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Sightings for Lower Tamar Lake this morning.

1 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 5 Tufted Duck 3m 2f, 15 Wigeon, 4 Grey Heron, 1 Mute Swan, 4 Little Grebe, c200 Canada Geese, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Teal, 5 Coal Tit, 1 Nuthatch,1 Goldfinch, 4 Blue Tit.

Sorry forgot the picture!!!

Eds - Reed Bunting 

Is this a Reed Bunting or a Linnet. Am hoping it's the Bunting. Seen today on Roborough Down, and if it is the Bunting then others seen a few days ago as well.

Flew over my head towards the river as I walked down the path alongside the railway-line at around mid-day today

Great White Egret

Pleasant stroll along Budleigh Salterton front this afternoon to the estuary. 6 pied wagtails, 3 linnet, 5 rock pipit and an obliging single dunlin. 15 wigeon near the entrance to the sea and a pair of little grebes. 

Three Cattle Egret in field close to Cockwood bridge at 10am. Up to six have been feeding among herd of cattle over past few days.

After an evening out with friends, I stood outside the house admiring the night sky having a quick look up and listening for any Owls or migrating birds, there were flocks of small Waders flying around over the town. I'm guessing Dunlins, Plovers and or Oystercatchers. I was then gobsmacked to hear and see this late in the year six or seven Manx Shearwaters calling heading down out over the town toward the sea. Will be interesting to see if the date coincides with any calling heard on Lundy. 

Eds - This is very odd Manx Shearwaters have all but migrated south now, just the odd individual lingering, to get a group over the town at this time of year would be incredible in its own right  - for them to be calling too even more so.

Watched from 15:00 till 17:45

the highlight was the brief appearance of a Glossy Ibis and adult which flew in from the estuary at 17:16 it landed at the back of the island before moving around the marsh departing just before 17:30 over goosemoore.

other birds included 1174+ Wigeon , 176+ pintail, 12+ gadwall, 30+ shoveler, 54 Avocet, 13+ Knot, 1 Ruff, 80+ dunlin, 757+ black tailed godwits, , 220+ teal, 5 little egrets, 1 little grebe, 50+ lapwing, 1 peregrine, 1 sparrowhawk, 3 buzzards, 4 jay

Seen on Sunday 21 October, 50 + Brent Geese and Egret on Instow opposite Appledore.

  
Brent Goose                                      Brent Goose                                   Little Egret

Short-eared Owl quartering near to the TV mast, could be same bird I saw last Wk at Morte Point. 

   
Black-headed Gull                                   Black-headed Gull

At Shipley early this morning, despite heavy mist across the South Hams, Dartmoor was in full sunshine with clear blue skies, the Ring Ouzels were being very elusive and only one female seen in the area of the junction where the road leads up to the filtration plant.

Plenty of Blackbirds, six plus Song Thrush, smaller numbers of Mistle Thrush and two Redwing, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Grey Wagtail, six Bullfinch, Chiffchaff , several Wren and a Sparrow hawk.

On the way home a Kestrel at Lutton.

An early afternoon visit to Dartington Hall gave very few birds on the estate other than three Buzzard and an abundance of Wren. The productive seed field from last season was being ploughed, initially three Buzzard on the field then later 45 Herring Gull with more arriving.

Along the Rv Dart Green Woodpecker calling, Nuthatch, two Kingfisher, two Dipper, twenty plus Mallard, two Mandarin in flight four Moorhen and one Little Grebe.

Saturday afternoon along the Warren, 3 Buzzards, Kestrel, a flock of Greenfinches, 3-5 Skylarks and a Dartford Warbler. Later, in the woods above the tennis courts at Noss heard 2 Tawny Owls.

Watched from 07:15 till 11:45

Another good passage of woodpigeon with 24779+ wood pigeon steady passage all morning with 2 lines either side of orcombe point converging over the lifeboat station then flying south south west towards dawlish / teignmouth lots of small groups largest group was 1100 plus, supporting cast this morning included 3 Dunlin, 6+ fieldfares, 35+ redwing, 145+ skylark, 41+ goldfinch, 20+ chaffinch, 60+ meadow pipit, 6+ Siskin, 80+ stockdove, 1 raven, 1 kestrel, 1 sparrowhawk, 4 stonechat.

Dawlish Warren this morning gave the briefest view of a Short Eared Owl, it was in the fenced off area to the right as you approach the visitor centre, it lifted into the air turned in its own length and dropped back into the cover.

Two Cirl Bunting, flocks of Goldfinch and Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff with a Long Tailed Tit flock, several small groups of both Starling and Brent Geese in flight around the area.

On the Exe at Cock Wood a good mix of birds on the rising tide, flocks of Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit, five plus Little Egret.

