Please take extra care when visiting Dawlish Warren. We have been informed that due to the recent bad weather there has been significant erosion from Groyne 10 eastwards. This means that access along the site, to and from Warren Point (and the bird hide) will be via the beach only, with a risk of being cut off for a period either side of high water! Signs have been put up to alert people to the hazards, but people need to be aware that access routes that they have become used to may not be available and they need to exercise extreme caution,  with the possibility of being cut off by the tide, and people are strongly urged not to try climbing the sand cliffs. Further information is available on the Teignbridge District Council website.

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This morning a boggy and very muddy walk over part of the west side of Exmoor was well worth the effort with 200+ Golden Plover seen low overhead 150+ Chaffinch on Beech mast, 50+ Fieldfare, Meadow Pipit seam to be everywhere. But the highlight of the morning were two Hen Harrier at different times passing thro heading south. One Ringtail and a Juvenile Male. Plenty of movement overhead.

A short visit at lunch time along the road with small numbers of Chiffchaff, Golcrest, Blackcap & a Firecrest. 

Two Snow Bunting still showing well at North end of Golf Course with a single Wheatear Midday.

With Shipley Bridge -Avon Dam busier with birders keen to see the Ring Ouzel, I have over the past few days headed to a quieter location at Owley Moor Gate out to Glasscombe Corner. Harder going, but worth the effort! Today 10.50 -13.30 only walked part of the route and sat up by a Rowan tree, where Ring Ouzels (5-6+) have been showing regularly on previous visits for myself and other local birders. Today was quiet on arrival, but after 10 mins or so a mixed flock of 45+ Fieldfare and a few Ouzels arrived. Very flighty, but did manage a few photos, when they settled nearby. A couple of Mistle Thrush, Jay, Meadow Pipit, several L/T tits, wren and robin in the area. It has been a good spot for raptors over the past week, including a Goshawk as reported by Steve Hopper. 2 days ago I picked up a late misguided Hobby flying North at the head of the Glazebrook! Snipe flushed and Stonechat still present. 

Ring Ouzel (Male) + Fieldfare - South Brent -23.10.2019

Ring Ouzel + Fieldfare -South Brent- 23.10.2019

Fieldfare -South Brent -23.10.2019

We saw 37 species in or close to the reserve yesterday. Added Song Thrush, Little Grebe and Grey Wagtail to the seen list today. Still getting Speckled Wood and Red Admiral, along with Common Darter and Migrant Hawkers.

On the way home by the cycle track near the fire station a CLOUDED YELLOW butterfly.

Short trip this morning in some sunshine.  Plenty of Crows and Magpies but very little else. Highlight was a very pale looking Buzzard being harrassed by a small flock of Corvids and a nice Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood

07.40 > 09.00 - Vis Mig:- 138 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing (97 yesterday am), 168 Chaffinch, 50 Starling, 5 Meadow Pipit, 17 Long tailed Tit which landed only 3 metres from observation point, 207+ Auks > S (mainly Razorbill), 2 Gannet & 6 Cormorants.

10.25

Short-Eared Owl inadvertently flushed from bracken covered cliff face opposite the Leadstone. Flew off out over the Orestone, before gaining height and heading out over Torbay towards Berry Head. Being mobbed by Herring Gulls as it went. 

Later, a Red-Throated Diver flew out of Hope Cove and around the headland close in, before making its way into Torbay. 

A brief but rewarding morning visit to East Soar Farm. 7 Black Redstarts, 6 Goldcrests, 1Ring Ouzel, countless Skylarks along the track, and a Blackcap at the car park.

Along the river and in the woods were the regulars, including Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Treecreeper and Marsh Tit, plus all three Woodpeckers heard, the L.S. being inaccessible on the steep slope. On Mardon Down were several Redwings (my first of the Winter), 100+ Fieldfares,  10+ Mistle Thrushes and far more Blackbirds than normal, so perhaps some were migrants, all gorging on the berries. Tried to metamorphose some of the last into Ring Ouzels, but failed; others might succeed. In the plantations South of Blackingstone were several pairs/groups of Crossbills, among which were two singing males, plus plenty of Siskins and a Sparrowhawk.. Beautiful views and intense Autumn colours made for a satisfying day.

2 Little Grebes ( 1 Tottiford, 1 Kennick ), 14 Goosander resting at Tottiford ( 1 male, rest brownheads ). 12 Tufted Duck on Kennick ( typical numbers for regular wintering flock ). Numerous Blackbirds, plus just 1 Fieldfare heard. Lovely clear calm day.  

2 Firecrests, mid-pm. Both, separately, in mixed Tit/Goldcrest flocks. 

!m Goosander (first of the winter), 6 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 13 Canada Geese, 2 Tufted 1m 1f, 6 Coot, 15 Mallard, 2 Coal tit,

Also 1 Hen Harrier (ring tail) over Fairy Cross 15:20

Ringing this morning produced 50 new birds and 20 or so retraps.

