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Berryhead    8.30-14.30

Pom Skua  juv

Bonxie

Mannx Shearwater

GN Diver 8  , RT Diver 8

Med Gull 6

Com Scoter 14

RB Merganser

Fulmar c150+

Kittiwake and Auks also in good numbers

Com Dolphin 25 with a huge number of Gannets following them

Harbour Porpoise 5 and a Grey Seal 

_{2 Female Black Redstarts in garden 11am today...}

Tristis-type Chiffchaff again this morning. Every time I point a camera at it, it flies up to the tree-tops!

Water Rail, Jack Snipe, 4 Snipe, Great Northern Diver, 3 Goosanders (drake + 2 redheads), 8 Wigeon, 4 Mandarin Ducks, Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebes, 22 Fieldfares, 6 Redwings, 6 Greenshanks, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers & 5 Roe Deer. 

This morning at the lake,

5 Ring-necked Duck (2m 3f), 9 Tufted Duck, 4 Goosander 2m 2f, 3 Willow Tit.

Black Redstart (fem/1w) briefly.

Got this unexpected shot of a Red Kite over fields near South Molton. There were two of them flying around the area.

Red Kite

A first thing look for Bluethroat, resulted in no sighting. However a fly over Great White Egret at 0855 was some compensation, along with 16 Pintail, 320+ Avocets on the river, 600+ Golden Plover in flight, 3 Cirl Bunting and numerous other birds. 

The Blue-winged teal showed briefly at 1pm (for less than 45 seconds from camera clock timings!) at the bottom end of the marsh, viewed from the beach. Also present, 9 mallard, 3 tufted duck, teal (heard but not seen), moorhen, coot, kestrel, buzzard.

Blue-winged teal

Andy Lansdell and I spent a couple of hours up at high altitude this morning searching for a Great Grey Shrike reported to me by a friend earlier this week. Sadly we couldn't find it but a female Merlin was a bonus.

Lots of Fieldfares up there too. No Short-eared Owls either.

Red Kite on the way home north of South Molton.

Female Merlin tackling a Skylark in the air, great battle but Skylark fairly easily out manoeuvring the falcon which did not give up until I lost them.

Mistle Thrush singing at Harleston near Slapton yesterday.

One female Black Redstart at Home Farm, East Charleton at 13:45

This morning early at the lake,

1 Green Sandpiper, 9 Goosander 4m 5F, 1 Kingfisher, 6 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 2 Cormorant, 1m Gadwall, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Wren.

A walk down the railway this morning produced 9 Goosanders on the sandbanks just West of the bypass, the Ibis and a Spotted Redshank in Fremington Creek, and 4 Spoonbills and c2000 very vocal and flighty Golden Plovers (with several hundred Lapwings accompanying) at Isley. Others of note were Yellowhammer (not a regular here for me), Kestrel, Redwing, Fieldfare, and probably 10 Water Rails calling from the ditches. Stonechat was a surprising omission, but still c75 spp. in total.  

Male Hen Harrier arrived at about 4.15 this afternoon. Flew on up over the hill.

1 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Purple Sandpipers and 3 G.N.Divers from end of breakwater this morning.

Female Kingfisher showing very well, Greenshank and Teal, others seen little egrets, Redshanks, on the Tamar side 3 Great-crested grebes, about a dozen Avocets, Shell Ducks, & Curlews

  
Kingfisher (F)                      Greenshank                                              Teal

Pleasantly surprised to see a Colour Ringed Common Gull fly in late yesterday afternoon. I have just completed the sighting report, but the bird is already confirmed as having been ringed in Southern Norway.

Broadsands: this morning 11 Great Northern Divers, 4 Red-throated Divers (including one with the classic Black-throated Diver flank patch), 1 Velvet Scoter, 6 Common Scoter, 3 Great Crested Grebes. 7 Cirl Buntings on seed in 2nd car park with 1 Reed Bunting at 0830am  

This afternoon's Stuart Lines cruise was perhaps most notable for an amazing succession of rainbows! That aside, there was an imm drake Eider off Exmouth and a female Common Scoter off Powderham Corner, the usual Slavonian Grebe at Cockwood, c10 Great Crested Grebes, maybe 150 Pintail around Lympstone, c110 Knot, a few dozen Bar-tailed Godwits, maybe 800 Golden Plover and hundreds of Lapwings roosting near Turf, 2-300 Avocets, 2 Greenshanks, c10 each of Ringed Plover and Sanderling and a sw Mediterranean Gull on Bull Hill sandbank. Only c100 Black-tailed Godwits - presumably most were on Exminster Marshes floods, as they were on Sunday. A Peregrine had a go at a Stock Dove over Warren Point and a Grey Seal appeared off the marina after we had returned to Exmouth.

Single Great Northern Diver off the yacht club..

Single Great Crested Grebe at Holcombe..

Approx 25 Common Scoters off Sprey Point.

Lots of Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler with Snipe showing well. Highlight though were two SCAUP; one swimming about and the other tucked up with the Tufties. 

