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Similar movements of house martins witnessed over Budleigh Golf course and cliffs this morning with over 100+ birds hawking along cliff edge at around 09.30 with the odd swallow. Regular groups of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks also moving and 3 Crossbill heading East.

Similar hirundine passage at Wembury but impossible for me to estimate numbers. Started slowly with mostly Swallows moving east in twos and threes up to about 9 AM. Then the House Martins started. At times this afternoon I could see 20/30 birds in each field of view no matter where I looked. Certainly in the thousands passed through today. Like others, just a single Sand Martin (and a wierd bird that eluded me, giving brief and distant views that looked like a good candidate HM x SM hybrid). Swallow numbers seemed much lower than in other places and only maybe 1-2% were Swallows this afternoon.

Other than that, 2 Wheatear, 1 Crossbill, 500+ Mipit, 200+ Linnet, 80 Goldfinch but very few Skylarks or Chiffs and only a single Jay to report.

4 Mediterranean Gulls flew (one adult, three first winter) out from the harbour at 5pm  . Otherwise quiet, with 12 Turnstone and 1 Razorbill.

Following on from Mike's post just a constant stream of House Martins & Swallows, sat on the headland by the Coastguard watch point surrounded by birds just amazing, again 90% House Martins, picked out just 2 Sand Martin and the rest were Swallows. Elsewhere 5 Chiffchaff, 20+ Skylark, 2 Wheatear, 2 Goldcrest, Blackcap, Bullfinch, Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, Cirl Bunting, 6 Stonechat and 3 Jay.

Watched from 08:50 till 15:30

the whooper swan put in a brief appearance before flying off towards darts farm, 1 curlew sandpiper was rather elusive, 500+ black tailed godwit, 3+ bar tailed godwit, 5+ greenshank, 16+ snipe, 2 pochard,5+ tufted duck, 7+ little egrets, 6+ buzzard, kestrel, 2 pintail, 120+ dunlin, 1 knot

23 avocet flew in and is best count of the autumn so far, there was steady passage of house martins with at least 6 groups of 100 plus in one half hour period and included smaller numbers of  swallows smaller numbers of alba wagtails and meadow pipits were also noticed including a group of 30+ in field by viewing platform also at least 35+ jay through 

also from viewing platform another curlew sandpiper, 2 red breasted mergansers, common sandpiper, 1 snipe over, 2 song thrush , sparrowhawk, 1 whimbrel, 2 knot, 2 grey plover a few more buzzards moved through but no sign of the spotted redshank 

another good day around the marsh 

Little moving at first light but by 0740 a bit of vis mig got underway and produced the following (all east) by 0900:-

Chaffinch 95, Siskin 19 (+ 3 later), Meadow Pipit 130, Alba Wagtail 70, House Marttin 65, Linnet 130, Skylark 15, Swallow 25, Goldfinch 65, Crossbill 5, Greenfinch 3.

After this, there were always House Martins in the sky but no obvious movement and my estimate of 500 is a drop in Mike's ocean! Otherwise numbers genrally up - Blackcap 8, Goldcrest 14, Chiffchaff 33, Song Thrush 9, Jay 8+, Lesser Redpoll 2; also single Whichat, Wheatear, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and Reed Bunting, plus 7 Golden Plovers. 

A massive Hirundine passage today - one that few of us can remember seeing so many birds .

At 08.00 a flock over T'stone Marsh of 1000 + -mostly House Martin- another flock of 800+ at 10.00.

Standing by the cafe birds started moving west by the 1000's. At times over 100 a minute were passing in front of us never mind those inland. Over the next 1.5 hours at least 25000 moved through- 95% House Martin. During the day only 1 Sand Martin. Then at 14.30 the passage started again for an hour with lighter passage until 16.30  At 17.00 Bob B had 2-3000 Swallow roosting at South Milton Ley.

My own estimate is that over 50000 birds moved through 90% House Martin. Will be iteresting to see if other sites on the south coast  had the same passage.

On the marshes- 2 Snipe, 4 Dunlin, 1 Lapwing, 50 + Teal, 1 Wigeon, . Offshore 2 Sandwich Tern, 4 Med Gull 1 m Common Scoter.

