Ringing
Retrapped a Chiffchaff on Tuesday which wasn’t one of mine. Details back today that it was ringed in Ireland earlier this year.
Also had details of another one of my Storm Petrels which was ringed at Hartland Point last year. This one turned up at Bardsey nearly a year later.
East Soar
Afternoon visit turned up late Reed Warbler at Starehole Ponds plus 17 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 26 Long-tailed Tit (Soar site record), migrant Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Alba Wagtail & 150 Skylark. 30 Woodpigeon flying east may be the start of the autumn migration.
Redwing
Five over RHS Rosemoor, Torrington. Also Chiffchaff in garden
Saltram Park – Yesterday
Whilst walking through the park heard the unmistakable squeal of a Water Rail, not heard since March. Also a pair of Kingfishers near Laira Bridge.
Old Torrington Road, Barnstaple
Throughout the morning there have been small groups of starlings passing over our house culminating with a flock of 50+ at about 1pm, all heading east to west
Firecrest
Two Firecrest this morning. one at Labrador Bay the other on Shaldon Cliffs
Dutson
A single, rather lonely Swallow over Homeleigh this afternoon. At least it was heading South!
+1 Photo
RSPB Bowling Green Marsh
RSPB Bowling Green Marsh at first light this morning, approx 200 Canada goose, that flew out soon after daylight, 26 plus Bar Tailed Godwit and simply 100’s of Black tailed,150 plus Pintail duck, good numbers of Teal and a few Wigeon, 5 Shelduck, two Little Egret, one Heron, Redshank in the 100’s, one Spotted Redshank, one Ruff, a single Avocet, two LBBG, Kingfisher, calling were Green Woodpecker, two Water Rail and a Cetti’s Warbler.
A single Lapwing was joined by a flock of about thirty birds, some 250 Curlew six of which were new birds that I have not seen previously that had been ringed by the Exe & Axe Curlew project, the usual ringed birds including the three flagged birds that have been regulars were not to be seen on this visit.
On leaving two Stock dove flew over the lane.
+1 Photo
Saltram – Late News 11 October
On Blaxton Meadow the first four Wigeon that I’ve seen this season and at least three Bar-tailed Godwits and eight Greenshank among the regulars. Several Goldcrests were on site, but I didn’t find any firecrests. This regular Buzzard was looking too…
Ilfracombe
Whimbrel feeding on rocks along with 7 Oystercatchers below Windy Corner Capstone
Plym Estuary & Saltram
A bit of change today, with my first Reed Bunting of the year here, first Wigeon and Snipe of the autumn and a late Tree Pipit. Also, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 13 Greenshanks, 2 Common Sandpipers, Little Grebe, Teal, Kingfisher, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Firecrests, Grey Wagtail, Stonechat & 2+ Siskins.
Soar
Main additions to Rob’s sightings today: 3 Firecrests, 12 Blackcaps, Wheatear, Reed Bunting, 2 Great Spotted & a Green Woodpecker, Cetti’s Warbler, 13 Teal, 6 Clouded Yellows & a Painted Lady.
East Soar
A rather uneventful four hour stretch highlighted by hunting Merlin and migrant Dartford Warbler on Bolt Head. Movements of Stock Dove 3E, Skylark 14W 56E, Meadow Pipit 130 inc.20W, Alba Wagtail 14W 2E, Song Thrush 2N, Starling 8E, Chaffinch 7W, Goldfinch 8W & Siskin 6W. Also: Golden Plover, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 25 House Martin, 4 Swallow, 16 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest & 13 Cirl Bunting.
Tuesday October 11th Wembury Point 11:30
Juvenile Dartford Warbler seen in the gorse near the junction of the tarmac track up from the point and the top path from the car park.
Great White Egret
Further to the reporting of 3 great white egrets on the Exe estuary yesterday. One of the birds carried a red colour ring with white letters ABV. the RSPB have confirmed that this male bird was rung on 12th May 2022, in the nest, at RSPB Ham Wall on the Avalon marshes in Somerset. So far it’s been reported only from Cambridgeshire – long flights between different parts of the country are not unusual, but this is the first one for this bird. Please let me know if you saw this bird after 11.00am yesterday.
Dart Estuary
Great White Egret, Osprey and Great Crested Grebe in the Galmpton to Sandridge section this morning, plus 45 Cormorants, 24 Little Egrets several hundred gulls (BH and HG, and one or two GB and LB). But no swans, geese or ducks, and 10 Oystercatchers were the only waders seen.
Velator area
This morning the scrape had about 50 Godwits, but no sign of the other species noted by Rob yesterday. Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail in the reserve, with a large party of Long-tailed Tits with several Blue and a couple of Coal Tits. A few (5) Greenfinches marks the start of them arriving here for the winter, after a single female was ringed on Saturday.
Had another visit to the scrape this evening and found more Godwits (70+) but again nothing else, but after a while, the flock increased to 90 with a single Knot. No sign of the Spoonbill. But 2 female-type Marsh Harriers over Sherpa reed-bed. A flock of several hundred Golden Plover was seen over the estuary in the distance.
Down Tor Burrator
First winter Ring Ouzel (m) sighted on the north side of Down Tor.
+1 Photo
Totnes Sewage Treat. Wks Black Redstart
Walking across site a flash of rusty orange grabbed my attention. Only had a tablet camera on me. We watched each other no more than 7m apart, the visitor occasionally bobbing up and down. Sun light caught its tail feathers wonderfully as it took flight. Pencilled in either female or 1st winter male Black Redstart. Hope I’m right as will be first recording for the site.
Soar Mill Valley & Southdown Farm
Easterly movement of 21 Swallow, 20 House Martin, 3 Starling plus 6 Siskin west; 100+ Gannet offshore, 180 Meadow Pipit, 77 Goldfinch, Grey Wagtail, 11 Rock Pipit, 4 Song Thrush, 15 Cirl Bunting & 6 Chiffchaff.
Non-avian: 5 Roe Deer, Clouded Yellow, 16 Red Admiral & 4 Speckled Wood.
