatcher

What they saw

Seventeen species of birds were recorded across the morning. But the birds were not the only draw. Three species of butterfly came out in the sunshine: Red Admiral, Green-veined White, and Large White.

Then there was the moth. A Hummingbird Hawk Moth, a day-flying visitor that hovers at flowers like the bird it takes its name from, made the list too.

📷Pied Wagtail

Ice cream and lunch, as always

Some habits hold. The group stopped at Kelly’s for their favourite ice cream, then went on to She Sells Mevagissey for lunch.

📷Rock Pipit

📷Group photo: Demelza Wisker, Lesley Dent, Rowena Castillo-Nicholls, Rob Nicholls, Ashley Shannon, and Emma Shannon

📷Great Black-backed Gull