Bird Sightings

Two ‘cream-crown’ Marsh Harriers (difficult to sex, but at least one looks more male sized), Great White Egret, Firecrest by canal. 20+ years ago this winter combination would be amazing, not so now,  how our birdlife is changing!

A good gathering of 57 Wigeon on Blaxton Meadow (joint best count this winter). Also, 2 drake Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Goosanders (3 drakes),  female Red-crested Pochard, Little Grebe, Grey Plover, 22 Snipe, 6 Greenshanks, 447 Dunlins, 24 Turnstones, Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher (female), Firecrest, Siskin, Grey Wagtail & 3 Roe Deer.

A 3 hour boat trip out to Berry Head then returning around Torbay on Kelly’s Hero with Dave Saunders, delivered the following: 2 Eider, Slavonian Grebe, GC Grebe, 2 Common Scoter, 2 GN Divers,  Red-throated Diver, Peregrine, 4 Purple Sandpipers, several Razorbills and hundreds of Guillemots already taking spaces on the ledges at Berry Head and the Orestone.  Adult Med Gull in the harbour and at least 6  Grey Seals on the pontoons. 10 Grey Herons. Usual gulls and 25 Gannets. A very enjoyable trip with good company.

Over 30 Greenfinches sat in the top of a copper beech in my rear neighbour’s garden 5 minutes ago.

Water pipit still present but being elusive amongst the rushes in the small pool to the right of the hide. Ruff on the mud opposite the hide along with a couple of dunlin, 4 pochard on the water, and plenty of regulars.

Group of around eight Goosander at Stover,  0900 this morning.  3f 5m.

Pleased this morning to find the first 2 Eiders of the year for the site, with a female and an immature male present.  Both birds present up to at least 12.15pm between the Orestone and the Lead Stone.

Elsewhere, there were 4 Great Northern Divers, 4 Purple Sandpipers, 4 Common Scoters, male Blackcap and a Chiffchaff.  A Kingfisher was seen by other birders.

A Harbour Porpoise and a Grey Seal were also seen.  Nice to hear a couple of Song Thrushes in song across the site.

2 female Marsh Harriers overhead early on, 1 Kestrel on top of a pylon, around the marsh: 15 Pintail, 5 Tufted duck, 47 Golden Plover, 500+ Dunlin, Wigeon, Teal, 1 Common Sandpiper, 25 Avocet & 15 Brent Geese over, 35 Redwing, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest in the scrub near the car park, 1 Cetti’s warbler low down in the reeds at the back of Lions rest.

At northam burrows overlooking skerne.

1 pair of Bullfinches.2 Treecreepers, 2 Dipper, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Grey Wagtail and 6 Longtailed Tits.

Nothing new in, this morning, but a good selection nevertheless: at least 1 Firecrest, 3 Bullfinches (2 males), Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, 6 Goosanders (4 drakes), 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (2 drakes), Great Crested & 3 Little Grebes, 52 Wigeon, Grey Plover, 9 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpipers, Turnstone, 8 Greenshanks & 9 Roe Deer.

Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

3 Whooper Swans, they flew out at 07:10, 41 Goosander 9m 32f, 4 Willow Tit, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Coot, 2 Nuthatch, 2m Wigeon, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Marsh Tit, 2 Bullfinch.

Two great white egret Viewed from Stafford’s rail bridge 07.45.

Six little egret, five little grebe, thirteen teal, twelve mallard and two dipper all viewed from the rail bridge.

Lesser Whitethroat still present in garden in Halsdon Avenue Exmouth having been present since early December.

Pair of crossbills feeding in treetop on footpath going into woods from car park