Cornwall Sept 2024 Pt 4 Godrevy

Following on from  Cornwall Sept 2024 Pt 3 Gwithian Green NR which was a very enjoyable short walk, along the butterfly, not only seeing butterflies, but also  a common darter along with plenty of barn swallows, housemartins, sandmartins, pipits and much more, it was time for some lunch and a cuppa.

The short drive westward along Churchtown Rd, (B3301) passing St Gothian Sands, which looks a fabulous place to visit, however, time was against us, so definitely on the cards next time. Incidentally, as you pass St Gothian Sands, the narrow bridge, St Gwithian Bridge, there are two left turns quite close together. For Godrevy you need the second one, which is clearly sign posted.

Godrevy, owned and managed by the National Trust, also close to Godrevy Lighthouse, managed by Trinity House, this time in calmer weather than our last visit, which was cloudy, wet and quite a wind blowing at the time. There are two car parks at Godrevy, both pay and display though free to National Trust Members if you scan your membership card, one for the cafe, the other a short drive along a single track lane to the.

You'd struggle to visualise how Godrevy Lighthouse can be so imposing on Gwithian Green when you look across and more or less down view it from the car park at Godrevy Point. Remember this view from Pt 3?

and this from the Godrevy Point

and zoomed in

We had been advised grey seals were often clearly seen in the sea, usually at low tide. We'd timed that a little wrong, it hadn't long reached high tide, but not to be downhearted, we stayed to enjoy the view.

What's that in the water?

Yip, a grey seal

There were lots of rock pipits on the path around the coast

Plus dinosauramonts, for PimperneBloke 

While generally enjoying the view, what should pop her head clearly above the waves...

very interested in the passing boats, which could have potentially food....

Check out those whiskers....

After a tip off, and a drive along the road, more rock pipits.

doing what they would do naturally, nipping in and around the rocky cliff edges

The heart melter for the day, a grey seal colony, not at Godrevy, that's all I will say ref the location, other than we were high up and away from any intrusion to the seal colony. That new 200-800 lens really did come into its own, perfectly.

Not too far away, we could hear this seal pup calling,

while the previous mum and  pup were re-establishing their bond, before the pup coud succkle

and heavily cropped, using the 200-800 lens

Click HERE to see a short handheld video taken using the R5 and 200-800 lens.

For Mrs PR and myself, that was a nice way to end the day, something we'd been hoping to see, at a safe distance, letting nature carry on undisturbed. There are some more pleasant heart melters to follow before the holiday ended, and part 5 will follow soon.

While I know regulars here are aware of maintaining a distance from a breeding seal colony,

I cannot stress enough to newcomers to the forum and those just viewing, how important it is to keep a safe distance so not to intrude and disturb the colony.

No matter how much wailing or crying those pups make, if there are any concerns a pup has been abandoned, then contact the 

• Click HERE for guidance via The Seal Sanctuary: If you Find a Seal Pup in the Wild
  • or call the Cornish Seal Sanctuary on 01326 221361
  • the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR); BDMLR volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
  • team on 01825 765546 during office hours
  • after 5pm on 07787 433412.
• Click HERE for the RSPCA or call 0300 1234 999

Above all, keep a safe distance, they are wild animals, they will bite.