6 Wheatear in the cafe field /coast path. Overhead 240 Mipit, 2 Redpoll 25 Skylark, 4 Grey Wagtail

Ringing yesterday produced a hatful of birds, half (20) of which were Long-tailed Tits! One each of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest, and the first of the autumn Finches with Green, Chaff, and 2 Bullfinch, both males, one of which was still moulting out of it's juvenile plumage. Didn't catch the Jay which has been around intermittently for a while now. Caught the 3rd Great Spotted Woodpecker of the autumn.

Today saw the SWW people in the surrounding fields dealing with a blocked drain which was causing Wrafton Pond to fill rather alarmingly, and causing a stream to run down the east side of the reserve. In the reserve the first Reed Buntings for some months and a couple of calling Water Rails in the surrounding reedbeds. One Swallow over, but not Red-rumped.

To add to Petes report from Soar yesterday; I had a rather nice male Merlin sitting in the field between Bunting Corner and The Plantation yesterday. Otherwise quiet.

Regards R.M

 Ringtail Hen Harrier passing through, low over the fields at Trentishoe this morning, also two Wheatear one of which was bathing in a pond beside the road.

Orcombe Point - 0710 - c50+ alba wagtail, c1/200+ meadow pipit, 3+ reed bunting, 13+ chiffchaff, 4 mistle thrush, c50+ canada goose, c50+ linnet, c40+ skylark, c10+ goldfinch, 5+ siskin, 3+ redpoll, 1 brent goose, 1 lapwing, 1 starling, 2 wheatear, 2+ coal tit, 1 juv/fw spotted flycatcher, 1 blackcap, 1+ bullfinch, 2 great spotted woodpecker, 12+ chaffinch, 1 stonechat, 2 lesser black-backed gull, c200 + swallow, c50+ house martin.

Mudbank - 8+ pale-bellied brent goose with c230+ dark-bellied brents, 1 scaup, 1 tufted duck, 2w mediterranean gull, c100+ house martin, 9+ great crested grebe, 1 teal and 1 grey wagtail.

Yesterday - 1 treecreeper, 1 redpoll and 3 jay amongst more regular migrants on Orcombe Point and an impressive flock of 21+ jay SE over Mudbank.

 23 med gulls on rocks,13 ad,4 sw,6fw.10;30-12:15.Paid a visit to kenwith nature reserve to find what used to be a productive and enjoyable site to visit has become a complete eyesore.The only patch of water you can see on the bottom pond is  from the dam and consists of an area  about ten ft in diameter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.What a joke.The work that the enviroment agency did to at least allow the water to build again has not done anything to provide the areas needed for the birdlife which used to frequent this area.The whole pond has become choked with vegetation.The islands that used to attract upto 50 snipe and occaisonally jack snipe have completely overgrown.The top pond which used to regularly bring in hundreds of at least 7 species of duck doesnt even attract mallards these days.Not one bird today although heard two water rail.The top lake is a seperate issue i believe as this has gone rapidly in decline from its former glory and would require scientific investigation ie water samples taken and analysed because i cant believe that the population of carp would eat all the foodstuffs within the pond,or could they?.As i see it it would take an army of volunteers to restore  the site back to anywhere matching the previous quality of the site.I very much doubt the society would have any funds to even touch the amount of work needed.Shame but their you go,just thought it deserved a mention.

No sign of an Osprey this morning.

Walking down through the fields produced 200+ meadow pipits, 12 Jays in a tight flock flying N. 13 Golden plover above cliffs. Also 5 Alba wagtail, 6 Skylark, Wheatear, Yellow hammer and 3 goldcrest by car park.

A lone Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) observed at 12:05 pm today, 7th October 2012, flying out of the northeast heading southwest 150ft overhead Baggy Point, North Devon. Two pairs of juvenile barn swallows also seen and were feeding low over the bracken. 

Seen overhead Braunton, North Devon, at 9:00 am today Saturday 7th October, were about a dozen Jay's (Garrulus glandarius) flying directly north out of the south at about 300ft. Obviously on passage somewhere!

