Pectoral Sandpiper short stay at Turf Locks
Arrived at the Turf gates at around 12:00 with Phil Johnson who quickly spotted a fairly confiding Pectoral Sandpiper feeding along the mud edge. Sheltered from the storm at 12:30? only to find the bird had departed when we returned.
Soar
Much as R.Mackin,+ 2Water Rails,1Merlin,35 Blk Birds,12Song Thrush, 7 Golden Plover,7Swallows,2Redpolls. South Huish 1 Water Pipit, 4 Gt White Egrets.
Dartmoor above South Brent
Late morning walk with Kate on the open moor above South Brent. Several hundred Redwing flying and huge numbers of Fieldfare coming through, difficult to estimate numbers, but conservatively over 2000. Most headed west. When we reached our destination of a well berried rowan tree pleased to see a few Ring Ouzel amongst the thrushes. A call to Steve Hopper soon had him join us and I think he counted 20 Ouzel after we left.
East Soar & Southdown Valley
A strange day after early morning heavy rain when the area was dead burst into life as the sun came through. At East Soar 5 Ring Ouzel in Starehole (final count 9), 120 Redwing flying west, Fieldfare 3E (missed a flock of 290), 60 Gannet fishing in Starehole Bay, Stock Dove 25W, Skylark 320 (120W 90E 110 grounded), 130 Meadow Pipit, 3 pristine White Wagtail on Bolt Head, Grey Wagtail, 3 Swallow, Starling 8E, 11 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest & 2 Blackcap.
At Southdown Valley: Imm.Marsh Harrier being mobbed by 3 Crows then a Merlin flew through them, 3 Teal & female Pintail (first ever Soar record not offshore) on lagoons and Dartford Warbler in the hedge!
Non-avian: 5 Sika Deer, 3 Roe Deer, 3 Cloded Yellow, Painted Lady, Peacock, 15 Red Admiral & 2 Small White.
Broadwoodwidger
50+ Fieldfare this morning.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
My first Merlin ever, at the site this morning; also, c100 Redwings (also 120+ yesterday) & 10+ Fieldfares going east, Firecrest (also 2 yesterday), 3 Stonechats, Bullfinch, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Sparrowhawk, 2 Ravens, ad-w Mediterranean Gull, & 2 Roe Deer.
Crownhill Down and Cadover
Crownhill Down: c60 Fieldfare on top of the down first thing and c300
Redwing over in small flocks during an hour or so.
Trowlesworthy: 2,200+ Fieldfare and 1,600+ Redwing over E in a 75min period during late morning. 900+ Golden Plover flying around Legis Tor.
What season is it today in Plymouth?
My first Redwings of the autumn last night but then a Chiffchaff in tentative song this morning. A Hummingbird Hawk moth in Lipson this morning and Horse Chestnut in flower in Freedom Fields. I’m confused!
Redwings
A steady movement of Redwings over Paignton this morning between 8.45am. -10 30am. Some groups of 100 or more all heading S. Probably over 500 birds in total.
+1 Photo
Redwings ~ South Brent
A good passage of Redwing over South Brent this morning despite the murky conditions, at least twelve flocks in excess of 50 birds with three of those flocks containing over 100 birds, numerous smaller batches dropping into the tree tops with that characteristic call. I would estimate well in excess of 850 birds.
One batch of five Mistle Thrush overhead.
Fieldfare and Redwing over Princetown
We’ve just had a1000+. Fieldfare with 30 or so Redwing amongst them flying over Princetown heading towards Plymouth.
Bradwell
On leaving for work at 8.30 this morning, around 50 Fieldfare were seen perched on the trees.
Late for Lower Tamar Lake
Late for Lower Tamar Lake.
1 Great White Egret, 2 Willow Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Coot, 15 Wigeon, c200 Canada Geese.
RSPB Bowling Green Marsh
A good day for Geese and Birds of Prey at RSPB Bowling Green Marsh today.
Approx 550 Canada’s including three leucistic birds and a hybrid which I suspect may be a Canada / Emperor goose cross, singles of Snow Goose, Grey Lag Goose and Barnacle Goose along with a Greylag hybrid and two Egyptian geese.
A Hobby went over the marsh, three visits by hunting Peregrines, the first a female went after the Black Tailed Godwit’s, another hunting female chased some Teal over the marsh and took one before losing its grip and losing the bird which dived into the water, a Tiercel then arrived and again went after the Teal without success.
100’s of Black Tailed Godwit (one colour ringed bird) arriving on the high tide along with 3 Bar Tails, singles of Ruff and Avocet, a small number of Curlew, and not as many Redshank as recently, 3 Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Lapwing
Ducks included Shelduck, Shoveler approx 20, large numbers of Pintail arriving over the high tide, Mallard, Teal in good numbers with lots of Wigeon arriving towards high tide and a single Gadwall drake.
Late swallows over Crediton
2 swallows wheeling over Crediton just after sunrise this morning. Travel well.
Wembury
At Wembury Beach this morning, a Water Rail was calling along the stream that flows through the meadow near the beach. Towards Wembury Point, two Lapwings were on the shore but were harassed by a Carrion Crow and flew off high to the west.
Wrafton Pond
Small flock of 10 or so Fieldfares flew over Wrafton Pond and perched in a tree by the houses for 5 minutes at 1630. Nothing much else. Few Shoveler on the pond, some Teal, a Little Egret and a Grey Heron on the scrape.
Redwings and starlings
Driving down Codden Hill about 3.45pm a flock of about 30 redwing flew overhead going south. On Monday morning there were over 300 starlings perched on wires in Windmill Lane, Northam and similar numbers on wires in Broadclose Road, Barnstaple before I left for work on Monday.
Wrafton area
63 Blac-tailed Godwits on the scrape. 6 Shoveler and 3 Gadwall on Wrafton Pond + 2 Snipe. Over the reserve about 20 Redwings flew south. 15 or so Goldfinch.
Exeter
Lots of redwings around Wonford and Whipton this morning.
