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Thursday 14 April 2011

Hartland Point

Visible migration at Hartland Point.
From the top of the cliff about a mile south of the carpark at midday I watched Swallows flying north at the rate of 1000+ an hour (in fact there were so many that I couldn't keep up at one point). This included single numbers of Sand Martins and groups of 10 + House Martins every ten minutes or so.
At the hanging valley just next to the carpark the Hirundines would head out to sea, a few degrees right of Lundy Island. They would fly between 100-200 feet above the sea until disappearing from view in the scope. I estimate landfall 45 miles away on the South Pemboke coast after an hours flying with a good tail wind?!
Half a mile around the corner towards Clovelly and only a few odd Swallows hugging the cliffs flying east.
Plenty of Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs and Willow warblers in the bushes.