Happy New Year to all

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Otter showed well this afternoon near the mill. Also seen were 8 Redwings, a male Bullfinch, 6 Goosanders (5 brown heads), Dipper, Sparrowhawk, and Kingfisher

Nine Glossy Ibis flew onto the estuary at 4.30pm to preen and then the flock departed at 4.50pm when they appeared to head east along the coast. Also redhead Goosander on the river this morning.

After a -4.5C night and early frost it was good to find 3 redhead Goosanders and a single Coot on Escot Park Lake. Both new for me on what has become my local patch. Also, around the orchard, Coal Tit, Fieldfare, Redwing, Greenfinch, Stock Dove were seen with just one Buzzard on the field.    

Goosander

Buzzard

Many thanks to Barry Bryne’s post on Tuesday. During an early afternoon walk along the coast towards Hartland Point from Titchberry were 3 harbour porpoise and 1 grey seal near Shipload Bay. Between there and Barley Bay, near the lighthouse, were 8+ gannets, dozens of red-throated divers scattered about, 1 buzzard, several pairs of stonechat, 5 long-tailed tits, 1 song thrush (please note that the gate leading to the lighthouse  was locked and the nearest parking was at East Titchberry).

Hundreds of guillemots on the cliff and sea.

Fulmars pairing up and claiming nest sites in quarry.

2 Purple Sandpipers , one beyond the open air pool feeding on rocks with Oystercatchers and Turnstones plus a single Sanderling.  The second P.S. was west of Nassau Court feeding on the concrete culvert .   An adult Male Black Redstart was nearby with a Rock Pipit at the base of the crumbling cliff.

Late for yesterday.

6 Whooper Swans flew out at 07:35, 20 Goosander 8m 12f, 1 Green Sandpiper on the weir, 1 Little Egret, 2 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Gadwall 3m 2f, 6 Long-tailed Tit, 1m Tufted Duck.

Single Black-necked Grebe still, 1 Little Grebe, female Goldeneye, 2 Tufted Duck, Mallard 52, Teal 8, Herring Gull c.240, Lesser BB Gull c.20, Black-headed Gull C.200, Fieldfare 52, Redwing 20, Crossbill 2, Bullfinch 6.

Spotted redshank roosting with redshanks on tussocks quite close to the left of the hide from early to about 10.35, showing well intermittently before flying towards the estuary as the tide fell.

Visit to the southern part of the marshes this afternoon. from Station Road the ruff was feeding with about 10 black-tailed godwits. A little further on a great-white egret flew over (towards Topsham). From the canal bank the pink-footed goose was with several hundred Canada geese on the field between the lagoon and the canal. A fox was quartering the fields near Turf (inside the reserve) and seemed to upset two jays far out on the marshes. The glossy ibis was showing well from the footpath alongside the railway. Another interesting sighting was a female kestrel, male sparrowhawk and marsh harrier all in the same field of view.

Buff-bellied Pipit showing well on beach next to the slip.

Buff-bellied Pipit showing very well, enjoying the winter sunshine

Grey Wagtail on beach feasting on the swarm of flies.

Buff-bellied Pipit showing very well right by the slip at the end of Maelcombe beach Prawle. Sat with backs to slip wall and it was feeding very close to us , such a treat plus sunshine what can be better than that.!!!!!!!

Being chased by Rock and Meadow Pipit's constantly .

A stroll along the river at low tide - 2 Goosanders (1 drake), 2 Little Grebe, 50+ Dunlin, 25 Wigeon, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Sandpipers (North of Blackstone Meadow on river) 1 Kingfisher.

A pair of brambling at the bird feeders again today, along with the usual suspects - chaffinches and siskins, goldfinch, greenfinch, nuthatch, great spotted woodpeckers, dunnock, blackbirds, robin, blue tits, great tits, coal tits and pied wagtail.

Greenshank & Redshank together feeding, male Kingfisher showing well.

Single Female Velvet Scoter on the sea

Firecrest showing well and very vocal by the gate at the end of the bridleway near the bridge/stream.