3 Scaup, 1 Goldeneye, 1 Gadwall and a pair of Teal (I don't see these here very often) on Wrafton Pond this morning.

In the reserve, a Fieldfare calling from the tree-tops. First record this year.

Song Thrush singing around my garden early on.

A check around the beaches in Torbay today found:

Broadsands; 1 Velvet Scoter, 6 Common Scoter, 6 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Mediterranean Gull & 5 Cirl Bunting - No sign of the R-n Grebe today.

Preston: 1 Ad Med Gull, 8 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver & 1 Red-throated Diver.

The Blue-winged Teal, along with the rest of the Teal flock, spent most of the day hidden in the reeds, but did show briefly (only long enough for a poor distant shot).  It did flap its wings a couple of times but couldn't capture the moment.  Also there three Tufted Duck, a Water Rail in flight and at least one Black Redstart.

15.15hrs today, Kate and I were treated to the sight of a lovely male Hen Harrier flying slowly down the East Dart from the Postbridge direction, across Bellever Bridge, continuing on downstream.

3 ringneck parakeet

Visit on this afternoon's rising tide. Brent Goose (dark-bellied), 2 Great Crested Grebes, Jack Snipe, Teal, 4 Wigeon, 15 Snipe, 6 Greenshanks, 51 Curlews, 2 Shags, 33 Turnstones, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff & 6 Roe Deer.

At least 2 Water Rails (one seen) about the reserve this morning and a (or the same) Siberian Chiffchaff .

Female Sparrowhawk.

The Long-billed Dowitcher was on the 'island' this morning. Also a Scaup.

My first visit to Maer Rocks over low tide this autumn to see if our normal Purple Sandpipers have arrived, and sure enough 7 were feeding out on the edge where sea meets rocks. With them was a lone Knot which was a nice surprise as normally these birds are in good numbers out on the estuaries at some distance away. Also 5 Turnstones were present. Caution should you venture out to see them the seaweed and rocks are extremely slippery.

  
Purple Sandpiper                                       Knot                                                 Knot

At least 10 cattle Egret in a field 2-3 hundred yards along the Dawlish Road from the Cockwood turn off. Only field along there with cattle. Slav Grebe diving by the wreck off Cockwood Steps. Not much else to report. In failing light at the Warren about 100 Grey Plover, 15 or so Knot and about 15 Dunlin lots of mainly Dark Bellied Brents and large flock of Oystercatchers on Finger point. Leucistic Oyk on the Starcross Golf Course. Nothing off the sea wall.

  
Cattle Egret                Grey Plover and Knot                       Leucistic Oystercatcher

Four Ring-necked Duck, three males and a female in the NW arm of the  Upper Lake. Visiting both counties and the only aythyas present. On the Cornish side two Greylag, a Water Rail and a couple of Marsh Tit. The Lower Lake held 14 Goosander, a Gadwall and a Tufted Duck with at least eight Willow Tit present. 

This morning at the lake

1 Green Sandpiper on the weir. 10 Goosander 3m 7f, 2 Willow Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Tufted Duck, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Wren.

An injured Woodcock brought into me today having been picked up at Harford, Ivybridge, the bird has a large healed callus on the shoulder of one wing and several flight feathers missing, possibly consistent with being the victim of a bird of prey strike, the bird is unable to fly but seems remarkable able and healthy despite the injury.

Around my South Brent garden, Tawny Owl calling overnight, Long tailed Tits being the first birds on the garden feeders this morning, two Stock Dove, a Green Woodpecker, several flights of Redwing passing over, Wren, Greenfinch, Pied Wagtail, several Blackbirds, Nuthatch, Coal, Great and Blue Tit all before 8am.

16 Long Tailed Tits, 1 m and 1f Blackcap,1 Robin,1 Dunnock,3 m Blackbirds.

At low tide this morning a Red-throated Diver off the cricket ground at Instow. Many Brent Geese and Wigeon spread widely across the estuary, mainly on the northern shore. 

The Blue-winged teal showed well this morning (video link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-utLJZ-30w&feature=youtu.be  )  on the lower marsh with 3 Tufted Duck, Mallards and Teal. On the beach were 3 Black Redstarts. On the sea to the south there were 54 Common Scoter (but no Velvet today). along the lane back toward the car park: 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest and 3 Goldcrest

In Centry Wood, above Stoke caravan park, a Firecrest, a Goldcrest and Chiffchaff.  Further along the path the usual Stonechats, Robins and Wrens, a pair of Ravens, two Kestrels and three Buzzards.

