Bird Sightings

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

12 Mediterranean Gulls at low tide today.

Upper Tamar Lakes. 

• 6 Great Crested Grebes
• 1 Pink Footed Goose.
• 1 Bullfinch. 3Chiffchaff,2 Goldcrest,large flock of Lapwing 4Heron and 8 Tufted Ducks.
• Lower Tamar Lakes. 
• Over 20 Goosanders.

Yesterday afternoon (22nd January) looking across from Home Farm Marsh were 4 distant Spoonbill on the Chivenor end of the estuary. Then, after a short while, all 4 Spoonbill flew across to the Home Farm Marsh end giving wonderful close up views of them feeding in their classic ‘sideward sweeps’ action of their bills. Lovely to watch.

The scrapes have thawed out so a few birds there, and most of the usual suspects in the reserve, so headed for a walk down to the lighting gantry. Still a scattering of Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 30 or so BH Gulls. Small flocks of Linnet and Chaffinch scouring the tideline, joined by a Meadow Pipit and a Stonechat. A few Lapwing drifting about and 3 or 4 Curlew too. Pleased to see 4 different Birds of Prey: the female Marsh Harrier perched in the reed-bed at Sherpa, a Buzzard around the reserve, Kestrel hovering by the barn at Crossbanks, and an adult male Sparrowhawk along the embankment opposite Marstage Farm.

This morning around the estuary, 31 Avocet, 7 Great crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, Wigeon, Teal, 25+ Redwing, and a female Bullfinch. 13 Snipe on Ernesettle creek.