Very brief visit to BGM hide this morning. Birds were small in number but good views of a Snipe, pair of Egyptian Geese, Greylag Geese, two Grey Heron, nice male Bullfinch outside.

Today in Gidleigh were four or five Jays.

Jay

Jay

A walk round this afternoon produced 4 drake teal (2 on lake 1 and 2 on lake 3), 4 tufted duck ( 3 drake & 1 duck on lake 1), 1 drake gadwall (lake 1), a pair of  shoveler (lake 1), 1 dabchick (lake 1), 3 snipe (by lake 1), 2 herons (roosting in trees by lake 1) and a kingfisher which flew from lake 4 to 3.

Teal

3 Snipe

Unbelievably quiet and a morning of hard work found Black-throated Diver off Goodrington plus Razorbill, 3 Great Crested Grebes plus Kittiwakes & Fulmars. At Brixham Great Northern Diver & just 2 Purple Sandpipers. And the chip shop was shut!!!

Stover CP at first light ~ drake Pochard, 6 Shoveler, 19 Mandarin.

Yarner ~ First Marsh Tit of the season for me, an immature male Sparrowhawk rapidly cleared the area of any avian life.

Heathfield WTW ~ 2 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and a small flock of Redwing.

Haldon Forest Park ~ Green Woodpecker, 3 GSWP, male Brambling, numerous Siskin, Pied Wagtail, Nuthatch and Goldcrest.

Buckfastleigh (Rv Dart) Firecrest, 3 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff , 3 Long Tailed Tit, 2 soaring Buzzard.

Brambling

Siskin

Walked out to Baggy this morning with Andy Lansdell. Several Fulmar on site, 2 Shags down on the rocks, and at least 2, possibly 4 Red-throated Divers off the point. It's also possible that some of the distant small Gulls were Kittiwakes. Again a single Mediterranean Gull in among the other Gulls on Croyde Beach.

Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

18 Goosander 9m 9f, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Willow Tits (2 at the hide), 2 Marsh Tits, 1m Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Nuthatch.

3 green sandpipers in the straightened stream channel this morning, plus grey wagtails.

During today's walk: Firecrest, Treecreeper, Blackcap (male), Stonechat (male), Grey Wagtail, 65+ Redwings, Jack Snipe, 9 Goosanders (4 drakes), 28 Wigeon, Red-crested Pochard (female), 25 Mandarin Ducks & 13 Roe Deer. 

the female golden eye, and the black neck grebe still showing well early morning,   then over to yarner,  in the birch trees were a small flock of redpols and siskins.

170 Red-throated Divers between the lighthouse and Shipload Bay this morning.

Another cracking day with sunny skies and a light breeze showed of the birds and the estuary in all their glory. As usual plenty to see with DB Brent geese seen across the Estuary. Kingfishers again fishing in the shallows Black-necked Grebe still well established around the Starcross area. A few GC Grebe off Exton with plenty of Dunlin across the mudbanks towards Turf Locks. Good numbers of Avocet Black-Tailed Godwit a few Knot and Lapwing towards Topsham. Spotted Redshank still off Topsham. To top this cruise was the 4-500 Golden Plover which were airborne and in formation flew over the boat and landed on the mudbank opposite Turf Lock. On the way back to Exmouth the water was like glass with great reflections in the late afternoon sun... another great day on the "Pride of Exmouth".

Golden Plover

Kingfisher

In and around the garden yesterday 

Redwing

Marsh Tit

On my way down to Kingsbridge I stopped off for an hour at Stover.  No Great crested Grebe but lots of Mandarin, Tufted, Mallard, Wigeon and Pochard.  Many gulls mainly Black headed and couple of Herring Gulls. A Water rail calling around the hide area.

Coot

Tufted Duck

On Monday after completing a job in Kingsbridge I popped over the Slapton Sands to photograph the Snow Bunting and anything else that would stand still.  Saw a family of Long-tail Tits and a Chiffchaff in some tree around the edge of the Ley and a single Snow Bunting in the usual place on the Beach.

