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White Cheeked Pintail briefly on BGM - left about 5.30.

The Canada Goose flock at Goosemoor this afternoon held two odd ones: one with extensive white on the head and neck and the other essentially a very small version of the normal Canadas (both on the image below). Forgot to mention earlier that a Mediterranean Gull flew in at Bowling Green and the White-cheeked Pintail was reported there.

Canada Goose oddities

4 arctic skuas confirmed from photos, with a scruffy dark phase adult in addition to those shown here.

Intermediate phase Arctic Skua, 2nd yr.

Pale phase Arctic Skua, 3rd yr.

Pale/intermediate phase Arctic Skua, adult.

Despite no reports since last Wednesday, this morning the 2 “Red-rumped Swallows” were again seen from the Goosemoor viewpoint from mid-morning onwards. However, photos apparently show a pale undertail, which indicates that the birds are hybrids, presumably Barn Swallow x House Martin. Except in the best light, it was hard to see the true colour of the vent. The birds were clearly an odd shape though, showing much that would be visible in a real Red-rumped Swallow. Struggling initially in poor light and with brief periods when the birds were visible, I was sure I could see enough to suggest that they were Red-rumped – a salutary lesson indeed!

While watching the swallows in weak sunlight in mid-afternoon, first a juvenile Marsh Harrier created chaos over the marsh and then a Great White Egret flew in from the NW, apparently overflying BGM and continuing towards the estuary.

During the morning high tide, there were 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 1 Little Stint with the roosting waders (which also included Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwits), plus good numbers of Pintail and Wigeon. Two Grey Wagtails fed right in front of the hide. Five Snipe flew over Goosemoor, where there were 28 Greenshanks, plus a Ruff later in the afternoon.

Boat trip into Lyme Bay from Brixham proved to be a bit lumpy. Escorted out from Berry Head by a Grey Seal and 2 Harbour Porpoise.Some Common Dolphin seen in the distance as we traveled out.  Not many birds about as we traveled out to about 6 miles. Once chummed birds appeared. 2 Great Skua, 3 Artic Skua, 7 Manx Shearwater,1 Balearic Shearwater, Many Great Black -Backed Gull, Kittiwake, Fulmar and Gannets.

Next Sunday is the last of the Lyme Bay trips for this year but will start the Torbay winter trips soon.

Receiving daily visits to feeders from Sparrowhawk - running out of Sparrows but saving on seed!

Sea watch Sunday between 06.45 and 09.00 produced an Iceland Gull (probably 2nd winter) at 07.20. 1 Dark-phase Pomarine Skua, 25 Balearic with only 1 Manx Shearwater. One of the Balearics narrowly avoided being taken by juvenile Peregrine ! 64 Kittiwake with only 4 being juveniles and 1 Sandwich Tern.

The GBBG's ring - originally dark green, now faded to turquoise - read V21. This French bird was ringed in 'Low Normandy', not Chausey as originally informed.

This morning (viewed from the road)...

One dipper on the stream and over the deep pond. Ten wigeon, 80 teal, 77 Canada geese, 7 coot, 2 grey wagtail, 1 white wagtail, 2 great spotted woodpecker, 2 marsh tit, 2 jay, 2 chiffchaff, 1 mistle thrush, 4+ goldcrest and dozens of meadow pipits.

Watched from 07:00 till 10:15

A good morning with 2 juvenile little stints including the ringed Norway individual , 2 juvenile curlew sandpiper among 60+ dunlin, 1 juvenile ruff, 850+ black tailed godwits, 6 bar tailed godwits, 1 whimbrel, 2 knot, 71+ pintail, 140+ wigeon, 1 gadwall , 30+ shoveler, 110+ teal, 3 little grebe , 1 juvenile peregrine , 1 sparrowhawk took a juvenile dunlin, good number of redshank and curlew, 2 water rail, 3 Cetti's warblers, 8+ chiffchaff , 12+ goldcrests, 1 blackcap, 3 grey heron .

A couple of hours spare this afternoon enabled a quick walk at Wembury and the Plym. Nothing out of the ordinary (having missed the Wrynecks) but was able to spend time taking some nice pictures of two Ringed Plovers (Wembury) and a small group of Turnstones (Plym Estuary)

Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

Turnstone

Black-tailed Godwits aplenty again this morning. About 100 before a bunch of them flew off, as did the group (10 or so) of Knot before I could get the telescope on them.

Low tide at the Skern rarely turns up many waders, but the saltings remained very wet after very high tides, and this afternoon was an exception. 40+ Ringed Plovers were spread thinly over the area with a few Dunlin. Also present was 1 adult Curlew Sandpiper, and 2 Littl Stint. 

