Brent Hill
Shy Ring Ouzel on the hill this morning. Also a Wheatear and about 30 Meadow Pipits, but, unusually, no Stonechats.
Bowling Green Marsh
A visit at high tide. 220+ Redshank, 19 Greenshank, 8 Knot. 650+ Blackwit, 25 Barwit, 125 Curlew, 20 Lapwing & a Snipe.
200+ Wigeon, 110+ Teal, 28+, a Shoveler.
Otherwise a Goldcrest & Chiffchaff.
Charlton Marsh Car Park
9 cattle egret
Exeter – Starcross
Of note were:
- near Marsh Barton Station, 10+ squabbling Song Thrushes, presumably recently arrived migrants;
- over Exminster Marsh, 30+ Swallows in three groups heading South, and a single Golden Plover circling in the mist, sounding so mournful;
- along the canal, three squealing Water Rails, also recently arrived, I think, and 5/6 singing Cetti’s;
- between Turf and Powderham Church, a Green Sandpiper, and a Wheatear;
- at the Kenn outfall, a Common Sandpiper waiting with the Red/Greenshanks for the tide to fall;
- at Starcross, the regular 150+ Turnstones roosting on the pontoon.
Riverside Country Park (Marsh Barton to Exeter Quay)
Two visits today, one this morning and one this evening.
This morning 11+ Song Thrush & 9 Blackbird, certainly the former were migrants as loosely together sitting on wires. 2 Goldcrest, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff & 2 Jays were main birds of interest.
A Dipper again at Salmon pool this evening was the only interesting addition.
Teign estuary- Osprey
Good views early afternoon of fishing Osprey being harried by gulls etc on Teign estuary at Arch Brook.
Mt Batten lunchtime
- WP adult and 1W Sandwich tern inshore lunchtime.
Bow creek, Cornworthy
Great White Egret a pair at hide tide this morning seen across the water from Charlecombe meadow. One was seen yesterday also at high tide but was absent at low tide later in the day. A first for this site for me.
large group gulls
Feeding frenzy around Pole Sands in the Exe estuary 2 hours after high water (springs) comprising approx 1000 herring gull, 200 black headed gull, 20 great black backed gull, 10 cormorant
+1 Photo
Lyme Bay Cruise from Brixham
Good 4hr cruise out of Brixham today with an estimated 350+ Great Shearwaters – the most common shearwater currently in Lyme bay! 4 Sooty, 6 Manx, 95 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Fulmar, 16 Arctic, 1 Pomarine & 1 Great Skua, plus 10+ Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Common Dolphin, Harbour Porpoises Grey Seals – but no Brown Booby that was seen on Friday off Brixham!
Brixham Harbour – Saturday
2w Mediterranean Gull amongst the BHGs, plus 13 Turnstone & a Redshank on the breakwater
Instow to Isley Marsh
Several hundred Oystercatchers roosting along the rocks at High Tide to the east of Instow Beach up to the first Yelland Jetty. Small numbers of Dunlin flying around and at least 1 grey plover. 2 bar-tailed godwits and several curlew at Isley. The 3 Spoonbill, seen yesterday, are still at Isley Marsh, quite close to the coastal path giving good views of them grooming. Returning along the Tarka trail and a footpath to the main road there were about 50 finches (sparrows, linnets and goldfinches) on overhead cables next to the field of faded sunflowers.
Red kite over Blundells school playing fields
Saw a red kite, being hassled by a crow, over the school playing fields on Blundells road. It glided down towards the wooded area known locally as ‘Paradise woods’.
These woods are between the North devon Link road and Blundells road
I was cycling at the time so unable to snap a photo.
+1 Photo
North Dartmoor
2 Golden Plovers showing well were the highlight of a walk around North Dartmoor yesterday.
Tarka Trail , North Devon…
Spoonbill,3 roosting On Isley Marsh, 2adults +1 immature.
15 Greenshank roosting nearby at high tide, 2 Mediterranean Gulls at Bideford East, Elsewhere On Tarka trail 4 Stonechat, an immature f. Sparrowhawk And a Kestrel…..
Exminster Marshes 29th Sept
Mid morning visit. The marsh was alive with dragon flies – mainly common darters with flocks of BH gulls feasting on the high flying insects.
Also two hobbies, one buzzard and a single seal in the culvert next to lock gates at Turf.
Berry Head
Just when we thought thousands of Great Shearwaters with a few Cory’s and Sooty’s passing Berry Head in the last week (and being seen at sea) couldn’t be bettered – Rob Hughes of Devon Sea Safari’s from Teignmouth photographed a Brown Booby 1 mile off Berry Head this morning – time to start checking every offshore island along the S coast… His story here: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=devon%20sea%20safari
Powderham Marsh RSPB
A morning visit. Best bird being a Whinchat, feeding with two Stonechat in final field before viewing platform. 4 Stonechat in total, 4 Chiffchaff, 14+ Stock Dove, 44 Teal, Snipe, 11 Linnet, Great Spotted Woodpecker & 2 Swallow.
8+ Migrant Hawkers & a Common Darter.
Soar Mill Valley area
Best today was a Wryneck lurking in scrub just above Soar Mill Cove – a favoured area! Also: migrant Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, 5 Grey Wagtail heading west, 13 Swallow, House Martin, 90 Meadow Pipit & 70 Linnet.
Non-avian: 8 species of butterflies inc. Clouded Yellow, 2 Painted Lady & 3 Comma.
+1 Photo
Seaton Wetlands
Yesterday afternoon, Mallard, Shelduck, Redshank, Curlew, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Moorhen,, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Teal, Stock Doves.
