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Late for yesterday.

Early morning Goosander count 4m 7f, 3 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Jay.

Early morning walk at Boringdon Golf Course, On the small pond a solitary female Goosander was just finishig a large frog, 2 Buzzards, a Green Woodpecker dozens of Skylarks,10 Goldfinches,2 Song thrushes and a Wren,

Goosander

Goosander

Long tailed duck seen trew weir Exeter Key haven banks feb 26th 2021 female 

Overhead Arlington Court today at 13:31 Red Kite drifting from west to east at about 300ft!  Cropped image for record purposes because it won't win any awards. 

Red Kite high over Arlington Court

My first Chiffchaff of the year, singing loudly from Archers’ Walk footpath in Christow at 7.30am. Lots of other birds active; tits, GSW, wren, Robin, dunnock. 

Glaucous Gull flew from Mew Stone and landed on rocks on Plymouth side of Wembury Point. Appears to have suffered considerable wing damage especially on right wing. This could be reason for it still being around if it is the same bird reported on the 23rd Feb 

Glaucous Gull sat on the rocks in the morning sunshine

Wing damage evident as it flew back to the Mew Stone

5 Purple Sandpipers this morning close to the point. 

On the high tide from dawn, 3 Goosanders (1 drake), 2 Common Sandpipers, 153 Redshanks, 7 Greenshanks, adult Mediterranean Gull, 30 Turnstones & a Sparrowhawk. Also, 9+ Roe Deer.

Few Golden Plover noted in the area this winter, the 50 or so on Dockwell Ridge early this morning being the most I've recorded since October. All still in winter plumage, though a few bellies seem to show a little dark smudging. Earlier, eight roosting Goosanders (two males) departed at 0743. 

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

Female Black Redstart on the roof tops in Lipson

Watching over the the Gull roost yesterday evening produced 4 Mediterranean Gulls (2 fw, 1 ad w & 1 ad s), a fw drake Long-tailed Duck was with 7 Common Scoter, the wintering Long-tailed Duck in Torbay has been a female so a new arrival. Diver numbers have dropped right off again after the stormy weather last week now down to 8 Great Northern Divers. 2-3 Common Dolphin and 1 Harbour Porpoise.

A pre-dawn check for roosting Goosanders revealed just a pair from 06:15 onwards. the highlight, however, was an Otter that swam across the lake at 06:45 to the North Marsh, flushing lots of waterfowl as it went; after working its way eastwards, I lost it in the mist. Well worth the early rise!  Also at least two pairs of Mandarins, Little Grebe, 10 Tufted, noisy Green and G S Woodpeckers.

Due to the high volume of traffic and the resulting traffic jam I decided to move on and visit Yelland for a while.  Along the roadside leading to old power station site and opposite the new coffee shop a pair of Carrion Crows grabbed my attention, along the Tarka path I spotted a number of Teal, Six Little Egrets, a Kestrel and high up in the sky were a large number of Golden Plovers (at least a hundred possibly more) couldn't get all in one frame. Also there was a group of a least a couple of dozen  of what appeared to be Curlew roosting in the marsh.

Carrion Crow

Golden Plover

Yesterday, I had an early afternoon walk along Fremington Pill. There was very little in the way of bird life other than the usual.  Managed to get some distance shots of a couple of Shelduck and a Redshank. Saw a few Little Egrets, a pair of Wood pigeon nest building, a couple of Teal and one Pied Wagtail.

Redshank

Male Shelduck

3 Chiffchaff singing in Mincinglake Valley Park and a Redpoll on the garden bird table. At eleven the raptors got aerial, including a Red Kite rising over Upton Pyne. Several drumming Greater Spotted & yaffling Green Woodpeckers. Buzzards tumbling and talon grappling. A  brimstone & red admiral, plus mating frogs completed the springy scene.

A Small Tortoiseshell in the garden as I enjoyed lunch outside. Dipper in the river by Caen St School. 2 drake Pochard, some each of Shoveler and Wigeon on Wrafton Pond. Little Grebe trilling in the reserve. Down the Toll road, Little Owl, and the juvenile Whooper Swan right by the road just past the round Linhay.

