Budleigh Ortolan Bunting
Ortolan Bunting still present early evening in stubble field adjacent to Budleigh Golf Course. Best viewed from public footpath at SY048817 and scan hedgerow to west.
Please be patient as bird spends long periods feeding in stubble and then perches in hedgerow for a few minutes at a time and gives good scope views. See digiscoped image above.
Riverside Country Park
A visit to fishing ponds near Double Locks. Reed Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff. 65+ House Martin on wires above Marsh Barton Station, along with 15 Swallow. Otherwise 2 Raven, Green Woodpecker & Jay. A second Jay on Alphington Brook suggesting post breeding dispersal started.
Saltram (Blaxton Meadow} 8.9.2023
Great Egret
At least two possibly three with Little Egrets by the sluice gate at 1430.
+1 Photo
Lyme Bay Cruise
On a guided Lyme Bay cruise from Brixham today highlights were: 12+ Great Shearwaters, 30+ Balearic Shearwaters, 100+ Manx Shearwaters, Pomarine Skua, Common Terns, 60+ Common Dolphin, 15+ Harbour Porpoise and 8 White-beaked Dolphins. Great Shearwater photo from Jim Hammersley
Plym Estuary
The 3 Great White Egrets were still present at Saltram this morning on the rising tide: 2 were beside the estuary on the other side of the embankment to Blaxton Meadow (visible from near the amphitheatre); the other was on the meadow itself by the sluice gates.
Velator reserve
At least 7 Cattle Egrets with the cows between the scrape, reserve and Tarka Trail this afternoon. NB: note to self; take binoculars…. doh
Green Sandpiper at Black Hole Marsh
One Green Sandpiper a Ruff , two Curlew Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper at BHM at 1300 hrs today
East Soar
Virtually no overhead migration but did get 7 Tree Pipit, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker moving up west through Starehole, 2 Jay likewise (bit early for autumn movement), Whinchat, 6 Whitethroat, 24 Robin, 11 Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Siskin & 30 Yellowhammer.
Horsey Island
Curlew Sandpiper amongst flock of 20 approx Dunlin and solitary Wheatear at crossbanks Horsey Island today, 8th Sept 1500hrs.
Taw Torridge walk to Horsey Island
Wood Sandpiper flew from marshy area at the end of Chivenor Airfield and headed towards Wrafton Scrape.
Escot Park – New Bird
This morning, I decided to take a different circuit around the park and check out the other lake, near the wood and not visible from the house. As I approached, I was rewarded with a calling Common Sandpiper, flying on stiff wings from one shore to the other. My 82nd species for this site and very welcome.
Saunton Sands
2 Curlew Sandpipers foraging along the foreshore with the Sanderling & Dunlin early this morning.
Curlew Sandpiper at Seaton Wetlands
September 6th. One Curlew Sand, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, 3 Dunlin, 1 Lapwing with good numbers of Redshank and Black tailed Godwit.
Crownhill Down
Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redstart, 3 Wheatear and 12 Mistle Thrush on a brief evening visit.
Rod Mudge
Lower Tamar Lake this morning.
1 Little Egret, 15 Coot, 2 Mute Swan, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Jay, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Cormorant, c30 Swallow, 8 Moorhen.
+1 Photo
Saltram
Early this morning on the Plym opposite Blaxton Meadow 2 Great White Egrets with Little Egrets and Grey Herons. Several Cormorants, Common Sandpiper and Mandarin Ducks.
Wryneck – Bantham Beach
Wryneck seen in a shrub on the sand dunes close to beach carpark and gastrobus at 1245 hrs. Also yellow wagtail feeding close to cows in field.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
The 3 Great White Egrets still on Blaxton Meadow at hight tide. Also today, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Oystercatchers, 15 Turnstones, 11 Greenshanks, 8 Dunlins, Common Sandpiper, 20 Cormorants, 21 Little Egrets, Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2+ Bullfinches & 2 Clouded Yellows.
North Devon Great Egrets.
4 Great Egrets on the Taw this morning. 2 in flight heading towards Chivenor & 2 on the sandbanks.
Velator reserve
Cycled along to the scrape this morning, again. And again nothing there, not sure the new drainage works have improved the conditions – it’s full of some green algae. However I noticed that the cattle have reappeared, and were idling over by the reserve. As I approached the reserve gate, they moved off a bit, and a single Cattle Egret flew up.
