Juvenile Osprey.
Osprey Over The Plym Estuary 10.30 This Morning, Viewed From Saltram.
Crownhill Down
Single Little Stint with 12 Ringed Plovers and about 15 Dunlins late morning today. Also 3 Teal & 2 Black-headed Gulls among the Herrings, LBB & GBB.
Caen Estuary
In amongst a flock of c150 Dunlin on the west side of the Caen Estuary were 6 Curlew Sandpipers. As the rising tide covered more of the mud on the west side these flew to the exposed mud on the east side of the Caen Estuary later on.
The Osprey is still around & was seen again at around 12:30.
Saltram
Osprey fishing in river plym st 10.30 now on its favourite perch
Blaxton Meadow Plymouth
On the meadow before high tide were the following. Bar t Godwit, 12 Greenshank, 21 Oystercatcher, 34 Curlew, 11 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper,145 Redshank and a Kingfisher. Also of note, a dead Gannet is on the meadow, NT have been informed.
Fremington Pill & Saltpill Duck pond
1 Osprey, 1 Great Egret & 2 Glossy Ibis.
Braunton Marsh leucistic Martin
Whilst watching a distant flock of Hirundines on Braunton Marsh this afternoon I spotted a completely white swallow or Martin in amongst them. Never seen this before. Previously I bumped into Jon Turner who was kind enough to let me see a Curlew Sandpiper through his scope, having left mine at home.
West Charleton Marsh
Superb views of obliging Black-tailed Godwits on Charleton Marsh this evening, 18 present. Also Cattle Egret, 12 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint, 7 Knot, Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, Redshank, 6 Snipe, 10+Yellow Wagtail and Kingfisher.
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Around the Exe
Up around the Exe today :~
Powderham :~ 21 plus Cattle Egret seen to fly from the Exe and over the deer park at Powderham, a few minutes later 16 Cattle Egret seen roosting on the old boat hulk on the Exe.
Little Egret, Heron, Redshank, 2 Greenshank , 7 Dunlin, Curlew, Oyster Catcher, one ringed with the local blue and yellow ring combination and Black tailed Godwit.
Good numbers of Teal on the Rv Kenn.
From the Goat Walk :~ Osprey, initially on its usual post off of Exton, it then flew down the Exe and was fishing off of Starcross, Dunlin in their 100’s and in the flocks at least 4 Curlew Sandpiper and 9 Ringed Plover, 9 Knot, 2 Black Swan, 14 Little Egret and several distant Curlew.
RSPB Bowling Green Marsh :~ Ruff, 2 Common Sandpiper, adult Mediterranean Gull, large numbers of Black Headed Gull including a leucistic specimen, 2 LBBG, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Spoonbill, 25 Little Egret, 5 Heron, Coot, almost constant passage of House and Sand Martin, 3 Greenshank, 120 plus Curlew including several ringed birds including two flagged head start project birds, two birds fitted with GPS type transponders, calling Water Rail, two Peregrine sightings, 2 Whimbrel, at least seven Curlew Sandpiper, several Knot, Spotted Redshank, large numbers of Redshank one with a blue tag ring, Black Tailed Godwit and Dunlin in large numbers. In excess of 100 Canada geese.
Duck species included Mallard, 6 Pintail, Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, good numbers of Teal and Wigeon.
The first day of this autumn season where there have been large numbers of birds in evidence, which is very reassuring given the present avian flu situation and reports.
Braunton Toll Road
Walked down to Crossbanks to check the Wader flock. A busy lot of Dunlin (60 or 70?) had within it single Knot, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Curlew Sandpiper. Nearby 1 Redshank and 7 Greenshank. Today’s disturbance was from a crab tiler waiting for the tide to drop enough to get at the tiles.
On the way home cracking views of the adult female Marsh Harrier at Sherpa.
Exminster Marshes
Mid morning visit. On the lagoon 5 ruff, 5 knot, 3+ black-tailed godwit and a little stint. Also 3 cattle egrets flew in to drink. A wheatear was on the lagoon’s bank.