2 Ring Ouzel in the central gorse thicket took off towards the main headland this morning.

Some overhead passage early this morning: 87 Meadow Pipits,19 alba wagtails, 17 Greenfinch, 23 Skylark, 9 Chaffinch, 6 Goldfinch, 7 Swallows, 12 Siskin, 2 Lesser Redpoll (dropped in briefly), 18 Linnet, 2 Snipe and 1 Yellowhammer. 

Around Headland: 1 Hawfinch flew in and landed in Hawthorn for myself and warden to watch for a while before a blackbird chased it off, 14 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest, 7 Blackcaps, 1 Wheatear, 1 Coal tit (on headland), several small groups of Song Thush totalling 14. 

    Pale bellied brent goose,4 adult meds,3 knot flyovers,12 ringed plover.10:00.

Paul Kemp and I arrived at 0805 when a modest passage was underway overhead with day end counts including: House Martin 20+, Swallow 50+, Alba Wagtail 33 (plus c20 grounded at E.Soar Farm), and Siskin 4.

Highlight however was a Yellow-browed Warbler in willows half way down main path in Starehole, then buzzing around frantically in the valley before disappearing into the bushes further down. 

Otherwise: a single Yellow Wagtail at E. Soar Farm; 1 Snipe, 3 Whinchats; 6 Jays (flock); 5 Chiffchaffs, 5 Blackcaps; 4 Goldcrests; and 1 Wheatear.

Just a couple pics of the whooper swan at Bowling green earlier today

Many Swallows (1500+)  moving particularly this afternoon with a count of 427 in 1/2 hour moving NE below Start Farm, amoungst them just 12 House Martins and 2 Sand Martin (unfortunately no Red-rumps!). 1 Dartford Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcap, and one Mediterranean Gull at Woodcombe bay and 2 White Wagtails with Pied Wagtails on Mattiscombe Beach (Start Pt).

2 Wheatears Beesands.

Watched from 07:30 till 15:30

A fantastic day with a first for Bowiling green with the arrival of a whooper swan at about 10:20 an unexpected arrival and at times showed well pics to follow, the supporting cast wasn't bad with 4 curlew sandpipers an adult spotted redshank and 2+ garganey, 500+ black tailed godwits, 2 bar tailed godwits, 5+ greenshanks, 3+ pintail, 450+ wigeon, 23+ lapwing, 2 Cetti's warblers and 17+ snipe and good numbers of teal and curlew and 120+ dunlin

At 12:46 whilst watching 7+ buzzard by the rivers meet house spotted what looked like a pale Honey buzzard higher up and managed to get in scope and confirm eventually saw it drift off south/south west  what a stunning bird and a very good record for bowling green 

from the viewing platform over next 2 hours had 16+ buzzard through heading a south/south west with good numbers of swallows and house martins and a few groups of meadow pipits, 2 jays, sparrowhawk and a peregrine, the adult spotted redshank and the 4 curlew sandpipers showed very well as did a kingfisher perched on a broken tree branch which was floating down river, 3 grey wagtails and a common sandpiper

I popped back to the hide the whooper swan was still there but had been joined by 23+ pintail 

A quality day around the marsh 

At 17:00 great views of a Red Kite circling low over the A3052 at the Hontion turn off (half way between Seaton and Sidford).

Well done to the Thurlestone team on your Red-rumper!

A superb week just got better this morning with the juv RED RUMPED SWALLOW found by Bob B amongst a feeding flock of Swallow and House Martin at  09.15 by the lagoon footbridge over South Milton Ley . Only AJL and myself were in time to see it, it had moved on by 09.45. I am informed this is the 3rd site record  and the first in autumn.  A patch tick for me .

Other birds around - 24 Wigeon, 45 Teal, 10 Wheatear., 3ad &1 2w Med Gull, 8 Siskin

A new walk for me turned up male crossbill, 17 alba wagtails inc.4 classic whites, 209 swallow, 5 goldcrest and yet more jays with 7 heading west.

1130-1400hrs.    1 Osprey seen on a fence post in the middle of horsey island, then over crow point.  5 Greenshank,30+Swallow,20+Medow pipit,2 Little grebe,2 Jay.   Islay marsh held 5 Spoonbill and 200+Curlew.

