Exmouth
No sign of the Olive-backed Pipit this morning. I understand it wasn’t seen yesterday either, despite some extensive searching. Off Mudbank at 0840 – a female-type Scaup and drake Goldeneye. Also a Cetti’s Warbler in song at Lower Halsdon Farm. Yesterday off Mudbank – a Black-necked Grebe mid-afternoon and an immature drake Eider off Maer Rocks. For more Exmouth sightings go to www.gobirdingexmouth.blogspot.co.uk.
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Slapton Ley and Kingsbridge Estuary
A visit to the Slapton Ley and Kingsbridge estuary today.
On the sea off of Slapton a count of 39 Common Scoter. On the Ley three Golden Eye (1M & 2F) 10 plus Gadwall and numerous Tufted duck but not as many as seen in previous years.
Coots in large numbers but again not as many as seen in previous years, about 10 Great Crested Grebe and one Little Grebe.
Fifty plus Great Blacked Back Gull on the Ley and on Slapton beach. Little Egret and Heron, Water Rail heard calling.
Small birds included a flock of 12 Greenfinch, Cetti’s Warbler, Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, numerous Pied Wagtails, Rock Pipit and Stonechat.
Highlight was an adult female Marsh Harrier, the first I have seen at Slapton for some time.
Frogmore Creek ~ Little Egret, a single Black Tailed Godwit, Greenshank and a Grey Wagtail.
Kingsbridge Estuary ~ Heron, Little Egret, an estimated 300 plus duck on the estuary including Mallard, Shell duck, Wigeon and a drake Pochard. A hunting Peregrine flushed many of the smaller Waders, after it went over 60 plus Redshank and 40 plus Dunlin flew up towards Kingsbridge, a handful of Curlew and Oyster Catcher on the mudflats.
From the car park of the Crab Shell, Little Egret, three Greenshank and a small number of Redshank.
Sparrowhawks seen at Slapton and near Totnes.
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Colyford Common Isabelline Wheatear 21st Dec 2022
Isabelline Wheatear using the boardwalk as an advantage point to hunt out its prey. Looked stunning in the late afternoon sunshine .
Plymouth Hoe & West Hoe
Late Submission 20-12-22: Blackredstart’s (2m), Gr Northern Diver, Purple Sandpiper, Turnstones.
Olive-backed Pipit, Exmouth
Olive-backed Pipit still in Phear Park in Exmouth this morning., showing very well.
Spoonbill feeding off Starcross train station.
Immature male Eider, 6 Great Northern Diver and 16 Great Crested Grebe off the sea wall at Dawlish Warren.
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Instow
Forgot to mention the Curlew. Also I didn’t expect to see an active Butterfly just before Christmas.
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Instow
This afternoon on Instow Beach near the Cricket ground there were 100 or more Oystercatcher, 30+ Ring Plover, six Grey Plover, 30+ Turnstone, a small number of Wigeon on the water and a Kingfisher on the rocks.
Colyford Common
15:04 – 15:40
Isabelline Wheatear
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Saltram (River Plym)
Goosander 18, Mallard, L. Egrets, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Shelduck.
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Saltram (Blaxton Meadow)
Kingfishers 2, Wigeon, Shelduck, Dunlin, Redshank, Curlew, Snipe 10, Common Sandpiper 1, Stock Dove 1,
Clovelly Lakes
c20 Goosander, these look to have flown to Lower Tamar Lake 09:10
1 Buzzard, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Moorhen.
Upper/Lower Tamar Lake
Lower Tamar Lake
42 Goosander 14m 28f, Tufted Duck 8m 3f, 1 Grey Heron.
Upper Tamar Lake,
2 Redwing, 42 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 2 Wren, 2 Stone Chat 1m 1f, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Cormorant, 18 Wigeon, 6 Great Crested Grebe.
Southdown Farm, Soar
Today’s tally inc.172 Cirl Bunting, 26 Yellowhammer, 410 Skylark, 20 Teal, 100 Goldfinch, 4 Snipe, 3 Golden Plover & 6 Song Thrush.
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Ilfracombe
Other photos from today
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Ilfracombe
Today around Capstone Hill where there were two Rock Pipits, a Black Redstart and a Whimbrel feeding on the rocks.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
A sharp increase in Dunlins, to 405, on this afternoon’s high tide at Blaxton Meadow. Also there – Grey Plover, 6 Snipe, 5 Turnstones, 4 Greenshanks, 2 ad-w Mediterranean Gulls, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2+ drake Teal & 41 Wigeon.
Lower Tamar Lake
Lower Tamar Lake this morning.
23 Goosander 8m 15f, 7 Willow Tit, 4 Marsh Tit, 3 Coot, 3 Nuthatch.
Berrynarbor&
Adding to the many posts of winter thrushes, Redwing, Fieldfare, large numbers of Blackbirds and even Blackcaps have feasted on these crab apples during the last few days. Other years it has remained untouched.
Noss Mayo
2 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 11 Blackbird, Song thrush, 2 Blackcap m.f. plus Great, Blue and Coal tits, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Robin Pigeon and Pheasant. All in garden the thrushes and Blackcap feeding on Malus crab apples. of note this year fewer Great tit and LTT.
Ford Park Cemetery
A Brisk walk around FPC this morning saw Green & GS Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Greenfinch, Redwings & Fieldfare.
