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Cadover Bridge
This morning a solitary Snipe on the Drying Pond. 200+ mixed flocks of Fieldfares and Redwings feeding on the berries along the edge of Brisworthy Farm fields also a Reed Bunting and a Green Woodpecker,
Croyde Bay & Baggy point
Still a flock of 32 Scoters in Croyde Bay early this morning. From Baggy Point a movement south of 3 Red throated Divers, also 4 Gannets.
MELDON RESERVOIR
Looking down river from the dam wall, 100 plus field fare feeding on the hawthorn berries also about 30 redwings a long the cycle track back to the viaduct.
Sharpitor ( Meavy)
A flock of about 20 Golden plover flew in and settled on the ground.
2 red kites north Molton (heasley mill)
2 red kites. No more than 20 foot up as I drove past
Exe Estuary cruise 24 November
As passengers were boarding in Exmouth at 10:00 am, several flocks of Woodpigeons headied roughly NW up the Estuary, presumably turning inland after coasting west from East Devon. Where DO they come from, WHERE are they going, and WHY??? The strong northerly wind created white horses, making the outer half of the Estuary look more like a rough sea. Eleven Great Crested Grebes off Cockwood was a good number for this part of the Estuary (a couple more were seen further up). They had a backcloth of hundreds of Brent Geese, many more of which were grazing the algae further up, especially off Lympstone; at Topsham, close views of Brents produced a good proportion of juveniles. An egret with cattle near Cockwood was assumed to a Cattle Egret (but a tiny proportion of the astonishing 143 that were in a flooded field at Starcross earlier, after leaving their roost at Powderham). Half a dozen Greenshank were scattered as usual between Cockwood and Powderham. Most waterfowl were concentrated around Topsham: maybe 300 Avocets, 1000 Black-tailed and 50+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 40 Knot and, last but not least, 2 Black Swans.
Teign Estuary and Teignmouth Seafront
On the estuary, highlights were two Great Crested Grebes, two Common Gulls and a possible 2nd winter Caspian Gull. On the seafront, four Common Scoter by the Ness and two more Great Crested Grebes. No divers seen today.
Skern- 23/11/23 11am
Grey Phalarope still on the pond at Skern. Also Lesser Scaup with Wigeon.
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Bowling Green Marsh
Superb wildfowl and wader viewing over this afternoon’s high tide. The immature Spoonbill flew close to the road and started to feed. My images show that it was feeding on (Three-spined?) Sticklebacks, of which it cough several. On one image it looks like a spine has stuck the fish to the roof of the upper mandible – ouch! Also about 3 Brent Geese (1 juv), 90 Pintail, 65 Shoveler, 100+ Avocets, about 1200 Black-tailed Godwits, about 350 Redshank, about 100 Dunlin, 4 Snipe and 1 Ruff (feeding with the godwits).
River Dart
Newbridge to Holne – pair Goosander, 1pr + 3 other Dipper
Holne Bridge – 6m, 2f Mandarin, 1 Grey Wagtail
Buckfastleigh – 2 prs Dipper upstream of town, on edge of their territories, c.20 Mandarin (also majority male), [NO kingfisher – usually see 1 or 2]
Buzzards Kingsteignton Thursday 23rd
Five buzzards circling and calling above my garden at 11.15 this morning.
Drifting slowly south eastwards with the breeze.
Velator reserve
After a productive ringing session yesterday – 2 Blackcaps and 6 Chiffchaffs ringed – amongst good numbers and variety of Finches and Thrushes. Highlight was an adult Woodcock!
Today still lots of Finches, but best was a male Firecrest, the first there this year.
Plymouth Hoe
A flock of 15 Turnstones feeding on the rocks below the Pier One cafe this lunchtime on the incoming tide, a good count for here. No sign of any Purple Sandpipers (yet) but there was a smart male Black Redstart on the rooftops at nearby Rusty Anchor.
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Spotted Redshank Fremington Pill
Spotted Redshank on Fremington Pill yesterday Mid-Morning.
Lower Tamar Lake
Lower Tamar Lake this morning,
10 Goosander 3m (1 eclipse) 7f, 3 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 9 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Fieldfare, 2 Bullfinch, 7 Teal, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch,.
Wembury
A Water Pipit still along the beach near the sewage pipe but very mobile and flighty.
A Great Northern Diver and 3 Common Scoter (1 male) heading west offshore.
21 Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 3 Little Egret, 2 pairs of Mallard and Oystercatchers along the beach.
A light passage of around 300 Woodpigeon overhead in small, irregular flocks with 3 Stock Dove amongst them.
A Reed Bunting in amongst the Cirl Buntings, a Chiffchaff and Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker also of note.
River Mole Valley
In the bird mix fields 2 Kestrels and a Snipe along with 80 Chaffinches.In the orchard lots of migrant Blackbirds quarrelling with the residents also Goldcrest, Firecrest, Treecreeper, Marsh Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Bullfinch,Goldfinch, Fieldfare, Redwing, Meadow Pipit, Hawfinch, Siskin and Chiffchaff.600 plus Starling moving west with several hundred Fieldfare and Redwing.
Soar inc.Southdown Farm
Todays tally included 580 Stock Dove (240W 130E 210 grounded), 1040 Woodpigeon (520W 360E 160 grounded), 1040 Skylark – very high count for mid-November, Golden Plover, 5 Snipe, 22 Meadow Pipit, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Fieldfare, 27 Magpie, 38 Jackdaw (15W 23N), 405 Starling, 80 Linnet, 39 Yellowhammer & 19 Cir;l Buntings – both buntings very low so where are they?
Mount Batten
An hour’s stroll in the late morning produced a few odds-and-sods including 9 Turnstones, an adult Mediterranean Gull, a Razorbill and a Redwing.
Mutley area, Plymouth.
A good week for Firecrests. Today, Weds 22nd November, 10.00am, Firecrest seen and heard in some bushes in a garden at the eastern end of Houndiscombe Road, close to Mutley Plain. Possibly the same bird that I heard within Houndiscombe Park, on Tuesday 21st November.
