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.
+1 Photo
Berry Head
Brief walk round Berry Head between the heavy showers this morning. Gannets, Cormorant, Shags, 1 Great Crested Grebe and Fulmars around the cliffs. At Broadsands: Greenfinches and Cirl Buntings around the C.P. a Heron on the rocks.
Goldfinches, ashburton
Large flock or charm of around 30 goldfinches over s dartmoor community college. Heading to a roost maybe? 4.45ish sighting.
Exminster Marshes
Walk from Exminster to Turf this morning. Mild and dry. Duck numbers continue to fall on the marsh. A couple of pintail, c30 shoveller and c100 wigeon remain. Teal were reasonably plentiful but hard to count as they are well dispersed across the marsh. A single tufted duck was on the lagoon.
The mild conditions tempted several skylark to sing and a goldcrest in Station Road near the Lion’s rest industrial estate was also singing. A reed bunting near the canal provided a short burst of song and a nearby great tit incorporated snatches of the reed bunting song in to its own.
A great-crested grebe off of Turf and a pair of oystercatchers on the scrapes near the viewing platform ( which is in the process of being revamped by the RSPB) were the only other sightings of note.
Wrafton scrape
Arrived at the scrape at about 9.30 this morning to check what’s about. 60+ Teal is a good count, drake Pochard on Wrafton Pond and 54 Black-tailed Godwits including the colour ringed individual seen last autumn also 2 Curlew. A slightly different Duck attracted my attention and fortunately I had the telescope which revealed an immature drake GARGANEY. I quickly called Sue Bruce and Andy Lansdell who both arrived to admire it. It was still there when I left the reserve at 12.30. Female Marsh Harrier also seen over Sherpa Marsh.
+1 Photo
Exe Reedbeds – Common Sandpiper
Earlier this week in the Exe reedbeds, Countess Wear area came across a Common Sandpiper and Marsh Harrier.
