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A Black-tailed Godwit new in on Blaxton Meadow with the Grey Plover, 12 Snipe, 10 Turnstones & 9 Wigeon. On the estuary, 2 Great Crested & 3+ Little Grebes & 9 Goosanders (3 drakes); also, Stonechat & Siskin.

A sub-adult male red-crested pochard on the Lower Ley, between Stokesley hide and Torcross.

75 Fieldfare and 25 Blackbirds feasting on apples and medlars in the orchard along with 60 Starling, 5 Greenfinch,15 Chaffinch ,Bullfinch ,Jay,Nuthatch ,Marsh Tit, Treecreeper and 2 GSWs…..all being watched by a Buzzard and disturbed by a Sparrow Hawk. In the bird mix fields a hunting female Kestrel ,300 plus Finches….mainly Chaffinch but also Goldfinch,Linnet and Greenfinch…..all very flighty due to frequent passes by another Sparrow Hawk.Elsewhere on the farm 35 Redwing,12 Pied Wagtails and 12 Meadow Pipits feeding amongst the outwintered stock.Non avian included 6 Roe Deer and 7 Red Deer hinds .

Wrangaton business Park 12..00.til 12.30pm mixed flock of goldfinches and long tailed  tits, goldfinches feeding on buddliea seed heads, c10 finches and similar number of tits. 2 buzzards and numerous jackdaws

Today I had the honour of commentating on a Devon Wildlife Trust cruise for its supporters, celebrating the Trust's 60th Anniversary. The main highlights came as we returned from Topsham towards Turf: first a Marsh Harrier over the estuary, causing panic among hordes of waders; then an immature Great Northern Diver right next to the boat; and then a presumed juvenile leucistic Brent Goose with a family of two adults and 2 young. On our approach to Turf, 2 fem/imm Scaup or Tufted Duck flew off upriver: one of them had a good white blaze around the base of the bill, suggesting Scaup, but I would have liked a better view of them before pronouncing for sure!

Other notables included c20 G C Grebes, c30 Shags, plenty of Little Egrets, 1000+ Brent Geese, c150 Pintail, 200+ Avocets, c500 Lapwings, 500+ Golden Plover, c50 Knot, 9 Sanderling, 100+ Bar-tailed and 1000+ Black-tailed Godwits, Kingfisher and a Pied Wagtail that accompanied us on the boat! On the down side, we saw only half a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers and a couple of Greenshanks.

Immature Great Northern Diver

Leucistic Brent Goose

1 Spoonbill on the scrape this morning. It was the only bird that didn't fly when a female Sparrowhawk made a few passes for breakfast. About 20 Godwits, which soon settled back. Another (or the same Sparrowhawk in the reserve, plus a Kestrel. while a female Marsh Harrier was over the Sherpa Reed-bed. Plenty of FInches and a Water Rail also present.

Two Long-tailed Ducks still on big pit at top of down. Also 73 Golden Plover on down.

A couple of hours this afternoon at Fremington Pill where there were: two Glossy Ibis; a Curlew; six Greenshank; two Shelduck; lots of Teal and Redshank; a Black-tailed Godwit and a Spotted Redshank.

Black-tailed Godwit

Spotted Redshank

Great views this morning of an adult drake and a female Eider as they sat on the sea and drifted towards Torre Abbey Sands for thirty minutes.  Both flew off strongly towards the NE at c10.55 and were not relocated over the next hour or so.

Also in the area were 3 Great Northern Divers, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Egrets and a Grey Heron.

6 Purple Sandpipers were on nearby Haldon Pier and 3 Turnstones were around the Inner Harbour.   

Inspired by Colin Dracott's Post yesterday went hunting for the great northern divers.Unlucky unfortunately but saw a ridiculous amount of ducks-approx 300 teal and wigeon, 200 ish dunlin,100 lapwings which we nearly missed as were so well blended in with the seaweed, 15 curlews,1grey plover and our highlight- 5 turnstones 

A good morning for winter Thrushes on Dartmoor today.

From Hemsworthy Gate a flock of 200 plus Golden Plover.

Dartmeet ~ Cormorant in flight down the river, Treecreeper and two Marsh Tit.

Powder Mill ~ male Kestrel

Post Bridge ~ flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare feeding in pasture fields along with the odd Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush, good numbers of Wood pigeon passing over inn flocks. At the junction to Soussons a male Brambling with a flock of Chaffinch feeding in the roadside Beech litter.

Challacombe ~ female Kestrel and Fieldfare.

The day also gave Jay, Raven, Buzzard, Pied Wagtails, numerous Blackbirds, Meadow Pipit and Stonechat.

Back home at South Brent a flock of 30 plus Wood pigeon passed over.

