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Ornitherapy – Watching birds and being in nature is therapeutic for us on many different levels. So why not incorporate the joys of birdwatching with your coastal walks.

Written by Paul Freestone, founder of Cornwall Birdwatching Tours.

Birdwatching has really taken off during these strange times, with more and more people taking advantage of the outdoors and turning to nature to help with their mental and physical health.

At Cornwall Birdwatching Tours, we can't advocate this enough! Whether it's a few hours or an entire week holiday, our tours and excursions cater for everyone, and we always see birds! It's not always about seeing individual birds; sometimes, the thrill is seeing wildlife in the raw, actual bird behaviour that most people have never seen before. Simple things that the experienced birdwatcher may take for granted, like impressive flocks of Gannets, plunging arrow-like onto unsuspecting shoals of mackerel or a Peregrine circling past at head height, riding the winds along our coastal paths.

There are, of course, some spectacular birds to be encountered whilst walking coast paths. Our tours in Cornwall take in some sections of the South West Coast Path on the north and far west. Seabirds are always evident and, at certain places, can be seen at very close quarters. North Cliffs, to the north of Camborne and Hell's Mouth and Godrevy Head, are great spots for birds using the uplifting onshore winds. Fulmars, a type of petrel, nest along the cliffs here and are masters of the air, gliding effortlessly past, a photographer's dream! Offshore, Guillemots and Razorbills gather on the sea, joined if you're lucky by the odd Puffin. Binoculars are a real help with the seabirds, and we have plenty of the new Opticron Oregon 4 binoculars for our clients to use if needed. You'll need them at the ready to spot the Manx Shearwaters, Great Skuas and Kittiwakes a little further out!

We keep a lookout for nesting Shags and Cormorants on the cliffs below. These similar species both nest near one another, and it can take a keen eye and a bit of expert knowledge from one of our guides to show you the subtle differences between the two. Birds of prey can also be encountered along the cliff edges. Peregrines and Kestrels, both falcons, are seen on most tours. They certainly have different feeding behaviours. The Kestrel was traditionally known as 'The Windhover' thanks to its habit of hovering motionless in the wind, waiting patiently to drop onto its prey of small mammals and insects. The Peregrine is much more aggressive, climbing high on the onshore winds before closing in its wings and plummeting at speeds of up to 200mph onto pigeons, doves and sometimes Guillemots and Razorbills! Members of the crow family can always be seen on our coastal walks but need a bit of scrutiny to ensure the correct identification. Jackdaws, the smallest of the group, are a regular breeder and occur in good numbers along the cliffs. Their grey hoods and silvery eye, combined with the 'jack-daw, jack-daw' call, is a giveaway to the identification. Rooks and Carrion Crows are of a similar size, but Rooks have a sharply pointed silver-grey beak, compared to the Carrion Crows all-black bill. The giant of the family is the Raven. These are as big as a Buzzard and make a low 'cronking' call as they fly overhead. Look out for the wedge-shaped tail, which indicates this bird. The one, all our clients, want to see is, of course, the Chough. Cornwall's emblem bird only re-colonised the county again in the last few decades and is now doing really well thanks to protection and the goodwill and land management of landowners and organisations like the National Trust. During the spring and summer, breeding pairs' location is kept secret, but birds can still be seen as they forage away from nest sites. In winter, flocks of Chough can number 30 or more in fields along the South West Coastal path at places like Zennor, Nanquidno and Porthgwarra.

At Gwithian, the coastal path runs through one of our favourite tour destinations. Just west of Godrevy Head is the local nature reserve of St Gothian Sands. This was once an old sand works but since 2005 has been a Cornwall County Council managed reserve. It comprises of an open pool surrounding a large island with another reed-filled protected area, a haven for birds. The path literally splits the sanctuary areas in two, allowing for excellent viewing. The reed beds hold the secretive Water Rail, Snipe and Reed Buntings all year round and Reed and Sedge Warblers during the summer months. A pair of Mute Swans breed every year joined as residents by Coots, Moorhens, Tufted Ducks, Little Grebes and Shelducks. In winter, wildfowl numbers increase as visitors from the north head south for our warmer

Paul Freestone, founder of Cornwall Birdwatching Tours

climate. Ducks like Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall and Pintail can be seen at relatively close quarters, and vast flocks of Canada Geese, usually three hundred or more, are often joined by tag along Greylags, White-fronted or Brent Geese. Spring sees the arrival of Sand Martins and Swallows. The former nest on the cliffs nearby. Warblers like Whitethroats, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler can also be found either breeding in the gorse and brambles or passing through en-route to breeding grounds further north. One of the most popular birds on our tours is the humble Stonechat. Our overseas clients are astounded by the male's vibrant black, white and red breeding plumage. A stunning little bird that we often take for granted!

Birdwatching is, without a doubt, therapeutic. Our tours allow you time to indulge in the spectacular birdlife found along the South West Coast Path. We offer all sorts of birdwatching experiences, from Gull identification days, our popular Nightjar evenings, to full week holidays to the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall. Our group day trips to the Somerset Levels and East Dartmoor allow you to see birds like Bitterns, Great White Egrets, Bearded Tits, Cattle Egrets, Marsh Harriers, Hobby, Dartford Warbler, Tree Pipits, Yellowhammers, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts, Woodpeckers and much more. Or if you fancy a more personal approach with one-to-one experience with our professional guides, then why not book a private bespoke tour to suit your individual needs. Visit our website at www.birdingpro.com or contact Paul at birdingpro@btinternet.com or 07794559881 to book or for further information.

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Wheatears are a spring and summer visitor to the UK.

Paul Freestone