Red kites Halwill junction
12 red kites on Sunday at 6pm . All flying one after another really high up heading towards Cornwall. Also cuckoo in cookworthy woods early Sunday morning
Haldon Hill
3 or 4 Nightjars at Haldon late evening, but seen well and we were away before 10p.m.
Stover
quick walk around stover produced, 2 separate broods of coots 3 and 4 respectively being fed by parent birds, 1 male tufted duck, single great crested grebe.1 treecreeper, 4 nuthatch and Swans still with all 9 cygnets
Dipper White Wood
One possibly two dippers seen today along the Dart in a walk from Venford Reservoir.
2 Red Kites spotted over Coombelake nr Ottery st Mary
Red kites spotted
Night Heron on River Exe
One briefly showing well on River Exe (SX 93181 90413) close to Double Locks pub around 1pm, before being flushed by kayakers and flying off behind trees in direction of Exeter.
Lopwell Dam
This morning at Lopwell, a Red Kite drifting North above the tree tops, eventually lost to view. Also, 10+ House Martins, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, and a Little Grebe.
Hunting Sparrowhawk Northam North Devon. 09.10hrs
Sparrowhawk observed hunting through back gardens eventually taking what appeared to be a House Sparrow and flying off.
Soar
Hobby over Higher Soar & 3 Swift in off sea.
Red Kite Braunton Burrows
Walking on J Lane towards the beach we noticed three soaring raptors, two were common buzzards the third was a Red Kite which had what appeared to be the hindquarters of a rabbit in its talons. It was taking bites from it in flight before dropping the remains. It then soared away south towards Crow and maybe Appledore.
Wrafton Scrape
The 4 Godwits still present this morning. Plus the two Swans, one of which (the cob I think) was wearing a yellow ring. Probably the Dorset-ringed bird of recent years.
Dippers on the Dart
This morning on the Dart near Venford: 3 Dippers and 2 Grey Wagtails
+1 Photo
Venford
This morning at Venford: Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Yellowhammers, Pied Flycatchers, Tree Pipits, Redstarts, Song thrush, Swallows
Land at Stoney Lane, Landkey.
Another morning spent clearing brambles and blackthorn that have taken over one area. Ravens and a buzzard overhead and a pair of bullfinches that came to the old cattle water trough for a drink. tried to photograph them but phone camera wouldn’t zoom in, as usual. GSW hammering away and a tawny owl calling.
Sparrowhawk Northam North Devon
Large female Sparrowhawk Griggs Close Northam 12.40pm gliding over gardens and suddenly dropping.
Wrafton Scrape
Arrived at the scrape about 09.30 to find the usual 2 Swans, plus the male Shelduck and 3/4 Herring Gulls. However having not seen any since 20th April I was pleased to find 4 Black-tailed Godwits resting (failed breeders already returning?). With them was a drake Shoveler and maybe his mate, but she was asleep so not sure. A lone Canada Goose may have been the male of the pair that have once again lost all their goslings in the reserve. 2 noisy Blackbirds alerted me to the presence of a Tawny Owl in the reserve.
Great White Egret
Slapton ley in flight headed in to Ireland bay. 1200
Dawlish 1 red kite Kenwood farm
23:5/23 approx 14.25grs top field of kenwood farm , Dawlish , 1 red kite low down and in no great hurry, probably same bird seen by Pete Boyne shortly before
Teignmouth golf course red kite
23/5/23
teignmouth golf course 1 red kite over around 13.45 hrs
Walls Hill, Babbacombe
An afternoon walk produced 2 kestrels, green woodpecker, bullfinch, greenfinch and blackcap among commoner species. butterflies included several small blue along the top of the south facing cliff above Redgate Beach, 2 wall brown, and orange tip.
