Butterwell Farm is a 44 acre estate on the River Camel, ideal for bird watching in Cornwall. With no access roads other than a small single track, it is one of the most tranquil places you could find in Cornwall. The estate is preserved predominantly for wildlife and has a huge variety of habitats for resident bird species. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has ancient woodlands, deciduous plantations, typical marsh and flood plain habitats, as well as normal river valley areas, grassland and managed gardens. Our guests regularly see fifty species in their stay including kingfishers, dippers and grey wagtails nesting on the river. Tawny owls and two species of woodpecker nest in the trees surrounding the properties, and wild ducks and geese nest on our marshes. Waders such as greenshank and snipe are also seasonal visitors. The wild ponds attract normal migrant duck species. Deeper in the woods buzzards, treecreepers, mistle thrushes, jays and other corvids abound. The managed garden feeders situated in each property garden can have a very large range of visitors including coal, willow and marsh tits as well as the normal varieties. Nuthatch and greater spotted woodpeckers are also regular visitors, and the sparrow hawk and peregrine often pay a visit! The barns and outbuildings provide ideal nesting places for swallows and barn owls who share lodgings with our resident bats. Swifts are constantly screeching overhead on fair early summer days.
Species seen at Butterwell include the following. Serious birders will see many others which need some identification!
Barn Owl, Bitten, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bull Finch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Cormorant, Cuckoo, Dipper, Fieldfare, Goosander, Gold Finch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Green Finch, Green Sandpiper, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Grey Wagtail, Hedge Sparrow, Hobby, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jay, Kingfisher, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Long Tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Osprey, Pied Flycatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pheasant, Peregrine Falcon, Red Kite, Redwing, Reed Warbler, Robin, Snipe, Song Thrush, Sparrow Hawk, Spotted Flycatcher, Swallow, Swift, Tawny Owl, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Water Rail, White fronted goose, Whitethroat, Willow Tit, Wren, Yellow Hammer, Yellow Wagtail.