Bird Sightings

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.

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.

Large female Sparrowhawk Griggs Close Northam 12.40pm gliding over gardens and suddenly dropping.

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.

Slapton ley in flight headed in to Ireland bay. 1200

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

23/5/23

teignmouth golf course 1 red kite over around 13.45 hrs

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.

A walk up the track to Middleworth, Deancombe and then over the Narrator Brook to

Outcombe copse, returning along the edge of the moor by Roughtor Plantation and

Narrator Farm ruins,  produced the following:

Redstart   3 singing males Middleworth/Deancombe

Blackcap  4 singing

Willow Warbler   5 singing

Chiffchaff    3 singing

Reed Bunting   1 singing Narrator Brook

Cuckoo   2 calling

Siskin   3 calling in plantation edges

Tree Pipit   only one heard near Narrator Farm ruins

Buzzard   one soaring over Roughtor plantation carrying a snake

also  two Red Deer hinds near Middleworth, and a young Grass Snake on road

Some time spent searching the copses at Deancombe and Outcombe for Pied Flycatchers.  None located with one box at Deancombe occupied by Great Tits

We saw a lone male Pied Flycatcher in the Heddon Valley, singing and displaying at a site we have seen a pair for many years. Sadly, no female.

23/05/2023 Male in flight at 21.30, followed by female at 21.32. Both birds seen regularly until leaving heath at 22.00. Very, very, brief ‘churring’ at 21.40 otherwise silent.

2 cuckoos heard calling on the moor by Cadover Bridge.

1 male seen multiple times calling from a fence and hawthorn.

Hen or Montagues 400m distant.

Seen from Meldon, flying roughly east to west, accompanied by two crows/ravens.

Red kite circling over fields near Bradworthy as silage was being collected at 6.30-7pm Tuesday 23rd May 2023.

Single bird circling low, along with a single buzzard, over valley of steep pasture and woodland NE of Kingsbridge around 1pm 23rd May. Seen whilst driving along narrow lane and unable to stop and watch but unmistakeable with buzzard as comparison.

Two Red Kite over Alphington at 5.30pm drifting high NE.