A dry cruise.! Following a very wet Saturday there was plenty of floodwater in the estuary which had an impact on the number of birds on show around the Topsham area of the Estuary. There were none of the large numbers of Black Tailed Godwits that normally frequent this area of the Estuary. It was suggested they were all on the surrounding flooded farmland feeding on Worms and other invertebrates succumbed to the saturated ground, other wise the visitors were delighted with seeing a Peregrine on lookout on Holy Trinity Church Spire in Exmouth a Kingfisher near the Marina and the two Grey Seals one on the pontoon and the other on a Trawler off inner Dawlish Warren. Good numbers of Dark Bellied Brent Geese with several juveniles on show across the estuary. 100+ Widgeon in front of Dawlish Warren Hide took off and flew over the boat, with distant views of the Slavonian Grebe near the wreck off Cockwood. A few Great Crested Grebe, good numbers of Pintail and Shelduck showing off Lympstone. Greenshank were at their normal haunt near the flooded River Kenn confluence. Between Turf Lock,  Topsham and Exton one female Goldeneye a few Ringed Plover good numbers of Dunlin 300+ of Lapwing 300+ of Golden Plover and as ever the stars of the show 300+ Avocets thrilled the visitors. 

Amongst the usual hordes of wildfowl and waders, this afternoon's WeBS count produced Slavonian and 2 Great Crested Grebes and 398 Brent Geese, of which 15.5% were juvs (so they've have a reasonable breeding season). In very dull conditions after a shower, Snipe were feeding and preening out on the open mud by the saltmarsh at Dawlish Warren - a total of 53 seen. I've never seen them feeding out in the open on the estuary mud like this before; it was rather bizarre to seen them feeding alongside Turnstones, Redshanks, Dunlin and Oystercatchers! I wonder if they feed on the open mud like this at night? Oh for a hide at the back of the golf course and a night vision camera! A Cirl Bunting singing on the edge of the golf course was a surprise, given the awful weather.

25 roosting Goosanders including 6 males this morning was highest count so far for Avon Dam this winter - and possibly for Dartmoor, though there were 24 at Tottiford Res on 13 Nov. Before departure around 0730, a pair discreetly moved away from the main group, briefly displayed then mated. Have not seen mating earlier than January before, and wonder how unusual it is for mating to occur at this time of year in birds in general -  apart from doves and pigeons.

Garden today

Great Spotted Woodpecker

A brief late afternoon visit. Drake Ring-necked Duck and 2 Scaup with the Tufted Ducks etc at the Torcross end of the Ley; 1 Great Northern Diver off the memorial carpark and a Firecrest from the boardwalk at the back of Ireland Bay.

An excellent count of 32 Snipe on Blaxton Meadow (more evidence of the benefits of restricted access; before this we didn't get any Snipe here!) Also: Kingfisher, Red-breasted Merganser (redhead), 2 Shags, 5 Little Grebes, 6 Greenshanks, 51 Curlews, 2 Wigeons & a Polish-ringed adult Mediterranean Gull ("PHAU").

A few Goldcrests flitting about, Good views of the Black necked grebe and 2 water rails in front of the Stokeley hide. A Merlin at Start point and a great northern Diver on the sea.

  
Black-necked Grebe                      Water Rail                                              Merlin

The Long-tailed Duck showed very well in front of the hide this afternoon at BGM.  2 Firecrests around the nearby Monmouth Street Overbridge.

Earlier at Haldon, a group of 16 Crossbills and many Redwings.  The feeders at the main car park were heaving with varying numbers of Chaffinches, Siskins, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Yellowhammers and the regular Tit species.   

Another walk out to Baggy Pt this morning.

The single Velvet Scoter still present but keeping a distance from the 2 flocks of Common Scoter, one flock consisting of 73 individuals & the other much further out of 24, so a slight increase since my last count of 92.

Female Blackcap,2 Goldcrests,1 Song Thrush,3 f Blackbirds,1 Robin,1Wren,20+ House Sparrows small flock of Starlings 8 Long tailed Tits,1 Blue Tit.

Ringing today, highlights were;

5 Chiffchaff (all nominate)

3 Goldcrest

1 Meadow Pipit

1 Cetti's Warbler

1 Song Thrush

28 Greenfinch

2 Goldfinch

Among 56 birds ringed.

Little Egret on the scrape, 2 Pied Wagtails displaying to each other on wires just outside the entrance.

Single swallow hunting for insects over Camperdown, Exmouth c 1345hrs today

In the estuary were 150+ Avocets, 600+ Golden Plovers, and double figures of Grey and Ringed Plovers, no Godwits, but a few Rooks. It is noticeable that over the last couple of years these have started to follow Carrion Crows in becoming estuary birds (easily 500 of the latter most days). A response to, or a cause of, reduced wader numbers, or unrelated?

On Exminster Marsh were a female Marsh Harrier, a Peregrine, and the "missing" Godwits, plus an awful lot of Wigeon and others. Probably eight Water Rails in the ditch alongside the cycle path.

At Matford, a lone Cattle Egret was in the field South of the by-pass, and a Green Sandpiper in the Alphinbrook flood channel.

Seventy plus spp. in total.

After seeing 4 probable Velvet Scoters with Common Scoter at distance from Berry Head on Saturday, I went back this morning with the scope looking from Sharkham Point, just south of Brixham. Indeed there were 4 Velvet Scoter and 11 Common Scoter. Also to the south of the headland were another 65+ Common Svoter and at least one more Velvet Scoter. In scrub at the top of the point were 3 Firecrest and 1 Chiffchaff.

