Capstone, Ilfracombe
Two purple sandpipers and a very confiding snow bunting early afternoon.
Kingsbridge/West Alvington
Report from Bob Burridge:
30 Cattle Egret in fields just above West Alvington (opposite side of road from cricket ground). Also 3000 Wood Pigeon over, heading towards Bolt Tail. Two Black Redstarts on Kingsbridge buildings
Exeter Quay & Bowling Green Marsh
At Exeter Quay today there has been the glaucous gull again this morning and also a white throated dipper flew down the river past the bridge by the glaucous gull.
+1 Photo
Ford Park Cemetery
Black Redstart, not long after Greg’s sighting on the Chapel roof. It was very mobile on gravestones behind the visitor centre.
Lots of Goldcrests and a Firecrest, Coal tits, a few cock & hen Pheasants, Goldfinch, Green Woodpecker, Jay & a handful of Redwings.
***Message for Greg***, on reflection I think your Fritillary is quite unlikely, more likely a Comma
Ford Park Cemetery
Male Black Redstart seen on the chapel this morning
Powderham Marsh RSPB
Early morning visit. Two Marsh Harrier, and lots of small birds on Powderham Marsh RSPB this morning. 110+ Redwing, 10+ Fieldfare, 80+ Linnet, 40+ Chaffinch, 25+ Greenfinch, 7+ Reed Bunting, 2 Cirl, 4 Stonechat, 12+ Skylark 2 Sparrowhawk & 6 Golden Plover over.
+1 Photo
Teignmouth Black Redstart
On roof of Jolly Sailor pub
Soar
Late post for yesterday the 12th: 2 Dartford Warblers, one up-valley from the ponds and another at the bottom of Stare Hole. The first I’ve seen here; late autumn dispersal? Also, two Firecrests (together), also in Stare Hole, good numbers of Skylarks on the freshly ploughed fields, a smart male Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine.
Hawfinches
At least 2 Hawfinches still at West Town Farm Ide this morning.
Difficult to see feeding in the Field Maple but a male did show very nicely for a short period
Several thousand Wood Pigeon moving West and good numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare
+1 Photo
Torbay coastal
A count of 30 Turnstone at Marine Parade, Paignton.
Peregrine seen twice over Goodrington this morning, also a female Sparrowhawk.
At Broadsands, Heron, Kittiwake and a Mediterranean Gull, mixed 25 plus sized flock of Goldfinch and Greenfinch.
From the headland towards Elberry Little Egret, three Great Northern Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, the reported four Common Scoter together with the Long Tailed duck and my first Black Necked Grebe of the season.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
A fine morning’s birding produced 2 Whinchats, Reed Bunting, Firecrest, 3 Siskins, 2 Stonechats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Great Spotted & 2 Green Woodpeckers, 1+ Kingfisher, 13 Snipe, 11 Greenshanks, Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Egrets, 6 redhead Goosanders, 20 Wigeon, female Red-crested Pochard, a Mallard with a small duckling & 6 Roe Deer.
Hawfinches
At least 2 Hawfinches at West Town Farm Ide this morning feeding on Field Maple seed.From Ide travel to the farm and just past the farm park and scan the field maple at the bottom of the short hill and hedgerows beside
Tottiford & Trenchford Reservoirs
Levels in both reservoirs still very low; 9 Goosander (1 male) – (last month there were 24 Goosander (2 male); no sign of Great White Egret that was there last month). 40+ Mallard; 5 Cormorant; Grey Wagtails; Pied Wagtails; 2 Jay; 2 Raven
Braunton Burrows
Only birds of note today on Braunton Burrows that we saw were three vocal Fieldfares. Distant cropped image included.
Slapton & Beesands
a Great White Egret with a Little Egret were present in reeds beside the road at Torcross.
At Beesands a pair of Pintail were present with Tufted Ducks and Gadwall, plus 1 Kingfisher.
A361
A single Red Kite seen this morning over the A361 just beyond the West Buckland junction.
Plympton
More Black Redstart action in Plympton late afternoon! Three female-types on rooftops in Compass Drive. At least one new bird – on Monday two female-types and one male.
Greenfinch ?????
Saw this bird on my garden feeder a few days ago (Barnstaple). My thoughts were Leuistic Greenfinch. After posting on several birding sites opinions are mixed as to Greenfinch, Pied Greenfinch, Canary or some sort of captive mule – what do you think.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
Highlights today were a Black Redstart (rare here) and a very late Whinchat (presumably the same as seen on 4th). Also, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 7+ Snipe, 10 Greenshanks, Common sandpiper, 31 Wigeon, female Red-crested Pochard, 2 redhead Goosanders, 4 Shags, Little Grebe, Kingfisher, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Firecrests, c12 Siskins, 2 Stonechats, 17 Redwings & 5 Roe Deer.
Dart Cruise
A cruise up the dart on a rising tide today produced: 1 juvenile Iceland Gull (between Galmpton and Dittisham) 6 Mandarin Ducks, 3 Kingfishers, 20+ Curlew, 6 Redshank, 26 Little Egrets, 400+ Canada Geese(!) 8 Grey Seals and 1 Harbour Seal.