Mistle Thrush

Fieldfare

Ashburton, 4/12 Red kite circling over farmland in rew Road/ druid arrea. Sighted from car. 

Sightings this morning included 4 Teal, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 3 Firecrests,4 Goldcrests, 6 Chiffchaffs and a Grey Wagtail.

Totals for 2 visits to Exminster Marsh, y’day pm & early this am. Cattle Egret, 3 Marsh Harrier (1cy, 2cy M & either Ad F or 2cy F), 2 Ad Peregrine, 630+ Wigeon, 250+ Teal, 60+ Shoveler, 55+ Pintail, 40+ Mallard, M Gadwall. 150 Dunlin, 150 Golden Plover, 335+ Lapwing, 45 Blackwit, 60+ Curlew, 7+ Snipe, Ruff, 25+ Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Stonechat, M Kestrel, 14 Linnet, 4 Little Egret.

9 greenfinches on the garden feeders this morning - we normally only get a couple. I hope this is a sign of their recovery.

Two Long-tailed Duck on huge pit at top of down. View from: ///abundance.think.stubble (What3Words)

Record photos: https://twitter.com/southdevonbirds/status/1599329467490787328?t=oN0zitlqhsjTqnJ5gVasqQ&s=19

The Grey Plover, 8 Turnstones, 7 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper & 338 Dunlins, all on Blaxton Meadow at high tide. Also, Kingfisher, Little Grebe, 7 Goosanders (4 drakes), Siskin & Grey Wagtail.

1 Long-tailed Duck, 2 G N Divers and 5 Purple Sandpipers on harbourside of breakwater

Lesser whitethroat seen over the last week in the rear garden of 32 Halsdon Avenue Exmouth. 

The main highlight on a late morning walk from Instow, along the SW Coast Path to just past the first jetty, opposite the white house, was a pair of great northern divers. Also there were huge numbers of oystercatchers, dunlin, wigeon, curlew, cormorants, 20+ ringed plover, 10+ little egrets, 6 grey plover, 3 sanderling, 6 brent geese, 3 redshank. In the dunes on the return were rock pipit, linnet, stonechat, long-tailed tits, greenfinch, robin and blackbird.

Great Northern Divers

am:- From the Tarka trail 3 Goosanders, c80 Dunlin, 1 Kingfisher, a flock of Black - tailed Godwits & several recreational rod & line fishermen bait digging & disturbing the foraging birds!

Walked down the Tarka Trail this morning from Ashford to Barnstaple. Goosander (m), Pochard, Wigeon, Redshank, Greenshank, Lapwing, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Sanderling, Bar Tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, Little Egret, Cormorant, BH Gull, GBB Gull, Mallard, then down by the new bridge a grey Heron and a Spoonbill. 

Lower Tamar this morning at 07:00.

36 Goosander 9m 27f, 6 Coot, 5 Great Crested Grebe.

As per yesterdays post, now with photos attached. I think white-tailed eagle around the outskirts of the reservoir

No sign nor sound of the Yellow-browed Warbler today - but it doesn't mean it's gone! Warblers around the site - now 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Firecrest, 12 Chiffchaffs and 10+ Goldcrests.

Over 400 waders on Blaxton Meadow at high tide, including Grey Plover, c250 Dunlins, 7 Greenshanks, 13 Oystercatchers, 2 Snipe & 6 Turnstones (7+ more elsewhere). Also, around the site, 3 Firecrests, Siskin, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Green Woodpeckers, drake Teal, female Red-crested Pochard, 6 Goosanders (2 drakes), 2 Kingfishers & 3 Roe Deer.  

White tailed eagle? Walking over the moors to Fernworthy, encountered this bird. Couldn't see any ring.  Any more info would be appreciated

7 Willow Tit, 23 Goosander 8m 15f, 5 Marsh Tit, 5m Tufted Duck, 2 Wigeon 1m 1f, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 11 Cormorant, 2 Nuthatch.

I was very surprised to see this Mallard with 7 tiny ducklings this morning. Hope they survive the cold weather. Also 12 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebes and a Kingfisher.

Yesterday on marsh: Large flock of Wigeon, Teal, Herons, Little Egrets, Snipe, Mute Swans, several Cirl Buntings Chaffinches, Grey Wagtail, Wren .Little Grebe. Estuary side: Large flock of Dunlin, Oystercatchers, Redshank, Greenshank ,Great Crested Grebe.

Snipe

Cirl Bunting

Brief visit to the Ley. G.C. Grebe, Mallards,Tufted Ducks and Mute Swans on the water. Several Goldcrests flocking with L.T., Blue and Great tits. a solitary Jay

Goldcrest

Female/1st winter on roof of Private house, I'm working at,

The Reed Warbler still around this afternoon, in scrub by the cycle track south of Blagdon's Boatyard, with 2 Chiffchaffs. 

