Bird Sightings

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.

Clovelly Lake this morning.

6 Goosander 2m 4f, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Tawny Owl calling, 6 Moorhen, 7 Collared Dove.

Mixed flocks of thrushes and buntings at Powderham, plus a bonus green woodpecker and snipe startled from the path.

Exminster very quiet, but barn owl seen briefly behind the Lion’s Rest estate.

Upwards of 60 Brent Geese, 5 Blacktailed Godwits 2 Grey Plover.1 Kingfisher 2 Snipe,about 30 Dunlin,about 20 Lapwing,1 Bullfinch, 3 Common Sandpiper and small amounts of Longtailed Tits, Goldfinch and Redwing.

West Charleton: 150 Golden Plover, 24 Dunlin, 12 Brent Geese, 3 Grey Plover, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest.

South Huish: 6 Brent Geese, 50+ Snipe, 6 Water Pipit.

Late for yesterday Lower Tamar Lake.

38 Goosander 10 m  28f (15:15), 1m Gadwall, 4 Wigeon 4m 2f, 8 Coot, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Teal.

This morning at Lower Tamar Lake.

32 Goosander 8m 24f (12:00), 3 Shoveler 2m 1f, 1m Gadwall, 7 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 14 Tufted Duck 10m 4f, 1 Willow Tit, 4 Marsh Tit, 1 Grey Heron.

Two Snowbunting’s seen near the 7th Tee this morning.

During a walk this morning: Dipper, Kingfisher, Siskin, 1+ Grey Wagtail, 2+ Common Sandpipers, 2 Snipe, 2 Little Grebes, Red-crested Pochard (female), c50 Wigeon  & a redhead Goosander.

Female spotted first, in front of the apartments above the coffee shack. Then the pair, m & f, on the rocks between coffee shack and wet wok.

Fingle Bridge Circular walk from Fingle Bridge to Castle Drogo to the Teign Gorge showed at least 4 goldcrests at different sites, mixture of tits ,2 Buzzards and a smart male Goosander. Great walk.

Walked the railway down and back. First birds of note were a pair of Goosanders upstream from Fremington Quay. Shortly after, started to scan Saltpill Pond, when the Teal got agitated and several Snipe took flight. Looked up to see a juv/f Hen Harrier passing over, heading W. Continued, hoping it would be hunting Home Farm Marsh. Instead, first bird seen was a female Marsh Harrier, quartering the field in front of the viewing screens. First two-Harrier day for a long time. On the way back, saw one Ibis in Fremington Creek, but no Spot. Red. On Penhill Marsh were 250+ Brents, and on the sandbanks beyond 400+ Golden Plovers.

Almost certain I saw the merlin that was seen at the Skern recently flying fast and chasing small birds over Braunton marsh. Also 5 snipe at Wrafton pond, 1 redwing nearby. A good morning 18 species seen!