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)
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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.
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.
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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.