Little Owl

Juvenile Whooper Swan

Lots of birdsong for this morning's dawn walk. Particularly pleased by the songs and visible ascentsof 2 Skylarks, several Yellowhammers singing and showing well along the hedges and a very early Chiffchaff singing and showing. Plus 2 male and 1 female Bullfinch getting territorial at West Sandford.

Just walking through our village of Taleford near Ottery St Mary, Devon at dusk and was surprised to see a Red Kite fly over at tree top level.

A good spread of birds on a lovely mild day, including: Treecreeper, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, 2 Grey Wagtails, Siskin, 3 Goosanders (1 drake), 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adults), 4 Common Sandpipers, 5 Greenshanks, 27 Turnstones & a Mute Swan (the latter my 90th species of the year here).

Also, Small Tortoiseshell & 15 Roe Deer.

Another Small Tortoiseshell & a Sparrowhawk at Tothill Park.

Flock of Fieldfare (c50) on eastern side of forest. Elsewhere good numbers of small birds at feeders near Caddihoe including Marsh Tits with 2 drumming Gt Spotted Woodpeckers.  A  Green Woodpecker heard on western woodlands. 

The Long Tailed Duck still present but quite distant. Also, 2 Shag and several Cormorant.

Long Tailed Duck (female)

Cormorant

Plenty of Dartford Warbler.

1 Red Kite over at 11:00.

15 minute cycle ride out to Croyde Sands this morning as part of my daily exercise routine. Hundreds of Gulls on the Sands & scanned every one of them.

Amongst  the BH Gulls, Herring Gulls & Common Gulls were several Med Gulls & 2 Lesser Black backed Gulls. 

Signs of early spring for this loving pair of Carrion Crows!

The Long-tailed Duck still at Mountbatten, but at distance, no sign of the Northern diver

Female Long-tailed Duck

A Sparrowhawk performed a spectacular 700m long dive across the north end of the Down into a tree full of Redwings scattering them wildly.  A single  flock of c.40 Meadow Pipits was notable along with double figures of Stonechat and Skylark.  Four Buzzards, a pair of Ravens and a pair of Yellowhammers also present.

Female Red-crested Pochard on the River ply today just South of the old sewage discharge pipe station with 6 mallards. 

Pretty quiet this afternoon but managed: 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Goosanders, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Stonechat & 10 Roe Deer.

1200 24/02/21  pair of Dippers on the Avon above Shipley Bridge. Never seen 2 together before but followed this pair up the river for 200m before they ducked into small cave..

1 adult winter Little Gull seen for approximately five minutes with the mixed gull roost on the Skern. It then flew across Northam Burrows, dropped in at Sandymere and then appeared to head out to sea. The bird couldn't be relocated. Also at the Skern high tide roost were two adult Mediterranean Gulls approximately 400 Oystercatcher, 100 Dunlin, Knot, Grey Plover and 38 Bar-tailed Godwit.

Female long-tailed duck still there above Weir this morning.

Spring moving right along, but some bits remain the same: 2 Spoonbills out on the scrape this morning, only one Pochard on Wrafton Pond. Shoveler and Wigeon present but the only Gadwall I saw were 2 in the reserve. Also there singing Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler, Goldcrest, and a Collared Dove was notable. As I left a Grey Wagtail in the river and then 2 Kingfishers zoomed off upstream together - a pair?

Very large group (hundreds) of Dark-bellied Brent Geese with possibly a stray Pale-bellied amongst them. Can someone confirm this please?

Pale-bellied Brent Goose?

The Leucistic Blackbird, which has been been reported at the headland a number of times, was showing well this morning.

Leucistic Blackbird

Leucistic Blackbird

Up to twenty Pintail on the Skern as the tide retreated late afternoon. Seen not far from the bridge. Thanks to ?? who gave me the tip off yesterday. 

Further to yesterday's post went back on beach this morning and took more photos as Mike Langman is sure the bird is an Auk.

Eds - Yes, a Guillemot

Four Mediterranean Gulls on this afternoon's high tide (3 ads + 2nd-w); also, 4 Little Grenes, 3 Goosanders (1 drake), 31 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 52 Curlews, 56 Shelducks (including Axe-ringed A06), Shag & 9 Stock Doves.

