Soar
13 migrant Buzzards moving generally eastwards in a north-westerly breeze mid-morning over Southdown Farm. 23 Chiffchaffs in Soar Mill Valley.
+1 Photo
Caen Estuary, Horsey, Braunton Marshes
Cycled along the Toll Rd to the White House hoping to see an Osprey over the Caen Estuary, Horsey & the Taw Estuary but instead had a Chiffchaff in full song in the garden of the White House & 2 Roe Deer in one of the grazing marsh fields on Braunton Marshes to the west of the Toll.
Also a Tractor Rally along the Toll Road while I was photographing the Roe Deer. At least 34 tractors but could have been a few more!
Powderham
Pair of Egyptian Geese with four young goslings.
Twenty plus Cattle Egret.
Wrafton
Garganey still present (on the smaller scrape this morning). Only one Black-tailed Godwit. Good numbers of Chiffchaff around, and drake Pochard on Wrafton Pond. A few Sand Martins over. Went back to the scrape later on and while looking over Sherpa for a Marsh Harrier, saw a female Hen Harrier instead.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
On this morning’s excursion, my first Willow Warbler of the year, 2 wheatears (male & female), Stonechat (male), Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher (male), 3 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 8 Greenshanks, 36 Turnstones, Wigeon, 3 Goosanders (1 drake) & 9 Roe deer.
+1 Photo
Cofton / Dawlish Country Park & Powderham
Distant but brilliant views of two Alpine Swifts above the Dawlish Country Park (Cofton Hill). Also displaying Sparrowhawks and Buzzards, a fly over Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Red Legged Partridge, Song Thrush and two Mistle Thrush.
Over at Powderham 32 Cattle Egret along with a handful of Little Egret. Kestrel on wires at Exminster.
Back home at South Brent five Buzzards passing over just on 5pm all headed west.
Livermead Torquay
Not common to see a wheatear on the beach at Livermead, Torquay, presumably arriving from an African journey
Croyde
A quick lunch before a dash to Croyde… Where it took us a while, but eagle-eyed Andy Leat caught it flying into a field beyond the sheep-filled field at the top of Middleborough Hill. A few Fulmar at Baggy point and at least one distant Manx Shearwater quite a way out heading South.
Sandwich terns at Slapton Ley
At least 2 sandwich terns arrived over the ley at 10.45 this morning, Torcross end.
Sandwich terns at Slapton Ley
At least 2 sandwich terns arrived over the ley at 10.45 this morning, Torcross end.
Bowling Green Marsh
Sightings between 09:00 to 11:30am included 2 Spoonbill, 1 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 3 Knot, 1 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 1 Bar Tailed Godwit with large numbers of Redshank and Black Tailed Godwit. Also 2 Pochard, Pintails, Tufted Ducks, Wigeons, Teals, Shovelers, Shelducks, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff and Sand Martins.
Alpine Swift: Berry Head, Brixham
Alpine swift x1 clearly seen at 11.30am on 25/03/23 off the end of Berry Head flying back and forth around the cliffs.
+1 Photo
Croyde hoopoe
On top of the hill and around the sheep field, on Middleborough Hill.
Hoopoe, Croyde
Found a hoopoe in the sheep field, atop Middleborough Hill, above Sandleigh Tea Rooms, Croyde.
Flighty, but staying around the top of the hill.
Wrafton Pond
16:30 to 17:15
Amongst the Sand Martins we counted 4 Swallows & 1 House Martin
flying low over the pond so the white rump was clearly visible.
Garganey on the larger of the scrapes.
Male wheatear Northam Burrows / Skern
Male wheatear singing by the beach at the Skern this morning.
Lynton
6 Male Wheatear, 1 female.2 Chiffchaff singing near Church.Increase in Meadow Pipits, no Stonechats but an increasingly nasty wind up through the valley.
Lower Tamar Lake
Lower Tamar Lake this morning.
3 Goosander 1m 2f, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2m Tufted Duck, 5 Sand Martin.
Note:
All the feeders except the ones at the hide will be brought in at the end of this month and put back out at the end of June.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
On this morning’s very big tide: 11 Snipe, 8 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, Wigeon, Red-crested Pochard (female), 3 Goosanders (1 drake), Kingfisher & Great Black-backed Gull (3rd cy) P:15F, ringed as a Pulli June 2021 at Portland Harbour, seen Newlyn 23/12/21 & last seen at Blaxton Meadow 15/1/23.
River Otter – Sand Martins
Walking south from Ottery St Mary’s this morning, I had 2 Sand Martins. Also 3 Goosander, 2 Grey Wagtail, Dipper and Kingfisher.