Highlights were 17 Redwing, 10 Goldfinch, 7 Blackbird, 2 Blackcap, 5 Chaffinch, 1 Chiffchaff and one Goldcrest.

We are also almost certain that two largish pale Thrush-type birds were Mistle Thrushes. Unfortunately neither bird found a net so we couldn't confirm. I have only once seen a Mistle Thrush in the reserve, so it would have been a good record.

We think there were at least 5 Water Rails calling, unseen from various reed-beds in and around the reserve. No sign of any Waders or Egrets on the scrape.

One retrap Kingfisher was ringed on 11th August this year. Another was recently reported to me as having flown into a window in Wootton Courtenay in May 2018, having been ringed here in June 2017. It took a while to get these details as the finder  originally mis-read the ring number, but fortunately had kept the specimen for taxidermy!

The two Snow Buntings were still showing well this afternoon.

  
Snow Bunting

From our boat in Halwell Creek: 370 Wigeon & 3 Greenshank.

Only two Ring Ouzels seen at a distance around the Shipley Bridge area, one Red Wing, Song & Mistle Thrush, Blackbirds, apart from that nothing much else.

Ring Ouzels, distant record shot only

A seasonally confusing walk. Goosander was the target, but none had arrived. However, several small parties of Crossbills were criss-crossing the plantations, with, eventually, an adult male seen perched in full song. Presumably the seed crop is good and breeding imminent. Half an hour later, 300+ Fieldfares, my first of the "Winter", flew over and dropped into the Bovey valley, so what season is it? Plenty of newly-arrived Skylarks and Meadow Pipits in the soggy pastures. 

A walk along Saunton Sands to Crow Point this afternoon produced 150+ Sanderling a single Common Scoter and 50+ Brent Geese.

a small flock of Dunlin on Horsey Island with 30+ Lapwing

    
Sanderling                      150+ Sanderling on Saunton Beach         Common Scoter off Saunton Sands

Late report from Sunday 21st. Took the circular around the headland but found no sign of the recently reported wryneck.  Disappointment  was made up for by a brilliant close up sighting of a Short-eared Owl that landed on the path about 50m in front of us. (Not long enough for a photo though).  Other highlights were two Wheatear and six Swallows, along with probable migrant Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Blackcap and several Chiffchaff, amongst good numbers of the usual suspects Cirl Bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnets and Stonechats.

Northam Burrows: no sign of the Lapland Bunting, but 3 confiding Snow Buntings. A pale Wheatear was only a Northern.

Fremington Pill was as usual awash with Redshanks + 2 Spotted Redshank, and the Glossy Ibis was also present and showing well.

Northam Burrows: no sign of the Lapland Bunting, but 3 confiding Snow Buntings. A pale Wheatear was only a Northern.

Fremington Pill was as usual awash with Redshanks + 2 Spotted Redshank, and the Glossy Ibis was also present and showing well.

I had a walk around before the dog walkers got out in force and noted the following. Redwing, Fieldfare, Firecrest 2  and  17 Cirl Bunting . Not much on the Point, only  a few Oystercatchers with 4 Curlew before being moved on by the dogs. The only waders seen by me.

Late report for Saturday 19 October. c60 Golden Plover near Haytor, Dartmoor at 11.30am

22 Fieldfares, 4 Ring Ouzels 6 Redwings.

A morning trip on Dartmoor above South Brent gave a bird of prey bonanza, initially a juvenile Sparrowhawk being mobbed by a crow, followed by two juvenile Peregrines playing tag with another crow, a Buzzard in the distance followed by a Goshawk flying down the valley with two crows trailing behind it.

Meadow Pipit and Gold Crests in good numbers, six sightings of Ring Ouzel, one single female followed by five together flying into a Rowan tree to feed, two Mistle Thrush and a couple of Raven.

South Efford Marsh at Aveton Gifford not a great deal to see, five Greenshank, two Redshank, eight plus Little Egret, Heron, a couple of Curlew, Canada geese providing a spectacle as they were arriving in flocks throughout the visit and on leaving just over 200 birds present including a large domestic goose that flew in with them. Brief view of a Kingfisher on leaving and a female Kestrel overhead.

Up to 15 mobile Ring Ouzels early this morning N end,

Great white egret at turf Saturday afternoon 

This afternoon:

8 Little egret, 20 Black tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 1 Great crested grebe, 1 Common sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Firecrest.

09.30-12.30 - Shipley Bridge 

3 Ring Ouzels seen separately beyond the first bridge perched in trees or bushes. A group also seen briefly in flight passing over. Four species of raptors, 2 Song Thrushes, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 3 Blackbirds, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Ravens and numerous Robins. 

