Not a bad day for late November. 90 minute seawatch threw up a little(!) surprise in the form of a Puffin, flying west after a little rest on the sea. Not quite so unexpected were single Manx and 2 Balearic Shearwaters, but apart from a single Common Scoter, there was nothing more than small numbers of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks (mostly Razorbills). The beach walk produced 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 13 Purple Sandpipers and 6 Turnstones, and at least 1 Water Pipit still. Song Thrushes showed the first signs of winter arrivals, with 14 counted, along with 4 Redwings, a Fieldfare, and the first Mistle Thrush of the autumn. Around the bushes were 7 Bullfinches, 2 Reed Buntings, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrests and 3 Firecrests. A Water Rail at Moorwell Pond was a year-tick (!!), and a Merlin patrolled the Airfields. Finally, as a little reminder of summer, a lone Swallow fed happily over the village this afternoon.
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Prawle
Not a bad day for late November. 90 minute seawatch threw up a little(!) surprise in the form of a Puffin, flying west after a little rest on the sea. Not quite so unexpected were single Manx and 2 Balearic Shearwaters, but apart from a single Common Scoter, there was nothing more than small numbers of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks (mostly Razorbills). The beach walk produced 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 13 Purple Sandpipers and 6 Turnstones, and at least 1 Water Pipit still. Song Thrushes showed the first signs of winter arrivals, with 14 counted, along with 4 Redwings, a Fieldfare, and the first Mistle Thrush of the autumn. Around the bushes were 7 Bullfinches, 2 Reed Buntings, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrests and 3 Firecrests. A Water Rail at Moorwell Pond was a year-tick (!!), and a Merlin patrolled the Airfields. Finally, as a little reminder of summer, a lone Swallow fed happily over the village this afternoon.
