Cadover area, Dartmoor
A dawn visit produced a Firecrest, with Goldcrests and tits in trees at Trowlesworthy Farm. Two Wheatear around the paddocks, two singing Chiffchaff and a Reed Bunting.
Alpine swift
Newton Ferrers 3pm 18/3/23 above the rear of Peters Field, seen from my garden.
Bold, powerful flight, came from south, then flew in a circle and away in an easterly direction.
Chiffchaff
1 Singing Chiffchaff, Grand Western Canal, Halberton.
Crossbanks & Horsey
4 more Wheatears this aft. 1 pair at Crossbanks & 2 males between Crossbanks & the White House.
Wrafton
The drake Garganey present for its 10th day on the scrape this morning. Drake Pochard on Wrafton Pond. Of interest in the reserve, a singing Chiffchaff, 6 Gadwall, and the shell of a recently hatched Woodpigeon’s egg. 40+ Sand Martins over Sherpa Marsh.
Exminster Marsh
0815-1310:
7 Wheatear (5m,2f) 1 Marsh Harrier (f), 2 Tufted duck, 1 Little Grebe in breeding plumage, 140+ Wigeon, 8 Chiffchaff, 4 Reed Bunting (2m,2f), 5 Skylark, and a pair of Buzzards circling overhead.
River Otter – upstream from Tipton St John
09:02-12:33
Highlights from a pleasant stroll, Goosander (M & F); Dipper; Grey Wagtail; Sand Martin (1) investigating river bank; Green Woodpecker.
+1 Photo
Otterton and Widworthy
Shelducks at L.O.R.P. yesterday and Marsh Tit (prob.) in Widworthy this morning.
Baggy
Early am – Counted 5 Wheatears in the mist & mizzle including a pair together. Probably a few more present but visibility an issue.
At least 20 Meadow Pipits & 4 pairs of Fulmar on usual nest site. 25 Jackdaws on Baggy Point & Skylark in the field above.
Soar
Female Wheatear below Bolt Head and male Wheatear also on undercliff. Chiffchaff in song & stacks of Rock Pipits on territory. No Alpine Swifts!!!
Bovisand-Heybrook Bay
Two Chiffchaffs singing at Bovisand. A male Wheatear on rocks near Heybrook Bay.
Wheatears Okehampton camp
2 male Wheatear by Moor brook. First of the year for me and the earliest I’ve seen them return here
Crownhill Down
Two Wheatear, two singing Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Reed Bunting the highlights this morning.
Otterton
Single Swallow on wires in Otterton.
Morte Point
1 male Wheatear showing well early evening.
+1 Photo
Wrafton Pond and small scrape
Between Wrafton Pond and the small scrape and on the small scrape were a Robin and the Garganey.
+1 Photo
Wrafton Pond
Around lunch time visit to Wrafton Pond where there were two Gadwall, two Little Grebe and a male Pochard.
+1 Photo
Wrafton Pond
Around lunch time visit to Wrafton Pond where there were two Gadwall, two Little Grebe and a male Pochard.
Wrafton Scrape
Late afternoon visit to the scrape and reserve: Drake Garganey once again on the larger scrape. No hirundines.
Westward Ho! Pebble Ridge
1 Male Wheatear feeding amongst the pebbles on the Pebble Ridge and then bathing in a puddle. Spring has sprung!
