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Monday 2 January 2012

Prawle and Start Bay

Seawatch 08.00 - 09.30; 1 Great Northern and 3 Red-throated Divers, 227 Gannets, 25 Fulmars, 2 Shelduck, 43 Kittiwakes and 244 Auks (most Razorbills). Quite a nice selection on the walk around, including ironically 2 Egyptian Geese. These, on the airfields, are presumably 2 of the 5 from West Prawle late last year, and are reported to have been here for several days. Only the second site record, following 3 that dropped in briefly in January 2010. Also around the airfields, a female Merlin, and a Green Sandpiper poking about in the waterlogged corner. At Horseley Cove, the Water Pipit still, and elsewhere, 6 Redwings, a Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest and Firecrest.

A quick look in fading light from the monument car-park at Slapton showed the Velvet Scoter to be still bobbing about all alone.