Cornwall


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="701" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Dawn-at-Heligan-2-1000x701.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-33572" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Dawn-at-Heligan-2-1000x701.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Dawn-at-Heligan-2-800x561.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Dawn-at-Heligan-2-768x538.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Dawn-at-Heligan-2.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>International Dawn Chorus Day takes place on the first Sunday of May (5 May 2024) &#8211; from around 5am you can hear this glorious cacophony of bird song &#8211; reaching its crescendo as the birds defend their territory and endeavour to raise their young. </p>



<p>You could just make an early coffee and sit by your open window to hear robins, blackbirds and song thrushes and so on, OR, you could head to one of these locations to watch the sunrise and listen to more than your usual neighbourhood birds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-muddy-pick">MUDDY PICK</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="630" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Great-tit-on-perch-MS-horsemoor-hide-1000x630.jpeg" alt="Great Tit at the bird hide at The Lost Gardens of Heligan" class="wp-image-33573" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Great-tit-on-perch-MS-horsemoor-hide-1000x630.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Great-tit-on-perch-MS-horsemoor-hide-800x504.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Great-tit-on-perch-MS-horsemoor-hide-768x484.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/05/Great-tit-on-perch-MS-horsemoor-hide.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Experience the <a href="https://www.heligan.com/events/events-at-heligan/dawn-chorus/">enchanting dawn chorus</a> with exclusive early morning access to The Gardens, Jungle and Estate at Heligan. Welcome the new day, be at one with nature and soak up the morning civil twilight from 5am, followed by the beautiful Sunrise at 05.24am, as it brings the gardens to life and awakens the senses.</p>



<p><em>Tickets cost £27.50 per adult and £14 for children over 5, including a delicious Heligan breakfast box. (Under 5’s free, but receive no breakfast included in admission). Heligan members £18.50 per adult, and £8 per child.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-marazion-marsh-nr-penzance"><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/marazion-marsh/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marazion Marsh</a>, Nr Penzance</h2>



<p>Marazion, near Penzance is most well known for St Michael’s Mount, but it’s also an important place for birds &#8211; it&#8217;s Cornwall&#8217;s largest reed bed, plus St Michael&#8217;s Mount is a fabulous place to watch the sunrise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bostraze-nature-reserve-west-penwith"><a href="https://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/bostraze">Bostraze Nature Reserve</a>, West Penwith</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s not many places left where cuckoos visit regularly &#8211; but they do at Bostraze, known locally as <em>cuckoo valley. </em>Arriving late April and around through until around mid-June, cuckoos steal other nests to raise their young, laying her egg among the others. At Bostraze this is often the meadow pipits. Park at Woon Gumpus Car Park, B3318 (TR19 7TH) and follow the footpath.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pentire-orchard-nr-polzeath"><a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/pentire/things-to-do-at-pentire">Pentire Orchard</a>, Nr Polzeath</h2>



<p>A personal favourite near Polzeath, the orchard sits between the farmers fields and the coast, so there&#8217;s always something interesting to listen to &#8211; the swallows, swifts and house martins are just arriving, and the skylarks a year-round presence, along side kestrels and sea birds. Park at the NT carpark and head over the road to the Orchard.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hayle-estuary"><a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/hayle-estuary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hayle Estuary</a></h2>



<p>Up to 18,000 migrant and wintering waterfowl flock to the Hayle estuary every winter, from curlews to teals and wigeons – and they particularly like ‘Ryans Field’ at high tide, which makes an interesting walk and you’ll find a large open-fronted hide where you can pause to train your binoculars &#8211; most of them will have left by May but there will be plenty of other birds to see and hear. <a href="https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/carnsew-pool-cornwall" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carnsew Pool</a> is surrounded by a public footpath, so that makes a nice circular stroll, and then head through Hayle to look at Copperhouse Creek. (<a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/globalassets/downloads/documents/reserves/hayle-estuary-guide.pdf">Map of the area here</a>). </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maer-lake-bude"><a href="https://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/maer-lake" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maer Lake</a>, Bude</h2>



<p>Known locally as ‘The Pool’, Maer Lake is 22 acres of wetland grazing meadows owned by Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Viewing is strictly only from the private road above the reserve, but combine this with a walk along the beach and through the town, or along the coast path at Crooklets and you’ve a lovely early morning walk. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-woodland-valley-farm-ladock"><strong><a href="https://cbwps.org.uk/cbwps-events/international-dawn-chorus-day-2/">Woodland Valley Farm</a>, Ladock</strong></h2>



<p>If you&#8217;re a member of Cornwall Birds and/or Ladock Parish Wildlife Group then book to join this guided walk from 5am through the woods at Ladock. <em>Limited space. Booking essential.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kingsmill-lake-nr-saltash-nbsp-tamar-estuary">Kingsmill Lake, Nr Saltash,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/tamar-estuary" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tamar Estuary</a></h2>



<p>Thousands of wading birds are drawn to the mudflats on the Tamar Estuary – this part just north of Saltash is managed by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and there’s one of their bird hides at Skinham Point near the <a href="https://www.china-fleet.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Fleet Club</a> from where you can watch unseen, or, just watch from the sea wall. Walk from Landulph Church to the edge of the estuary – just bear in mind the best time to see the birds is over the winter months on a rising tide but part of the footpath is on the beach which is covered at high tide, but there&#8217;s sure to be something happening! You can also spot the birds from Cotehele Quay (<a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/walks-near-me/muddy-walks-calstock-to-cotehele/">see our suggested walk here</a>).</p>


Where to watch the sunrise and listen to the dawn chorus

You may also like