A visit to the south west of the county today was non-stop action, but you had to keep on the move just to stay warm. The castlemartin penninsula held thousands of lapwings mostly widely scattered but every now and again the skies would fill with them wheeling around in response to birds of prey. Also redwings, fieldfares and song thrushes were everywhere and two merlins were seen near Freshwater West.
At Kilpaison, 7 Brents, 36 Barwits, 17 Knot, and 250+ dunlin - didn't count the Wigeon but there were loads also 2 Gadwall.
At Sandy Haven, the Avocet (which subsequently relocated to the Gann) and Richard also saw a goosander and 6 greenshank.
12 Goldeneye, 2 rb mergs, and some very distant brents were at the gann.
At the starling roost at Plumstone, 6 buzzards, ad male and female Goshawks, male sparrowhawk, a peregrine and two ad male hen harriers all provided a distraction from the rapidly advancing state of hyperthermia not to mention the amazing spectacle of however many starlings arriving in mile-long flocks and pouring into the conifers. To finish, a barn owl in the headlights nr camrose on the way home.
Paddy, Tansy and Rich.
