It's The Wingbars.

After the Glorious-in-parts First, I'd anticipated not being quite so manic the next day.

But birds have other ideas, and a First For Devon demands celerity.

So I found myself driving through some epic rain [tardiness pays sometimes.!] down to Prawle, passing soggy but happy members of Devon's Finest dragging themselves back up as I [mostly] walked down to Maelcombe Beach, where this little beauty was hiding from It, sheltering for the howling gale, and generally zipping around amongst a veritable horde of All the pipits. 

 

Buff-bellied Pipit

"Beep! Beep!"

It was a little similar to the other one I've seen; in a windswept field full of bits to hide behind, with loads of other little birds running around to distract the eye, and everything under the shadow of an ever-lurking threat.

While at the Paddyfield it was an allegedly shotgun-toting farmer*, here the threat was more tangible. Just not for us [probably...].

 

I speak of It. The Great Winged Terror;

B-B-B-B-B-B-Bonxie!!!!!

Low-flying Doom

[plus terrified pipit!]

Nice white feathering, there.

Insane views as it repeatedly cruised by, scattering all before [and below] it. Which was a bit frustrating when you're trying to find one little bird amongst about 50....

'All the pipits' included a Water, which was nice, and were added to by lots of wagtails, including this [quite likely wishing it was slightly less bright at that point!];

Grey Wagtail!

[plus Rockit]

The day was far from over when I wandered back up, 

 

Looking over Maelcombe towards Peartree Point

 

The bird in question was at the far end of that pale patch of shingle centre field.

Of interest, note the black wave-cut platform, and the now grassy raised beach [with older wave-cut platform underneath] leading up to the former sea cliffs. This is a common feature around the SouthWest, but rarely seen so nicely.

As for the rest of the day's events [which may well include me chasing yearticks with varied result - shock], you shall have to await a future post.

Be Seeing You...

[[* Very allegedly, if you ask me, but it makes a good story and maybe kept a few out of the crop... ]]