Pallid Swift

An early morning trip down to Berry Head in hope of seeing a Pallid Swift that was found and photographed yesterday . We arrived in the dark and went to the seawatching point and after a while other birders started to turn up and a seawatch was soon started .

The first bird that was found was a Great Shearwater and I managed to see 20+ of them but others had many more . Also seen were 2 Sooty Shearwater . 2 Balearic Shearwater , a Manx Shearwater , a single Great Skua , 5 Arctic Skua , 2 Common Scoter and of course plenty of Northern Gannet .

As I was stood there I saw some movement on the cliff face and it turned out to be a female Black Redstart . By now it was around 9.30 and the thoughts were that the Swift had possibly moved on and people were starting to leave . But then a cry went out of Swift !!! . And after a bit of panic there was the Pallid Swift above us and it showed to us briefly as it circled twice above us before heading out of view again . I have waited many years for one of these in Britain and even better to get it in my home county of Devon 👀😀

Northern Gannet ( Morus bassanus ) . Berry Head . Devon

 

Pec Sand ???

The day started off at Bowling Green Marsh where I found a Spotted Redshank but it was soon lost from view . I then went across to the Exminster Marshes as a Pectoral Sandpiper had been reported there this morning , but there was no sign of it anywhere .

But I did see a Cattle Egret , 2 Egyptian Goose , a female Western Marsh Harrier , a Cetti,s Warbler and at the Turf Locks this Atlantic Grey Seal was basking in the sun .

Atlantic Grey Seal ( Halichoerus grypus ) . Turf Locks . Devon

 

 

Ring Ouzel

A trip out to Avon Dam today with my mate Paul Bray to look for Ring Ouzel and in- between the rain showers we saw around a dozen of them with adult and 1st winter birds seen .

Back up birds seen today included Common Buzzard , Common Kestrel , Eurasian Sparrowhawk , a large flock of Fieldfare & Redwing , 2 Eurasian Treecreeper , 3 Meadow Pipit , Numerous Goldcrest and a Common Raven .