Bird Sightings

Had a Blackcap on my bird table on the 28th February.

Eds- a reminder to state location (in the title please). You can put a general area if you don’t wish to disclose a home address.

A walk along the trail just after lunch at low tide. Half a dozen each of Goosanders and Red Breasted Mergansers, 3 Teal, 200+ Lapwing in the middle of the river, several GBB Gulls, several Little Egrets and a good mix of Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatchers and BH Gulls and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls. On the walk back noticed a large gathering of Brent Geese on the far side of the river, probably a good 200.

In the orchard today attracted by supplementary feeding…..5 Yellowhammers,85 Chaffinches….3 showing signs of Papillomavirus,18 Stock Dove,8 Greenfinch,a female Linnet , 5 Pheasant,2 Bullfinch,Marsh Tit, Long Tailed Tit, 2GSWs, Nuthatch, 2 Buzzards and 75 Starlings feeding on Ivy berries.Elsewhere on the farm a mixed flock of 75 Fieldfare and Redwing , with 2 Snipe a Little Egret and pairs of Goosander and Mallard by the river.Non avian included a buck Roe Deer in velvet and 21 Red Deer hinds.

A Chiffchaff was seen this afternoon feeding on insects on a pile of horse manure on Long Lane in Northam. Not sure if it was a winter resident or newly arrived summer visitor?
In the morning a single Redwing seen observed near the top of a tree near Hyde Barton, Northam along with a singing Mistle Thrush.

Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

3 Whooper Swans, 4 Goosanders 1m 3f, 3m Tufted Duck.

Upper Lake

8 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Goosander 1m 4f, 4 Tufted 3m 1f, 2 Bullfinch, 1 Song Thrush, c60 Canada Geese.

Green Sandpiper:  one near Lopwell

Common Sandpiper:  two

Greenshank: one near Lopwell

Redshank:  14 off Maristow Quay

Shelduck:  11 off Maristow/Blaxton Woods

Gt. Spotted Woodpecker:  2 drumming

104 Common Buzzards NE in a five hour watch between 0845 – 1345.

A new Devon day record. In grey,overcast conditions hardly any soaring with birds moving straight through. Also 2 Sparrowhawks NE plus a resident  bird.

Late for yesterday.

Lower Tamar Lake.

3 Whooper Swans, 3 Goosander 1m 2f, 1 Little Egret, 3 Snipe, 3 Willow Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Coot.

20 kittiwake back on nesting area, with mixed group of shag & cormorant on point.

10 oystercatcher, plus 10 smaller waders, most of which were turnstone, but at least 2 were purple sandpiper in the bay at point.

25 brent geese and more Oystercatchers between there and Exmouth at high tide

15+ sea duck in 3 groups flying past the point from direction of Budleigh, the last couple of which looked very much like common scoter

Started the day in the hide before Torcross, Great crested grebes, Tufty duck, Pochard, Little egret. We then walked along the back of the Ley, the best birds were. Sky lark, Gold crest, Song thrush, Black cap, Long-tailed its, 2 Water Rail and then 2 Firecrest.

1 Cattle Egret, 4 Egyptian Geese,about 200 Brent Geese and 100 Lapwing. About 100 Dunlin,50 Black-tailed  Godwits,10 Avocet,3 Greenshank, 1 Turnstone,and 3 Green Woodpeckers.

Mid Devon meeting,

A circular walk from the rspb carpark to turf and back to the CP,.  50 birds seen with the best birds being

marsh harrier, merlin, peregrine and a water rail and two Egyptian geese .

It was a good walk with good weather and good company.

On today’s very small high tide, Grey Plover, 8 Snipe, Turnstone, 2+ Greenshanks, 48 Wigeon, 3 Goosanders (1 drake) 2 Treecreepers, Firecrest & 8 Roe Deer.

At the Pill ,  3 Greenshanks , 50+ Blacktailed Godwits , 1 Spotted Redshank , 4 Snipe & at the Quay 50+ Dunlin & 4 Goosanders ( 2 males & 2 redheads )