14.00-15.00 - Emsworthy Mire 

At least 10 mobile Ring Ouzels showing well in bushes beyond the northern boundary of the reserve. Mainly juvs but also some females and a smart male. Kestrel, GSW, Ravens and several Mistle Thrushes present too. 

Highlights this morning, 3 Cirl Buntings and 2 Goldcrest. Large numbers of Finches and Blackbirds around the pines, as well as a female Blackcap and a Chiffchaff.

As well showing very well by wooden country side post in line with green shipping marker buoy northam burrows

A lovely sunny morning at Dawlish Warren produced flocks of Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Linnet. A lone Blackcap, plenty of Stonechat, a well camouflaged Cirl Bunting and I believe a Cetti's Warbler 50m from gate to dunes. Rusty brown but sadly a poor photgraph . Ed’s - this looks like a Wren.

Cirl Bunting

Chetti's Warbler

Whilst watching a mistle thrush, 12 ring ouzels gathered around stayed together for several minutes, approx 11am today.

2 still showing well now at North end of northam burrows

Just visiting from Sussex, so this is probably well-known, but there was a Glossy Ibis at Fremington Pill yesterday afternoon.

Among the many Redshank lining the Pill, 1 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank and surprisingly a male Ruff

2 Snow Buntings this morning at the north end of the golf course on the sea defences. Also of interest 50 Brent Geese of which 2 Pale-bellied, 8 Wigeon, a late Arctic Tern, c350 Golden Plover and a Raven.

They took their time in showing up this morning, and only one in any way ventured close to us, but eventually the first of eleven Ring Ouzels seen today up at Shipley showed up.

Until they arrived entertained by numerous Blackbirds and a small number of Mistle Thrush.

Three Raven over, M&F Kestrels, slow but steady movement of Chaffinch down the valley and a very active flock of 15 plus Long Tailed Tits.

Nine Ring Ouzel seen in the area  of the first bridge on the road from Shipley bridge to the Avon dam, mostly singles, three in flight at one point circled and went over Black Torr.

Raven and Kestrel, no sign of the numerous smaller species seen earlier in the week.

late afternoon: c250 Golden Plover (one flock) overhead, heading SSW.

We have had frequent sightings of Reeve’s Pheasants over the past couple of weeks and including today, around the Langdon Court area and north of the village. Presumably these are all released birds.  

This morning at the lake.

8 Willow Tit, 3 Marsh Tit, 17 Coal Tit, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Nuthatch, 1f Tufted Duck, 3 Mute Swan, 2 Wren, 12 Blue Tit, 2 Grey Wagtail.

10 members of DB (East Devon Branch) attended the morning fieldtrip before the weather deteriorated at 11.30.  Target birds present including: Ring Ouzel (3), Mistle Thrush (c20), Redwing (c50), Golden Plover (20), Raven(1), Kestrel (1), Willow Warbler (1), Meadow Pipit(s), Skylark (heard over), and did someone say Fieldfare?  Most birds seen at a distance feeding on Rowan trees or passing south up the valley.

A report of a Hoopoe at Staddon Green, Plymstock this morning on a site called Nextdoor Lipson & Lara, apparently was seen yesterday on or near this road. Details at scanty.

Cirl Bunting and Rock Pipit

15 Ring Ouzel,  very skittish and mobile, seen after the bridge.

15 Ring Ouzel , very skittish and mobile, seen further on from the bridge.

Ring Ouzel

This afternoon there was a large movement of Thrushes on Emsworthy Mire, I counted 8 Ring Ouzels and there could have been more judging by the amount of calling,approximately 100 Redwing and about 20 Mistle Thrush.
The flock was very mobile and moving along the valley, curiously accompanied by a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Male Bullfinch!

This morning: 1 Merlin in protracted chase after a Skylark over the stubble fields by the airfield; 8 or 9 Ring Ouzels in Stair Hole and the Yellow-browed Warbler still in the willows (early pm) but elusive.

Walked Shipley Bridge - Avon Dam 11.15 -13.15 today, but only got as far as just past the 1st bridge. Numerous Ring Ouzel moving down valley and feeding on rowan trees to right of bridge. I sat up amongst the trees and at one time saw 24 Ouzel flying over to the pine trees by the ruined hotel, with more left feeding on the rowan. Constant movement and I would estimate there were at least 30+ Ouzel present. Mostly female/juvenile birds and have yet to check my record photos for any sign of ringing. Most I have seen in the area during the past 6 years!

Two redhead Goosanders were new in on Blaxton. Also: Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpipers, 6 Greenshanks, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Grey Wagtails, a pair of Stonechats, Great Spotted Woodpecker & Sparrowhawk. 

Just outside the patch, a Yellow-browed Warbler in Tothill Park (in sycamores near the tunnel under the railway).

2 male and 2 female Ring Ouzels this morning at around 10.30. At least 1 Redwing with around 20 Mistle Thrushes.