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Morte Point
For Mothers Day I invited my wife for a walk out to Morte Point and as luck would have it I had my camera with me when a pair of Shonechats appeared on top of some gorse. There were a few Linnets too (10-12). Also spotted a couple of Rock pipits and a Wheatear (my first one this year).
Valley of Rocks.
Leucistic Linnet, 2 Wheatear, 10 Fulmars,5 Stonechat, 3 Meadow Pipits,and on the sea mixed razorbills and guillemots over40 in number.
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Crownhill Down
SThis morning on Crownhill Down I counted 8 Wheatears, 12 Linnets, several Stonechats and many Skylarks. A Jay, Chaffinches, L.T. tits, Wrens and Dunnocks down the bridlepath’
Wrafton Pond and Scrape
At least 6 Chiffchaff, including 3 in song, Water Rail squealing, 3 Cetti’s Warbler, male Gadwall on pond, 30 Black-tailed Godwit on scrape.
Avon Dam
Fifteen roosting Goosanders at the Avon Dam this morning included a pair on the spillway, plus a separate group of 13 on the water comprising one adult male and 12 redheads, seven of which appeared to be immature males. All flew over the dam and downriver at 06:14.
Plym Estuary/Saltram
A morning walk along the estuary and through Saltram produced: 4 Goosander inc. 2 drakes (estuary near amphitheatre), 5 Mandarin Ducks and the long-staying female R-c Pochard (duck pond), Lapwing (Blaxton Meadow). Also a Siskin at Saltram and Chiffchaffs singing at 5 different widespread sites.
Wheatear, White Works, Dartmoor.
1050 today at White Works, Dartmoor my first Wheatear of the year in the enclosed fields below the houses. A stunning male.
Lower Tamar Lake
Lower Tamar Lake this morning.
1 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit 2 Bullfinch.
3 Whooper Swans were seen yesterday.
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.
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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