Call from Bob Burridge, he had a Red-rumped Swallow from the footbridge with a mixed flock of 150 hirundines at 09:30 this morning. It was there for about 20 minutes but appears to have gone with the rest of the flock.

 Strong west wind and heavy rain overnight. Both died out by dawn. Persistant heavy drizzle after 13:00.

08:10-17:00; Malborough-Furzedown/Hgr.Soar/Warren/East Soar/Starehole/Bolt Head

Green Sandpiper ( from distance heard one calling near the car park, just hope it was not a Solitary Sandpiper  ! ), Snipe, 3 Golden Plover, 300+ Skylarks, 700+ Meadow Pipits, 2 Grey Wagtails, 28 Swallows, 3 Whinchats, 5 Wheatears, 8 Blackcaps, 13 Chiffchaffs, 10 Goldcrests and 10 Jays ( including flock of 8 over the Warren - very unusual ).

The heavy rain from lunchtime on brought in the first sizeable flock of Golden Plover of the autumn with 57 birds this afternoon.

Yellow-browed Warbler started at the eastern end of eastern pond at 1.30pm in willow by the weir with 3 Chiffchaffs. It then joined a party of 8-10 long-tailed Tits and more Chiffchaffs working its way up to the willows by the weir on the 2nd pond at 2.15pm. Very active, quite vocal and giving the chiffchaffs some grief! I gave up trying to get a photo when the rain got very heavy. Total of 13 Chiffchaffs, 5 Goldcrest and 2 Blackcaps.

Update: still showing around wooden 'pontoon' bridge between two large ponds at western end this evening 5.30-6.10pm with party of Long-tailed Tits.

Also Cetti's Warbler still on 2nd Pond in Reeds, 1 male Pintail, 2 little Egrets, 1 Little Grebe

12 wheatears still but no sign of any stonechats. 5 mallard is notable for the site. Overhead another 3 jays and 6 siskins. Skylark, linnet and meadow pipit numbers about the same.

Red- Breasted Flycatcher Berry Head this morning just down the road from Wardens Bungalow, in Sycamores - staying high up under canopy called several times.  

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Berry Head.

This Yellow-browed Warbler spent less than a minute in a small private garden in Tiverton yesterday.  Well done to the observer, James Morrison, for grabbing the camera so quickly!

Yellow-browed Warbler Tiverton

The satellite-tagged Osprey Fearna which has been around Barnstaple for a while apparently left last Saturday morning and at 6 pm was in Brittany! The comment was that she has a lot of catching up to do!

2 Snipe flushed from edge of main reed bed. Also 2 Stonechat and 3 Reed Bunting. From the hide 4 Grey Plover in mixed flock of Dunlin, 12 Oystercatcher and 50+ Curlew.

1315-1615hrs   1 Osprey was seen on the short post at the rear of chivnor. This bird then flew down the taw to horsey island before it was then joined by a second osprey, they flew side by side for at least 15 mins before splitting up. How long will they stay?? Also 12 ad and 3 young mute swan, 4 little grebe, 2 meadow pipit, 2 wheatear, 1 buzzard, 1 kestrel, 5+ swallow, 3 greenshank and a Kingfisher.

Late afternoon

1 Osprey, 7 Grey Plover, 14 Turnstone ,57 Curlew,127 Wigeon,

5 Wheatear, 252 Black headed Gulls, 5 Med Gulls, 2 Common Gulls.

 Before setting off for Soar on /around the Marsh were- 45 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 1 Little Grebe, 7 Jay.

Continuing the Jay theme - Bob B has just phoned , he was ringing at Mansands this am where they had 6 Jay ( they also ringed 14 Chiffchaff )

Spent 4hrs this morning covering the valley and the 'Dotterel' field. Viz mig quite slow- 125 Mipit, 15 Swallow, 1 Grey wagtail, 4 Alba Wagtail, 70 Linnet .

In the willows heard a Yellow Browed Warbler at 10.15- finally located it at 10.35- only gave brief views as the coppice is quite dense here, also heard it again at 12.30. Also in the valley 10 Chiffchaff, 8 Goldcrest, 8 Blackcap, 15 Long T Tit, 5 Great Tit, 9 Blue Tit, 8 Robin, 1 Great S. Woodpecker, .

