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Sidmouth
Dipper on ‘The Byes’ at Sidmouth yesterday.
Jenny Cliff
60 Redwings .
Venford Reservoir
1 Hobby early am.
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Knowstone moor
As I was passing by Knowstone Moor I spotted a pair of Stonechats and a pair of Meadow Pipits on some gorse bushes adjacent to the road.
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Avon Dam
Foggy at the dam this morning, but managed to get close to a group of 13 Goosanders resting and preening on the spillway, including the presumed immature male now almost in adult plumage. First seen at 0725, they were still there an hour later, well after sunrise (if it did rise).
Lower Tamar Lake
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.
Soar
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.
Taw Estuary – Barnstaple to Penhill Point
am – 1 Osprey flying west north west above the Taw Estuary from the Barnstaple direction then heading west south west over Penhill Point.
Exminster Marsh
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.
East Prawle
2 Choughs just west of Gammon Head, moving around Dekker’s Cliffs
Instow to Yelland
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.
Slapton Ley
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.
Cattle Egret at Upton Pyne
24 Cattle Egret feeding amongst cattle in a field adjacent to the River Exe just upstream from the Upton Pyne Treatment Works, visible from Stoke Woods.
Plym estuary & Saltram
At high tide on Blaxton meadow: 200+ Redshank, 11 Greenshank, still 4 Bar tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher. 2 Little Grebe on the river, 26 Turnstone by the old wreck. 12 Ring necked Parakeet, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, and a female Stonechat round the estate.
Isley Marsh to Instow
2 Redshank, 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 20 Grey Plover, 119 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 258 Oystercatcher, 1 GBBG, 4 Herring Gull, 12 Black Headed Gull, 14 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Spoonbill, 152 Teal, 38 Wigeon, 5 Canada Geese, 6 Pintail, 5 Cormorant, 1 Marsh harrier, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Rock Pipit and was surprised to see a Grey Seal.
Dartington Bittern
Flew up with a grumpy squak as I ran the last bit of the drive.18:30+Saturday
Elfordleigh Wood, Plympton
Tried to relocate yesterday’s Firecrests but only managed to locate a single Goldcrest. A big surprise was our first ever Ring-necked Parakeet for the area, it looks like the Saltram birds are spreading their wings. The rutting deer were still very vocal there this afternoon. Take care if you decide to visit.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
On this morning’s high tide, with over 200 Redshanks: 2 Snipe, 21 Dunlins, Common Sandpiper, 10 Greenshanks, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, ad-w Mediterranean Gull, Little Grebe & a Wigeon. Also, Firecrest, Green Woodpecker & a Roe Deer.
Velator quay to Braunton marsh
Very windy walking along the ridge towpath, lots of gulls, female kestrel trying to hunt despite the wind, in the fields across from the river.
30+ shelduck down towards the bottom of the marsh, the usual little egrets, a flock of approx 400 starlings in the field with horses in.
South side of Taw Estuary & Fremington Pill
On the way to Barnstaple & Fremington pill this morning met Jon Turner who was scoping the waders on Wrafton scrape. Side by side there were 2 smaller waders which were both sleeping one of which was slightly smaller than the Knot alongside which turned out to be a Reeve. Considering it was asleep so the bill was not visible & the bird was facing in the opposite direction, it was an excellent piece of identification by Jon.
On the south side of the Taw Estuary looking at the distant fields of sheep on the higher ground to the south of the trail there were 23 Cattle Egrets.
In Fremington Pill the foraging single Glossy Ibis was showing well.
