Bird Sightings

Around the Sound this morning were Great Northern Diver, Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone and Rock Pipit.

Late for yesterday at Lower Tamar Lake.

14 Goosander 4m 10f, 2 Willow Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 3 Shoveler 1m 2f, 6 Coot, 4m Pintail, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1m Wigeon, 2 Nuthatch.

Female Brambling in the orchard along with 30 Chaffinch,Marsh Tit,8 Greenfinch ,2 Treecreeper,6 Stock Dove ,3 Long-tailed Tit and 20 Starling.400 plus finches in the bird mix fields ……mainly Chaffinches but also Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet……also female Kestrel and male Sparrowhawk causing mayhem.30 plus Meadow Pipits feeding amongst the barley stubbles along with 70 Starling , 50 Chaffinch and 10 Redwing.Elsewhere in the grass fields 90 more Starling,60 Fieldfare and another flock of 12 Meadow Pipits.Also seen a Firecrest feeding on a holly bush and a male Goosander flying down the valley . Non avian included 3 Roe Deer and 2 herds of Red Deer….one of 9 and the other 25…..all females with last year’s young.

Seen 25th Jan. About 1 mile from Budleigh Salterton car park on the Lower Otter wetlands project. No pics I’m afraid. Absolutely dwarfed the Grey Heron that trying to annoy it.

At least 10 Crossbills inc.4 “red-brick” males, 20+ Siskins inc. displaying males, male Brambling with Chaffinch flock, Green Woodpecker, 3 Jays, 3 Buzzards & 7 Bullfinches.

Barn Owl flew in front of the hide at 2.30 pm, then towards the fishing lakes.

On a very cold & frosty morning: Grey Plover, 23 Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 7 Greenshanks, 17 Turnstones, 3 drake Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Goosanders (1 drake), 54 Wigeon, 5 Little Grebes, Mediterranean Gull (ad-w), 2 Kingfishers, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Bullfinches & a Raven.

• Fieldfares 60+
• Linnets 150+
• Chaffinches40+
• Fulmars raft of 19
• Red throated divers group of 4
• Chiffchaff
• Greenfinch
• Ravens 4

Walked from the reserve to Sherpa late morning, still no sign of a Common Sandpiper but near the reserve a large, pale-ish bird of prey flying away from me lifted up to reveal a white rump. Female type Hen Harrier. Turned to look at he other bird of prey over the reserve to see it was the female Marsh Harrier. Later went over to the Skern and confirmed that 2 Snow Buntings were indeed between the 7th and 8th Tees. Hard to find, but eventually saw them at the top of the pebble ridge under the low sand ‘cliffs’. Coming in on the rising tide were 2 great Northern Divers and later 4 Eider. Long time since I’ve seen an Eider in the estuary.

Common sandpiper again and opposite Heanton about 70 pintail

Afternoon visit coincided with low water. Much of the marshes still frozen. At least 2 goldcrest with chiffchaff in Station Road. At Turf 31 (and probably a few more) greenfinch. This seems to be a regular event in the late afternoon. Kingfisher in the estuary outside the lock gates. A single marsh harrier and a kestrel were active over the area near the lagoon. A small flock of fieldfare (about 6) was the first I have seen on the marsh this year. Two Cettis showed well on the canal bank.

Bowling Green/ Topsham highlights. Spoonbill Imm & Water Pipit on BGM. Along with 56+ Gadwall, 85 Wigeon, 22 Shoveler, 36 Pintail, 2F Pochard, 2 Tufted, 50+ Snipe& 60+ Lapwing. On estuary 400+ Blackwit, 150+ Avocet, 80 Golden Plover, 32+ Grey Plover, 3 TurnstoneAlso Spotted Redshank north of Topsham Quay, Marsh Harrier 2cy from Clyst VP, as were 4 RB Mergansers. 9 Reed Bunting & 2 Chiffchaff Goosemoor. 260+ Teal across whole site.

Topsham Quay

Spotted Redshank

Bowling Green

Water Pipit

Spoonbill

Marsh Harrier