Bird Sightings

Crownhill Down area: 100+ Sand Martin, 2 Wheatear, 2 Golden Plover, Chiffchaff, Stock Dove, Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker plus the usuals around the down area between the showers this morning.

Little Dartmouth to Dartmouth: Two Firecrest in bushes between Compass Cove and Deadmans Cove. Also 8 Chiffchaff and one Blackcap along coast path.

12 Purple Sandpipers in their usual roosting spot near the end of the Pier. 2 Turnstone in the harbour.

Two Alpine Swifts over Shaldon, briefly, at 16:51, circling and slowly heading west.

Visit this morning. Steady passage of sand martins and over 6 singing chiffchaff confirmed that spring is here, despite the weather. Several flocks of redshank totalled about one hundred at Turf. A flock of 40 black-tailed godwit was on the marsh alongside c20 curlew, c30 wigeon  and c50 teal. A single marsh harrier was seen and a pair of buzzards displayed during a brief sunny spell.

An osprey was reported yesterday at Turf (9.30 am). Not seen today.

Two Chiffchaffs still around the garden this afternoon at 3pm. One singing for a duration of 5 to 10 minutes. I first spotted what could be this same pair of birds in mid January.

My first Willow Warbler was singing in Belle Isle Park this morning, one of the high points of every year.

1 Spotted Redshank , 3 Greenshanks , 2 Glossy Ibises , 5 Little Egrets , 6 Chiffchaffs , 50 Black-tailed Godwits , 50+ Sand Martins , 2 Swallows , 1 Blackcap & 3 Cetti’s Warblers .

Whilst travelling home yesterday at 17:30,  large swift flew across the carriageway at marsh mills from plym estuary to plympton direction. Probable alpine swift.

A pair of goosanders

5pm 28/3/23

On the river Ashburn.

Garganey still present on the scrape this morning with about 20 Black-tailed Godwits, and a few Teal. Good numbers of Sand Martins flying low over the surface of Wrafton Pond. 2 singing Willow Warblers with a host of feeding Chiffchaffs. Goldcrest, several Chiffchaffs and 2 more singing Willow Warblers in the reserve. Best was singing Blackcap. Walked around Sherpa Marsh this evening and once again saw many Sand Martins but only 2 Swallows. Female Sparrowhawk caused a major alarm, but none taken. Garganey still present.

Late aft/early eve:- In the tidal channel between the Tarka trail & Bassett’s Ridge were 3 Goosanders (1m + 2f). Also 10 Black -tailed Godwits & half a dozen Redshank. No Pintail present.

South of the shelter 7 Bar-tailed Godwits. At Ashford Strand a female Red breasted Merganser.

Enjoyed our first hirundines this year, 5 Sand Martins catching insects in the rain.

Yesterday, in warm sunshine, my first singing blackcap of the year amid the chorus of chiffchaffs.

3 Chiffchaffs calling from the trees near Hyde Barton, Two Greenshank on the mud by the floating crane along with Redshank, Oystercatcher and 6 Teal. No sign of the Kingfisher that was present yesterday.

Great White Egret 3, male Ring- necked Duck 1 , Water Rail, Kingfishers 2, Chiffchaffs 50+ , Blackcap 2 , Firecrest 1.