After a week of resting my right leg (suspected Achilles tear turned out to be a muscle tear, one which governs the Achilles - local doctor), I was anxious to do some birding. We'd managed some short outings or taxi rides but nothing more.
Taxis are not available on Sundays here, Peninnis was the walk of choice. Half way along Church Street, I started to regret the decision but, decided to try to walk through it. Negotiating the steep hill up to Buzza and the Health Centre, the seat outside was very welcome. The sun shone warm and bright from a blue sky with occasional white cloud to make it interesting; this reflected by the sea which was barely textured by the light wind. Visibility was excellent, The Bishop lighthouse and the Cornish coast all showing clearly . All the islands look within swimming distance (if you swim well) from the top of Peninnis.
Refreshed, we plodded on, Pam making side detours wherever possible, me slowly walking straight ahead along the grandly named King Edward Road - it's a wide, stony farm track along the centre of the Headland. An oncoming birder gave us the rough whereabouts of the reported Lapland Bunting, a relief to know it was still here.
About a 100 metres before the millstone, there was a gap in the wall and through the escallonia hedge, deep tractor tracks marking its purpose. Pam was on another of her sorties. To my astonishment and delight, the only bird in view was the Lap. Bunt, roadside, feeding happily. Pam joined me and the bird stayed whilst I got my camera out of my backpack. I fired off several shots, cursing having to do so into the sun whilst enjoying the present.
Peninnis always has flocks of Meadow Pipits feeding in the pasture, so many Starlings too. Harold Wilson's seat was empty for a quick sit before walking to the end seat with good views over the Head and its Lighthouse, Old Town Bay to the left, the rocky west coast to the right. A single Redwing flew in to the hedge nearby.
We lunched here, basking in the sun, watching a small herd of Red Ruby Devon cattle grazing inside their electric-fenced enclosure. They're obviously moved around as the area to our right was devoid of heather, looking strangely bare. A pair of Stonechats led me a merry dance.....
I decided to walk back to Hughtown along the western side of Peninnis, ending behind the Allotments, scene of many a twitch. Maybe if my memory had been more accurate - and there hadn't been the possibility of seeing a Wryneck - I would have made a different decision. The 'path' is a steep rocky descent down the rugged hillside dotted with granite boulders for much of the way. It becomes less steep but just as bad underfoot. Five Siskins flew over as we set off, alerting us with their calls.
The one seat along the way was occupied. We found some large rocks on which to sit and look for the Wryneck, unsuccesfully, it hasn't been reported to-day. Stunning views of Hughtown, across the narrow neck between Town Beach and Porthcressa to Telegraph in the far north of St Mary.
Good views of the Red-throated Diver in Porthcressa Bay from here too, the sun in the right place but too distant to photograph.
At last, we arrived at Hughtown. I was very tired with weak knees and an aching leg, necessitating another sit on the benches at the end of Porthcressa Bay. This route back is longer as well as being more arduous than the one we used to access the headland. Daft decision, BUT I enjoyed it. Must be a closet masochist. The stairs up to the flat are a killer at the end of a hard day.
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