I popped in at Boradsands on my return to find the regular Velvet Scoter, 4 Common Scoter, 4 Great Northern and 1 Red-throated Diver & 5 Great Crested Grebes. 7 Cirl Buntings on seed in the second car park and also 2 Firecrest in bushes beside the car park.

Just finished watching a small murmuration over Christow with between 150 and 200 birds by the end. Not big numbers I know, but unusual for Christow. 

Despite the dreary weather and rain Green Ring-necked Parakeets and Jays showing well with a couple of Redwings and Gold Finches.

Nothing unusual but some good numbers:  400 Woodpigeon, 12 Stock Dove, 900 Skylark, 24 Canada Geese, Grey Wagtail, 100 Jackdaw, 240 Carrion Crow, 200 Starling, 48 Goldfinch, 2 Snipe, 48 Goldfinch, 36 Yellowhammer, 20 Cirl Bunting & 6 Reed Bunting.

Great Northern Diver between pier and Ness headland, Herring Gull feeding frenzy at the mouth of the estuary Teignmouth side hundreds of starfish washed up on shoreline gulls attempting some successfully to swallow whole.

This morning before the rain:-

60 Avocet, 55 Wigeon, 16 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 86 Snipe on Ernesettle creek.

Geese Quarries - Charleton Marsh, 08:00-11:00, low tide.

8 Great Crested Grebes, 47 Brent Geese, 29 Pintails, 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Water Rails, 24 Lapwings, Black-tailed Godwit, Rock Pipit and 2 Firecrests.

Saturday 23rd. ( late post ) A SIBERIAN Chiffchaff with the apparent characteristics of 'tristis' type plumage, but not caught for absolute confirmation. Allso 8 nominate Chiffchaffs,6 Firecrests, 5 Goldcrests ,including a 'continental' bird and 2 Grey Wagtails

3 Imm Shags fishing in very low water by the Golden Hind at lunch time today and 20 very busyTurnstones searching for food on the harbour wall.

The male Ring necked duck was on the ley off Torcross carpark with a good number of tufted duck.......no sign of the scaup though. 

around 100 ringneck parakeet to roost .right on time as usual 430 pm

The 5 Scaup on the pond this aft in the mizzle.

At South Huish marsh, 2 Pale bellied Brent geese, 10 ringed plover and 10 snipe. Roger spotted a swallow flying over the marsh and Mike Passman pointed out a water pipit. I saw 4 Black-tailed godwits and at least 4 Med gulls. At Slapton several goldcrests and heard several water rail but none seen. Good views of the Black necked grebe and a distant Scaup and 3 goldeneye.

Ringed Plover

Mute Swans

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

Could not find the Ring-necked Duck today but conditions poor at times. Male Scaup still present also 15 Pochards and 3 Goldeneyes. Offshore just one Common Scoter and single Great Northern and Black -throated Diver ( later off Strete Gate ). Good numbers off gulls in area many feeding on Starfish eg c 2500 Herring and c250 Common Gulls.

Seen on this afternoons high tide were the following .

GND 1, Great Crested Grebe 1, Little Grebe 6, Wigeon 2, Oystercatcher 8, Curlew 26, Greenshank 6, Redshank c130, Dunlin c158, Snipe 15, Kingfisher 1, Goosander 6 & Common Gull 3.

Male Black Redstart still showing well on the rooftops, female still around but not showing as much as the male.

A group of 13 braved the weather to visit the reserve spending four hours there. In that time we saw around 40 species. Highlights were several Kingfishers showing well, Greenshank, Snipe, Common Sandpiper and, on the river behind the reserve hide, Little Grebe. A full species list will appear in Society News section. 

John Lloyd

4 Firecrests this morning. 3 caught  ( 2 ringed both 1st. Yr. f's and 1 a retrap from Oct.. ). Another unringed bird present. Very few other migrants , just 2 Goldcrests.

After the walk out to Baggy, I headed down to the reserve, still not raining. A few small birds included a Chiffchaff or two, and closer inspection revealed at least 5, one of which was a very pale greyish individual, which must have been a Tristis type. No yellowy or greeny tones at all. I ringed one a few weeks ago, and checked this one for a ring - none seen so this is the second one this month. A Goldcrest was also with the Tit flock. Lots of Greenfinch today - yesterday was mainly Goldfinch.

As I left, in the river both Kingfisher and Dipper present.

Took a while but eventually (at about 10a.m.) the Velvet Scoter flew in close to the point and as Rob said it was alone and not associating with the other Scoters, it dived then surfaced and shook it's wings revealing the all important white speculum. About 69 Common Scoters also present. 2 Rock Pipits, 1 Stonechat and a pair of Ravens.

