Bird Sightings

On the bus back to Barnstaple yesterday, a large number of cattle egrets were stood in a field just before the turnoff down to Yelland industrial site. A male goosander was seen on the Barnstaple side of the river Taw as we crossed the new bridge and late afternoon I was treated to 300-400 jackdaws swirling above my head, all calling to each other, at my home in Old Torrington Road.

First Firecrest of the autumn/winter in the garden this morning.

18 Cattle Egret put on a wonderful synchronised flying display today for the Torridge U3A Birdwatching Group.

Later several of us enjoyed the Grey Phalarope on Greylake at the end of the Skern Road near Appledore.

A visit this morning to Matford Marsh & Countess Weir end of Riverside Country Park.

On main marsh at Matford were 55 Wigeon, 47 Teal, 31 Mallard, 14 Shoveler, a Pintail, a Tufted & 2 Little Grebe.

Another 10 Teal on Riverside Country Park side. Also on that site a male Kingfisher, F Stonechat, M Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Redwing.

Midday at Blaxton Meadow there were 4 little egrets, 7 grey herons, at least 27 curlew, 3 dunlin, 1 greenshank, plenty of redshank, 14 oystercatchers and 3 turnstones, along with 4 mallard, 20 wigeon, 3 male and 3 redhead goosanders, 13 shelduck and 30 Canada geese.

Water Pipit feeding on the strand line east of the old boat house at the Point. It can be seen anywhere along this stretch, where there is a good supply of washed up kelp.

Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

5 Willow Tit, 2f Goosander, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 17 Great Black-backed gulls, c25 Snipe, 1 Jay.

Broadsands: this morning, 2 Firecrests, 1 chiffchaff, 6 Cirl Buntings. On the sea: 9 Great Northern Divers, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Common Scoter and a small grebe 1 mile away at Goodrington..

Goodrington: 1 Slavonian Grebe a rare bird in Devon now.

Monday 4.15pm. At least 2 Firecrest combing a hedgerow for invertebrates along the edge of the railway line close to the entrance to Powderham Estate, near Starcross.

A Kingfisher on the newly created salt Marsh.

Crownhill Down area: 4 Ringed Plover, 36 Golden Plover, 4 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon, 2 Crossbill (over), Marsh Tit, plus usuals.

Burrator Res: 4 Goosander, 7 Mandarin, Marsh Tit, c80 Fieldfare, plus usuals.

13:21-16:25

Highlights: Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Peregrine, Redwing, Fieldfare, Cetti’s Warbler (2+)

There were three Firecrests in Chudleigh this afternoon:

An unusual record, for here, of a flock of nine Fieldfares briefly visiting the garden this morning before continuing their westerly movement. Normally this only happens during cold weather movements.

In addition to David’s sightings, 2 female Goosanders upstream by the railway bridge, 4 Siskin with a flock of Goldfinch in the Alders. A great Black Backed gull with leg ring P:15F. At Mountbatten, 22 Great Black Backed gulls on the ferry landing stage, 3 Gannets in the Sound.

The usual suspects at Blaxton Meadow and the adjacent estuary and river this morning included 29 Shelduck, 36 Wigeon, 3 Goosander (a drake and 2 redheads), a Little Grebe, a Turnstone, 160 Dunlin, 13 Snipe, a Common Sandpiper, 207 Redshank and 10 Greenshank. Three Mandarin Ducks were on the Saltram duck pond and two Firecrests were also in the grounds.