A week in Devon

We've just come back from a nice week in Devon, staying in Torcross at the southern end of Slapton Ley. Although strictly speaking a non-birding holiday, the time and location did lend itself to a few birding sorties...

Overall, migrants seemed a bit thin on the ground, but Wheatears featured frequently and the number of phylloscs built up during the week, with plenty of Willow Warblers at Prawle Point on the 7th - although Cirl Buntings were the undeniable highlight here (and elsewhere along the coast - super birds).

Prawle Point

Cirl Bunting at Prawle Point

A Black Redstart at Start Point on the 4th was probably my best find of the week - but not quite the Hoopoe of Alpine Swift I was hoping for... Hirundines were definitely few and far between - one Swallow at Start Point and two in-off at Prawle, a House Martin at Start, and a Sand Martin at Slapton Ley were the sum total.

Start Point

Other highlights were the Little Bunting at the sewage works at South Milton Ley, a pair of Garganey on the Graveyard Pool at Slapton Ley and a nice selection of seabirds including - Manx Shearwaters, Sandwich Terns, a Med Gull and plenty of Auks and Gannets. But perhaps more memorable were some of the common birds - Cetti's Warblers were everywhere in suitable habitat (and even in some not-so-suitable looking habitat), with one bird singing outside our cottage all night, and Stonechats seemingly sang from every patch of scrub, bracken or bramble on the coast at Start Point.

Little Bunting at South Milton Ley

So what did I miss whilst I was away? Well, I certainly wouldn't have put money on a Sacred Ibis turning up at Cotham Flash! Plastic ibises aside, I don't seem to have missed much; so I'll see what's around tomorrow.