Carnsew Pool

Carnsew Pool should be included as part of your visit to the Hayle Estuary. It is a tidal pool that attracts Wildfowl, Divers and Waders depending on the tide (see link to the tides table below).

In winter, especially after storms, the pool can hold Divers. All six species of diver have been seen here. The most common is Sjeverni plijenor, then Crvenogrli Plijenor, Crnogrli Plijenor and the rarer Pacifički plijenor and Žutokljuni plijenor on a couple of occasions. Mali Gnjurac are also here with sometimes up to ten birds present. You will also find both Veliki Vranac and Morski Vranac using the pool. Zviždara and Kržulja often stray from the main estuary onto Carnsew and sea ducks like Gavka, Patka ledara and Crna patka can occasionally be found. Veliki ronac and Mali ronac are both winter visitors here. Crnoglavi Galeb often congregate on the exposed mud at low tide and the pool can be good for Dugokljuna Čigra, Crvenokljuna Čigra and Arktička čigra during migration. Occasionally a Mala Čigra or Crna Čigra will pass through.

In early Autumn Waders can be found around the edges of the pool. The tide pushes waders up into the western end and close views can often be obtained if they are not disturbed. The pool has always been famous for attracting American waders and Semipalmated Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper have all been seen here. Other waders seen regularly are Veliki Pozviždač, Prugasti Pozviždač, Žalar Cirikavac, Krivokljuna Prutka, Kulik Blatarić, Krivokljuni Žalar, Mala Prutka, Zlatar Pijukavac and Oštrigar.

Siva Čaplja and Mala Bijela Čaplja can be seen around the shoreline and Vodomar is a regular sight here from late Autumn through the winter. The surrounding trees and bushes hold smaller birds like Zelendur, Juričica, Češljugar and occasionally Zlatoglavi Kraljić. The path towards the beach sometimes has Sivkasta Bjeloguza on migration.