On one of the few occasions i was looking up to the ridge i picked up 11 Jay moving west.- look at Doug Stannards earlier post and my next one. Cley in Norfolk reported 270 + this morning , are we in for a Jay invasion - many years since the last one

Moving up to the top field - 6 Wheatear, 40 Goldfinch, 8 Skylark, 1 Merlin

Had a message from Alan Searle saying he caught and rang a Yellow-browed Warbler in Start Farm this morning.

Still good numbers of warblers around Berry Head but nothing rare - yet.. but my first ever Marsh Tit for the site was not expected (only one prevoius record), otherwise: 28 Chiffchaffs, 11 Blackcap, 9 Goldcrest and now 5 Stonechat.

Marsh Tit, Berry Hd                                                                   Long-tailed Tit-  looking Autumnal!

Approx 30 mistle thrushes in fields behind Bicton College

The banks either side of Dartmouth (East and West Banks) are often a hot spot for feeding seabirds. Today I followed up reports by local fishermen that a good concentration of Balearic Shearwaters were feeding over the East Bank, ESE of Froward Point. From the boat we saw at least 35 Balearic and one Manx, though there were far more (3-4x this) earlier in the week. State of tide is critical for this feeding activity. From sightings over the last 3 years this is looking like a Balearic hotspot.

A bright clear but cool morning resulted in some obvious visible migration. Swallows were going through generally in groups of around 6 to 8 birds but one flock totalled 25 - well over 50 through in around 30 minutes. However best migration was of a flock of 13 jays heading south west together.

Around 12 wheatears still, skylarks well over 50 and the first 2 stonechats of the autumn.

Bowling Green Marshes plenty of Black tailed Godwit, Teal, Widgeon, several Greenshank, Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, along with Shovellers, Canada's, a couple of Greylag Geese on view with just  1 x Curlew Sandpiper, 1 x Spotted Redshank must have a special mention.

Mudbank Exmouth  Again plenty of widgeon, Mallard, Shelduck and my first 50+ Brent Geese and 6 + Pintails of the season all showing well and feeding on Eel Grass on a dropping tide.

This morning a large flock of 200+ Black Headed Gull included 8 Med Gull ( 4ad, 3 2w, 1 1w ) a site record .

Offshore 100 Gannet, 6 Balearic Shearwater and a Razorbill.

On the marshes 85 Teal. a Wheatear in the field . Overhead migrants included 2 Siskin and a Crossbill

With the weather forecast not matching reality, Steve Cox and I made a later start than usual; everything appeared very quiet but at c11am a Yellow-browed Warbler popped out of the willows west of Soar Mill Cove. Showed well for a few minutes. Otherwise the best we could muster was: 19 Golden Plovers over East Soar Farm; 3 Chiffchaffs; 7 Goldcrests; 40+ Swallows; and 2 Blackcaps.

Nothing spectacular but a good mix of waders: 420 curlew, 1 whimbrel, 10 grey plover, 13 blackwits, 1 knot, 2 greenshank, 177 mallard, 540 black-headed gull, 250 herring gull & 2 grey wagtail.

           Managed to catch the end of the Sooty Shearwater passage with two West at 0730. Also, 0700-0900, 23 Balearic Shearwaters and an adult light phase Arctic Skua all West. Surprise of the morning was a close Black-throated Diver flying East, and still in summer plumage.Also one Wheatear and an impressive flock of 12 Ravens low West.

Passerine watching this morning (of note): 19 Goldcrest, 21 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 1 Wheatear, 3 Coal Tit (on top of headland) 3 Stonechat - perhaps more than the normal resident Song Thrushes around today.

Moving overhead mostly SW: 16 Meadow Pipits, 2 alba Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 14 House Martin, 10 Swallow, 35 Goldfinch, 6 Chaffinch, 14 Siskins, 15 Linnet, 7 Greenfinch, 1 Redpoll.

Brief look out to sea birdwise ver quiet but 4 Harbour Porpoise very close in looking from top of headland.

