Bird Sightings

A good gathering of waders this morning, on the high tide, including: Curlew Sandpiper (juv), Knot (juv), Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Greenshanks, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 3 Dunlins and Dartmoor-ringed J7 amongst the Curlew flock. Also, Kingfisher (male), Green Woodpecker (female), Whinchat,  4 Stonechats, Firecrest, 2+ Whitethroats, 10 Chiffchaffs, Grey Wagtail & c10 Clouded Yellows including 2 helice.

Osprey on the Taw at the mouth of the Caen at 09.00 this morning. 

Two days of birding between Countess Weir and The Mill on the Exe. No real highlights. Best for patch were 5 Little Grebe today just above Countess Weir, with 10 Coot, the latter being highest numbers I have seen on the river. Another Little Grebe at the Mill on the Exe yesterday, with F Tufted, 3 Grey Wag and a Kingfisher. 10+ Chiffchaff today with 3 Blackcap. Jay too, which are very much in evidence over past week or two with their autumn dispersal. Otherwise Great (several) and Green (2) Woodpeckers, Bullfinch, 25+ Swallow, 15+ House Martin, another Kingfisher today and several Sparrowhawk. Also seeing 1-2 Sparrowhawk per day in and around Alphington too.

Lower Tamar

Buff bellied barn swallow resting in a dead Ash tree in amongst lots of other ‘normal’ barn swallows and sand martins.

Higher Tamar

At least 12 ringed plovers, one of which had ring no 89p on its right leg, and a plain silver ring on the other.

Yellow legged gull in amongst other gulls.

4 common sandpipers up by the hide.

Good day at Wembury Point with some nice signs of migration, incl. a close-up Grasshopper Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher, and 2 Common Sandpiper.

Also, at least 3 White Wagtails with the wagtail flock, 17 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Wheatear, Siskin over, 11 Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 2 Kestrel and 4 Buzzard.

Offshore there was a feeding frenzy of Gannet, with many more moving through, and not much else of note other than a few Kittiwake. 

Juv Buff-breasted Sandpiper again at 09.30. Below and slightly to the left (North) of Grinacombe carpark on open bank. Flew further along the bank towards Higher Grinacombe. Four Ringed Plover, four Dunlin and many Pied Wags with White Wagtails and one Yellow also.

A pleasant morning’s birding on the falling tide. Best was an Osprey heading west along the shoreline. Other sightings included 18 Turnstones, 2 Sanderling, single Redshank, Dunlin and Common Sandpiper, a  Sandwich Tern, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, 28 House Martins, a White Wagtail, 2 Whitethroats and a Wheatear. Also 16 Clouded Yellows.

Quiet morning (NW winds) with Whinchat, 2 Grey Wagtail west, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker west, Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 100 Swallow, 60 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin & 21 Clouded Yellow.

2 wonderful Red Kites circling over fields near Colebrooke just after mid-day 8th Sept.

25 cattle egrets in first two fields N  of the church.  Along the embankment numerous ringed plover, turnstones and dunlin. Several wheatear. Also a few clouded yellows including a stunning specimen at Turf. 

Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

2 Willow Tits at the hide, 2 Nuthatch.

Also, Friday 4th Upper Tamar Lake.

3 Curlew Sandpiper with Ringed Plover

Helin Allin.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Midday, left (North) of Sailing Centre on large open area of bank. Accompanying 10-12 Ringed Plover, two Dunlin and summer plumage Turnstone. Wader flock was disturbed by canoeists and couldn’t be relocated.

Seen over this afternoon’s high tide were the regular 4 Spoonbills, 4 Cattle and 25+ Little Egrets, 1 each of Whimbrel, Knot, Green Sandpiper and Ringed Plover, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 5 Ruff, (only) 6/7 Dunlin, 15+ Lapwings, 40+ Greenshanks, 50+ Curlew, uncounted three-figure numbers of Blackwits and Redshanks, and a fly-by Yellow Wagtail.

A circular walk from home through Matford Marsh to Countess Weir and then up to Marsh Barton Station and home. Highlight was 3 Spotted Flycatchers (1 at Matford Marsh and 2 by ponds at Riverside CP).

Started well with a Whitethroat just up the road from home. Along with first Chiffchaff and a GS Woodpecker. Matford Marsh was a little quiet, though 2 Bullfinch, a few Chiffchaff, Blackcap and 17+ Swallow.

Riverside CP was more interesting with 4 Little Grebe, 2 Green Sandpiper, F Goosander, 10 Coot, Green Woodpecker, 1-2 Kingfishers, male Sparrowhawk and 6+ Chiffchaff.

Finally as arrived back in Alphington Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher on the Brook.

1 purple sandpiper with a breeding plumage turnstone on the No Entry bit of breakwater, 7 more turnstones in harbour

A couple of adult Mediterranean Gulls in the harbour, with two juvs, plus a Lesser BB gull, amongst the Herring and GBB roost below Berry Head Quarry

Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

1 Little Grebe, 14 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Moorhen, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Marsh Tit,

Cheers,

A dawn cycle to Powderham Marsh. Highlights were Wood Sandpiper, 2 Whinchat and 12 Cattle Egret. Also 200+ House Martin spread out along ridge south of Exminster and over the village, moving slowly south. Quite possibly many more as all over the marsh later. A few Swallows with them, though later on more Swallows over marsh, at least 80.

20+ Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 8 Blackcaps in the bushes, and associated with viewing platform field. At least 6 Reed Bunting and 30 Linnets in that field (with the 2 Whinchat). 2 Stonechat and Bullfinch there too.

Otherwise 2 Raven, 2 Jay, 4 Blackwit and 12 Teal.

On journey up and back. 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker above M5 and 2+ Sand Martin south along canal bank.