Bird Sightings

0700-1600: 2 Great Shearwaters (incredibly late, but Devon record counts have tumbled in October so a few lingering into November is perhaps not surprising); other Shearwaters were 3 Sooty, single Balearic and 18 Manx. Skuas included  a smart pale juv Long-tailed (at 0825), also 15 Pomarine ((mostly juvs), 32 Arctics and 6 Bonxies (very rare this autumn). Also Great Northern Diver,  Puffin , 25+ Fulmars, Med Gulls and a late Swallow.

Non-avian: 20+ Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, 2+ Common Dolphin, & 10 Harbour Porpoise.

On this afternoon’s very high tide, at Blaxton Meradow: an adult Kittiwake looking ill / injured and unfortunately killed by a Carrion Crow; 3 Snipe, 10 Greenshanks, 127 Dunlins, 46 Curlews & a Kingfisher. Elsewhere, 2 Mandarin Ducks & 3 Shags., 

Glaucous gull remains on the quay. Was resting on the grass by the bridge with a flock of pigeons.

Glaucous gull still present, bizarrely in with the pigeons, geese amd swans being fed just above the foot bridge. Greater black backed gull and little grebe at Trews Wear.

Three Black Redstarts on rooftops in Compass Drive. One male and two female-types.

Didn’t see any Godwits when I arrived (about 10.15a.m). but was told that the 2 Spoonbills were on the scrape very early this morning. Weather hardly conducive to seeing much in the reserve, and as I left I looked up the Trail towards the scrape and saw a large flock of Godwits flying in small circuits around the scrape trying to evade the Buzzard chasing them. A Crow then started chasing the Buzzard!

Immature Great Northern diver spotted off Broadsands Beach. 

A mad 10 minutes this morning as I was cycling to work. 

First, a rather incongruous female Long-Tailed Duck on Goodrington Boating Lake, then a Snow Bunting on the promenade next to Goodrington Beach – last seen flying up onto the railway tracks near the cafe at the north end. 

Four Purple Sandpiper on rocks below harbour wall.

Unfortunately found the little fella dead on Oreston Quay Green, Plymstock, Plymouth.PL9 7LY Saturday 05/11/22.

The red-necked phalarope is still on the same pond, near the barn. It had been hiding near the reedbed at first but soon came out to feed, despite the pouring rain.

Red-necked Phalarope reported again this morning.

An injured male Short Eared Owl was reported at Beesands today..

At least a dozen Mandarin ducks relishing the rain and gloom.

A brief visit early afternoon coincided with the high tide. The wader roost around the new scrapes, viewed from the canal bank, held a good selection of waders including snipe (2), dunlin (c20) and 11 grey plover, unusual for the marshes, although they did not linger. Elsewhere wigeon numbers growing as are the flocks of Canada geese along with the usual assortment of odd geese including 2 Egyptian geese, one snow goose and one bar-headed goose.

Alongside the railway were two parties of tits both including goldcrests and chiffchaffs. Two other chiffchaffs were on the canal bank.

Two female-type Black Redstart in Highglen Drive/Compass Drive, Plympton. At least three in the estate in recent days with the male seen yesterday.