Bowling Green Marsh from the hide a good mix of duck species, Teal, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveller, Gadwall and Mallard. Good size flock of Black Tailed Godwit which had for company nine Knot and one Dunlin. 

Two Little Grebe, on leaving a Chiffchaff in the road hedge, Sparrow hawk soaring over Topsham.

Apart from what you would expect were:- 31 black-tailed Godwit; 5 Grey Plover; 11 Shelduck; 21 Redshank; 3 Goosander; 200+ Lapwing; 1 Little Egret; 2 Dunlin and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

On Penhill Marsh side of the river were just 14 Grey Heron.

On Bradiford reserve was 1 Kingfisher and about a dozen Teal. It is getting difficult to spot anything on the reserve from the Tarka Trail because of it`s overgrown nature.

Not much at Avon Dam today, a Kestrel hovering nicely overhead, and managed to get a couple of distant shots of a Ring Ouzel feeding on the berries, 3 were feeding, but flew off pretty quick.

 
Ring Ouzel                                            Kestrel

My first Jack Snipe of the autumn here, 1 or 2 Kingfishers, Shag, 2 Stonechats, 4 Little Grebes, 4+ Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Roe Deer & Clouded Yellow.

All six British thrush species this morning, including three ring ouzels.  400+ fieldfares just arrived.

A barn owl has been present over the last few days (only the second here in over 20 years) - the other evening I saw it in the process of being attacked by a buzzard.  The buzzard had it pinned down on the ground, but the owl was saved by two crows that mobbed the buzzard and drove it off.  I went to assist, but the owl had gone.  It was later seen hunting as if nothing had happened.  Has anyone else ever seen a buzzard attempting to predate a barn owl?  Would seem to be unusual behaviour.

At the sluice 8.30 am Glossy Ibis, Grey Heron and Cattle Egret 

Seen in hedgerow along farm track just above Morwenstow

Barn Owl quartering the field near Salston Manor on the R. Otter. What a treat at 17:30!

A stunning days birding around the exe watched from 07:30 till 17:00

Started at exmouth / orcombe along the seafront 2 groups of Brent geese flew in ( 37 & 4 ), also 6 wigeon and 2 Dunlin, skylarks started flying over, then picked up 59 woodpigeon over orcombe point going south then it went mad just after 08:00 as I stood just before the lifeboat station first big group of wood pigeon started streaming out south (4000+) in total over the next 4 hours continuous movement south produced 91300+ woodpigeon largest group was 27000+ a stunning spectacle my highest day count.

also 300+ stock dove , 212+ skylark, 2 brambling and 1 short eared owl from long way out flew in then over exmouth heading north east , 30+ chaffing, 12+ Siskin, 2 possible woodlark but I’d not clinched. Lots of stuff missed as busy counting the large wood pigeon movement as lots of calls going over 

Up on orcombe 5+ stonechat and 40+ skylark, 5 chiffchaff.

moved up to bowling green marsh for the afternoon from 13:00 till 17:00

A low hide but the good birds kept coming first was a red crested pochard appeared to be an eclipse male or a first winter male but on seen for less than a minute before it went into the channel on far left side of main scrape whilst loooking for the bird to reappear found another eclipse male red crested pochard much more advance with extensive black on breast where none on other bird. Then a quick view of a possible Juv Garganey which eventually showed well my 3rd on the marsh this autumn.

also 7+ knot, 6+ Dunlin the long staying adult winter ruff, 200+ pintail, 12+ gadwall, 100+ teal, 15+ shoveler, 1 little grebe, 8 little egrets, 32+ greenshank,  52+ lapwing, 1 redshank, 400+ black tailed godwits, 10+ greylag geese, 1 water rail, 9+ Buzzard, 1 Mediterranean gull, 1 juv peregrine

a brief look from the viewing platform got me 400+ Dunlin, 15+ little egret, 6 Mediterranean gulls( 4 adult,1 2nd winter, 1 1st winter, the Osprey showed briefly flying into powderham Park, the juv peregrine caused chaos attempting to catch a Dunlin which escaped by going vertical great to watch.

What a day 

Rutting in Plymbridge Wood this afternoon.

Beautiful day at East soar, distant views of ring ouzel, lots of chiffchaffs, nice to see several song thrushes. Peregrine and sparrow hawk flew over and still a few swallows. called in at South Huish marsh and the little stint was still there.

Chiffchaff                               Ring Ouzel                                      Peregrine

Found a Black Redstart at Middle Soar today, see my blog http://www.simonthurgoodimages.co.uk/blog.asp

Black Redstart

oops forgot!

Male Cetti's Warbler at Starehole Ponds. My first for the site. 

