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Sunday 22 January 2012

Prawle (and a little bit of Slapton)

Water Pipit - starting to look a little peachy now.


Not the Iceland Gull!

Seawatch, 08.00 - 10.30; Hardly had time to set up before an adult Iceland Gull flew east at 08.10. Thereafter most birds were moving west, final totals being 1 Great Northern, 2 Black-throated and 3 Red-throated Divers, 119 Gannets, 9 Fulmars, 2 Common Scoters, 2 Red-breasted Megansers, Great Skua, 69 Kittiwakes and 334 Auks, nearly all Razorbills.


Wader highlights were the Green Sandpiper again, and the first Lapwing of the year, flying north. In Horseley Cove, 3 Med Gulls and the Water Pipit still, and elswhere just a single Chiffchaff. Biggest suprise of the day were 2 Crossbills that flew west to the Point, but in the face of the strong west wind, turned north and headed inland. This is the first winter record here, all previous sightings coming in the dispersal/migration period of July to early November.


Just had enough daylight to stop at Slapton Bridge on the way home, where the Bittern flew in and landed in the reeds just to the north, on the Higher Ley.