Winter Watch
In this guest blog, Hetty of Koru Kayaking shares updates on the latest sightings around the beautiful Helford River, near Budock Vean Hotel & Spa.
In the depths of winter, Cornwall still can be pretty mild and especially lovely on a sunny day. The leaves have fallen giving a clear view along parts of Frenchman’s Creek, and bird nests and bird life can be seen through the myriad of branches. The osprey have gone, migrating to Africa and a warmer winter along with most of the little egrets. There’s still a hive of activity and birdsong though, as we kayak along the Helford River and Frenchman’s Creek. The Helford is a Ria, a valley that floods with sea water twice a day. It’s amazing to see the marine life and birdlife that inhabit this North Atlantic Temperate Rainforest.
Here’s what we have been seeing on our winter paddles...
Winter is perhaps one of the best times to spot the kingfishers. Their bright blue and orange chests make them unmistakable as they fly over the slow moving or still water of Frenchman’s Creek and Port Navas Creek hunting for fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the water’s surface. The leaves have fallen from the deciduous ancient oak trees making it even easier to spot them and their high-pitched bird song is unmistakable and so melodic.
Buzzards are a common sight soaring above the Helford River and its creeks. they can usually be seen flying high above Perran Cove, at the foreshore of Budock Vean Hotel and on Frenchman’s Creek. You can tell them apart from other birds of prey by their fanned shape tail. It is amazing seeing them soar with their wings spread out in a V shape, with dark brown feathers and will often be flying with the crows perhaps fighting over territory or prey.
Grey herons perch on the banks and soar up into the trees. These birds are not migratory and are resident all year round. Tall, prehistoric looking birds that look more like feathered birds from the dinosaur era. With a massive wingspan of 1.8 metres and a loud squawk, you can’t miss them. They have a lovely colouring of white, grey and black feathers.
Whilst most of the little egrets have flown off to Africa for the winter for the warmer weather, there’s still an occasional little egret perched on the banks. Their pristine white feathers stand out against the muddy creeks they wade in.
We’ve been spotting greenshanks and redshanks over the years, but only recently started noticing them when some customers pointed them out and how they differ. Medium in size we see them gather in small groups of 2 or 3 on the muddy banks of Frenchman’s Creek. With a mix of grey, cream, black and white mottled feathering with white chests, they aren’t dissimilar to curlews, but their legs can be green or red and the redshank has a distinctive red beak. We see them lined up on the creek wading on the banks or in the mud searching worms, fish and snails. More than half of them migrate, but we have resident greenshanks all year round on the Helford.
Oyster catchers can be easily spotted wading on the sandy banks of the Helford searching for mussels and cockles, of which there are plenty on the Helford River. Their black backs and white chests with a bright red/orange beak and legs are so distinct, as is its high pitch chirp. They are hugely territorial in nesting season but quietly search for food at this time of year.
Cormorants have jet black feathers that have adapted to flying under water, making them superb fishermen. We have noticed them gathering in numbers on Frenchman’s Creek in the past few weeks. Despite them diving under water their wings aren’t water resistant, and they are often seen with their wings out drying after a fishing session.
There’s always so much to see on the Helford, the fish were definitely less visible at this time of year, but with some much action above the water it’s a fantastic time of year to enjoy the Helford whether you’re by the water or on it!
Koru Kayaking offer stunning guided trips between April and October, available from the private foreshore at Budock Vean Hotel & Spa. It’s a fantastic way to explore the Helford from the water.