Good evening,

8 Goosander 4m (2 eclipse) 4f, 1 Water Rail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Willow Tit, 5 Marsh Tit, 1m Gadwall, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Long-tailed Tit.

over 100 ringneck parakeet at roost tonight at 430 flying in from central park direction

Another Firecrest in the garden today.

Spring in the air! A Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming this morning. Bit early as autumn hasn't officially finished yet.

Unusual yesterday to have a visit from 2 Ravens.

The Velvet Scoter was again off the mussel farm buoys, nearby 5 Common Scoter looking toward Torquay and closer to shore 7 Great Northern and 1 Red-throated Diver.

Returned to Baggy Point again early this morning to check a single bird that flew in  in failing light as we were leaving

It kept a  distance from the main flock & managed to obtain just a few poor quality photos of it in strong SE winds before leaving. While going through the Scoter photos late last night decided I needed to check out this bird again this morning to confirm identification.

The Common Scoter flock this am were approx.1000 metres away & it took me nearly 2 hours to obtain this record shot!

Pleased to report that it was what I thought it was - Velvet Scoter.

A SIBERIAN Chiffchaff caught this morning ( ' tristis' plumage type ). Also present 1 Firecrest ( ringed, a 1st. Yr. f.) ,and 3 Goldcrests. Overhead 2 Redwings.

Siberian Chiffchaff

Male & Female Black Redstarts on the rooftops at Sefton Ave, Plymouth at 9am light poor and raining, but a record shot

    
Black Redstart (M)                                             Black Redstart (F)

Ring necked duck, Scaup and Pochard all showing from the tank at 4.30 this afternoon

Berryhead  7.50-14.00

Pomarine skua 2 juvs ,   skua sp 1

Grey Phalarope

Little Gull , Med Gull 10,  Com Gull c80

GN Diver 4,  RT Diver 3 ,  Diver sp 1

Fulmar  c150

Com Scoter 11

Auks 2922   70%  Guillemots

Cetaceans  

Bottlenose Dolphin 3 in very close 

Common Dolphin 3,  Harbour Porpoise 4

1 Velvet Scoter this morning, along with a handful of Common Scoters. 1 Red-throated Diver and 2+ Great Northern Divers.

Later on, 7 Purple Sandpipers at the end of Brixham Breakwater.

Now 92 Common Scoters at Baggy Point this aft. The photo does not show the total number.

The female Kingfisher showing very well throughout the day, other species seen, 50+ Godwits beyond the iron bridge towards the estuary, Teal, Redshank, Common Sandpipers, Little Egrets

Kingfisher (F)

A quiet walk today following the excitement of Ham Wall with 9 DB members yesterday.

Danes Wood produced a mixed Tit flock which included several Long Tails, Blue and Great Tits, a Marsh Tit, Goldcrest and Treecreeper.  Also present several Nuthatch and 2 Gt Spotted Woodpeckers.  No Redwings seen or heard but 3 Fieldfare in the orchard opposite entrance to NT Killerton House. 

This morning on the lake.

20 Goosander 7m 13f, c200 Canada Geese, c150 Black-headed Gull, 14 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Kingfisher, 5 Cormorant, 5 Wigeon, 1m Gadwall, 7 Willow Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 1m Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 5 Long-tailed Tit,1 Redwing, 7 Teal

A couple of hours after high tide were the following.

Goldeneye (m) just off Laira junction, 5 Goosander, 3 Wigeon, 43 Curlew, 163 Redshank, 155 Dunlin, 3 Greenshank, 8 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 27 Common Gull & 3 Little Grebe.

LB Dowitcher, and Long Tailed Duck showing well. Also a brief, distant Otter. 4 Firecrests up by the Railway bridge at the top of Monmouth Hill.

Long Tailed Duck video - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_PUw7Pcmwc

So few were migrants this morning, that I would not have reported them ; but so stunning was the sunrise at Start Pt. ,t I decided to share the photo . At Start 1 Redwing and 3 Song Thrushes in the sycamores ,several Blackbirds alarm calling and 3 Goldcrests in the bushes.  At N. Hallsands 1Chiffchaff, 1Blackcap and 2 Goldcrests. At Stokenham a BlackRedstart ( f./ imm. ) on the roof of the pink cottage behind the church

Just after sunrise. Start Pt.

1st. Yr. f.

The drake 2nd winter Surf Scoter was again off Broadsands early afternoon with 6 common Scoter & a Goldeneye (rarer in the last decade than Surf Scoter in Torbay!). I didn't check from the headland but there were 2 Great Northern Divers, 2 Red-throated Divers and 2 Great Crested Grebes.all visible from the sea wall by the cafe in the car park.

Possible juv bluethroat on wall 500m south of Turf Hotel. Appreciate any comments for clarification. Also cattle egret.

Eds: looks spot on for a Bluethroat!

10+Water Rail, at the STW 20+ Chiffchaff, 3FireCrest. south Huish 2Pale-B Brent Geese.

am - No Scoters at Downend.  On the walk out to Baggy Pt 1 Great Northern Diver swimming out into Croyde Bay. Now 59 Common Scoters (1 male + 58 females) seen from Baggy Point.

