Berry Head Seawatch 4th August 2008.

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Berry Head, Brixham.

Cirl Bunting.
Having arranged this trip earlier in week,Leaving Leicester at 2.40am myself and Dave Mack drove down to Brixham, Devon to do a bit of Seawatching off Berry Head.
This was the first time I have been to this site as I usually seawatch in autumn from Flamborough Head in Yorkshire and my regular annual trip to the Bay of Biscay.

Arriving at Berry Head just before 6.15am, the first bird sighting of the day we had was of two Cirl Buntings singing in the car park!
This was a lifer for Dave Mack, so to say Dave was pleased was a bit of an understatement!?!

As we didn't really know to view from we decided to watch from the end of the head next to the small lighthouse.
Over the next half an hour we scanned the sea and saw the usual seabirds associated with the English Channel like Gannets, Shags, Cormorants, Kittiwakes, Fulmar and a variety of seagulls.
A few moments later, Dave picked up an Arctic Skua as it flew west past the head and then we had a Manx Shearwater go in the same direction.
As the sun was affect our view off the head, we decided to move further round the headland and started to watch again.
Soon we started to pick up more seabirds and at least four Harbour Porpoises feeding offshore.
Unsurprising due to the early start myself and Dave fell asleep for half an hour due to the direct sunlight. After this brief siesta I soon picked up a shearwater passing the headland which looked like a Balearic Shearwater, which I got Dave onto it.

More to follow shortly.......

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