Riverside Park
There has been a fall of willow warblers it seems, a number of them flitting about in the willows by the river this morning.
Bowling Green Marsh & Exminster Marsh
Birds on Bowling Green this morning very similar to Dave Smallshire, 3 Pochard, 7 Tufted, 35 Teal & 5 Snipe being the small difference.
This afternoon on Exminster Marsh Alpine Swift joined Sand Martins south of Lagoon from Discovery hide end, all be briefly. Seen at 1410, but lost after 5 minutes moving north. Marsh Harrier 2cy & 100+ Sand Martin only other birds of note.
Bowling Green Marsh
Early afternoon: 1-2 Little Grebes, 2 imm Spoonbills, 100+ Wigeon, c20 Shoveler, 3 Pintail, 5 Tufted, 2 Pochard, 1 Greenshank (R Clyst), 350+ Sand Martins, 1 Swallow, 2 Willow Warblers, several Chiffchaffs. No sign in visible air space of Alpine Swift reported over Exminster Marshes at 2:15 pm.
+1 Photo
Dawlish Warren
Yesterday on the Warren: Canada Geese, Brent Geese, Wood Pigeons, Magpies, Swallow 1, Dunnocks, Stonechats, Linnets, Greenfinches, Cirl Buntings, Skylarks, Oystercatchers, Curlew, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Little Egret, GBBG, Cormorant, Wheatears 2, Chiffchaffs, Song thrush.
Wrafton
Drake Garganey still on the scrape this morning in ‘challenging’ conditions. About 40/50 Sand Martins and a lone Swallow over Wrafton Pond. 4 Gadwall in the reserve.
Alpine Swifts, Dawlish
2 seen over Oakland Park at 11.45am
They didn’t hang around and headed West towards Teignmouth
+1 Photo
Fremington Pill
This afternoon along Fremington Pill there were four Shelducks, a few Teal, Redshanks, and Black tailed Godwits, five Greenfinches, one Robin, five Swallows, one Spotted Redshank, three Greenshanks and one Little Egret.
+1 Photo
Three Alpine Swifts at Teignmouth
Three Alpine Swifts insecting over railway station 5.40pm before going to roost 6pm St.Michael’s Church, Teignmouth this evening.
Croyde
The Hoopoe was seen this morning (not by me!).
Crownhill Down and Dartmouth
Crownhill Down area: 100+ Sand Martin, 2 Wheatear, 2 Golden Plover, Chiffchaff, Stock Dove, Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker plus the usuals around the down area between the showers this morning.
Little Dartmouth to Dartmouth: Two Firecrest in bushes between Compass Cove and Deadmans Cove. Also 8 Chiffchaff and one Blackcap along coast path.
Haldon Pier, Torquay
12 Purple Sandpipers in their usual roosting spot near the end of the Pier. 2 Turnstone in the harbour.
Two Alpine Swifts over Shaldon
Two Alpine Swifts over Shaldon, briefly, at 16:51, circling and slowly heading west.
North side of Taw Estuary
At least 10 singing Chiffchaff along the trail between Wrafton & Barnstaple + 1 vocal Blackcap at Pottington & 1 in the vegetated railway embankment at Barnstaple Station.
On the return journey the single Ruff still present at Ashford Strand.
Exminster Marsh
Visit this morning. Steady passage of sand martins and over 6 singing chiffchaff confirmed that spring is here, despite the weather. Several flocks of redshank totalled about one hundred at Turf. A flock of 40 black-tailed godwit was on the marsh alongside c20 curlew, c30 wigeon and c50 teal. A single marsh harrier was seen and a pair of buzzards displayed during a brief sunny spell.
An osprey was reported yesterday at Turf (9.30 am). Not seen today.
+1 Photo
Plymouth ~ Short Eared Owl
Plymouth, Greenbank, Chiffchaffs
Two Chiffchaffs still around the garden this afternoon at 3pm. One singing for a duration of 5 to 10 minutes. I first spotted what could be this same pair of birds in mid January.
Exeter
My first Willow Warbler was singing in Belle Isle Park this morning, one of the high points of every year.
Fremington Pill – Saltpill Duck Pond
1 Spotted Redshank , 3 Greenshanks , 2 Glossy Ibises , 5 Little Egrets , 6 Chiffchaffs , 50 Black-tailed Godwits , 50+ Sand Martins , 2 Swallows , 1 Blackcap & 3 Cetti’s Warblers .
Marsh Mills, Plymouth
Whilst travelling home yesterday at 17:30, large swift flew across the carriageway at marsh mills from plym estuary to plympton direction. Probable alpine swift.
Alpine Swift Teignmouth
- One Alpine Swift roosting on the north side of St Michael’s Church this evening. It must have finished feeding early so hadn’t been seen by the assembled crowd, difficult to see against black background but was easily picked up with a thermal scope.
