Torquay or Paignton?

[AlanR]

I have 3-4 hours this coming Sunday (1 March) at either Torquay or Paignton which I aim to use for bird spotting. The main targets are likely to be Gulls and/or sea birds.
I will be on a coach trip for the day, probably stopping at the prime tourist centre by the sea. I don't mind a bit of walking within the short time limits. But I have to pick either Torquay or Paignton.
So, which is best? Where should I look? And what might I see?
Alan

[luke]

i am sure you know that theres a Penduline tit at paignton at the moment. i think its behind the leisure centre on the second pond. I think broadsands it pretty close to there which is great for grebes including black necked, slav and even red necked. its also one of the good places to see Cirl Buntings, so to answer your question i'd say paignton!

[Andrew]

I'd say Paignton would be best.

It is a short walk from the adjacent train and bus stations to Clennon Valley or Young's Park where the Penduline Tit frequents. Goodrington Sands is close by too for scanning the sea as there are plenty of Black-necked Grebes there at the moment.

If you have time enough then catch a bus to Brixham and walk along the long breakwater for Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers. You can see the bay and the sea well from here too.

Broadsands is a fair and steep walk from the main road but it will be worth it if you want good views of Cirl Buntings coming to seed by the row of huts in the closed off part of the car park. The Cirls are guaranteed here though.

Hope that helps?

[AlanR]

i am sure you know that theres a Penduline tit at paignton at the moment. i think its behind the leisure centre on the second pond. I think broadsands it pretty close to there which is great for grebes including black necked, slav and even red necked. its also one of the good places to see Cirl Buntings, so to answer your question i'd say paignton!
Thanks, Luke.
I don't know the area at all. But from a look round Google Maps, I think Broadsands may be too far away. The ponds by the Leisure Centre look a possibility. I don't know where the information on the Penduline Tit comes from. Has it been around for some time?
Alan
[I should have made it clear. This is a coach trip so I will have no car with me. I may be able to use my Senior Citizens' bus pass to get around a bit.]

[luke]

The tit has been there for a number of weeks now and is present today. So i'd say theres a good chance of it sticking until 1st march.

[AlanR]

OK, thanks again. Looks like Paignton.
Alan

[davercox]

OK, thanks again. Looks like Paignton.
Alan

I know this is negative advice, but I'd agree, based on Torquay being pretty useless (I have to keep visiting it for the Atlas).

The number 12 bus runs pretty frequently up and down the coast, as far as Brixham, so you should be OK with your bus pass Alan.

[AlanR]

Well I spent a very pleasant, sunny day in Paignton.;)
A lot of hanging around the ponds in Young's Park failed to produce a Penduline Tit. I was rather surprised not to see any othet twitchers there.
But I did manage to see and photograph one or two Herring Gulls (likely to appear in the Gallery) and I've added two to my list or 2009 - Turnstone and Shag.
And Paignton was quite a nice place to visit. Nice fish and chips.
Alan

[David Smith]

Nice fish and chips.[/COLOR]
Alan

Do you mind??
Just gone on my diet and this was one of the first posts I read;)

[bradinho]

hi People,

I am heading down to devon for a couple of days (with car) to gate crash my parents holiday!

They are staying near to Goodrington Sands.

My question is where should I go birding?

I would really like to see the "village bunting" so will probably visit Lab Bay but what should I do with my other days??? Don't wanna travel too far though - prob hour max.

What is the birding like down here at this time of year?

Any help very well recieved.

[davercox]

Hi Bradinho

If you're at Goodrington you shouldn't need to go as far as Labrador Bay: try Broadsands; if that fails, then Berry Head car park area.

[bradinho]

Hi Dave,

Managed to get a quick look at Broadsands - but where is most likely?
Also had a quick look at Berry Head Car Park - no luck ther neither - oh well maybe next time ey?

The pools around the caravan site where suprisingly good - pleased to see the improvemnets around the campsite since last time I visited - corporate member of the Devn Wildlife Trust - ooooh! ANyway the pools gave excellent veiws of Kingfisher, chiffchaffs, blackcap, gery heron, pochard, tufted, Mute Swans(and 7 cygnets), redshank, house martins, sand martins, swallows in the playing fields, buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel, PLUS a lone, late swift!

The walk from goodrington to Broadsands yeiled several little egrets on the beaches/rocky bays(so used to seeing them on estuaries), a lone wheatear, green woodpecker, many gannets :) , oystercatchers and many gulls!

Shall have to come back for more some time....

[bradinho]

[QUOTE=bradinho;1578440]Hi Dave,

The pools around the caravan site where suprisingly good - pleased to see the improvemnets around the campsite since last time I visited - corporate member of the Devn Wildlife Trust - ooooh! ANyway the pools gave excellent veiws of Kingfisher, chiffchaffs, blackcap, gery heron, pochard, tufted, Mute Swans(and 7 cygnets), redshank, house martins, sand martins, swallows in the playing fields, buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel, PLUS a lone, late swift!

QUOTE]

Just had a text from my dad who has just spotted a little egret on these pools too!