Sunday 16 December – Torbay Leader: Jane Cumming

It’s a hundred miles to Paignton, albeit well under two hours’ drive from the west side of Bristol, but six members
made the trip (postponed 24 hours owing to Saturday’s drenching rain). The forecast still wasn’t very encouraging,
but in the event we only got properly rained on once and the birding was well worth a bit of wet! We met at
Paignton Pier and for starters we spent ten minutes or so checking the sea, which produced one fly-by Shelduck –
the only one of the day – a Black-throated Diver and the first of many Great Northern Divers and Great Crested
Grebes. On to Broadsands for the main course of Red-necked Grebe, Cirl Bunting and Yellow-browed Warbler, all
of which we eventually found although not everyone got a decent view of the warbler before it flitted off through
the ivy and vanished. The Red-necked Grebe was joined in Elberry Cove by a Black-necked Grebe, and at least
a dozen Great Northern Divers could be seen from Elberry Headland (south of Broadsands car park), scattered
across Torbay; several were very close and gave great views. Scanning around the bay and out to sea also
produced plenty of Gannets including 20 or so resting on the water in the light wind, and the odd Razorbill as well
as Cormorants, Shags and Great Black-backed Gulls. Back at the car park we could only find a Reed Bunting at
the first attempt but a handsome male Cirl Bunting dropped in during our second search, with such common
species as Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch and Goldfinch also taking advantage of the
feeding area which is kept supplied with seed by generous local birders. The low swampy thicket harboured the
Yellow-browed Warbler as well as four Bullfinches, Greenfinches and a flock of tits but we couldn’t see or hear any
of the Chiffchaffs which usually winter there.
For dessert we drove to Goodrington Sands where we sat out a rainstorm – conveniently at lunch-time – and
when it dried up a bit we moved up to the Three Beaches Headland a little to the south. There we finally had
good views of the immature Surf Scoter, accompanied by three female/juvenile Common Scoters, as well as ten
Great Crested Grebes, another Great Northern Diver, a couple of fly-by Oystercatchers, pairs of Fulmars already
guarding nest-ledges over on Livermead Cliffs, and the day’s only Guillemot, Kestrel and Grey Wagtail. With
more rain threatening we counted our successes and set off for home in time to get back to Bristol before dark.
Altogether we had a very rewarding trip with about forty species in spite of the uncertain weather. (Thanks to Jane
for leading, Ed). Jane Cumming