Chiffchaff

Snow Bunting

The 3 bean geese were still at the Upper Tamar Lake and remained on the Cornwall side, and weren’t persuaded to join many Canada geese flying down to the Devon side of the lake! Also present, on the Devon side were 3 buzzards, 1 grey wagtail, 3 great crested grebes, 1 goldcrest, 1 female bullfinch, several herons and cormorants, 6+ stonechats, 12+ redwing.

diary shot 3 bean geese

Bean Goose

The view from the south fort at noon today was quite a sight with hundreds of guillemots out on the water and audiably flapping their wings. A few black backs and fulmars circled overhead added to the spectacle.

Approximately 50 ring-necked parakeets seen this evening. The most I’ve seen in the area within the 5 years I’ve lived here. 

Both the White-fronted and the Pink-footed Geese were seen late p.m. from the Glossy Ibis gate. Also seen today were two Marsh Harriers, a female Merlin and a Great White Egret, the latter watched from the canal path.

Forgot to mention, 9 Purple Sandpipers showed well on the rocks as the tide receeded. 

Hen Harrier (ringtail) over Trowlesworthy at 16:44. Flew from Trowlesworthy Tors towards Ringmoor Down. 

Two Goosander (1m, 1 redhead) on Upper Shaugh Lake at 17:20. 

Starting at Exmouth and failing to find the wintering Black Redstart, we made do with estuarine views of Shags and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers. Also a Rock Pipit was seen on the breakwater wall.

Moving on to Stantyway Farm, the fields and hedgerows revealed good numbers of Cirl Buntings, Skylarks and Linnets whilst 5 Red-legged Partridge made a run for it.

From the cliff top at Crab Ledge, 41 Common Scoter formed a raft and dived together, at least 2 Black-throated Divers showed well and several distant auks were seen with at least one Razorbill identified.

4 Purple Sandpiper (Brixham)

15 (5+10) Common Dolphin

Purple Sandpiper

Common Dolphin

Good long walk in gorgeous conditions this morning From Barbican to West Hoe and back. Kingfisher buzzed by below Corinthian club, 7 very mobile Oystercatcher between rocks off the Lido and Lion's Den. 6 Turnstone feeding on rocks between same. Distant GND. 2 Rock Pipits feeding at rusty anchor, no sign of Purple Sand.

Oystercatcher

Turnstone

Photo of the glossy ibis which failed to upload earlier.

Glossy Ibis

Barnacle Goose in field with Canada Geese 

A walk from Four Firs to Uphams Car Park found Dartford Warbler, Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Stonechat, Siskin flock plus others, were brought out by the sun in contrast to Sundays walk when weather was dull with rain and nothing was seen! 

5 Glossy Ibises at the pill this morning. 

One glossy ibis seen at about 09.20 this morning, in the field to the left of the path toward the Discovery Area, at about 956868. Also marsh harrier (f).

Blegberry, 70 skylarks.  Stoke, 2 mistle thrush.

Forgot to mention earlier that there were about 220 Brent Geese on the sand-banks by Penhill saltmarsh this morning and approx 2000 Golden Plover too.

Late, late afternoon, a Juv Glaucous Gull dropped in to the large mixed gull roost in the middle of the reservoir. Viewed from the south side, on the track close to the water, left of the Angler's Hut. 

Female Goosander also present. 

The Lower Otter Valley finally gets in on the Glossy Ibis influx excitement (thanks to Laurie Allnat). Nine birds feeding in the restoration area late this afternoon. The 2nd biggest flock here since the incredible sight of 20 birds in 2010. Birds were present until 4.10pm and then flew south but were not relocated.

