Budleigh Salterton & Prawle Point

It took a while for the day to get started and eventually we lcoated the Cattle Egret, now coming into summer plumage. The bird was several fields north of the small car park by the Otter Estuary and the only Egret there.

Swallow along the Otter Estuary (c) Ashley Howe
There was no sign of the Laughing Gull at Matford Pools so we headed south to Prawle Point. Here we got Cirl Buntings showing very well as were Yellowhammers. A quick stop at Slapton Ley revealed our first Sandwich Tern flying up the road.

A male Cirl Bunting allowing us to get very close (top 2) and a Yellowhammer also (bottom) (c) Ashley Howe

Next to Berry Head where there was plenty of Guillemots on the sea and Gannets moving through often. The best sighting from the sea was about 50 Manx Shearwaters flying south together. The were more Cirl Buntings to the west of the car park.

Buzzard circling over Berry Head (c) Ashley Howe

As we past back through Exeter there was again no sign of the Laughing Gull.