Another reasonable ringing haul today - 47 ringed, mainly 23 Greenfinch, good to see at last this winter. 2  Cetti's Warblers, 4 Goldcrest, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing.

Also seen in the reserve, but not ringed: 4 Stonechat - apart from 1 ringed early this year this is the first record. (so how come 4?!!)  A Jay - very rarely seen here. 2 Chiffchaff and a brief view of a Merlin.

took a trip over to exmouth to try and find the parakeets.not very productive just 1 on douglas avenue

At Ernesettle this afternoon female Kingfisher showing very well, stayed around the area for over 1 hour

Female Kingfisher

Two birds of prey visiting the garden

  
Buzzard                            Sparrowhawk

Some good numbers this morning with 1800 woodpigeons moving east, 29 stock doves, 680 herring gulls, 800 skylarks, 130 starlings & 160 carrion crows. Also: 11 long-tailed tits moving through, 12 meadow pipits, redwing, 65 house sparrows, 17 blackbirds, 26 cirl buntings, 2 snipe, lapwing, 16 yellowhammers, 12 song thrushes & 40 linnets.

Non-avian: 4 red admirals.

The Long-billed Dowitcher showed well for a while this morning. Also, the Long-tailed Duck and female Goldeneye. Earlier, a brief view of a Firecrest by the railway bridge at the top of the lane.

Single Brambling with flock of almost 40 Chaffinch this morning. Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and usual finches and tits in the wood. Also single Crossbill over. 

Male Hen Harrier on Exmoor this morning .

On my WeBS sector today, found that the female Goldeneye and two Scaup are still on Wrafton Pond, except the number of Scaup had (remarkably) risen to four, feeding at first light alongside a Pochard. Also four Gadwall and a Shoveler (both quite scarce at this site). On the estuary itself, a Great Northern Diver and a Slavonian Grebe (the latter presumably the same individual as I saw in the same area on my Oct count) off Chivenor foreshore and four Spoonbills on Chivenor Ridge.

I first thought dunnock,  but what threw me was how much further around the brown and black feathers came around the abdomen and eye stripes compared to dunnocks in the garden. 

Thanks. 

7 in one group today!!

A drake Surf Scoter (probably 2nd winter) was with up to 16 Common Scoter off the headland at Broadsands today, also 1 Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

Managed to get out over Challacombe Moor/ kingsford hill late this afternoon to see small flocks of golden plover, starlings, long-tailed tits, kestral and a very obliging snowbunting who did a nice 360 turn.

    
Snow Bunting left                      Snow Bunting right               Snow Bunting front.

Ore stone, Hope's Nose

1 Purple Sandpiper, 1 Knot

  
Purple Sandpiper                          Knot

During a WeBS count this morning on Saunton Sands managed to get a couple of photos (from behind a sand dune) of a single Merlin which was feeding on a prey item on the strandline.

Correction to Fieldtrip Programme.  In case members missed my previous notice-  please note that the fieldtrip to Ham Wall, Somerset will take place on TUESDAY 19 November and NOT as given in the Programme on this website, which suggested it would be the 18th.  Sorry for the error. 

Could I also point out that in the event of a fieldtrip being cancelled due to bad weather, a notice is usually place on this website 24 hours in advance and an email sent to members in East Devon (where we have their email address).  A regular question asked by new members is- do I have to book to attend a fieldtrip?  The answer is no, not if attending an East Devon fieldtrip, please just turn up on the day.  Thank you for this space.  

A morning walk around Holdstone down today armed with a repaired lens, saw a pair of sandpiper,  snipe plenty of wrens, blackbirds and Robin lastly a single female reed bunting.

  
Reed Bunting         Female reed bunting

Eds: its actually a Dunnock - note the rather fine spiky bill

On a walk along Fremington Pill down to Fremington Quay there was one female Kingfisher perched on the railings above the sluice gate. The Spotted Redshank was feeding in the channel and there were 72 Common Redshank scattered throughout the Pill. The Glossy Ibis was there with a Little Egret that appeared to be shadowing it! Looking out from Fremington Quay there were huge numbers of Lapwing. A conservative estimate would be 650 birds. I counted at least 500 but then something spooked them and they took off.

On my way to Slapton just past Gara bridge a woodcock flew up from the side of the road and glanced the top of my windscreen. I stopped and had a good look around but couldn't find it so hopefully it was OK. At Slapton good views of a Black necked grebe, distant Scaup and ring billed duck. Near the quarry 2 firecrest and lots of goldcrests. Heard a few cettis warblers and got good views of one and lots of water rails calling. From the bridge got 2 glimpses of an otter, it only surfaced briefly so was unable to get a photo.

  
Black-necked Grebe                      Goldcrest                                       Firecrest

Having moved from the point with just one probable 1st winter male Common Scoter seen we had to return quickly as a flight of 18 ducks flew in from the east. When we got the bins & camera on them we confirmed they were all Common Scoter & probably all juv or females. Range was probably 800 to 900 metres so photo is grainy but a record shot at least.