This morning was sunny with a light breeze after a shower earlier, river conditions again was near perfect for the Sunday 16th January birdwatching cruise. Again plenty of DB Brent Geese around with several showing really close  with 350+ birds from Cockwood to Turf lock with fly overs and in flocks flying in front of the boat showing great views of these lovely geese. Red Breasted Mergansers were on show around Cockwood, Starcross, and towards Topsham.Again today the stars of the show in the Starcross area was the two Black Neck Grebes which were viewed by all on board. At least 4 Greenshank and a showy Kingfisher was seen on a branch in a small creek near Starcross sailing club where it was joined by a few Redshank. Several Great Crested Grebe one showing a start of its summer plumage. Again at least 100+ Pintail and  200+ Black-Tail Godwit near the Clyst confluence and to the left on the mudbank opposite Turf Locks were at least 500+ Golden Plover. It seamed there were Dunlin right across the upper mudflats today as everywhere we looked there were Dunlin!! Other birds seen along this stretch included  Teal, Cormorant, Knot, Red Breasted Mergansers, Common Gull and Bar-tailed Godwit. As we approached Topsham Goatwalk a Marsh Harrier flew from Exminster Marsh over the boat towards Bowling Green Marsh putting up plenty of Avocets feeding in the area. Great views of 100+ Black-Tailed Godwits and a few Knot as well off The Goatwalk. The Spotted Redshank at Topsham which showed really well beside a Common Redshank, showing the visitor the comparison between the two birds. Topping off this great cruise was a sighting of 5 Sanderling on the way back to Exmouth.

During a visit this morning (low tide): 8 Goosanders (3 drakes), 26 Mandarin Ducks, Red-crested Pochard (female), Teal (drake), 24 Wigeon, Jack Snipe, 24 Turnstones, Mediterranean Gull (ad-w), 24 Common Gulls, 2 Green Woodpeckers, Raven, Firecrest, Stonechat (male), 20+ Redwings, Bullfinch (female) & 12 Roe Deer. 

This morning on the low tide: 10 Pintail, 13 Greylag geese, 2 Egyptian geese, 1 Pochard (m), 1 Little grebe. Avocet, Dunlin and 40+ Grey Plover from the viewing platform.

Darts Farm pm: A pair of dark bellied Brent geese, a Stonechat and a 50+ flock of Linnet on the stubble field, 1 Chiffchaff in reeds by the hide.

Glossy Ibis, Spotted Redshank, Barn Owl & Marsh Harrier Exminster Marsh this am. Also 850+ Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 56 Shoveler, 13 Pintail, 20 Tufted, 80+ Redshank, 70+ Curlew, 60+ Dunlin, 120+ Blackwits, 350+ Lapwing, Grey Plover, Water Rail & 2 Peregrine 

Found Rob's female Goldeneye this morning just to the East of the Limekiln. Further along near the Bradiford Reserve 4 Goosander (1 Drake) 16 Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape. Jay and Kingfisher in the reserve. The Kingfisher caught a Stickleback then landed on one of the perches and gave it a good beating!

Late for yesterday 15ht

Lower Tamar Lake.

6 Whooper Swans 2 adult 4 juv flew off at 07:15, 11 Goosander 5m 6f at 07:35, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Willow Tits at the hide, 1 Marsh Tit.

This morning was slightly overcast with a light breeze and river conditions were near perfect for the Saturday 15th January birdwatching cruise, everything was set fair for a great few hours. Plenty of DB Brent Geese around Shelley Beach and several showing really close to the boat proved there were plenty to be seen across the estuary. Red Breasted Mergansers were on show around Cockwood and Starcross but the stars of the show in this area was the two Black-Necked Grebes which were viewed by all on board and were thrilled with this rare estuary sighting. Greenshank and a showy Kingfisher was seen on one of the wrecks just past Starcross. This Kingfisher followed us and showed well just before Starcross sailing club where it was joined by our first sightings of Avocets.This was the second Kingfisher seen on todays cruise. In the field near cycle bridge on the Exminster side at least 2 Cattle Egrets was seen with a few grazing bullocks. A few Pintail were seen with 100+ Black-Tail Godwit near the Clyst confluence and to the left on the mudbank opposite Turf Locks were at least 500+ Golden Plover. Just up from on the Canal side were a nice flock of 100+ Lapwing that came in to land on the mudbank. Other birds seen along this stretch included Great Crested Grebe, Teal, Cormorant, plenty of Dunlin, Knot, Grey Plover, Red Breasted Mergansers, Common Gull and Bar-tail Godwit. As we approached Topsham Goatwalk a male Goldeneye flew passed the boat and heading downstream then circled back towards the north end of Topsham, this was the star sighting for me. Plenty of Avocets seen here and topping off the cruise was the Spotted Redshank at Topsham.   