Two brief views of the Yellow-browed Warbler on path leading up the hill behind lake three. Good views of the Firecrest and numerous Goldcrest's on path towards Torbay Golf Centre. Cetti's around start of lake one path .

Cetti's by lake one where it flows out of reserve.

Why aren't all birds as obliging as the Robin !!!!!!!

Whimbrel below Windy Corner,Capstone along oystercatchers and cormorant.

Upper Tamar Lake this morning.

1 (poss:2 ) Avocet, 5  good sightings between 07:30 and 11:00.

Siberian Chiffchaff this morning. 6-7 Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler 3 Firecrests, 4 Goldcrests, 9 Cirl Buntings and 1 Reed bunting there too.

                                                       Siberian Chiffchaff Broadsands

Black Redstart in Tiverton today at Angel Hill/St Peter's Street. Flew up from ground on to roof. Grid ref : SS95381257

While in Brendon today this Buzzard presented itself for a few shots.

Buzzard

The Yellow-browed Warbler was still present around the upper lake 3 this afternoon, also 1 Siberian Chiffchaff at least 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Goldcrest and 1 Firecrest. 2 Kingfishers and 2 Water Rails

All near the mouth of the Lyn; two Dipper, a female kingfisher feeding in the rock pools, one each pied and grey wagtail, plus dozens of herring gulls which appeared to be feeding off whatever on the surface about 100 metres offshore. Two distant gannet seen too.

Female kingfisher at Lyn mouth

Crownhill Down: 5 Ringed Plover in huge pit viewed from top of the down. 

Cholwichtown Pit: Goldeneye, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe 

Whitehill Yeo: 21 Tufted Duck, 5 Little Grebe, 9 Teal

Big Pond: Goosander (m)

Cholwichtown Pit, Goldeneye, Goosander

Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

28 Goosander 9m 19f, 5 Willow Tit, 12 Cormorant, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck 2m 1f, 5 Coot, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Goldcrest, 5 Marsh Tit.

Good morning , great to meet you Pete.  26 Snipe, Curlew, Red & Green Shank,  plenty of Dunlin,  Litlle Egret, 12  Oystercatcher,  Shell Duck, 1 Lapwing,  Common Sandpiper.  Turnstone on the far side of the river, pair Goosander.

After a period of absence, a surprise on my return to the patch, with a very late Reed Warbler. On Blaxton Meadow, Lapwing, 26+ Snipe, 9 Greenshanks & a Common Sandpiper. Otherwise, Firecrest, 15+ Siskins, Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Turnstones, a drake Teal, 4 Goosanders (2 drakes) & 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (1 drake). 

Short-eared Owl still present late afternoon at Exminster Marshes, but no sign of the Glaucous Gull 13:00–15:00 at Cricklepit Bridge, Exeter. 

Late afternoon on Instow Beach where there were a number of Brent Geese (50+) a similar number of Wigeon, a few Oystercatchers and Curlew,  two Common Gulls and eight-ten Sanderling.

Sanderling

Common Gull

Ringing today. An early Spoonbill out on the scrape didn't stay long, but the hundred plus Black-tailed Godwits were there much of the morning. Ringed just 11 Greenfinch this morning plus 1 male Cetti's Warbler, 1 Goldcrest,  2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Goldfinch (and one that wasn't ringed by me) and a very welcome and smart male FIRECREST. A Blue Tit with an 'S' ring was ringed about 6 years ago. 4 Water Rails present.

Off in search of Willow Tits at Lower Tamar today. No luck but 20 approx Goosander, Moorhens, Cormorants, various tits, Chiffchaffs and the unexpected prize; Jack Snipe showing well in front of the hide for nearly an hour.. Cracking bird. 

A spring-like morning for another farmland bird count and pretty much as you were with no significant influxes although 137 Cirl Bunting is a new UK record count! Also: 38 Yellowhammer, 585 Skylark, 4 Snipe, Lapwing over, Woodpigeon 70E, Stock Dove 5E, Starling 80E, 26 Meadow Pipit, 6 Song Thrush & 6 Rock Pipit in Soar Mill Cove.

2Ruff,Grey plover 8 counted Dunlin,Brent Geese, Golden Plover large amounts quite distant.

Stroll in perfect weather from East Budleigh to seafront and back offered 46 species including water pipits (2), water rail showing very well at White Bridge, kingfisher, snipe, blackwits, treecreeper, goldcrests x5, chiffchaff, grey wagtail, little grebes and cett's (heard)

On the sea: 1 Red-throated Diver 3 Great Northern Divers, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 27 Common Scoter, 1 Long-tailed Duck (it visited the boating lakes briefly lunchtime).

In palm trees and on roof tops beside the Cantina Cafe: 2 Black Redstarts