For the first 2023 field trip, 24 people from the Plymouth Branch met at Broadsands. In the hedgerows around the car parks a number of birds were enjoying the winter sun, notably a very mobile Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest and several Cirl Bunting which were regularly flitting down to the seed at their feeding site. Looking out to sea, from the area above the beach, there were good views of a range of species all actively fishing: 6+ Great Northern Divers, Razorbill and very distant Gannets. A strong, cold wind made the water very choppy, however a raft of about 25 Common Scoter were unperturbed. Excellent views of a Black-necked Grebe were to be had from the footpath round to Elberry Cove.
At Brixham Harbour the Grey Seals were loafing on the pontoons and swimming in the bay. From the breakwater the group enjoyed watching 5 Purple Sandpiper and Rock Pipit. The species list for the visit was as follows:
Great Northern Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Mallard, Common Scoter, Buzzard, Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Razorbill, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock,
Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Cirl Bunting
Total 40 species
Visit Leader Doug Herdson
