Bird Sightings

16.12

A Red Kite flew south, along the northbound carriageway of the A380, close to the roundabout.

Well what a great day. Cycled down from Exeter hearing the news about a Little Bittern on the way down. So first on site at about 0945. At about 1110 a male Little Bittern showed well just south from Fisherman’s car park, slowly working its way north along the ditch. It eventually flew across to main pond, when I left it at 1310. On arrival also a Little Ringed Plover out on the main marsh, a Yellow Wagtail flew north and later a Great White Egret flew south (thanks to Dave Boult). Otherwise 300+ Sand Martin, 26 Teal, 2 Shoveler, Green Woodpecker, 4+ Skylark & male Kestrel.

On cycle down, two other Green Woodpeckers, 4+ House & 6+ Sand Martin at Countess Weir along with male Reed Bunting. And a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker above Double Locks.

Also first Orange Tips out. 6 spp of Butterfly along route.

• 1 Reed Bunting. 3 Blackcap male,2 female.2 Whitethroat, 6 pairs Chiffchaffs and 1 Swallow near white bridge.

A rewarding outing to Slapton today. Sightings included: the male Ring-necked Duck, 42 Tufted Duck, 3 Great Northern Divers, the Black-throated Diver, two Mediterranean Gulls, 9 Sandwich Terns, 30+ Swallows, 20+ Sand Martins, a House Martin, and a Wheatear. Several Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Reed Warblers were singing.

Single swallow hawking the fields to the North of the Otter Estuary.

Viewed this morning about 11,30.

12:30

Little Bittern

Whilst enjoying the sunshine in my garden this afternoon I was very excited to see a red kite above, being harassed by gulls, heading east.

A morning trip to Horsey and Sherpa Marsh.

20+ Ringed Plover, Buzzard,Shelduck and Swallows  at Horsey.

At Sherpa, Reed Bunting, Great Tits calling and just as I was packing to go, Osprey flew over the reserve heading North East.

Final Reminder – The 2023 Annual General Meeting tonight at the Exeter Court Hotel EX6 7UX at 7pm. Followed by a talk by John Walters entitled “30 years of Wildlife Watching in Devon”

1. My local patch list at Escot Park moved on to 78 this morning with a singing Willow Warbler. Also a couple of Swallows were the first for the year for me at this site and a Dipper was on the Tale yesterday.

Whimbrel in large pit at top of the down (flew off at 08:25), Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, 12 Willow Warbler, 4 Wheatear, 6 Chiffchaff and Cormorant the highlights.

Big Common Buzzard passage this afternoon from 1500 hrs to 1830 hrs involving 89 birds moving ENE. Movement only began when the sun broke through the clouds. Second highest ever count in Devon and probably UK according to BTO.

Earlier in the day over Fir Wood at Soar,  2 Buzzards  talon grappling and tumbling towards the ground before parting – don’t often see this!

Cuckoo heard calling in Combe Martin just after 6pm this evening.

Small fall this morning with 40 Willow Warbler, 41 Chiffchaff, 33 Blackcap, 50 Swallow, 8 Sand Martin, female Redstart, Common Whitethroat, singing Reed Warbler (been here since 9th) and singing Firecrest.

Grasshopper warbler – 1 reeling, whitethroat 1, whimbrel 2, blackcap 1 female, swallow 2