A circuit of my 'patches' in NW Devon yesterday -
Meddon, Harbour Cross, Trew and Bursdon Moor - produced satisfactory numbers of
Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff but only three Blackcaps in the whole area. A
conspcuous absence of Whitethroats with none in any of their customary haunts.
A nice Tree Pipit at Meddon was supplemented by the distant
Cuckoo calling. Harbour Cross produced a male Reed Bunting,
Goldcrest and a couple of Buzzards as well as a Kestrel nearby.
The overriding feature of the whole time was the
very large northward movement of Swallows with many hundreds involved while I
was out.
Bursdon produced neither the expected Grasshopper
Warbler nor any raptors and was disappointing, but a pleasant trip with some
warm sun and some good bird
[Harvey Kendall]
