Fifteen birders met in the car park below the point and collected Jay, Magpie and Woodpigeon, plus some distant Swift before we attempted the steep path to the Trig point. Beside the steeply climbing path a couple of Chiffchaff sang and distantly a Blackcap, while above our heads a Kestrel hovered and a Cormorant flew past. Along the point we saw and heard very little as the wind was rather brisk, apart from a couple of Shelducks foraging on the tide line, but this didn’t detract from the beauty of the setting with abundant wild flowers and lovely sea views. Down on the channel side of the point and out of the wind we could hear at last and we were soon on to Whitethroat, Wren, Linnet and Goldfinch, while on the shore a solitary Rock Pipit stood sentinel guard near his nest. After the coffee stop and a prolonged search for a sight of the Whitethroat, we saw several Starlings, Carrion Crows, Blackbirds, Dunnocks and a single Great Tit. Going down towards our lunch spot, two Curlews were identified on the river bank alongside a Lapwing. During our leisurely stop we debated the identity of two duck 11 shaped blobs in among the grassy tussocks. A Greenfinch and then a Robin serenaded us from the power cables and then the birds stood up and revealed themselves as Shelducks. The walk back across the ancient field system and by the mine research establishment gave us a solitary Mallard asleep among the weed strewn stones. Before we reached the car park we saw more Jackdaws and our first House Martins. A bag of 34 for the day. Many thanks for leading, Nick.
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