Amongst the roosting gulls, mostly black-headed, in the field towards Turf were a further 9 cattle egrets and a single lapwing. Later in the morning there were 26 cattle egrets roosting on the lagoon bank and a further 9 with cattle to the south.
At Turf 2 sandwich terns and an adult Med gull moulting into winter plumage. The juv marsh harrier was seen near the lagoon and again over a recently cut field next to Station Road with 2 common buzzards and 2 kestrels.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
Highlight this morning was a juv Curlew Sandpiper which circled Blaxton Meadow but, unfortunately, didn’t land – the first patch record for 10 years. The juv Osprey was on its favoured perch in Saltram early afternoon (and still present at the time of writing, as viewed from my house) and 3 Sandwich Terns frequented the lower estuary. Also, 12 Greenshanks, 20 Oystercatchers (both good counts for the patch), Common Sandpiper, 2 Kingfishers, ad-w Mediterranean Gull, Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Stonechats & 3 Roe Deer.
Late post from Kennick Reservoir and Christow
During an evening visit to Hennock Reservoirs 6 teal, 3 common sandpiper, one little grebe, 6 tufted duck and maybe 30 or so mallard. Water levels exceptionally low in the reservoir so lots of ‘beach’ and mud. Also, earlier in the day over the house, peregrine seen in an encounter with a drone. Irritatingly, drone being used to film an adjacent property to go on the market so over peoples gardens and houses. The peregrine appeared from nowhere to investigate, although didn’t make contact.
Wrafton area
Wrafton Pond Duck bonanza! Well almost! Some Teal – unusual here, 5 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler and best were 2 Pintail.
In the reserve, 3 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, and a host of Blue Tits in a large Tit flock also containing GSW, several Chiffs, a few Chaffinches, a Great Tit, LT Tit and also present 15 or so Goldfinch.
Bowling Green Marsh
07:44 – 11:07
Osprey on post (River Exe), Curlew Sandpiper and Kingfisher from viewing platform.
Marsh – Spoonbill; Ruff (1); Mediterranean Gull (1); Curlew (140+); Whimbrel (1); Yellow Wagtail (2); Knot (1); Dunlin; Common Sandpiper; Pintail (4); Snipe; Wigeon; Teal; Shoveler; Redshank; House and Sand Martin; young Shelduck (4).
Fremington Pill & Home Farm Marsh
2 Glossy Ibis , 3 Greenshanks , 1 Dunlin , 1 Osprey ,1 Great Egret , 1 Juvenile Buzzard , 2 Common Sandpipers , 3 Water Rails , 10 Snipe , 2 Cetti’s Warblers , 9 Widgeon & 1 Kingfisher.
Aylsebeare Common
Today at Aylsebeare Common I spotted this Dartford Warbler hiding in a distant gorse bush.
Exminster Marsh again
A second visit today. Marsh Harrier Juv, 5 Knot, 5 Ruff, a distant Stint were highlights of evening visit to Exminster Marsh.
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Mortehoe
The highlights on a late morning circular walk at Mortehoe were many stonechats, a kestrel, a pair of ravens, one female wheatear, one wren, 10+ oystercatchers on the rocks below, a pair of fulmar, 6 gannets further out. On the gorse was a mixture of a few willow warblers and chiffchaffs, which were difficult to separate until I could study my photos. I believe that the willow warblers had paler legs and a more prominent supercilium, and possibly slightly longer wings, but please correct me if I’m wrong!
Yelverton/Yennadon Down/Burrator Area
A rather late Swift was with a mixed flock of Swallows and House Martins near Yelverton this morning. Over the last three days, at Burrator/Yennadon Down area, there have been a few scattered Redstarts, single Spotted and Pied Flycatchers and a few Wheatears. In addition to the usual large flocks of Goldfinches present at this time of the year, there have been flocks of up to 60 Linnets, mainly juveniles. I don’t normally see this sort of number, so presumably they’ve had a good breeding season.
Burrator Reservoir currently only has a single Common Sandpiper, wader-wise. The Little Ringed Plover stayed for 3 days but wasn’t seen after August 23rd. A group of 11 Goosanders, predominantly juveniles, have been regular. Crossbills have been seen daily, attracted by the current abundance of cones.
