Bird Sightings

A pair of Ospreys observed over the mill pond searching fruitlessly for fish for 20 – 30 minutes, many dives into the water,but no success at all. Also, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets, Black Headed Gulls and Herring Gulls.

A cycle from Marsh Barton to Turf Hotel and beyond. Most birds were from viewing platform. Teal 140+, Shoveler 15+, 7 Gadwall, 5 Wigeon, Little Grebe & 52+ Coot. Mostly on the lagoon. 96 Dunlin (3 Curlew Sand seen earlier), 65 Curlew, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Barwit on the wet marsh in front of VP. Also 9 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 1 Ruff & 1 Greenshank over.

4 Cattle Egret with cattle by railway line path, later 4+ seen just south of M5.

Ad female Kestrel, adult Sparrowhawk, 200 Starling, 60-70 House Martin along whole marsh, 20+ Swallow & a single Sand Martin.

Wheatear on estuary wall south of Turf. 25+ Goldfinch & 15+ Linnet at VP or by Turf.

lots of Red Admiral & Migrant Hawkers.

A Turtle Dove flushed out of the hedgerow near the sewage farm by a hunting male Sparrowhawk was a surprise this morning at Wembury. It flew around in a broad loop and landed briefly in the stubble field before flying off inland, narrowly avoiding being taken out by the still present  Sparrowhawk.

A few waders still present along the beach on the high tide – 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Curlew, 2 Ringed Plover, c.20 Turnstone and Oystercatchers.

An adult Sabine’s Gull, still with a largely dark hood, flew west past Wembury Point this morning. Also at least 11 large shearwaters sp. flew east between 7.20 and 9.20. Although too far to be identified, they were most likely Cory’s Shearwater as 50 were seen flying past Rame Head during the same period (BirdGuides).

A juvenile Little Grebe new in this morning (unusually on Blaxton Meadow). Also, Peregrine, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, 12 Greenshanks, 22 each of Grey Herons & Little Egrets and Redshanks have now reached over 200.

11.30 -12.30

2 sandwich terns, 25 oystercatchers one being leucistic, 18 black backed gulls and the usual herring gulls all braving the heavy rain on the sandbank as the tide dropped

Before the thunderstorm and rain, a single Cattle Egret was on the meadow with 20 Little Egrets, single Black-tailed Godwit, 199 Redshank, 11 Greenshank and 28 Curlew. Also present were 3 Teal and a Kingfisher.

Late for Saturday.

Lower Tamar Lake.

1 Green Sandpiper,1 Little Grebe, 12 Coot, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 9 Moorhen, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Tawny Owl calling close by.

Tim Jones reports 4 Great White Egret and a Cattle Egret at Horsey Island on this morning’s WeBs count. Another Cattle Egret at Velator.

An Osprey on the Exe just north of Powderham Bridge across railway line at about 1540, and again at 1555, this time with a fish heading north. Same bird due to left wing primary damage. 330+ Curlew from Turf Hotel. Wheatear on estuary wall just south of Turf. 15+ Goldfinch. 2 Great Crested Grebe on river.

On marsh in front of viewing platform on Exminster Marsh. 7+ Ruff, 5 Snipe, 26 Blackwit, 30 Teal & 6 Shoveler. 30+ House Martin & 12+ Swallow over & 15+ Goldfinch.

Visit to coincide with high tide this morning. Viewing from the canal bank. Lots of waders including c300 dunlin, 8 black-tailed godwits, 6 snipe, 4 whimbrel, c12 curlew, 7+ ruff, 2 (possibly 3) little stint and at least one curlew sandpiper.

On the canal bank several chiffchaff. At Turf 2 greenshank flying around.

On Blaxton Meadow at high tide, this morning: Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Greenshanks, 18 Little Egrets & a (female) Kingfisher. 2 Common Sandpipers on the estuary.

Excellent garden tick in the rain this morning,a Wryneck perched up on a phone wire!

Seven Grey Herons over Northam 08.50hrs flying West.

A Wryneck (again briefly in scrub adjacent to the wood between Mid and East Soar), 3 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Tree Pipits, 3 Siskins, 3 Sand Martins, 9 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, Grey Wagtail, 29 Yellowhammers, 3 Bullfinches & Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

This morning’s high tide:

194 Redshank, 11 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Kingfisher, Black T Godwit, Snipe, approx 20 House Martin over cattle.

Late post for yesterday, Firecrest in garden – unusual here!