Saturday 8 May 2021

Great Skua, Whinchats

Quantity over quality was the order of this morning's seawatch (07:05 - 08:45). Guillemots were a major feature with numerous small groups and occasional parties of up to 20 loafing on the sea and flying south, with 200+ recorded in total. Kittiwakes (c.100) were also on the move, joined by smaller numbers of Gannets (including two very close in) and a handful of Fulmars. Also noted were a Great Skua (flew north then lingered off Holcombe), a Common Scoter, two Manx Shearwaters, three Dunlin, nine Swallows and three Swifts.

News filtering through from social media indicated that there was an arrival of passerine migrants elsewhere along the South Devon coast, and Laurie suggested that the racecourse might hold something interesting. This proved to be a great shout as a pair of cracking male Whinchats were discovered early afternoon along the southern side by the footpath. Also present were four Whimbrels foraging near the grandstand.

Gannet

Whinchat

Whinchats


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