The cold weather elsewhere has certainly brought a few birds in since last week. Highlight was the first drake Goosander for Prawle, briefly off Langerstone Point this morning, and again late afternoon. As this bird flew off east, 2 drake Red-breasted Mergansers flew west. Shag numbers sometimes build up offshore in late winter, and this year is looking like a good one, with 117 counted today, the first 3-figure count since 2002. While counting these, 3 Red-throated Divers flew west. Waders were represented by 4 Knot, and single Sanderling and Dunlin along with the usual Grey Plover. 3 Med Gulls and the Water Pipit were in Horseley Cove, and a Reed Bunting and Firecrest were around the Reserve. Earlier a seawatch (J.Lambert) produced 2 Brent Geese and a probable Black-throated Diver.
(accompanied today by 'the Brent Birders')