Black-necked Grebe

Kingfisher with Avocets

This afternoon, Wafton pond was quite but there was a lot of activity on the scrape.  On the pond I saw three Snipe and a couple of Mallard.  On the scrape were a few Black-tailed Godwits, some Teal and at least one Snipe.

Snipe

Three Snipe

A late post from yesterday (14.01.22)

On the sea out from Mouth Mill there were between 30 and 40 + Divers. Most appeared to be Red-throated but there were also several way out from the cliffs that were difficult to identify (no telescope, so lesson learned!). They were in small groups (2's, 3's and 5's) sailing in line as they sometimes do. This morning I went to a more accessible site at Bucks Mills but only saw two Red-throated Divers. I went over to Hartland Quay to check there and again only saw one Red-throated Diver. Mouth Mill is between Bucks and Hartland but is difficult to access except on foot. Hopefully other birders will keep their eyes peeled for any build up of Diver numbers off the North Coast. Good luck!

Saturday 15th 1445pm Black Redstart showing well on Fisher Road, off St.Levans Road, Plymouth

A highlight of this morning’s visit to Exminster Marsh was 9 Glossy Ibis which flew North over Discovery area by railway line at 8.40. No sign of single bird in the usual field though Pink-footed Goose present. Otherwise 3 1st wint Marsh Harriers, Ad Peregrine, 350+ Lapwing. 

The single adult female Goldeneye was still present this morning at low tide diving for food in the calm mirror like surface of the tidal channel.

On the sand bank a restless & vocal c2000 Golden Plover taking off & landing.

16 Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape. Unusually 3 Duck species in the reserve: 8 Gadwall 2 Mallard and 3 Teal. No Jays today. Good news that the Cob Swan on Wrafton Pond seems to have a new Pen! Out along the Marsh Road, 3 Glossy Ibis in the field before the track. One Whooper Swan in the field behind that one.

12 purple sandpipers on Maer Rocks at low tide this morning; only four turnstones; a couple of brent geese; a couple of shags fishing and several oystercatchers nearby.

Male black redstart showing well (intermittently - flighty) on apartment rooftops, garage roofs, street level flowerpots and the pavement. Roadside of Schooner and Windward Courts behind the marina.

A pair of Goldcrest working evergreen hedge Granville Road and a pair of Redwing in Jubilee Gardens

Female Goldeneye still on Tungsten West Pit at top of down this morning.

A late afternoon stroll around Stantyway Farm area revealed Red-legged Partridge, Skylark, Meadow Pipit and good numbers of Linnets, Chaffinches and Starlings. Along the cliff path the Stonechats performed beautifully in the evening light and a few Fulmars wheeled around.

Female Stonechat

Male Stonechat

While working in the Bovey Tracey area I thought that a visit to Stover might prove fruitful. I was not disappointed - a group of eight Mandarin, male and female in equal measure, four Shoveler two male & two female, lots of Tufted and Mallard, a Great Crested Grebe, a Jay and a Heron.  Also saw a pair of Goosander and a white breasted Cormorant perched in a tall tree.   

Mandarin Duck

Jay

Started today at Fremington Pill where 5 Glossy Ibis were present down past the sluice. Several Greenshank and the Spotted Redshank in amongst the hordes of Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank. However our visit was not for these goodies but a very credible report of Jack Snipe at Saltpill duck Pond. Well we looked (with very precise directions) for quite a while but not even a Snipe, but just before we left (about 11.am.) 3 Ibis were in the field to the west of the pond. When we got back to the Pill, no Ibis at all so the three were most likely part of that group. Not sure how this ties in with Phil's sighting earlier.. So we went off west and crossed the border onto Cornwall! At Tamar lakes we saw 3 Egyptian Geese and 3 Tundra Bean Geese, but they were in Cornwall, as were the Willow Tits around the edge of the Upper lake. But the Marsh Tits were in Devon by the Lower lake. We counted 32 Goosander there too. On to Bursdon Moor (properly back in Devon now) started slowly with a female Sparrowhaawk heading West with the wind. A few minutes later a smart Barn Owl headed East. A bit later still we added a female Hen Harrier and 2 Merlins - one of which flew at breakneck speed from the lowest part of the moor up the long slope to the west eventually rising up to take a small bird in the air! To complete the set, a female Peregrine also flew through. We then returned to Fremington to collect my car and watched in the gathering gloom as a dozen+ Egrets came in to roost = nearly all Cattle Egrets. Biggest surprise though was a 'Roding' Woodcock which flew past below the skyline so we only heard it!

