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Fremington and Roundswell
A morning walk from Barnstaple to Fremington along the Tarka trail and from Fremington back to Roundswell via Fremington Pill. Along the Tarka path there were around 10 Shelduck, a couple of Redshank & Great black backed gulls, half dozen or so Little Egrets, a few Mallard and a single Pheasant. In the trees on the last stretch before the Penhill tunnel there were two singing Chiffchaffs and one Blackcap. In Fremington Pill there were a few Teal, two Greenshanks, a few Shelduck, one Glossy Ibis, one Little Egret and a couple of Black tailed Godwit. Along the foot path between Tews Lane and Sainsburys there were about eight Blackbirds, a few House Sparrows and a Robin.
Skylark at Bench Tor
A lone skylark singing beautifully just below Bench Tor this morning at 11.30
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South Brent and the Exe
A visit to Exminster marshes just after first light gave views of 100’s of Sand Martin, walking along the canal path produced 6 Cetti’s Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 4 Skylark, a fly over by 3 Bar Tailed Godwit, 3 Long Tailed Tit, a Song Thrush in full voice, 108 Curlew, 3 Lapwing including one very territorial pair that drove off everything avian in their domain including any Wood pigeon that came along, a few Teal, 5 Little Egret, 2 Heron
Across the Exe mudflats from Turf, numerous Shelduck, Dunlin, Curlew, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plover and numerous Shelduck.
On leaving Peregrine and Kestrel on the pylons.
In the deer park at Powderham a single Egyptian Goose with a flock of Shelduck.
And a Tawny owl has just started to call outside.
Morte Point, Sunday 2 April
Wheatear 3
Wheatear 3
Common Scoter 1
Shag 2
Cormorant 1
Sand Martin 1
Kestrel 3
Rock Pipit 1
Raven 3
Swallow. Princetown
The first Swallow of spring at Princetown this evening flying around our field.
Burrator Reservoir
Around the dam: 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Yellowhammer, 1 Green Woodpecker (m), 4 Buzzards circling overhead, 1 Grey Wagtail in breeding plumage. 2 Siskin and a Great Spotted Woodpecker on a feeder in Sheepstor village.
Lower Tamar Lake
09:03-10:12
1 Willow Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 3 Goosander, 1 GC Grebe, Sand Martin, 2 Willow Warbler
Plym Estuary & Saltram
In this morning’s beautiful sunshine (low tide): Snipe, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker, Bullfinch (female), Linnet & 4 Roe Deer. (A single Black-tailed Godwit on Friday 31st March).
Back in my garden (Mount Gould, Plymouth), a calling Siberian Chiffchaff.
Crownhill Down
My first Willow Warbler of the year singing this morning. Also 7 Wheatear around.
Alpine Swift Teignmouth
Great views from St Michael’s Church of the one Alpine Swift before it came in to roost.
Teignmouth Alpine Swift
An alpine swift showed up at the church at 6.30pm tonight and gave us a brilliant show before we had to run for the bus, it didn’t go straight to roost. Brilliant bird!
East Lyn river, Brendon to Rockford
- 1 Grey wagtail
- 2 Goosander (m,f)
- Great spotted woodpecker (only heard)
- Nuthatch
Alston Lane, Churston, Paignton
Walking down the primrose and celandine clad Alston Lane, we spotted a Willow Warbler, a Yellowhammer plus 5 buzzards wheeling above the Dart.
Wrafton
Garganey still present on the scrape. 40 or so Sand Martins and 2 Otters over and in the pond. Lots of Chiffchaffs and a few Willow Warblers. Later 2 Swallows. 4 Gadwall in the reserve, along with 2 singing Blackcaps.
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.
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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
