Long woven into Cornish legend, King Arthur’s soul is said to live on in the form of a chough, its black feathers and distinctive red beak marking it out as something special.

English Heritage Curator, Win Scutt, said: “People have told stories for centuries about choughs at Tintagel, so to see them here again, at a place so bound up with the legend of Arthur, feels extraordinary. It’s a rare moment where nature and myth seem to meet.”

When choughs became extinct in Cornwall in 1973, it was seen by some as a bad omen. There is a long-standing strand of Arthurian legend that holds King Arthur did not die but instead departed to the mystical island of Avalon or lies in an enchanted sleep, waiting for the moment Britain most needs him. In Cornish tradition, he is also imagined as resting within the landscape itself, ready to re-emerge when needed. Now, following their successful recolonisation ofo Cornwall, after the arrival of three birds from southern Ireland on Lizard in 2001 choughs have been observed once again circling and foraging around Tintagel’s rugged coastline, neatly echoing the myth of the ‘once and future king’.

Hilary Mitchell and Steve Ashby of Cornwall Birds said: “This is an amazing conservation success story, testament to the work done by conservation organisations, farmers, landowners and volunteers. Their dedication restored habitat essential for our Chough to thrive and kept the birds safe so that they could recolonise the Cornish coast.”

Visitors to Tintagel Castle may now be lucky enough to glimpse these iconic birds against the backdrop of one of Britain’s most storied landscapes, where legend, history and the natural world meet. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow from the visitor centre, giving visitors the chance to spot choughs alongside other wildlife known to frequent the site, from dolphins and seals to sparrowhawks and pheasants. Please remember that Choughs are legally protected so give them space to feed without disturbing them and if you see a Cornish Chough please email Cornwall Birds at choughs@cbwps.org.uk.