Bird Sightings

Ahead of the first shower of rain there was an impressive movement of sand martins, some high and others close to the ground. Few other birds with them. The resident swallows at Turf appear to be back on territory with at least 3 pairs sitting on the moored boats in the canal.

On the high tide roost 3 spoonbill still. A mixed flock of waders included whimbrel, curlew, black-tailed and bar-tailed godwit. Over 20 little egret spread over the marsh and 2 cattle egret near the Lion’s rest industrial estate.

Singing blackcap, Cettis, sedge warbler and chiffchaff on the canal bank. Alongside Station Road singing sedge, reed and Cettis warblers. A single Egyptian goose with a group of Canada geese. One pair of Canada geese had 7 chicks. the first I have seen this year.

Just returned from a wet walk around the Marsh (rain with associated thunder) Large bird of prey being harassed by Shelduck while it hovered over the pond turned out to be the third Osprey I’ve seen in a week. Lots of Swallows and Sand Martins continued feeding unconcerned over the surface of the pond.

Mid afternoon, a Hobby circling high over Sherpa Marsh.

Guillemot in Plymouth Sound seen this morning from the end of Mount Batten breakwater.

Seen on 3 hour boat trip out from Brixham on Kelly’s Hero with Dave Saunders: 35 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Sandwich Terns, several Swallows all flying North , Harbour Porpoise, 4 x 2nd cy Common Gulls, Gannet, 2 Purple Sandpipers plus usual gulls and auks.  Distant views of large Shearwater sp.

A Lesser Whitethroat sang and showed, on and off, towards the top of the site up to about 10.30.

Nearby, the first Common Whitethroat of the year there, called and showed briefly.  2 male Blackcaps, 8+ Willow Warblers, 4+ Chiffchaffs, 2 female Wheatears, 4 Whimbrels, 10+ House Martins, 10+ Swallows, Great Northern Diver, 6 Sandwich Terns and 12+ Razorbills were also seen.  A Little Egret out, low down, on the western side of The Orestone was more unusual.

• Nice walk up the river before the rain came lots of bird activity reed bunting, chaffinch, goldfinch, meadow pipit,sand martin…highlight was not a bird but a stoat hoping across the stones from one side of the river to the other managing to keep dry apart from its tail

Quick dash round he reserve and part way down towards Sherpa Marsh early afternoon and for the first time in several weeks, no Hirundines. Compensation came in the form of a high-flying, circling Hobby.

Yesterday, 22nd Apr, saw first Swift of the year over Cowick Street.

3 Swallows around Rec by the river

Just for the record, Goosander numbers at Lower Tamar Lake

First seen 1m 2f 23/10/22

Last seen 1m 2f 01/04/23

Max 46 9m 37f 31/12/22 early count 07:30

Two Cuckoos were seen and heard this morning 08.05 on the moorland side of Meldon Reservoir, bottom edge of Longstone Hill in Hawthorn trees near the path.

18 Sandwich Terns.

First Swift of the year flying over Cowick Street, Exeter.

Sightings from Farmland at back of Oaklands wood.

• 20/4/23-  5 Wheatear, 1 female Redstart
• 21/4/23- 1 Wheatear

Constant passage of Swallows,House Martin and Sand Martin moving west to east past St.Nicholas Chapel mount.

CUCKOO Broadsands towards Elberry. Sitting in shrub at sea edge. Flew off towards Torquay. 9.30am.

Arrived today 22/04/23