17 of the flock of 18 Common Scoter

Juveniles being fed in Exmouth tescos this evening

5 parakeets in Tescos car park in Exmouth today. One feeding a juvenile

Mid-pm. Blue-winged Teal still present and showing well briefly but pretty elusive.

around 70 ringneck parakeet

Early am. 12 Goosander roosting on the reservoir at dawn, a Woodcock in the woods and 5 Crossbills overhead.

Highlight today was the return of presumably the same Ring-necked Duck present last winter, ( last year it returned on 28th October ). It was in Stokeley Bay. Also present 2 Scaups ( male and fcy male ), Black-necked Grebe ( right of Stokeley hide ), 12 Pochards, 110 Tufted Ducks, 3 Goldeneyes, 11 Gadwalls and a Teal. Offshore quiet, single Great Northern Diver and Grey Seal.

Male Stonechat

A few additions to Alan's post: 13 Redwings, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 8 Snipe, Teal, 4 Little Grebes, Chiffchaff & 4 Roe Deer.

Ringtail Hen Harrier in off sea being harassed by gulls yesterday  at 1pm from house on Oakland park, Dawlish,overlooking sea off Lea Mount, then lost to view around headland moving towards Teignmouth.

Also Firecrest last week at Lea Mount

Very few migrants this morning . 4 Firecrests. 3 caught, all 1st. Yr. f's ,one of which was a retrapped bird from the 27 th. Oct. ( Between 1 and 4 regularily overwinter at this site ) Also present 3 Goldcrests and 1 Chiffchaff. No apparent overhead movement.

1st. Yr. f.

This morning's high tide roost:

168 Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 98 Dunlin, 52 Curlew, 32 Turnstone, 23 Shelduck, 7 Little Egret, 4 Wigeon, 3 Snipe, 3 Little Grebe, 3 Black tailed Godwit, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Goosander (m), 1 Kingfisher, 1 Ring necked Parakeet, 1 Firecrest.

Blue Winged Teal, Black Redstart (f), Gadwall and Kestrel at Mansands. 6 Purple Sandpiper on the old fuel jetty at Brixham Breakwater. Also 17 seals (the most I've seen there).

Golden Plover on the new Devon Wildlife Trust  intertidal Nature Reserve, Braunton, N.Devon.

In garden at home

Rather quiet this morning bird-wise, with 6 Redwings, 4 Goldcrests, Snipe, 20 Stock Doves & a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Mammals provided a bit more interest: Hare, Weasel, Roe Deer & 4 Sika Deer.

Later Hallsands produced: Firecrest, Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs & a Blackcap.

8 Crossbill feeding on spruce late morning in trees opposite pull-in to the forest.

The first of the winter's synchronised Goosander roost counts will take place around dawn tomorrow (16th). All Dartmoor reservoirs, Portworthy, Dartington, Stover, Tamar Lakes, Clovelly and Meeth should be covered, but if anyone is prepared to visit other sites around 07:00 to 07:30  to check for Goosanders either tomorrow or over next few days, I'd be happy to receive results, including negative.. Of particular interest are Plym and Taw estuaries where birds reported recently. But do they roost there or fly in from elsewhere? Peter Reay, preay6960@gmail.com.

Plenty of Redwing around showing very well, still no sign of the Black Redstart

Redwing

A solitary very late Swallow searching for insects in the lock at Turf this afternoon  - where the temperature didn't get above 4 degrees. Good luck little bird, I'm guessing you're going to need it !

Back on the patch after 10 days in Portugal but very quiet; best were 320 woodpigeon moving through, 12 stock dove, 4 bullfinch, 4 alba wagtail, 2 reed bunting, 20 cirl bunting & 10 greenfinch.

At least 6 brambling with a large number of chaffinches feeding on beech mast about 12.30.

Female red crested Pochard showing well at 10am.

3 Velvet Scoter this morning with at least 25 Common Scoter, the Velvet Scoter flew off toward Preston but were not located later. Also 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Great Northern Divers and 1 Red-throated Diver.

2 Firecrest in scrub just before the headland and 1 Chiffchaff in the marsh area with 3 Goldcrests.

We live in an exposed spot in Newton Ferrers.  On 1st November there was a severe gale with winds up to 80 mph recorded.  Previous to this we had up to 10 goldfinches, 6-8 blue tits, 4 coal tits, 2great tits, 4dunnocks, 2robins and a number of other occasionals, visiting our feeders regularly. For 3days we saw no birds at all.  Now we are seeing 2 goldfinches, 2 blue tits, 2 coal tits, 1 great tit, 2 dunnocks, 1 robin.   
Has anyone else experienced such a loss?  

