Jenny and I had planned a trip to North Cornwall yesterday to try and photograph Gannets. I had been told by Liz and Chris Foster about Rumps Point which is just up the coast from the Camel Estuary and Padstow. We had been waiting for the weather forcast to be favourable and yesterday looked like a sunny one with a north wind which is needed because this drives the Gannets nearer to the shorline and in to photographic range. This is was a new thing for us and reminded us of how great it is to live in the West Country and have this kind of opportunity within driving distance of home. We arrived at the farm car park as directed by Liz and then walked the track to the coastal path. A Skylark was singing above the fields, and Swallows were everywhere. When we got to the Coasal Path, we were'nt prepared for the peace, tranquiity and beauty that greeted us, what a view. A Kestrel was hovering just above the track very low and then zoomed away on the wind. We followed the path to the point, a walk of about a mile, disturbing numerous Rock Pipits on the way. We found a spot out of the very strong cool wind to survey the Mouls, a small steep island just offshore, Through my new spotting scope I could see Kittiwakes on their nests as well as Herring Gulls, Lesser Black backed Gulls and Shag but sadly no Puffins which are known to breed on the island in small numbers. In total we spent a pleasant 5 hours over-looking the water. I did manage that photo of a Gannet, frustratingly I could see them further out in the bay for most of the day and just 4 times one flew past close enough for me to get a picture. The highlight of the day was a small group of Razorbill that were feeding very close in to the rocks. I decided to clamber down to the waterline, I am sure that most people would have thought this a bit extreme. It didn't seem particularly dangerous at the time but I suppose there was a risk. Once I was down there I felt as safe as houses and it was worth it. The Razorbills were feeding in the waves and in the clear water I could see them swimming like penguins beneath the surface. From this vantage point I had some great close views and I laughed at one point because I said to myself, "All I could do with now is a Guilimot" and then suddenly just seconds later there was one drifting by!
A wonderful piece of history has come to my attention. One of the most well known poems "Ode to the Fallen" was writton by Laurence Binyon as he sat on Rumps Point. This poem contains the "We will remember them" that we are all so utterly familiar with. I am incredibly moved by this and am shamed for not knowing this before. The last line of the poem is "They sleep beyond Englands foam" ............ the very foam that the Razorbills and Guilimots were fishing in and I enjoyed watching, had inspired Binyon to think of the fallen in World War 1 as he sat there, just as I did in 1914.
Rumps Point and the Plaque commemorating Binyons poem.
The day finished with a trip in to Padstow for a pint and a bar meal. Padstow has a reputation for cuisine which proved to be unfounded as I endured the worse bar meal I have had for quite a while!
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