Morte Point
1 male Wheatear showing well early evening.
+1 Photo
Wrafton Pond and small scrape
Between Wrafton Pond and the small scrape and on the small scrape were a Robin and the Garganey.
+1 Photo
Wrafton Pond
Around lunch time visit to Wrafton Pond where there were two Gadwall, two Little Grebe and a male Pochard.
+1 Photo
Wrafton Pond
Around lunch time visit to Wrafton Pond where there were two Gadwall, two Little Grebe and a male Pochard.
Wrafton Scrape
Late afternoon visit to the scrape and reserve: Drake Garganey once again on the larger scrape. No hirundines.
Westward Ho! Pebble Ridge
1 Male Wheatear feeding amongst the pebbles on the Pebble Ridge and then bathing in a puddle. Spring has sprung!
Salt Pill Pond/Home Farm Marsh R.Taw
6 Sand Martin along the Taw Bank and then over Salt Pill Pond
2 Glossy Ibis and 1 Spotted Redshank along Fremington Pill
Bull Point
The mild and gusty southerly airflow brought an ALPINE SWIFT (part of a definite UK influx of this species), which treated me to an unforgettable 8 minutes as it flew circuits of the headland and lighthouse from 08:12 to 08:20, before heading off high to the north-east. At times it was at head height or even flying below me! It was busy for migrants in general, with at least 85 Sand Martin & 3 Swallow (both my first of the year here) heading west, 9 Skylark, 6+ Wheatear, 16 Stonechat (a small fall coinciding with the other migrants and by far the highest count since last autumn), 330 Meadow Pipit, 48 Pied/alba Wagtail (all flyovers and all of those I got a decent look at were Pied), 27 Goldfinch, 55 Linnet, 2 Greenfinch and a Reed Bunting. A group of 3 Shelduck flying west over the sea were also migrants and new for the year. Amazing what a change in the weather can do!
Plym Estuary & Saltram
A bit of a change today, with 3 male Wheatears & a Great Crested Grebe new in, plus 8 Mediterranean Gulls (3 ad, 3 2nd cy & 2 3rd cy). Also the Grey Plover & 327 Dunlins still around, & Snipe, 16 Turnstones, 6 Greenshanks, 9 Wigeon, female Red-crested Pochard, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, a pair of Stonechats & 9 Roe Deer.
South Farm Budleigh Salterton
5 Wheatears in field next to coast path this morning
Soar
First Wheatear of season, male at Soar Mill Cove. Also migrant Dartford Warbler on cliff top. At least 3 pairs Kestrel on territory.
Wembury
2 Wheatear, in edge of ploughed field between beach and point.
Plymouth, Greenbank
Friday 17th March 9.00am . Two Chiffchaffs around the garden, including one making an attempt to sing a few notes.
Thornhillhead N.Devon
Spring! First Chiffchaff of the year in the garden
Bowling Green Marsh
Several sand martins over Bowling Green Marsh this afternoon.
+1 Photo
Wrafton Pond and small scrape
Late afternoon visit to Wrafton Pond where I saw a male Pochard, four or five Gadwall, two Swans and a number of Little Grebes. Lots of Sand Martins and a Snipe. On the small scrape there were four Teal.
+1 Photo
Lower Otter Restoration Project, Budleigh Salterton
Good views of the drake Garganey on the L.O.R.P. north of South Farm Road, Budleigh Salterton. Wigeon, Teal, Mallards, Shovelers and Mute Swans. c.15 mixed Swallows and Sand Martins and a lone Peregrine.
Braunton R Caen etc
After seeing the Garganey this afternoon – on the larger scrape then feeding in the puddles and grass with the Teal and Godwits, I walked South along the embankment footpath to see if any Hirundines might be at Sherpa Marsh. Counted at least 33 Sand Martins along with 50 or so Meadow Pipits and 20+ Reed Buntings. Also saw a drake Garganey flying around, but didn’t have time to return to the scrape to see if there was another. 1 Snipe, and 1 Lapwing. Unfortunately there were 2 enormous explosions from MB Chivenor which put most things to flight! They were quite near the first new Osprey platform…..
Swift in Okehampton
A lonely Swift just seen at 1700 flying low over Okehampton being mobbed by 4 Jackdaws, very low cloud at time of observation. Really early to see one.
Alpine Swift
Exminster Marshes at 1030am then flew rapidly south towards Powderham