Ringing this morning was productive: more Blue Tits! But other birds too; 3 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch 2 Bullfinch and 8 Greenfinch (first influx of the autumn). It's odd that when I go round the reserve I count the birds and record any that I hear too. Recently I have heard Cetti's warbler fairly regularly and recorded '1' in my database. Today, I caught 7! Only one of which already had a ring on. So that has doubled the total ringed this year.

Also one Chiffchaff, one Goldcrest and one Blackcap ringed.

Bird of the day, however was an adult male Chaffinch which was ringed on Helgoland Germany. I will send off the details, but I think it may take a while to get the ringing data back.

A very vocal Yellow-browed Warbler was in willows by the top lake yesterday afternoon. Also a Cetti's Warbler on site middle lake, 19 Gadwall 4 Siskin, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Snipe, 5 Little Grebe and at least 3 Water Rail.

                                         Cetti's Warbler                                              Yellow-browed Warbler

At the sluice 8.30 am Glossy Ibis, Grey Heron and Cattle Egret 

A fantastic day around the Exe from 07:30 till 18:00

Started at exmouth and orcombe from 07:30 till 12:00 movement overhead as I stepped of the bus was promising best bird was a Woodlark over orcombe at top of gore lane at 09:29 heard calling as it flew overhead and picked up with bins, totals for the morning were 167+ skylark with lots more heard but to high to see, 3321+ woodpigeon, 37+ stock doves,  24+ Siskin, 45+ chaffinch, 1 raven, 3 swallows,6+ stonechat,  lots of bits over high with no I’d possible, along the sea front 13 Brent geese flew into the estuary, 2 sandwich terns, numerous gannets in feeding group close in.

12:30 till 13:00 Bowling green marsh produced 7 knot, 300+ black tailed godwits,31+ lapwing 2 gadwall, with wigeon, teal and shoveler no counts completed, 4 little egret.

news came through of a Barred Warbler at dawlish warren so made way towards the warren stopped briefly at cockwood for the 3 cattle egret 

Dawlish Warren from 14:00 till 18:00 1 Short eared owl flew over the golf course before gaining height and drifted of north west , 1 wheatear, 1 Cirl bunting, 2 stonechat, 1 blackcap, the Barred warbler showed well at 15:55 at far end of Greenland lake just before the pond and was seen again on walk back from warren point and another Cirl bunting.

warren point produced another Short eared owl and 1 stonechat, 1 redwing, 1 chiffchaff, 2 Mediterranean gulls 

At the sluice 8.30 am Glossy Ibis, Grey Heron and Cattle Egret 

As well as the Ring Ouzels bybwaterworks and valley (approx 12 birds) there was another 7 up by the dam

Whilst walking back 50+ Golden Plover flew over the path heading up towards the dam

Firecrest this afternoon.

Short walk from Southdown to Soar Mill Cove produced 4 swallow, 1 house martin, 1 ring ouzel, 2 redwing, c30 chiffchaff and a whinchat. Heard golden plover but no sightings.

For your information Southdown is now empty of a tenant farmer (except for grazing stock) for the winter, therefore, some 270 acres of stubble will be in place until approx March 2019. I have already seen hen harrier there and have had short-eared owl over winter in the past, this is now highly likely.

At roost near Cleavehouse on Frogmore Creek (SX768423) 4 Cattle Egrets, 2 Little Egrets, 10 Greenshank, 1 male Gadwall (unusual) and 1 Kingfisher

Red-breasted Flycatcher present this morning in Holme Oaks near public toilets in Connaught Gardens, Peak Hill Road, Sidmouth at SY120869.  Found by Clive Williams last evening.  Thanks Clive.

Emsworthy Around 30 Fieldfare plus an assortment of other Thrushes including at least 2 Ring Ouzel 8.30 to 9.30 today

Just to add to Jonathon's post, having passed both the E Devon Group and a Plymouth RSPB group on their way back, as I walked right up to the dam this pm. It was indeed quiet, but I did check out the quarry below the dam, sadly only 3 Blackbirds, no Ouzels in one of the regular haunts. Just below the dam 2 Reed Bunting were a surprise. On the way back by the ruins a Nuthatch and 4 Goldcrest. Pleased to catch up with the Mistle Thrush and 3 Ring Ouzel in the given location! Could have saved my legs!

9 members of DB attended the East Devon Branch fieldtrip this morning but were defeated by the drizzle and turned back once we could see the Avon Dam in the distance.  Several Mistle Thrush were seen from the car park and our target bird- Ring Ouzel were found within minutes on the hillside where the road turns left for the water works.  They were feeding in rowan trees.  Difficult to count numbers as the birds were mobile but both males and females were present.  Also seen were Bullfinch, Kestrel and flocks of mixed tits.  The valley beyond the bridge seemed devoid of birds and no Dippers, chats or wagtails were found during the morning which was a surprise.