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, two Osprey came flying upriver towards Lopwell Dam.  Dived for cover and managed to get a few distant shots which I have cropped.  

Early morning viewing from BGM hide slightly difficult due to bright sunlight and mist, but still enjoyable. Hide was very busy. All the usual birdlife, including a Curlew Sandpiper and a Snipe. On the path down to the viewing platform plenty of Goldfinch and Greenfinch, of interest from the platform 3 Sandwich Terns, 7 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper. 1 Peregrine overhead. Walking back through Topsham I spotted two Bar-tailed Godwits feeding with a Black-tailed Godwit. Also the Black Swan present close to the Goatwalk, giving the Mute Swans grief. Still plenty of Red Admirals and Southern Hawkers bombing around.

This is the ring number of a juvenile Chiffchaff that was ringed at Hartland Point in June the morning after we caught some Storm Petrels. It has now turned up at South Milton Ley on 16th September 82 days after ringing, 95kms almost due south.

Very quiet this morning: 5 Ringed Plover, 10 Swallow, 80 Meadow Pipit, 16 White Wagtail, Wheatear, 21 Robin, 2 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 100 Linnet & Bullfinch. Bring on the easterlies!!

On the scrape, down to two Black-tailed Godwits this morning, and still 3 Ruff.

I hope the photo isn't missing this time - ringed GBBG on Axe Estuary on Wednesday 21st. Ringed on Chausey island, France.

Ringed GBBG

A white Cheeked Pintail on Youngs Park lake, Paignton I presume its  escaped from somewhere 20/09/17

White Cheeked Pintail

Natural England has approved and will part fund creation of a stretch of open water in the upper reaches of the reserve.  This will be achieved by widening the ditch on the south side of the reserve, upstream of the public footpath by the treatment plant.  The open water will be about 100m long, 4m wide and up to 1.5m deep (too deep for reeds to grow).  The work is weather dependent but should be completed within two weeks.

Grey Phalarope apparently has been there since yesterday. Also kingfisher, snipe, ringed plover, common and green sandpiper, curlew  sandpiper, and a family of little grebe on Borrow Pit. Nice to be kept in the kow!

Grey Phalarope

Watched from 17:50 till 19:20

the juvenile Black tern showed well at times but also spent time on the estuary , 3 little stints included the Norway ringed bird again and could of been 4 but couldn't see all birds at same time, 2 juvenile Curlew sandpipers, 2 green sandpipers and 2 ruffs ( a new very dark individual as well as the recent juv male) , 1 summer plumage Knot was another new bird, 100+ dunlin, 6+ bar tailed godwits among 800+ black tailed godwits, 15+ greenshanks, 56+ pintail, 32+ lapwing, an increase in wigeon numbers but no count done, 3 little grebes.

Fairly quiet this afternoon, but saw a Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, 6 Goldfinches, Bullfinch, several Greenfinches, Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits and 8 - 10 Swallows.

Ringed GBBG on Axe Estuary on Wednesday 20th. Apparently ringed on Chausey island, Bay of Biscay.

Ring reads V21...

A very productive and enjoyable day at BGM where we recorded 40 different species. The highlights of the day were Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff and Black Tern. Also pleased to see raptors in action with hunting by Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and Buzzard.

John Lloyd and Bob Barrow 

1x Ruff, 40 x Godwit (Mixed), 6 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2x Ringed Plover, lots of Dunlin and the usual scattering of Curlew and Oystercatcher.

Black-tailed Godwit

Ruff

Bar-tailed Godwit (I think) Eds - yes, Bar-tailed

Only saw 7 Black-tailed Godwits this morning, but 3 Ruff (1 male and 2 females) present on the scrape.

2 Black tern late on Wednesday evening. 

The Black Tern was still present this lunchtime. Also 2 Little Stints.

Twelve Crossbill at Soussons Plantation, Some stayed on lookout while the rest came down to drink at a pool in the muddy track.

Only a few Godwits on the scrape this morning (9?) plus a Ruff. In the reserve, a Kingfisher and a brief visit from a juvenile Grey Heron. As soon as it saw me it was off!

However, I had some recovery details from the BTO today concerning Reed Warblers. The first was one I ringed on 7th May this year, which turned up in a mist net at Kilpaison Marsh, Rhoscrowther Pembrokeshire on 29th May , so 22 days after ringing, just a quick hop over the Bristol Channel. The second Reed Warbler was also re-trapped there, on 18th June this year, this one was ringed in the reserve (as an adult) on 23rd May 2015. That's 757 days after ringing. The recovery site is 88kms from Braunton.

