Birdwatching at Prawle Point

A good spot for sea-watching, spotting rare migrants or local breeding birds. One of the best places to see Cirl Bunting. Spectacular and varied coastal scenery. The varied and sheltered habitats mean that migrant birds stay longer than at nearby Start Point.

Habitat

Sheltered, coastal farmland and valleys, beaches, rocky outcrops, bracken and cliffs. Some of the best coastal scenery in Devon. The National Trust own much of the land here and there is a small DBWPS reserve. Pig's Nose Valley to the west of the Headland has a steep sheltered valley, stream, trees and thickets. Horseley Cove, 2km east of the car park is a good place to see the occasional wading bird, the edges of Prawle Wood immediately above should be checked for Cirl Bunting and Warblers. The old Aerodrome fields near Pigs Nose Valley are good for Plovers, buntings and finches. Take the public footpath from the bend of the minor road west of East Prawle down to Hamstone Cove. The bushes around the Car Park are good for migrants and from here drop down to the coast path and follow it eastward, checking the beach and gullies for waders. The scrub and rocky outcrops should be checked for Cirl Bunting, Wheatears and warblers, while Owls and Raptors may be sighted on obvious vantage points. The heathland and buildings out on Prawle Point headland are good for Wheatear, Hoopoe, Black Redstart and Pipits.

Birds

Winter birds include Divers (mostly Great Northern), occasional Eider, Common Scoter, Gannets, Auks, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper, Curlew. If you are lucy you may see Black Redstart, Firecrest, Twite, Peregrine.

Residents birds are Buzzard, Shag, Stone Chat, Cirl Bunting (breeds), Reed Bunting.

Passage spring migrant birds: Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Wheatear, Black Redstart, occasional Hoopoe, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Puffin, Skuas, Sandwich Tern, Turtle Dove.

Passage autumn birds: Flycatchers, Redstart, Tree Pipit, Whinchat, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Peregrine and Merline.

When to visit

Early morning is best for migrants, up to 2 hours after dawn, and even better with overcast cloud and light onshore winds. Avoid sunny days in weekends and holidays when there is much disturbance. Early spring can provide good numbers of migrant passerines and arrival of breeding birds.

Last Updated: 2009-12-16 15:33:31