Rain fails to stop Towan Head birdwatchers as choughs put on a show

The sun was out when they set off. A few minutes later, it was pouring.

Nine nature and wildlife enthusiasts carried on regardless at Towan Head in Newquay, and the birds made it worth their while.

📷The Connect with Nature with Rowena birdwatching group at Towan Head, Newquay

Sunshine, then a soaking at Towan Head

The birdwatching trip was organised by Rowena Castillo-Nicholls, founder and chair of Connect with Nature with Rowena. Rob Nicholls led the field trip.

The group started out in sunshine. But within minutes the rain arrived, and it came down hard. Nobody packed up. The binoculars and cameras stayed out and the birdwatching went on.

📷A family of Cornish Choughs

22 species and a display from the choughs

By the end of the outing the group had seen 22 species of birds, with starling and stonechat among those photographed on the day.

The Cornish choughs were the stars. They gave the group a good show, and the birdwatchers enjoyed watching them perform the acrobatic flight the birds are known for.

Those in the group photo are Vic Booth, Paul Hughs, Hayley Hall, Lewis Hall, Rowena Castillo-Nicholls, Rob Nicholls, Barbara Dent and Gill Tembo.

The trip finished with a chat over coffee, tea and biscuits.

📷Cornish Chough

Cornish word of the day: Palores

The group also shared a Cornish word of the day. Palores is the Cornish name for the chough. It means “digger”, because the birds like digging in loose soil to find invertebrates.

More about the group can be found on the Connect with Nature with Rowena website.

📷Starling

📷Stonechat

📷A pair of Cornish Choughs