Coastwatch – Another Season Behind Us
Our season at Portscatho runs from the 1st of April, or Easter; whichever comes first on the calendar. It ends on the nearest Sunday to the 1st of November. This is not written in tablets of stone, but as a rule, it applies. As I’ve said before, with no electric supply or running water, we can’t really open in the winter months.
As usual, our lookout had been very well maintained during our closed season and it looked very professional as it sat bathed in the sunshine of a beautiful spring morning.
The view across the bay from Porthcurnick beach with its Hidden Hut, to Portscatho with its harbour and its boats was a delight, and I had forgotten just how much I had missed it.
To the left was the other half of the bay with its wilder beaches that lead towards Pendower and Carne. So lovely to look across at Nare Head and Gull Rock, and realise you are back where you belong.
There is something very special about opening the first watch of the day. It only takes a few minutes to set things up. Blinds open is normally my first move, closely followed by switching the radio and AIS on, and getting the telescope set up. We also have binoculars which we use as well.
Then the flag is raised. There is a great sense of pride in running the Union Flag up its pole and showing the world we are open for business. I do like working under that flag as well. On occasion it ends up looking a little tattered, especially at seasons end. It makes me smile as we then look like some forgotten outpost of the empire; “Britain’s last hope.”
The final task is to ring the coastguard and St Agnes NCI. We let the coastguard know the station is open for business; and we let St Agnes (our buddy station) know we are there. We keep in contact with our buddy station every hour, on the half hour, as a Health and Safety procedure. So simple but it works very well.
It is now that the main work of the watch begins. Our job can be simplified into one simple mantra, “spot, plot, and report.” Our job is to be aware of any dangers; to observe; to monitor; and to react if there is any risk to the coastal users in our area. It is a volunteer job that I delight in doing.
On the last watch of the day, the keeper puts everything away, makes the lookout safe and secure, reports to the coastguard and St Agnes, and then calls it a day.
One of the great parts of being a watch keeper is meeting people who come to visit the lookout. In the main, we are visited by holiday makers who have never even heard of NCI. They come to learn what we do and each and every keeper is happy to chat and let them know about our work.
The children are great fun as well and keen to learn. This keenness normally involves looking through the telescope for pirates. It is amazing what piratical ‘goings-on’ they seem to discover every time that beautiful sailing ship ‘Mercedes’ goes by. Brilliant.
We have been very fortunate over the years with the interest shown by young people who visit us. They are interested in what we do and why we do it. Some of our youngsters (average age 10) have taken it upon themselves to fund raise on our behalf. They bake cakes and sell them; make woollen cuddly toys; even sell some of their own toys, and support us in this way. Hard to believe that our major fundraising supporters one year in terms of cash raised, were three brothers, two girls, and one girl. All aged between eight and twelve, and working as three independent teams. Between them they collected almost £1,000.
You know that the future is safe when you think of youngsters like these and we proudly salute each and everyone of them. No words of thanks will ever be enough.
An unknown part of our job is the extra work we fit in whilst on duty. We certainly keep an eye open for any wildlife in the area. Any wildlife that may be sick, dead, or dying needs to have somebody informed. A quick phone call to the right place can have the unfortunate creature dealt with by professional carers who know what they are doing.
We can also inform people of unusual activity out in Gerrans Bay. Granted, we’ve never recorded a sighting of a whale leaping, or drifting onto shore; we shall probably never see a Leatherback Turtle, or a Great White Shark cruising near the harbour; but we have seen dolphin and porpoise, barrel jelly fish, and seals. We do record this information for our wildlife officer. The one I really would like to see is the beautiful Basking Shark. Never seen one, but always watch in hope. One day I will record one.
Birdlife too is not forgotten, and we do look out for all types, both sea birds and land birds. Again, no eagle has ever flown over the bay to my knowledge; none of us has ever seen a confused albatross perched on the cliffs, but we have seen Choughs some years ago, birds of prey, even a heron stood on the rocks below looking for dinner. We report these as well.
We also keep an eye out for domestic animals as well. From a dog running loose on the cliff path, to cattle and sheep slipping down the cliff edge and getting stranded. Our job is care about everything in our line of sight, and we are proud to do so.
We also help the authorities in the world of law enforcement as well; a sort of coastal neighbourhood watch if you like.
Border Force have cause to be grateful to NCI stations for the local knowledge we can bring concerning hidden beaches and quiet places that may be used for illicit purposes.
The police too can be grateful if we report anti-social behaviour. We certainly wouldn’t stand back for that. Our beaches, paths, and area are there to be lived in and enjoyed. Its not there to be abused by the uncaring or the irresponsible… and neither are the other users of the area.
I was very happy to report the two individuals in the harbour area zooming around in the speedboat. To make matters worse, one was on skis being towed by the other. They ignored me, and the fact the water was full of swimmers; and some of these just young children; meant steps had to be taken.
One phone call is all it took. I’m guessing they weren’t bad people; just uncaring and irresponsible; but they could have killed someone.
I’ve been very lucky in my life. I’ve had the same job for fifty years that I love, and I’m still doing it. I am married to my best friend and I am living with her in the most beautiful part of Cornwall. And I am a volunteer in a service that I am justly proud of; and that is the NCI. I’ve been a Coastwatcher now for ten years and do not regret one minute of it.
The best part of my job in NCI is that I am also a writer, and I intend to write more pieces about our work. I tend to write from a personal view so please do accept and do understand that. I will tell you of things I see, things I feel, and things I have done. I shall also relate stories that others tell me from the lookout.
There are a wealth of local stories and tales which I shall endeavour to pass on. Most are comical, some are sad. Some will be historical, some will be bang up to date. But whatever I write, it will be in my own words. I will write it to inform, to entertain, and for you to enjoy.
Liam Mulvin