Prawle 2/4

Things picked up a bit on the sea today, with a watch from 7.00 - 10.30 returning the following totals; 1 Great Northern, 3 Black-throated and 6 Red-throated Divers, 224 Gannets, 70 Manx Shearwaters, 57 Fulmars, 64 Common Scoters, 1 Teal, 397 Guillemot/Razorbills and 12 Puffins. On the land, highlights included a Merlin, 9 Swallows, 12 Sand Martins, White Wagtail, 7 Wheatears, Brambling, 4 Blackcaps, 13 Willow Warblers, 29 Chiffchaffs and 2 Goldcrests. Also of interest, a group of 9 Carrion Crows flew in off the sea. Not normally noted as being a migrant, this is a fairly typical event in early spring - last year one such flock had a Jay tagging along! Below are a couple of shots of Friday's Hoopoe - unfortunately not seen today.

(Finally, just to correct my 'deliberate mistake' from last week, the blue butterfly on 27/3 was of course a Holly, not a Common Blue)!