Seaton/Axe etc

Lots of cold weather action today. On the sea between 12 and 1: 2 Pintail, 10 Gadwall, 3 Eider, 6 Common Scoter, 3 Tufties, 2 Pochard, 6 Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern. Lots of birds passing through/over, especially Lapwings (mostly am) and Skylarks, plus a few Snipe.

Up the estuary/valley were 2 Med Gulls, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 more Gadwall, and the 12 Brents were with the Bewick's Swan, which was still present opposite Stedcombe Vale.


In the field opposite Colyton Water Treament Works (on E side of Cownhayne Lane) there was a massive gathering of well over 1,000 Skylarks, plus at least 6 Woodlarks. Couldn't find any Laps.

Woodlark, Cownhayne Lane

Be interesting to see what Steve and Ian McLean had at different times of the day, because there were certainly masses of birds moving through, dropping in briefly etc. Good for us - not so good for the birds...