A good start to the year in dull grey weather.
Seawatching highlights (from 9am to 11am):2750 auks in first hour ; at least 8 x Harbour Porpoises off the point with Gannet flocks. 1 x Black Throated Diver west and 2 x Teal east.
At Langerstone rocks : 4 x Purple Sandpipers, 3 x Knot , single Turnstone and Curlew.
Off the rocks 3 x female Goosander.
Then at 11.45 a Sooty Shearwater flew close east ! (all features seen-bit of a shock as never een one in January before )
At Horsley Cove the Water Pipit still present along with 3 x Redshank,12 x Turnstone, pipts, starlings and other common bird species.Here I saw my only Stonechat of the day ! Also, 4 x Med gulls ; 2 x adult ,2nd year and a 1st year.Only 1 x male Cirl Bunting seen along the coast path.
At the airfields 50+ Fieldfares and 30+ Redwings. Totals for Song Thrushes at Prawle c 25. Only 1 x Golden Plover seen, but 251 Lapwing.
[from Tony Marchese]