A day back at an old haunt, all be a brief hour. Top end only. 5 Goosander (2M, 3F type), 3 Common Sand, 2 Little Grebe, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, 2 RN Parakeet & on the pond of dreams 23 Mandarin & F RC Pochard. 

From Plymouth Hoe later. Best was 2 Turnstone. 

14:00 today -  Now 3 Glossy Ibis foraging in the same field as the Mute Swans. Excellent views from the marsh road.

Belated news from 13 January: American Buff-bellied Pipit still with Rock Pipits at the eastern end of the beach near Maelcombe House, usually close to the slipway. Could be picked out easily by naked eye: it would be the bird chased off by Rock Pipits! Also 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls.

Later, 6 Goldeneye (2 drakes) at Slapton (Torcross end).

American Buff-bellied Pipit

American Buff-bellied Pipit

Duck abounded today, relatively speaking, at Stover, including 11 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall (much display from the 4 drakes), 5 Wigeon and 18 Mandarins. Also single Great Crested and Little Grebes and Kingfisher.

At Passage House on the afternoon high tide, 23 Avocets, Common Sandpiper, c30 Curlew, 10+ Snipe, c10 Redshanks and a Kingfisher.

Mandarin in full colour!

Gadwalls displaying

08:56 - 10:28

Green Sandpiper (at least 2); Grey Wagtail (at least 2); Little Egret were the highlights.

16:00 today, lit by a glorious sinking sun, we're THREE Glossy Ibis where yesterday there were two as reported by Rob Jutsum. Now....was anybody with the five ibis over Fremington Pill or Home Farm Marsh at the same time? Hopefully, because that would make 8 in the area! 

Three Glossy Ibis Braunton Marsh fields

First "proper" visit today to Skern today since moving to Northam just before christmas. Sunny but cold. Good numbers of Dunlin with Curlew, Whimbrel, Shelduck, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Brent Geese. B.H. Herring and Common Gull- Redshank and Greenshank i

Red Kite, drifted over Teignmouth at 1pm today, gliding with occasional flaps, flying East, continued over the sea, circling once, to show all key features.

3 Glossy Ibises on Black Hole Marsh 10.30 - 11.00 am   this morning, then flew south towards Seaton Marshes.

Male again at Cliffe Road Roundham.

70 Sanderling, 9 Common Gull yesterday morning

Thank you to all the volunteers who have let me know that they will be able to help with the South Milton Reserve reed cut on Sunday 16 January.  You should have received an email from me with details of the arrangements for the day.

Anyone else who would like to join us will be most welcome.  We will be cutting the reeds at the seaward end of the Reserve, about 300m upstream of the SW Coast Path Bridge, starting at 9:30.  Free parking is available in Martin Berryman's camping field at the head of the cul de sac leading down to the sewage works.  If you would prefer a shorter walk, paid parking is available at the Links Road car park (£5) or the National Trust car park at South Milton Sands (£6 but free to NT members).  Please wear wellies and gloves and bring along a long handled fork or rake if you have one.  If you have any spare newspaper (to start the fires) please bring that along too.  Please provide your own refreshments.

For those familiar with the What Three Words app, the locations of the car parks are: masks/gripes/ends (free car park); applauded/biked/presides (Links Court car park); nest/sleep/masses (South Milton Sands car park).

If you would like more details, please contact Nick Townsend on 07989 717383 or email gillnickt@yahoo.co.uk

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday

Nick Townsend