Bird Sightings

Late for Lower Tamar Lake.

1 Great White Egret, 2 Willow Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Coot, 15 Wigeon, c200 Canada Geese.

A good day for Geese and Birds of Prey at RSPB Bowling Green Marsh today.

Approx 550 Canada’s including three leucistic birds and a hybrid which I suspect may be a Canada / Emperor goose cross, singles of Snow Goose, Grey Lag Goose and Barnacle Goose along with a Greylag hybrid and two Egyptian geese.

A Hobby went over the marsh, three visits by hunting Peregrines, the first a female went after the Black Tailed Godwit’s, another hunting female chased some Teal over the marsh and took one before losing its grip and losing the bird which dived into the water, a Tiercel then arrived and again went after the Teal without success.

100’s of Black Tailed Godwit (one colour ringed bird) arriving on the high tide along with 3 Bar Tails, singles of Ruff and Avocet, a small number of Curlew, and not as many Redshank as recently, 3 Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Lapwing

Ducks included Shelduck, Shoveler approx 20, large numbers of Pintail arriving over the high tide, Mallard, Teal in good numbers with lots of Wigeon arriving towards high tide and a single Gadwall drake.

2 swallows wheeling over Crediton just after sunrise this morning. Travel well.

At Wembury Beach this morning, a Water Rail was calling along the stream that flows through the meadow near the beach. Towards Wembury Point, two Lapwings were on the shore but were harassed by a Carrion Crow and flew off high to the west.

Small flock of 10 or so Fieldfares flew over Wrafton Pond and perched in a tree by the houses for 5 minutes at 1630. Nothing much else. Few Shoveler on the pond, some Teal, a Little Egret and a Grey Heron on the scrape.

Driving down Codden Hill about 3.45pm a flock of about 30 redwing flew overhead going south. On Monday morning there were over 300 starlings perched on wires in Windmill Lane, Northam and similar numbers on wires in Broadclose Road, Barnstaple before I left for work on Monday.

63 Blac-tailed Godwits on the scrape. 6 Shoveler and 3 Gadwall on Wrafton Pond + 2 Snipe. Over the reserve about 20 Redwings flew south. 15 or so Goldfinch.

Lots of redwings around Wonford and Whipton this morning.

60 Redwings .

1 Hobby early am. 

Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

1 Great White Egret, 1 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 11 Cormorants, 3 Grey Herons, 2 Grey Wagtails, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 21 Wigeon, 2 Mute Swan, 19 Black-headed Gull, 2 Coots.

Note:

SW Water has started pumping water from the Lower Lake, so water levels are dropping, Also the car park and the path from the car park past the hide to the road have been closed.

The only access is from the Aqua Trail to the weir.

This restriction will last at least until 04/12/22.

In gradually reducing wind, today: Dartford Warbler, 3 Firecrests, 7 Goldcrests, 15 Chiffchaffs, 2 Swallows, Blackcap, Siskin, Green Woodpecker, 8 Red-legged Partridges, 7 Teal, 3 Clouded Yellows, 2 Small Coppers & a Sika Deer.

am – 1 Osprey flying west north west above the Taw Estuary from the Barnstaple direction then heading west south west over Penhill Point. 

A rather uneventful early morning walk from Fisherman’s car park to Turf. 20+ Golden Plover, 24 Grey Plover, 30+ Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit being really the best of it. Though 1 Snipe landing in the road, wondering where all the water is. A thought most of us have. Plenty of the usual spp on the estuary itself, but no counts, but included 100+ Wigeon. 

2 Choughs just west of Gammon Head, moving around Dekker’s Cliffs

I suspect we met up with Barnabas this morning as the same birds were recorded by me. Only additions were 10 Lapwing on Isley marsh, 4 Ringed Plover and 2 Rock Pipits with 4 Meadow Pipits on the Cricket Pitch margins at Instow.

A visit with Phil Bentley today, highlight a 2W Little Gull at the Torcross end. Good overhead migration early on and an influx of crests – 15+ Goldcrests and 5-6 Firecrests , most around the bridge/Ireland Bay. 100+ Swallows with some Sand Martins, 20+ Chiff-Chaffs, 2 Bullfinch, 3 Reed Buntings and a few Siskin over.