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Certainly four possible as many as five Nightjar at Heathfield this evening, three of them coming remarkably close, best views that I have ever had of these birds.

Only record shots as shooting at silly high ISO levels to negate the need to use flash photography.

Nightjar

Nightjar

Sanderling, Ringed Plover and 5 Dunlin this PM. All in the huge pit at the top of the down.

Yesterday on the Warren beach a mixed flock of around 70 Sanderling and Dunlin. 6 Turnstones on sea wall

Sanderling

Sanderling and Dunlin

Obliging Redstart in full voice and a Swallow enduring the heavy rain on the East Devon Field Trip to Warren House Inn-Golden Dagger/Challacombe Farm area of Dartmoor yesterday.

Redstart

Swallow

Some Whinchat pictures from the East Devon Branch Field Trip to Warren House Inn-Golden Dagger/Challacombe Farm area on Dartmoor on 23rd May.

Whinchat

Seen circling over Bonfire Hill at 10.45am

2 Red Kites flying in through in towards Plymouth city.

4 Red Kites flying over the dockyard from the south, heading over to Cornwall to catch a thermal.

Yesterdays field walk attended by 11 members (East Devon Branch) found plenty of Whinchat and Cuckoo plus others between heavy rain showers. After lunch a visit to Challacombe Farm, birds were few although a nice Redstart was present.  A Robins nest with young was found in a wall and a pair of Nuthatch seen visiting a nest site.  Rain stopped play shortly afterwards.

A Red Kite flying north at 14.10.

Over the last few days on Anstey Common near Hawkridge we've seen four Red Kite five Yellowhammer seen and heard about 8 Willow Warbler. Today, our 1st this year, we heard, then saw, being mobbed by three LBJ's, a Cuckoo. Shortly after that two Lesser Redpoll, 

Lesser Redpoll 

Red Kite circling over 42 Commando camp at Bickleigh near Plymouth 12:13 pm.

1 Red Kite north over Torquay viewed from Chelston 2.14-2.20pm after being seen from Livermead a few minutes before 

Red Kite over flying west at noon today.

Five of the group of 8 kites over Woodbury Castle at 1830 this evening. Possibly includes the 4 birds seen by Jonathan Ruscoe over Marsh Green circa 15 minutes earlier.

Kites

Good numbers of Manx Shearwaters on both ferry crossings and the usual numbers of all three Auks. Gannets, Fulmar and Kittiwake a bit thin generally. The round island trip had us seeing hundreds of Guillemots and Razorbills and plenty of Puffins - mostly on the cliffs and on the water around Jenny's cove. 2 Peregrine.

On the island Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff plus a few Spotted Flycatcher in Milcombe, 4 smart Yellow Wagtails 2m, 1f and one Blue-headed in Barton Field with the sheep - Tree Pipit and a few Sika Deer n the centre of the island and the usual Meadow Pipits, Linnets Skylarks Wheatears and Stonechat scattered about. Biggest surprise was a female Mandarin Duck (new to Lundy) on rocks by the jetty as we left! A few Common Dolphin and a lone Porpoise on the way back.

3 Sanderling, 2 Ringed Plover (in huge pit at top of the down). 2 Cuckoo also around this eve.

3 red kites low over the ridge about 3.15pm.

Four more Red Kites together over the village at 18.05 drifting south in what appeared to be a family group.

Although not totally bird relate, I now know we have blackcaps nesting amongst our mix of trees, but yesterday produced a common lizard and an emperor dragonfly as well. At home in Old Torrington Road, my nest box has been taken over by a colony of bumble bees which is most welcome.

Aylesbeare Common. A short walk around the common produced a Cuckoo calling at 09.30 followed by a brief sighting before it flew off towards Hawkerland. Also present 3 Siskin, Green Woodpecker, Tree Pipit, Stonechats and usual residents.

Back at home (Marsh Green) this afternoon, Red Kites put in an appearance with two at 15.35 heading NW and one drifting SW at 16.10 (could be same bird).

Pied Flycatcher singing in North Wood, Cadover, was a surprise first thing. Green Woodpecker, Goosander and Cuckoo also around plus the usuals. 

At Crownhill Down - in addition to Bob's post, 2 Dunlin.

4 vocal whimbrel on rocks in front of HMS QE.plus whitethroat, 2 red legged partridge in horse paddocks.

Good views of adult and juvenile Raven. A solitary Wheatear, A Ringed Plover on the TWP and at least 2 Cuckoos. 

Raven with juv.

Raven with juv.

Today while in the County Gate area I got good views of a female Redstart. The male remained hidden apart from a couple of quick views through the trees.

Female Redstart

Female Redstart

A single Red Kit being harassed by 3 crows, heading south viewed from the garden.
A single Stock Dove in the garden this morning, which is a new visitor for us.
A Tawny Owl also calling loudly after dark.

Yesterday at Exminster Marshes: Cettis, Sedge and Reed Warblers, Swallows. Swifts, Egyptian Geese, Blackwits.

Egyptian Goose

Sedge Warbler

This morning while sitting drinking coffee, a small flock (9) of Canada Geese arrived. Hang on that one looks different and there was this Pink-footed Goose with them. It didn't stay long. It turns out that it is the bird recently seen on Exminster Marshes. (it has damage to it's right eye).

Spotted Flycatchers back in the orchard.By the river lots of activity including Goosander with 10 duckling……..a first for this site………also 5 to 7 pairs of Sand Martins nesting in the usual bank.Dippers have fledged and a Moorhen sitting on a coppiced alder stump.Mallard with 12 freshly hatched duckling and 2 pairs of Grey Wagtail..Pied Wagtail catching freshly emerged Mayfly…..competing with brown trout.Also Marsh Tit ,Blackcap and Willow Warbler.Non avian included 5 red deer hinds  and roe buck..Plenty of Orange-tips and Common Blues.

Lower Tamar  Lake this morning.

2 Garganey 1m 1f, 1m Gadwall, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Moorhen, 15 Mallard, 1 Marsh Tit.

Note: The feeders are back out at the Lake.

Yesterday evenings sightings - Most interesting were five duck in flight one of which was considerably smaller turned out to be a male Garganey, the others being Mallard. Found a Pink-footed Goose with possible eyesight issues hanging around the Canada Geese for comfort maybe and the leucistic Reed Bunting has a mate and appeared to be feeding young.    

Reed Bunting

Pink-footed Goose

21.10 - 21.50. 3 possibly 4 nightjars churring plus 2 females seen. Also Tawny Owl heard and several bats. 

2 Siskin 1m 1f

The first-summer Bonaparte's Gull  was off the Imperial Ground with a few Black-headed Gulls at around midday. Meanwhile the first-summer Yellow-legged Gull was again on the nearby rugby pitch/recycling depot.

Arrived shortly after 05.00 this morning and opened the nets. Another disappointing session with only 11  birds ringed - it seems as if I have completely missed the spring migration, which usually reaps dividends at this time of year. 3 very juvenile Robins, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Goldfinches, and 3 Sedge Warblers which were the best of the bunch. and the first this year. Saw a Golden-ringed Dragonfly - a first for the reserve, and as I was packing up a Spotted Flycatcher appeared,  a lovely way to finish, with a year tick!

1 Gt northern diver ,1 st summer . No sign of Blk Guiellemot.