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Holdstone Down and Lynmouth
This morning on HoIdstone Down is where there were two Wheatears and a few Stonechats. later on the A39 between Countisbury and Wingate Farm, I spotted a Buzzard that had landed on a near by post.
Riverside Country Park
Two days of birding around top half of the Riverside Country Park. 2F Tufted on the river at bottom of drainage channel. Also a Water Rail heard and 7 Teal. On Trew Weir, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and Little Grebe.
Over100 Greenfinch at Powderham
For second day running over 100 Greenfinches seen feeding in stubble field next to Powderham church..very unusual numbers.
Turf Locks
Common Scoter at the Turf Locks this morning at 9.30
Female Common Scoter – Exe Estuary
Female Common Scoter in the estuary roughly halfway between the Turf Hotel and the cycle bridge at Powderham. It was close by a bright green buoy, diving occasionally.
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Cadover, Dartmoor
Flock of 5 Ring-necked Ducks initially on Big Pond, and then spooked by mining vehicles, and flew to Whitehill Yeo Pit. View pit from footpath – ///offstage.widest.arranges
Lower Tamar Lake
Lower Tamar Lake Feeder4.
3 Willow Tits, 1 Orange v White, 1 Red v Red, at least 1 unringed.
Velator
Sitting in the reserve listening to Jackdaws when a group of them flew over and I thought ‘They aren’t Jackdaws’ When they appeared from behind some trees 4 of them turned out to be Jays. There seems to have been a bit of an irruption in the West Country, and this is a bit more evidence. 4 Butterfly species today: 2 Red Admiral, and one each of Large White, Speckled Wood and a very late male Common Blue.
Clennon Lakes, Paignton
Yellow-browed Warbler in sallows beside the 2nd lake with Chiffchaffs. The YBW is calling regularly. Also present 1 Water Rail and a Cetti’s Warbler
Plym Estuary & Saltram
Teal, Goosander (redhead), Firecrest & Mediterranean Gull (adult) as well as Bullfinch, Stonechat, 2 Grey Wagtails, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Kingfisher, 1+ Common Sandpiper & 2 Roe Deer.
Yesterday 3 Little Grebes & 2 Firecrests.
East German Med gull, South Huish
A 1W bird seen yesterday on S Huish marsh, ringed as a chick at a colony at Diehsa, Gorlitz landkreis, near the Polish border, in June this year. Ring no. A6VN. One of 27 Meds on the marsh.
Marsh water levels coming up and the site hooching with birds, including 120+ mallard, 190+ teal, 16 dunlin, 2 ringed plover. Nothing rare but lovely to be there.
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Berry Head
Berry Head brief seawatch: 1100+ Kittiwakes (just 16 juveniles) 7 Arctic Skuas, 1 Little Gull, 3 Common Scoter, 4 Med Gulls. Around Headland 1 grounded Woodlark, Crossbill & siskin over 20 Chiffchaff, 4 Firecrest, 3 Blackcap and this Blackbouzle or Blackbirzle! Female Blackbird aka ouzel!
Berry head
- Turtle dove showed briefly at around 9 feeding at the back of paddock but was elusive
Northam Burrows
Male Ring Ouzel half way along Skern to the left of the bins. I checked through over 50 Curlew feeding among the livestock, surprised that none had been ringed.
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Berry Head
A Yellow-browed Warbler in cliff garden and path behind the old row of cottages just south of the Berry Head Hotel (Berry Head Road). Other ‘migrants’ around headland: 10 Firecrest, 1 Goldcrest, 12 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 8 Swallows, 2 Skylark, 3 Song Thrush, 11 Blackbirds. The Turtle Dove was still in fields along Gillard Road, quite tricky sometimes if it has not been pinned down by other birders as it moves around in cover in field.
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River Mole Valley
- First Ring Ouzel of the autumn along with Mistle Thrush, Marsh Tit, Bullfinches,Greenfinch, Meadow Pipit, Crossbill, Blackcap , Red-legged Partridge and Spotted Flycatcher.
- In the bird mix 10 Yellowhammers, 60 Linnets and 35 Chaffinches.
- Several Tawny Owls calling across the valley along with rutting Red Deer stags.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
My first Wigeon of the autumn, here, in the unusual spot of Longbridge. Otherwise, Firecrest, 4 Stonechats, Bullfinch, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, Common Sandpiper, 7+ Greenshanks, Dunlin, Turnstone & a Little Grebe.
Velator Reserve this morning
As we walked around the reserve this morning, one of the birds which we disturbed from it’s roost site was a Great White Egret. We have seen some evidence left behind by it but this is the first sighting this winter.
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Ilfracombe
- Rough conditions today brought a few Large Shearwaters way off Capstone, most likely Sooty Shearwaters.
- 100+ Gannets heading W in 30mins.
- a Super flock of 200 Bh gulls.
- 30 Common Scoter.
- Med gulls.
- Common Gulls
- A few Kittiwakes loafed with the Gulls after attending a feeding Grey Seal.
- The returning Whimbrel was with the Oycs one had a faded red Darvic leg ring.
Alphington and River Exe
Yesterday a cycle up to Exeter Quay. Little Grebe, Kingfisher, Teal, Common Sandpiper and 2 Grey Wagtail between Trew Weir and Salmon Pool.
Meanwhile yesterday and today, in Alphington I had my second Firecrest (the other at the allotments on Tuesday), Sparrowhawk, 2 Great S Woodpeckers and 3 Swallow.
