Male Goosander – Bovey Tracey
Male Goosander spotted on the River Bovey through the centre of Bovey Tracey this lunchtime (1st Feb).
Also single Female Goosander seen at Stover Country Park who flew off to the South around 09:30 .
Barnstaple to Ashford.
15 Curlew,9 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone ,28 Dunlin, 1 Pintail,3.Male Goosanders,5 Black -tailed Godwit, 2Common Sandpipers, 1 Snipe and large flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover.
Rackerhayes Ponds, Kingsteignton
- 1/2 – 11.30am.
- Bar headed goose with Canada geese flock at Rackerhayes Ponds. Probably an escapee but didn’t have binoculars to confirm any leg rings (I was fishing!).
Cholwichtown Pit, Lee Moor
Female Goldeneye still on the pit this afternoon.
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THREE’S COMPANY, FOUR’S A CROWD
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN TORBAY, LIGHT WIND AND SUN. NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF BIRDLIFE ON THE WATER EXCEPT FOUR GND’S, A PSSIBLE BLACK NECKED DIVER AND A COUPLE OF GREATER BLACK BACKS. SMALL BIRDS APLENTY AND A BLACKBIRD SINGING AS THOUGH IT WERE SPRING.
Hooded Crow Shaldon
Hooded crow great views on shaldon edge of salty viewed from clipper cafe, also 35 shelducks further inland at ringmoor.
Broadsands Torbay
On Sea: 30+ Common Scoter, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 4 Great Northern Divers, 2 Wigeon.
Around car parks: 2 Chiffchaff, 9 Cirl Buntings, 1 Reed Bunting.
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Tory Brook, Plympton
Always nice to see our local Dipper on the brook, waiting for a mate to turn up.
Baggy Point
A dozen Fulmar on and around the cliffs at the point. 2 very close views of a Raven, 2 Shag and looking at the flock of mostly Black-headed Gulls on the rocks by Croyde beach, at least 2 Mediterranean Gulls.
Migrating Lapwings – Denbury to Ashburton
c1300hrs fascinating sight of a migrating flock of over 100 Lapwing flying very high from Torbay, over Denbury and last seen approaching Ashburton towards Dartmoor – a westerly movement.
Gidleigh
Saw this Great Spotted Woodpecker yesterday while working in Gidleigh.
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Saltram
Brief late afternoon walk at Saltram. Dabchick, Redshank, L.Egret, Grey Heron, Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail. Low tide, not a lot on Blaxton Meadow just 6 Curlew, 6 Wigeon, 2 L Egret and 5 Grey Heron. 2 Stock doves in their usual position.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
The Grey Plover still around, with 50+ Wigeon. Also, 8 Goosanders (2 drakes), Red-crested Pochard (female), 5 Little Grebes, 4 Snipe, 6 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 (male) Stonechats, 10+ Siskins, Firecrest, 1+ Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff & a Raven.
Wembury Point
The male Black Redstart was still present on the sandy cliffs at the sewerage pipe this morning. A Water Pipit was also present along with 30+ Rock Pipits.
Hooded Crow, Teignmouth
On The Salty sandbank 10:30 today. VERY distant photos.
Broadsands, Torbay
On the sea 30+ Common Scoter, 4 Great Northern Divers and 1 Black-necked Grebe ( which has been present for whole month). Around the marsh: 1 Firecrest , 1 Chiffchaff. In 2nd car park: 9 Cirl Buntings & 3 Reed Buntings
White tailed eagle River Tamar
27 Jan 2023 10 am White Tailed Eagle seen in flight low over the River Tamar- no photo possible.
Around the Exe – late post for yesterday
Imm.Marsh Harrier over Exminster Marshes, another or same bird over Topsham later. Great White Egret in reeds at north end of marsh, superb Ruff in with Canada Geese, 15 Barwits, c.100 Blackwits, 10 Pintail. At Bowling Green/lookout stacks of Pintail, 2 Pochard, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, several Grey Plover, 300+ Blackwits. At Darts Farm 230 Brent Geese, 2 Black Swan, 120 Wigeon & 80 Linnet – plus huge cabbages in the shop!
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Fernworthy
Today the Crossbills were again in the trees on the side of the lane leading to Fernworthy Reservoir. There were also a lot of Siskins, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a few Coal Tits in the same trees.
The Salty, Teignmouth
The Hooded Crow was present this afternoon, for a second day on the sand/shingle bar between Teignmouth and Shaldon at low tide.
In the mornings best looked for from Shaldon Bridge or the Point car park Teignmouth, afternoons from Polly Steps, Teignmouth.