Walked from Countesswear to Powderham Park and back this morning. Highlight was the GW-f Goose family close to the canal between Swan's Nest Road and Topsham lock.

Of lesser note were two singing Treecreepers, my first of the year, opposite the sewage works. Also:

- on the storage lagoon, 4 Pochards, a good number nowadays, and 3 Tufteds;

- in the estuary, 800+ Blackwits in a single flock, with 25+ Barwits in smaller groups nearby, 50+ Grey Plovers scattered around and the usual Golden flock huddled together;

- near Turf, a Cirl Bunting in one of their less regular spots;

- West of the railway below Turf, the Snow Goose was still with the Canadas. There is so much dead ground when one looks from the seawall that the Barnacles could still be there too;

- in the Park, 30+ Stock Doves, the most there yet;

- in the Park and around the Kenn outfall, 10+ Greenshanks.

Missing today were Pintail and the Egyptian Geese.

A 1st winter Glaucous Gull resting alone on the rocks along the beach at Wembury this morning before being disturbed by dog walkers and flying off towards Plymouth.

Eds - pale eye, pale bill-tip & generally (appears to have) very pale plumage; so perhaps 2nd or 3rd-winter?

Glaucous Gull

Well after a bonanza of birds in the warm calm sunshine yesterday, it was back to earth with a bump today: not much at all in the reserve, but now 2 drake Pochard on Wrafton Pond. Little Egret out on the scrape.

Spotted yesterday (22/2/21). Small number of cattle egrets at the top of the village.

cattle egrets

A female Brambling joined the Cirl Bunting flock (22 today) on seed in the 2nd car park, also a single male Yellowhammer, its odd they are not more regular at the site although the winter of 2019/20 saw up to 7 coming to the seed here. In the marsh behind the beach 1 Siberian Chiffchaff and a single collybita chiffchaff.

   Yellowhammer

Doing her bit to control the local Feral Pigeon infestation!

Afternoon mtb ride gave a Dipper and Grey Wagtail on the Tory Brook. On the remnant of Crownhill Down three Yellowhammers, my first this year, with three Meadow Pipit in a hawthorn. Ten Stonechats were notable. A Sparrowhawk. Over Whitehill china clay tip four Buzzards caused a stir among the Skylarks.

In clovelly bay this pm 1GNDiver and  the LT Duck was still present.

Six stonechats (three pairs) on Brent Hill, and four (first winter?) loosely together on farmland below, represents an increase on the two-three wintering birds. Perhaps an arrival of migrants en route to breeding areas on the moor or beyond?

Also today, 11 roosting goosanders at the Avon Dam (one pair mated) and six teal including two displaying males.

Stonechat (first winter?)

Old churchyard mid-pm, a male Firecrest, crown blazing, chasing a Goldcrest. Inter-specific aggression or courtship?

Afternoon walk from Plympton to Hemerdon and Crownhill Down produced my first Wheatear of the year in fact it's the earliest I've ever seen one. Lots of Skylarks Pipits and Stonechats. Several Buzzards, a Kestrel and a Sparrow Hawk .In Furzeacre Wood a GSW 8 Greenfinches, a solitary Fieldfare with a flock of Redwing and a singing Dipper on the Tory Brook.

Wheatear

Dipper

Soryy that my first post is of a dead bird on Budleigh Salterton beach tthsi morning. I am almost certain it is a  GND.

Check around the Torbay beaches today: 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 14 Great Norther Divers, 46 Great Crested Grebes. 

In glorious sunshine, a female/imm Tufted Duck on the narrow river, 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Goosanders (3 drakes), 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (1 drake), 4 Snipe, 6 Greenshanks, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, 2 Stonechats, 5+ Stock Doves & 8 Roe Deer, 

Three adult Mediterranean Gulls (all s/p = one with full black head, two with partial black heads).  Seven Goosanders (3 males), two Bar=tailed Godwits, two Common Sandpipers, one Common Gull.

Saltpill pond , 4 Glossy Ibis , a pair of Shoveler and singing Cetti’s warbler.

2 Spoonbill at Isley and 1 at Fremington quay.    The rough fields across 

the trail from Penhill point towards Anchor Bank held 8 Cattle Egrets.

adult Male Peregrine on Torridge bridge.