3 Redwing with 4 thrushes, GS Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, good amounts of blue, great, long tailed coal and marsh tits, chaffinches, Kingfisher and wrens and robins all in fine fettle and preparing for winter. Lovely Autumn day. 

Two Cattle Egret in next field up from Cofton Village Green past the Ship Inn (field with the cattle). Also Buzzard, Little Egret and Grey Heron. Decided to have a look on Powderham Marsh on the way home, still not much water on the marsh and little of birding interest, 100's of Pheasant, some Reed Bunting and Cirls. Sadly 6 dead cattle (reported) in field at the back of the marsh. Little of interest on Matford Marsh but good to see plenty of water there.

Cattle Egret                                   Cattle Egret

Three Cattle Egrets at Cockwood at 11.00 today, with the cattle in the valley-bottom field around 500m upstream from the harbour.

16/10/18: 2 Redwing and 1 Song Thrush over after dark in the mizzle (22.30hrs)

Seven Redwings seen over home at South Brent this morning.

Nice Firecrest in holly near the large metal shed in the bottom corner of Ford Park Cemetery, adjacent to Central Park at 2pm today. It squared up to a Goldcrest and won this particular dispute!  Firecrests are regular in the cemetery at this time of year. 

Little Stint seen today at BGM around 1.30pm.

Eds this is actually a Dunlin.

Nothing very much around of note, a couple of Song Thrushes, crows, magpies, and small birds, the only thing of some interest was a Green Parakeet

Noticeable movement of Swallows (50+) and House Martins (10+) over the rooftops and buildings of the Higher Ranscombe Rd area of Brixham this afternoon.  Birds coming through in pulses, generally headed SW, with numbers peaking around 16.15.  

No sign of any Mistle Thrushes this morning, but a juvenile Grey Wagtail by the pond and a Jay were both unusual. More Long-tailed Tits today. One Black-tailed Godwit out on the scrape.

Adjacent to A399 between south molton and Brayford flying approx 40ft high hunting over grass field.

Darts Farm produced a Ruff and 4 Green Sandpiper amongst others but I gave Bowling Green a miss due to lack of parking. 

Cranbrook produced Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff, 2 Snipe and a female Whinchat (the latter a first for this area) in the rough opposite the railway station.  The 'Big Lake' near the Education Campus has been extended and is now about 300 yards in length.  Little Grebe have returned there as the contractors have moved out and cleared the area. 

Some bird movement today, of note overhead: 2 Brambling, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Crossbill, 14 Siskin,3 House Martin, 5 Swallow.

Around the headland: 1 Lesser Whitethroat (in quarry), 1 Black Redstart, 2 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest.

5-6 Common Dolphin off head

Ringed a whole lot of Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits today with a Coal tit thrown in for good measure. Also the first autumn arrival of Chaffinches with about a dozen ringed. A female Goldcrest and a male Siskin were about the best, but bird of the day avoided the nets: 2 calling Mistle Thrushes graced the reserve for a short while. Only one previous record.

Out on the scrape no sign of the single Godwit that as been around lately.

ED: I also retrapped a Long-tailed Tit which I originally ringed in June 2014 as a 3J. More than 4 years for LTT is good going. Last saw it 2 years ago.

As per Steve Hoppers post. Video link here

https://youtu.be/qlPYT6UE6E0

Isabelline Shrike

One Spoonbill on high tide roost with Little Egrets , Isley marsh.     Glossy 

Ibis feeding at the top end of Fremington pill.    Just one Common Sandpiper with around 150 Redshank on the pill.

A Cormorant battling with a rather large eel was a sight to see, and amazingly the eel won and lived another day, Kingfishers, 3 in number were flying around but not hanging around for photo's 

  
Cormorant @ eel       the great escape

A pleasant, mildly windy start to the day at Thurlestone gave the target speeches almost as soon as I arrived just after dawn. It showed well at a distance for some 30 minutes before other birders arrived. As previously mentioned it is on the heath before the second green hut viewable from the coastal path. Other species spotted on the walk to and from the Shrike were, Crow, Rook, Blackbird, numerous Wheatears, Stone chats, Rock Pipets, Wrens, Robins, One highlight was the passage of at least 30 Swallows heading along towards the beach. On the sea little other than Cormorants a few oystercatchers and the usual gulls, nothing out of the ordinary.

Isabelline Shrike

Headland blown out by mod-strong NNE wind so checking out more sheltered areas of headland produced: 2 Firecrest, 3 Goldcrest, 9 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap.

Overhead: 46 Swallow, 12 House Martins, 2 Skylark, 4 Siskin, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Song Thrush, 50+ Meadow Pipits, 300+ Goldfinches, 25 Chaffiinch, 14 Linnet and 5 'alba' Wagtails.