Bird Sightings

Didn’t see any Godwits when I arrived (about 10.15a.m). but was told that the 2 Spoonbills were on the scrape very early this morning. Weather hardly conducive to seeing much in the reserve, and as I left I looked up the Trail towards the scrape and saw a large flock of Godwits flying in small circuits around the scrape trying to evade the Buzzard chasing them. A Crow then started chasing the Buzzard!

Immature Great Northern diver spotted off Broadsands Beach. 

A mad 10 minutes this morning as I was cycling to work. 

First, a rather incongruous female Long-Tailed Duck on Goodrington Boating Lake, then a Snow Bunting on the promenade next to Goodrington Beach – last seen flying up onto the railway tracks near the cafe at the north end. 

Four Purple Sandpiper on rocks below harbour wall.

Unfortunately found the little fella dead on Oreston Quay Green, Plymstock, Plymouth.PL9 7LY Saturday 05/11/22.

The red-necked phalarope is still on the same pond, near the barn. It had been hiding near the reedbed at first but soon came out to feed, despite the pouring rain.

Red-necked Phalarope reported again this morning.

An injured male Short Eared Owl was reported at Beesands today..

At least a dozen Mandarin ducks relishing the rain and gloom.

A brief visit early afternoon coincided with the high tide. The wader roost around the new scrapes, viewed from the canal bank, held a good selection of waders including snipe (2), dunlin (c20) and 11 grey plover, unusual for the marshes, although they did not linger. Elsewhere wigeon numbers growing as are the flocks of Canada geese along with the usual assortment of odd geese including 2 Egyptian geese, one snow goose and one bar-headed goose.

Alongside the railway were two parties of tits both including goldcrests and chiffchaffs. Two other chiffchaffs were on the canal bank.

Two female-type Black Redstart in Highglen Drive/Compass Drive, Plympton. At least three in the estate in recent days with the male seen yesterday.

In continuous rain, Skuas included 2 Pomarine (1 with complete spoon), 3 Arctic & 3 unidentified. Also, Balearic & 3 Manx Shearwaters, Great Northern Diver, 11 Common Scoters, redhead Red-breasted Merganser, 5 each of Mediterranean Gulls & Fulmars, 7 Mute Swans south, 17 Siskins west, Harbour Porpoise, 3+ Common Dolphins & c4 Atlantic Bluefin Tunas. A flock of c1,200 Kittiwakes on arrival, gradually drifted south and plenty of Auks around (not counted).

Middle car park to Turf, Exminster. 2 Cattle Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 260 Pintail, 70 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 230 Lapwing, 100 Golden Plover, 200+ Curlew, 104 Avocet, 400+ Blackwit, 17+ Barwit, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, Water Rail & 70+ Linnet.

Yesterday on Exwick end of canal 6 Little Grebe. 

The Phalarope has been re-identified as a Red-necked Phalarope. Seen this morning again in the pond by thge barn across the river from Marstage Farm

The Grey Phalarope was filmed by Warwickshire birder Steve McAusland.

At Skern Lapwing, Redshank, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Shelduck, Mallard, Brent Geese, Linnet, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull, Magpie, Rook and a Black Redstart ( thanks to Sue)..

At Northern Burrows Starling Linnet, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Goldfinch and 4 Snow Bunting but now maybe 3 after one was chased by a Sparrowhawk and we didn’t see the end result.

A Grey Phalarope was seen and filmed at Sherpa Marsh this afternoon. Sadly not by me.