My first Little Grebes of the autumn here (2 ads). 134 Redshanks with single Dunlin and Greenshank, 26 Curlews, Common Sandpipier, Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtails, drake Mandarin Duck, female Red-crested Pochard, 10 Little Egrets and 3 Goldcrests.

1030:

Osprey

3 Greenshank

4 Little Grebe

4 Common Sandpiper

Round up in the woodlands,black cap male and female,chiffchaff,4Goldcrest,3 young Jays and a good selection of all the locals looking as though they have increased in number and summered really well also 2Nuthatches, and on the top common a beautiful young Whinchat.Touch of Autumn.

Still no sign of the Grey Phalarope but lots of Godwit still around..

Black-tailed Godwit

Yet another interesting and surprising day at Seaton hides. At the Island, one ringed plover, one sanderling, one spotted redshank and one strange duck which I think was a teal but the real bonus was the common snipe, my first for almost forty years. This may be my last time here so will miss the variety of bird life. Watch this space!

NEVER A DULL MOMENT AT SEATON

Grasshopper Warbler 0855 this morning. Reeling very close to Coastal Path but unable to locate it in dense heather.

This afternoon: 45 Teal, 4 wigeon, 1 green sandpiper, 1f shoveler, 1 chiffchaff, 2 jay, 50+ meadow pipits, 1 LBB Gull

There are now 3 Cattle Egrets by the Toll road just south of Braunton. With cattle about 1/2 mile from the Toll House on the right hand side of the road. Further on at Horsey island lake, several Little Egrets, one Great White Egret, 23 Dunlin, a few each of Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, one winter plumage Knot, and a Little Stint. Little Owl out on the usual barn

As well as the Psycho LLB Gull there were two Little Stint and two Curlew Sandpiper, two Avocet, a Ruff and a Snipe on the marsh this evening along with the other usual waders and Ducks..

Curlew Sandpiper

Little Stint

Little Stint

Chiffchaff,Goldcrest,12 Wheatear,Swallows,linnets,goldfinch,in large numbers.31 Red Admiral.Regular Gannet passage.

https://youtu.be/FegzYNGdOjA

A cracking evening with a Med Gull among the BH Gulls on the River Caen, Little Owl showing well, Great White Egret fishing further down on the flood with two Little Stint among the Dunlin (missed the Curlew Sand form Rob's earlier post) also Greenshank, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Herons, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. Lots of Blackwits on the scrape with a group of Knot, Shoveler, Teal, 2 Ruff and a Snipe. Kingfisher on the stream.

Good numbers of species on the River Tavy at Maristow and Lopwell on a falling tide this morning. Of particular note at 3 Kingfishers, a solitary Greenshank, numerous Common Sandpipers, 6 Little Grebes, 4 LIttle Egrets but no sign of the Ospreys.

Kingfisher (female)

Greenshank

Common Sandpiper

There were still over 100 Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape this morning and during the day - two Knot there at one point. Ringing in the reserve is showing signs of the move towards winter with good numbers of Tits ringed: 6 Blue, 4 Great and 4 Long-tailed. 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps (one a male weighed in at 24.5 Grams - so ready to go!) a Cetti's Warbler, only one Finch - a Bullfinch. Also 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers, but sadly, no sign of either of the 2 .Jays seen yesterday.

13 members of DB attended this mornings fieldtrip around the fields west of Ladram Bay, guided by Doug Cullen who knows the patch well and explained plans for this organic farm owned by Clinton Devon Estate.

Numbers of Canada Geese were leaving the fields as we progressed and these included the conspicuous white goose which was later seen again on the Otter Estuary (and have seen previously at Blackhill Quarry).  Numbers of Swallow and House Martin were constantly moving west with a group of c30 Linnet also present.  3 Cirl Bunting were located in the cliff hedgerow and 2 Kestrel present at a distance, plus a Buzzard or two.

The remainder of the group moved on to the Otter Estuary when the Grey Phalarope was present together with a Ruff on the scrape.  However the former bird was lost from sight around 1315 hrs after it took off with a small number of Teal.

Grey Phalarope still at Budleigh Salterton but further out than previously reported, a good photo only possible to something better than a 300.  Also sometimes hidden behind reeds.

0740 - 1240 highlights: 13 Ringed Plover, 700 Herring Gull, 46 Skylark, 170 Swallow, 50 House Martin, 380 Meadow Pipit, 32 White Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, 51 Robin (probably all residents), 9 Wheatear, 2 Whitethroat, 16 Blackcap, 31 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest & 80 Linnet.

Non avian: 302 Red Admiral, 5 Painted Lady, 3 Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Comma, 23 Large White, 40 Small White.

