Common/Pallid Swift

Woodpigeons over Orcombe Point.

Masses of movement on Orcombe Point (from 0730 to 1040) and, for the most part, requiring a lot of concentration to establish the make-up of mixed finch flocks whilst trying to count Woodpigeons. Best was a Common/Pallid Swift which flew reasonably low south-west at 0753. I picked it up as it was pretty much overhead but it was just a fast-moving silhouette against the pale early morning sky and before long it was out over the bay and gone. Conservative counts were 16000+ Woodpigeons, a good count of 500+ Chaffinches, 3+ Brambling, 12 Swallows, c40 Pied Wagtails, c40 Meadow Pipits, 15+ Siskins, c170 Redwings, c80+ Goldfinches, 13+ Blackbirds, 11+ Song Thrushes, 13+ Greenfinches, 8+ Reed Buntings, c80+ Linnets, c40 Robins, 3 Goldcrests, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Rock Pipits, c300+ Jackdaws, 23 Starlings, 18+ Stock Doves (though many would have been missed in Woodpigeon flocks), 3 Bullfinches, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Grey Wagtails and 1 Sparrowhawk.
In the Maer carpark - the Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Coal Tit, 2+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Siskins, 1 Jay, 2+ Goldcrests and 1 Green Woodpecker.
West Down Beacon - 2 or 3 Firecrests and 1+ Cirl Bunting below the golf course.
Mudbank - another brief visit but 50+ Pintail, c500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 10 Redshank, 1 Teal, 18+ Great Crested Grebes and 1 Kingfisher.

Coal Tit - Maer carpark.