Bowling Green Marsh
07:48 – 11:03
Highlights were Pochard (1m, 3f); Snipe (12); Spoonbill (2); Ruff (1); Spotted Redshank (1); Bar-tailed Godwit (1) amongst Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon, Shelduck, Tufted, Mallard, Avocet, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank.
Wrafton
Drake Garganey still present on the main scrape at 1p.m. 73 Black-tailed Godwits.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
On a rather dull, drizzly morning: Firecrest, Mediterranean Gull (2nd cy), 2 Goosanders (1 drake), 40 Wigeon, Red-crested Pochard (female), 16 Mandarin Ducks, 3 Snipe, 20+ Turnstones, c395 Dunlins & 5+ Greenshanks,
Kingfisher — Bideford
@1145 am. by the little unnamed stream that runs alongside the Abbotsham Road (at the junction with Harlseywood) and the grounds of Kinsgley School. Seen from the roadside railing.
Lower Otter Restoration Project (LORP), Budleigh
The drake Garganey still present on LORP this afternoon.
Other notable species here included 5+ Water Pipits, 1 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 19 Black-tailed Godwits and drake Gadwall.
Firecrest – Teigngrace
Six sightings of Firecrest (Regulus ingnicapillus) in our garden on the following dates:
11, 12, 13, 19, 20 February, 5 March.
Wrafton
Drake Garganey again this morning on the larger scrape. 60 Black-tailed Godwits. 2 Sand Martins over Wrafton Pond. 3 Mallard, 6 Gadwall and 2Canada Geese on the reserve pond. Unusually 5 Curlew flew over heading South, and a Greenshank called as it headed South East. Two female Marsh Harriers interacting over Sherpa Marsh.
Stoke Gabriel birds
Morning search of Stoke Gabriel in the rain turned up..Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher,Redshank and song Thrush together with the usual suspects
Late for yesterday 10th Upper/Lower Tamar Lake
Lower Tamar Lake yesterday 10th.
11 Goosander 2m 9f, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Willow Tits, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Nuthatch,.
Upper Tamar Lake yesterday 10th.
2 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Tufted Duck 4m 1f, 2 Cormorant.
Ashburton
Working near Ashburton where there were two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, two Ravens, a Buzzard, a pair of Blackbirds, a pair of Long tailed tits, a field covered in gulls and this Dunnock.
River Dart
From Dartmeet to Newbridge (DN) today & from there to Holne Bridge (NH), following on down to Buckfastleigh (HB) yesterday.
2 or 3 pairs of Grey Wagtail on each, with 2 males having a disagreement (DN)
Odd pairs of Dipper plus a few singles on each (3 NH the most)
Pair Goosander (DN), 1m & 2f (HB)
Pair Mandarin (DN), 5m & 4f (NH), pair + 1m (HB)
Often see Kingfisher above Buckfastleigh, but not this time
On way down M5 yesterday I saw what looked like a cattle egret in field / flight just to north of Cullompton, but obviously couldn’t stop to check
River Otter. – LORP
A drake Garganey seen this morning on the Otter, North of the new road to White Bridge. Firmly asleep for the time several of us were there; first seen yesterday. Water Pipit also, and both Green (2) and Common Sandpiper (1) seen by others. The Lower Otter Restoration Project (LORP) is already proving its worth, despite lots of people and machinery still on site.
Wrafton Pond
2 Sand Martins over the pond at 16:40. Still present when I left.
Turnchaple, Plymouth
2Ciffchaffs,my first migrants.
Plym Estuary & Saltram
Rather lean pickings this morning, but: an adult Peregrine buzzing waders on Blaxton Meadow, 3 Goosanders (1 drake), 36 Wigeon, 2 Snipe, 8 Greenshanks, 15 Turnstones, c350 Dunlins (c300 of which were, unusually, roosting on the lower estuary), Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 17 Redwings & a Siskin.
Wrafton
Drake Garganey still present all morning. When I arrived it was on the smaller scrape right next to the Tarka Trail, giving excellent views. 75 Black-tailed Godwits.
Plymouth this week
Three (probably) different Chiffchaff in song in different areas of the city this week. Also a good passage of Redwings in the murk last night with about 30 calls heard over about half an hour. Reasonably rare to hear anything but the odd single bird in the spring here.
+1 Photo
Wrafton pond area
Late afternoon today I was down around Wrafton Pond area with Rob Jutsum and Jon Turner. We were admiring the Garganey and the flock of Black tailed Godwits that seemed a little jumpy. One Godwit with a set of rings.
Ludwell Valley
Lots of chiffchaffs today along the brook, some giving snippets of song, presume the first fall of arrivals?
Wrafton
Garganey still present this evening on the smaller of the 2 scrapes and also in the new puddles in the adjacent field.
Close by 80 Black-tailed Godwits.