10 Yellow wagtail feeding and showing well from Turf path

At 7.10 yesterday evening walking round the end of the Ley  c2000 Swallows over towards Beesands 10 minutes later less than half came back guess the rest went to Widecombe Ley.

watched from 15:15 till 18:45

A great afternoon started with a spotted flycatcher along the path upto the viewing platform then suddenly noticed a few hundred swallow and house Martin moving over the viewing platform and for next 20 minutes a massive movement occurred birds were moving west on a front from darts farm right down to Lympstone one count of a small section was 500+ birds in a minute a conservative estimate for the movement was 30000+ a spectacular sight split was 50:50 among them a few sand Martin.

2 little stints possibly 3 were on mud and was a sign of things to come also 17+ grey plover and 20+ ringed plover

moved upto the hide for the high tide 2 juvenile little stints showed straight away including 1 ringed individual red ring over metal ring on left leg and a yellow ring on right leg with black lettering ( hoping some photos will give us the code) believe this to be a Norway ringing group. Soon picked up another juvenile little stint the 3 now showing well, a sanderling and knot dropped in among 300+ dunlin , 5  juvenile curlew sandpipers, 4 avocet, 6+ bar tailed godwits, 300+ redshank, 3 whimbrel, 600+ black tailed godwits.

Then another juvenile little stint appeared on the left end of the island with the other 3 still showing then I was certain I had another little stint come in with small group of dunlin but couldn't confirm until a sparrowhawk came in 3 little stint flew out the sparrowhawk was chasing another little stint which escaped and then the 1 on the island flew out so final count was 

5 Little stints my best count for a few years on the marsh all nice smart juveniles a fantastic afternoon 

14.45 - 16.00 Grey Phalarope still present - also a single knot on its own, a single Curlew Sandpiper with Dunlin, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, a Kingfisher on the mud by the waters edge.

Grey Phalarope

Curlew Sandpiper

Bar-tailed Godwit

2 spotted flycatchers 3 gold crests 10 long tailed tits 17:00

Two Avocets at Flow Point this evening

21 crossbills and a redstart in trees around the clear cut area at the top of the plantation, early afternoon. Siskins were calling further down the hill but remained out of sight in the treetops. Other birds included buzzard, raven, great spotted woodpecker, goldcrest, bullfinch, great tit, wren, chiffchaff, robin, blackbird, and swallows and a few house martins overhead.

A lovely walk today from the white house to the fisherman's Hut provided many egrets, herons, 3 curlew, pair of kingfisher chasing one another,  oystercatchers several small flocks of Canada geese travelling up the estuary on the Instow side, 

Severel little grebes in the reserve bit behind the white house and a wheatear. There seemed to be a lack of shoreline wading birds than usual.

Wheatear

Chifchaff.? Eds - yes Chiffchaff.

An Osprey seen over Ilton Castle Plantation this afternoon

Adult drake Common Scoter 100+ Curlew,15 Little Egrets,25 Greenshank,2 Grey Heron.

Saturday afternoon gave my first Cattle Egret at Horsey Island (fields opposite) Great White Egret and two Little Owls unusually out in the sun plus all the regulars. Today over at Anchorwood and was shown the Grey Phalarope at close range by fellow birders, also a mixed flock of Barwit, Blackwit, Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling and all the regulars plus a single Litlle Stint (sorry Matt!) and Ruff.

The Phalarope still showing well at low water feeding right up to within 10 metres of the Tarka trail at times. Also a scattering of Godwits still present.

Grey Phalarope

Black-tailed Godwit

Cycled along the Tarka trail to Anchorwood bank early am to see the Grey Phalarope which was showing well along with a mix of Black & Bar tailed Godwits & 3 Pintail. Stopped on the way to look through the waders at Sherpa scrape & counted 182 Black tailed Godwits, 2 Ruff & 8 Knot.

As far as I remember the first time I have seen Knot at this location.

The scrape is jumping with about 140 Black-tailed Godwits. In amongst them were 2 Ruff (1m, 1f) and about 10 Knot. Never seen Knot on here before, so disappointing to have no telescope with me.

Malcolm Shakespeare was also present later, and Rob also looked - they may add to the mix!

Kingfisher and 2 Jays in the reserve.

Portworthy this morn (viewed from the road): Wigeon, 4, Tufted Duck, 4, 
Teal, 38, Shelduck, 1, Canada Goose, 1, Little Grebe, 1, Meadow pipits
Linnets, Ravens, 2.

Cadover: Chiffchaff 12+, Sparrowhawk 1m, White wagtail 1 (in with pieds in field near farm), Swallows 150+ (heading south in small flocks), Ravens 8, Grey Wagtail 6 (4 over), Red Admiral.