07:15 - 09:00

6 Mediterranean Gulls (3A inc red PAL4, 3 2nd S); 1 Dark-bellied Brent; 4 Knot; 64 Dunlin; 33 Ringed Plover; 1 Turnstone; 4 Bar-tailed Godwit; 2 Common Gull; 5 Great Black-backed Gull; 4 Wigeon; c600 Oystercatcher; c120 Curlew; flock of c50 Linnet and 6 Meadow Pipit.

This Nightjar spent well over an hour resting on this bench in a garden in Galmpton (near Brixham) on Friday 28th September. Many thanks to Kay Deare for sending this on to us.

1 Green Sandpiper at Matford Pool at about 1.45 this afternoon

Seawatch 10:00-18:40, SW5 building 7, heavy rain 15:30 clearing 17:50. 326 Sooty Shearwaters (and they were still moving through when I left, many distant birds and in groups, largest flock 18!), 82 Balearic Shearwaters, 5 Manx Shearwaters, 5 Arctic Skuas, Great Skua, 2 Puffins, Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Divers, 77 Razorbills, 7 Guillemot.

The Pectoral Sandpiper last seen feeding on the marsh at 18.45 last night - no sign of it today

Both marshes held 80+ Teal, 1 Wheatear, 3 Jay flew through. Offshore 2 Arctic Tern flew east , 2 Guillemot , 4 Common Scoter, 1 -1st w Med Gull

08:00-16:00 A moderate south west wind and afew showers. Loads of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Gulls feeding from the Bay and upto a mile off the Head, bringing in lots of Skuas and Shearwaters. 46 Sooty Shearwater, 33 Balearic Shearwaters, 8 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Storm Petrels, 5 Pomarine Skuas, 31 Arctic Skuas, 37 Great Skuas and 1 Little Gull. Also 4 Harbour Porpoises. PA, ML

An early visit this morning revealed a Cetti's still where Mike had reported it. Also present a male Pintail and 3 Shovelers

Cetti's Warbler still present around middle pond also 1 Sedge Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff.

08:35-17:15

Gave it a good go today but little to add to what Rob saw, just a handful more of Chiffchaffs and Goldcrest , Red-legged Partridge ( between Soar Mill Cove and Southdown ), 8 Siskins and 3 Crossbills.

That Corncrake in Malborough would not have lasted long had it been so brazen on 23rd September, 1861. Stating that Corncrakes occured commonly along the south coast in autumn, D'urban and Matthew also wrote in their book on Devon Birds ( published in 1892 ) that 84 were shot at Malborough on that date !

No further sightings of the 2 Cattle Egret by 18.00

On T'stone Marsh the Pectoral Sandpiper still on show -last seen 14.30. Also on the marsh 1 Water Rail, 1 Little Grebe, 35 Teal, 1 Jay

Around the Bay this morning - 1 Sandwich Tern, 3 Wheatear, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Coal Tit,

1 Jay ( both the latter in the copse more indicative of birds moving through), 350 Swallow ( inc 1 albino seen by AJL and Mike Miller) 1 Sand martin , 1 Water Rail, 30 Meadow Pipit, 3 Chiffchaff

between the hours of 7.10 - 9.10 am with a fresh south westerly  saw

2 Shag

100+ Gannet

9 Balearic Shearwaters

6 Manx Shearwatwaters

Wryneck still at Soar Mill Cove.

Also: water rail & grasshopper warbler at reedbed at East Soar, 120 swallow, 155 meadow pipit, grey wagtail, 2 whinchat, 3 wheatear, 37 robin, 9 blackcap, 13 chiffchaff, 9 goldcrest and 7 jay moving west in groups of 5 & 2.

Nothing as exciting as Cattle Egrets or Corncrakes, just 8 wheatear, single snipe, skylarks up to 50+ and 30 linnet.

2 CATTLE EGRET at 10.20 this am in field with cattle at South Huish Marsh- last seen flying towards Thurlestone - photo'd by Terry Lakeman

Full report later

These amazing photos were taken by Barry Rankine yesterday of a Corncrake seen walking along the main road in Marlborough!!

Corncrake

Corncrake

Sunday 30 Sept... Late posting

Seawatching for 2.5hrs : 24 Balearic Shearwaters, 11 Arctic Skuas, 1 Great Skua, 2 Common Tern, 2 Sandwich Terns and  4 Harbour Porpoise off shore.