Robins displaying

Pair Great Sp Woodecker mating. Nuthatch, Redwings.

Single Red kite flying over Cullompton town centre, heading north-east at 09.37 this morning. 

A Tawny owl very active and vocal around the house this evening.

A pair of Siskin on the feeders this morning.

Tawny Owl

Tawny Owl

Wintering Whimbrel seen in Charleton Bay this morning

15.45

Juv Glaucous Gull at the point.  38 Great Northern Divers between the Orestone and Anstey's Cove.  1 Red-throated Diver beyond the Lead Stone. 

Female Black Redstart showed very well on the south side.

5 Shelducks in flight, heading south.    

Further to David Cope's post, walking on the front towards the Yacht club picked up a group of six Great Northern Divers in a loose but close group, not really diving and reasonably static, a couple more further in feeding on shore crabs. Walking back to the Ness saw another group of nine close together and in a line swimming towards Bundle Head, again not diving much and another two further out. Pretty calm sea after the last few days, maybe just resting? Any thoughts? Also a Harbour Porpoise breaching slightly behind the group of nine.

EDS: These groups of Great Northern Divers typically 'raft' while resting and particularly when going to roost in the evening sometimes in quite large groups - see earlier posts on Torbay Divers.

On the sea: 18 Great Northern Divers, 1 Black-throated and 1 Red-throated Diver, 39 Great Crested Grebes. Looks like the Great Northern Divers might have started to disperse already now the winds have subsided.

A skylark displaying over Chelson Meadow was a welcome sign of spring this afternoon

Two Tufted Ducks (1 drake) on the lower estuary; also, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers (3 drakes), 5 Goosanders (4 drakes), 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, Shag & Mediterranean Gull (adult winter).

At Weare Giffard this afternoon 2 Cattle Egret in fields by bridge at Annery Kiln. 
On the Skern the male  Black Redstart present on rocks near Appledore Bridge

Think we have just seen an albino magpie by Beaumont road church today - no chance for a pic as we were driving - Never knew these existed but see a reference to it in 2017 on this blog. Very interesting.

Eds - yes; this is a leucistic bird which frequents that area of Plymouth.

Drake Pochard on the pond this morning, with Wigeon and Shoveler but no Gadwall. Water Rail, Goldcrest and Cetti's Warbler in the reserve, Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher in the river.

Went for a walk along the Ashford side of the Tarka trail this morning. Dull and overcast with a milky sun trying to shine through the cloud. Lots to see. On the river side lots of Redshank, Oystercatchers and Curlew. Some Sheduck, Cormorants and Gulls on the sandbanks. Of interest was a pair of Goosander, the male displaying at times whilst they floated up and down the river fishing, coming close to shore several times. A Spoonbill and Great White Egret stood close together. On the land side where Bradiford Water comes to join the river were up to 40 Teal, some Canada Geese and more Oystercatchers.

A single Goshawk circling over Kingsteignton for 10 - 15 minutes this morning about 1125

Eds: A rare record of a migrant Goshawk away from known breeding areas. The breeding season is already here for some species, including Goshawk, so please refer to the guidelines if unsure.

Off the seafront this morning 8 Great northern Divers, 1 Red throated Diver, 2 Common Scotor and a Great Crested Grebe. A female Black Redstart around the Den last week.

Great views of 2 Purple Sandpipers, with 9 Turnstones, feeding on rocks below Maritimos.  All moved round to Rusty Anchor rocks as the tide rose.  Also 3 Great Northern Divers close in to sea wall.

Alongside the regular coal tits, blue tits, marsh tits, long tailed tits, chaffinches, house sparrows, woodpecker and great tits we have been visited by a brambling. A lock down treat.

270+ Chaffinch along with one female Brambling. 10+ Reed Bunting, 62 Lapwing, 120+ Teal and as is often the case, a Kestrel. 

Checking  roost last night with Simon Tonge: minimum of 55 Great N Divers (max raft size 10 also 7,7 6) but many still feeding so could easily have missed some, 2 Black-t Divers,  24 Great C Grebes, 1 ad w Mediterranean Gull, 67 Common Gulls and just 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.