Yesterday (24/9); Seawatch (JL, FS) in highly unfavourable conditions was surprisingly good; 500+ Gannets, 1 Manx, 69 Balearic Shearwaters, 4 Arctic, 2 Great Skuas, Med Gull, 2 'commic' Terns, Puffin, 21 Common Scoters and 2 Great Northern Divers. Elsewhere, 3 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 19 Blackcaps, Whitethroat, 44 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests, and a few Siskins over.
Wednesday 21st - Friday 23rd;
Marsh Harrier. Seen over the airfields on 21st and 23rd, has probably been present for about a week, as reported by one of the villagers. Not a common bird at Prawle, this is only the 15th site record, but the 2nd this autumn.A Wryneck at Sharpers Head on 22nd was the other highlight during this period. Also recorded, Brent Goose (Dark-bellied) on 21st, daily records of Wheatear (max 113 on 21st), Whinchat (max 5 on 23rd), Yellow Wagtail (max 2), Spotted Flycatcher (max 2), Blackcap (max 36 on 23rd), Whitethroat (max 5 on 23rd), Chiffchaff (max 83 on 23rd) and Goldcrest (max 4 on 23rd). Singles of White Wagtail (21st), Grasshopper Warbler (22nd), Reed Warbler (23rd), Garden Warbler (23rd) Willow Warbler (21st) and Firecrest (23rd) were also recorded.
On 21st, a 'vis-mig' watch with Dave Norman from 07.00 - 09.30 recorded an impressive 320+ Siskins over. Also 1000+ Meadow Pipits, 250 Chaffinches and 25 Skylarks, as well as a steady stream of Swallows, with a few House Martins and 3 Sand Martins. A further 150+ Siskins passed through on 22nd.