Mardon Down & the Torquay Reservoirs
Can’t match the total thrush numbers seen on Thursday by another observer (to whom thanks are due for the tip-off), but today on Mardon were at least three Ring Ousels. All were very flighty, so exact number uncertain, but also very vocal, with a call half-way between those of Blackbird and Fieldfare. Also present were 250+ Fieldfares and 150+ Redwings, the biggest flock in the grass on the East side, where DNPA have recently cleared the Bracken (to whom further thanks are due), plus Mistle Thrush, Yellowhammer, Stonechat and two flyover Crossbills.
Went on to the reservoirs hoping for Goosander. None on the upper lake, just six Tufted and five Teal, but on the lower were seventeen (four adult m. and thirteen redheads), initially roosting and preening on the bank, but swimming out when the heaviest rain came. A time- or weather-related movement?, The rain must knock insects off the trees, so do the fish become more active? Don’t know.
On the way down to Bovey, a newly-ploughed field held 80+ Stock Doves and 30+ Skylarks.
South Brent
As well as several hundred Fieldfares on the edge of the moor around Dockwell this morning, together with five Ring Ouzels, there were also at least 100 Fieldfares in South Brent village late pm, many feeding on berries in front gardens at Brakefield. Also, smaller numbers of Redwings. Aren’t such incursions into gardens more often associated with cold weather?
Great White Egret
Good view of Great White Egret alone on field between Ventiford Basin and River Teign. Seen on ground and in flight. Took off towards Stover . 3.15 pm 22 October
Harleston by Slapton
250+ Fieldfares around and over the hamlet.
East Soar
A good day for thrushes with 14 Ring Ouzels in Starehole Valley, the best day count for several years, 440 Fieldfares (290W 100E & 50 grounded) and Redwings 11W. Also: 156 Starlings (125W 31E), Jackdaw 16W, Firecrest, 9 Chiffchaff, 40 Goldfinch & Water Rail.
Great Shearwater, Dawlish
1 lingered for 2 mins, in Coryton cove before heading south
+1 Photo
Cadover Bridge
On an overcast morning, several hundred Fieldfare and Redwing, on the ground, in the Hawthorns on berries, and overhead. My first Ring Ouzel (a male) and a small flock of Chaffinch. Green Woodpecker heard.
Soar valley to Southdown
An early morning walk in dull weather was brightened by all the thrushes. At least 12 Ring Ouzels, 70+ Fieldfares and 30+ Redwings. Also 4 Chiffchaffs..
Dousland
Small mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwing, seen from our house, first this autumn.
Migration watch – Downend
07:50 > 09:50
The majority of migrants passing around Downend this morning were flocks of Chaffinch, a total of 1458 counted over a 2 hour period.These were heading east to south east into the wind once they had rounded Downend. The wind was east to south east for the duration.
Also 33 Meadow Pipits heading in the same direction. Siskin heard but not seen..
Trowlesworthy, Dartmoor
Two Ring Ouzel in vegetation looking towards Legis Tor. First seen here: ///depth.siesta.originals (What3Words). Then flew a short distance to Brisworthy Burrows with other thrushes. My first here since Oct 2020. Record photos: https://tinyurl.com/ye28244c
Also, Merlin, 1,200+ Fieldfare and 900+ Redwing over and in Brisworthy Burrows. Chiffchaff and 5 Siskin also of interest.
Braunton Marshes
Between the showers this aft a quick cycle ride around the marshes produced a sizeable mobile flock of several hundred Fieldfares.
Also c400 Starling seen along the the Toll road.
Lower Tamar Lake
Lower Tamar Lake this morning.
1 Great White Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 18 Wigeon, 9 Canada Geese, 4 Coot, 19 Cormorant, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Great-black Backed Gulls.
Cattle Egret Brixham
One Cattle Egret in caravan park field Centry Road Brixham early this morning.
Fieldfares
120+ fieldfare been around Affaland clawton last two days plus snipe numbers climbing..
Mardon Down, Moretonhampstead
Between 8.00-10.15 this morning – 1 Ring Ouzel, 3 Brambling, 697 Redwing, 341 Fieldfare, 44 Lesser Redpoll, 32 Song Thrush, 34 Goldcrest, 84 Skylark, 6Pied Wagtail, 89 Meadow Pipit, 30 Blackbird, 30 Chaffinch, 9 Yellowhammer, 12 Starling,11 Goldfinch
Turf, Exe Estuary
The pec sandpiper returned to the channel below the lock gates until dusk when it flew towards Topsham calling. Also in that area were 3 common sandpipers, 3 redshank and 4 black-tailed godwit. At dusk a flock of c20 pied wagtails flew in.
Earlier in the day around noon there was a single cattle egret in the first field north of the Turf. Elsewhere on the marshes were 2 marsh harriers, c8 chiffchaff, 6 redwing and a single fieldfare.
Snow Bunting Start Point
Snow Bunting found earlier by Richie Moore showing very well this afternoon at Pear Tree Point on west side of Start Point just round from Great Mattiscombe Beach. Also at least 20 Stonechats around the Point.
Cadover Trowlesworthy, Portworthy.
Cadover to Trowlesworthy:
Fieldfare, Redwings (No’s as seen by Chris E) Golden Plover 1000+ Legis Tor area. Chiffchaff’s, Long Tailed Tits, Goldcrest’s, Merlin, Sparrow Hawk, Buzzards, Ravens, Goosander (2 flyover), Grey Heron.
Portworthy Mica Lake:
Pintail (m), Wigeon (4), Coots’, Canada Geese, Teal (10), Mute Swan (2)
+1 Photo
Ring Ouzels
The South Brent area has seen a huge movement of Thrushes across the area during today, hopefully the same will have been the same for many parts of Devon.
Dave Pakes gave me a call in the afternoon to say that he was out on the moors above South Brent and was seeing Fieldfare in their 100’s and a small number of Ring Ouzel.
I popped out there and met Dave as he was leaving, as he had said 100’s of Fieldfare, also very good numbers of Redwing and then I spotted my first Ring Ouzel of the season, then six and they just kept coming, I stopped counting once I had gone over 20, I have never seen so many Ring Ouzel concentrated in one place previously.
A single Mistle Thrush and two Song Thrush rounded off that trip.
Apparently a good number of Ring Ouzel have been seen at Berry head today.
While cutting the grass late this afternoon saw good numbers of Redwing coming into roost along the field hedges and trees close to home.
