Bowling Green Marsh & Topsham
Bowling Green/ Topsham highlights. Spoonbill Imm & Water Pipit on BGM. Along with 56+ Gadwall, 85 Wigeon, 22 Shoveler, 36 Pintail, 2F Pochard, 2 Tufted, 50+ Snipe& 60+ Lapwing. On estuary 400+ Blackwit, 150+ Avocet, 80 Golden Plover, 32+ Grey Plover, 3 TurnstoneAlso Spotted Redshank north of Topsham Quay, Marsh Harrier 2cy from Clyst VP, as were 4 RB Mergansers. 9 Reed Bunting & 2 Chiffchaff Goosemoor. 260+ Teal across whole site.
Topsham/Bowling Green Marsh area
Topsham Quay
Spotted Redshank
Bowling Green
Water Pipit
Spoonbill
Marsh Harrier
Hooe Lake
12 Mediterranean Gulls at low tide today.
South Huish Marsh
My birder friends from Cambridge think this looks good for Scandinavian Rock Pipit. Thoughts!
Upper and Lower Tamar Lakes.
Upper Tamar Lakes.
- 6 Great Crested Grebes
- 1 Pink Footed Goose.
- 1 Bullfinch. 3Chiffchaff,2 Goldcrest,large flock of Lapwing 4Heron and 8 Tufted Ducks.
- Lower Tamar Lakes.
- Over 20 Goosanders.
Taw Estuary, Home Farm Marsh
Yesterday afternoon (22nd January) looking across from Home Farm Marsh were 4 distant Spoonbill on the Chivenor end of the estuary. Then, after a short while, all 4 Spoonbill flew across to the Home Farm Marsh end giving wonderful close up views of them feeding in their classic ‘sideward sweeps’ action of their bills. Lovely to watch.
Braunton R Caen etc
The scrapes have thawed out so a few birds there, and most of the usual suspects in the reserve, so headed for a walk down to the lighting gantry. Still a scattering of Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 30 or so BH Gulls. Small flocks of Linnet and Chaffinch scouring the tideline, joined by a Meadow Pipit and a Stonechat. A few Lapwing drifting about and 3 or 4 Curlew too. Pleased to see 4 different Birds of Prey: the female Marsh Harrier perched in the reed-bed at Sherpa, a Buzzard around the reserve, Kestrel hovering by the barn at Crossbanks, and an adult male Sparrowhawk along the embankment opposite Marstage Farm.
Ashford Strand – Taw Estuary
The single Ruff was still present this morning foraging in the same location amongst 75 Dunlin.
Tamar estuary / Ernesettle
This morning around the estuary, 31 Avocet, 7 Great crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, Wigeon, Teal, 25+ Redwing, and a female Bullfinch. 13 Snipe on Ernesettle creek.
Clovelly Lakes
Clovelly Lake this morning.
6 Goosander 2m 4f, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Tawny Owl calling, 6 Moorhen, 7 Collared Dove.
Exminster and Powderham Marshes yesterday
Mixed flocks of thrushes and buntings at Powderham, plus a bonus green woodpecker and snipe startled from the path.
Exminster very quiet, but barn owl seen briefly behind the Lion’s Rest estate.
Barnstaple to Ashford.
Upwards of 60 Brent Geese, 5 Blacktailed Godwits 2 Grey Plover.1 Kingfisher 2 Snipe,about 30 Dunlin,about 20 Lapwing,1 Bullfinch, 3 Common Sandpiper and small amounts of Longtailed Tits, Goldfinch and Redwing.
West Charleton Marsh & South Huish Marsh
West Charleton: 150 Golden Plover, 24 Dunlin, 12 Brent Geese, 3 Grey Plover, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest.
South Huish: 6 Brent Geese, 50+ Snipe, 6 Water Pipit.
+1 Photo
Cholwichtown
Yesterday afternoon on Cholwichtown Lake: Goldeneye f, 1, Teal 1, Tufted Ducks 8, Dabchicks 2, overfly of 2 Ravens
Lower Tamar Lake
Late for yesterday Lower Tamar Lake.
38 Goosander 10 m 28f (15:15), 1m Gadwall, 4 Wigeon 4m 2f, 8 Coot, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Teal.
This morning at Lower Tamar Lake.
32 Goosander 8m 24f (12:00), 3 Shoveler 2m 1f, 1m Gadwall, 7 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 14 Tufted Duck 10m 4f, 1 Willow Tit, 4 Marsh Tit, 1 Grey Heron.
Snowbunting’s – Northam Burrows
Two Snowbunting’s seen near the 7th Tee this morning.
Cranbrook Garden – Black Redstart
Black Redstart back in my garden after an absence of a week. It stayed until it was chased away by a male blackbird.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
During a walk this morning: Dipper, Kingfisher, Siskin, 1+ Grey Wagtail, 2+ Common Sandpipers, 2 Snipe, 2 Little Grebes, Red-crested Pochard (female), c50 Wigeon & a redhead Goosander.
Black redstart pair, Plymouth Hoe
Female spotted first, in front of the apartments above the coffee shack. Then the pair, m & f, on the rocks between coffee shack and wet wok.
Fingle Bridge circular
Fingle Bridge Circular walk from Fingle Bridge to Castle Drogo to the Teign Gorge showed at least 4 goldcrests at different sites, mixture of tits ,2 Buzzards and a smart male Goosander. Great walk.