This afternoon's Stuart Lines cruise yielded impressive flocks of wildfowl off Dawlish Warren and Exmouth-Lympstone, mostly Brent Geese and Wigeon, but off Lympstone including 11 Pale-bellied Brents, 2 Black Swans and some 230 Pintail. Best was perhaps the female Common Scoter off Powderham. The Slavonian Grebe again had a Little Grebe companion off Cockwood, and a female Goldeneye was nearby. Equally impressive were the waders feeding around Turf-Topsham (as on Saturday), with some 300 Avocets, several hundred Lapwings and well over 500 Golden Plover roosting near Turf; Black-tailed Godwits could well have been into four figures. I had five sightings of seals, two seen well being Grey Seals (one on a pontoon off Dawlish Warren).

Apart from the usual there were 5 dark-bellied Brent geese off Penhill Marsh and 15 Goosander (10M & 5 redheads) in the channel off Pottington Ind.est plus just 1 Grey Plover.

After a few days away, took a quick tour of the reserve this afternoon. Nothing in the feeders, so not much to see. Male Blackcap, Song Thrush and a few Redwings, plus a Water Rail.

Also of interest was the big mechanical cutter dealing with all the vegetation on the embankment from the bridge right down to opposite Marstage Farm. Looked like the same vehicle that was dealing with the hedge near the big black barn. So, I went along to ask. Yes he said they've been asked to keep it clear so that the Environment Agency can get at the embankment if it needs repairs. Good news I thought.

I also asked if the balloons from last week were anything to do with the project and he said 'No' so I apologise if I have inadvertently misled anyone.

35 Brent Geese and three pairs of Wigeon

Quite a few Goldcrests down the lane to the hide. Of note were a female Goldeneye and the first winter Long Billed Dowitcher on the end of the central peninsula, better views than last time.Forty species in all.

Red Crested Pochard still at the first mica dam just outside Lee Moor

At least 5 Crossbills.2 seen feeding & 3 flyovers.Larger flock over but unable to gain numbers because of tree cover.Also 2 Brambling,m&f with 30 chaffinches.There have been over 100 recently at my. feeding station.10siskin&50 goldfinch seen.

Seen on this morning's high tide.

40 Curlew, 2 Blk T Godwit, 100+ Dunlin, 132 Redshank, 17 Snipe, 28 Turnstone, 7 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Goosander (f) and 38 Fieldfare.

4pm...... Three cattle egrets in high tide roost near top of Pill. Joined by Glossy Ibis and the little egrets later on. Good views of Spotted Redshank feeding quite close to road. 

Paignton: 1 Black-necked Grebe plus 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Broadsands: 1 Great Northern Diver, 13 Common Scoter, 2 Great Crested Grebes

Two Ring-necked Parakeets flying over the Green today were the first I have seen in Budleigh town.

16.00 > The single Goldeneye & the 2 Scaup still on Wrafton Pond.

Single Kestrel searching for prey between the Pond & Velator Reserve.

Water Rail this morning

Water Rail

I saw this today , swimming with a 6 Mallard. Any idea what it may be?

Eds: Its a feral Mallard perhaps crossed with some other duck

The Female Red Crested Pochard on the first mica pond on the left leaving Lee Moor on B3417

Plenty of Redwings at FCP this morning, this one was very compliant and seemed to like it's photo taken 

Redwing

This bird was on the foreshore, close to the bridge ,this morning.

Thanks to Jon Turner & Rob Jutsum who posted these wildfowl earlier we found all three present today along with <50 BHG's , <20 Mallard, 6 male & 4 female Gadwall seen. 2 X little grebe, <12 coot, <8 moorhen. Heard but not seen, 2 X Cettis. 

Scaup (Thanks Mike Langman)

Female Goldeneye

Wigeon juvenile

Yesterday at N Hallsands in a biting North Easterly wind ,only a few migrants in the willows.5Goldcrests ( 2 ringed ) 1Firecrest (ringed /1st. Yr. f. ) ,5 Chiffchaffs ( 2 ringed ). In the marsh a squealing WaterRail was the first of this winter. 1Woodcock  ( flushed ),again a regular winter visitor here.

This morning at S. Hallsands 4 Goldcrests ( 2 ringed, both ' Continental ' birds, ) 2 Firecrests ( ringed ) a 1st. Yr. m and 1st. Yr. f. 1 Chiffchaff and overhead several flocks of Wood Pigeons moving West.

1st. Yr. male.

' continental ' Goldcrest 1st. Yr. female

Sorry for late posting, no excuse, Spotted Redshank showing well yesterday feeding in the Pill opposite the outfall from the wildlife area on the army camp side. Glossy Ibis also present. 

Four Spoonbill feeding on both sides of the Torridge between 8.45 and 9.15. All flew down towards Zeta Berth on the eastern bank. None appeared to be ringed.

On Blaxton Meadow late afternoon: Kingfisher, 13 Oystercatchers, 29 Curlews, 3 Greenshanks, 119 Redshanks, 85 Dunlin & 21 Shelducks.

A flock of 8-10 large-finch-sized birds flew across the river as I was walking home at around 1430, but disappeared into the trees around Larkbeare House before I could get the bins on them. The flight call matches some of those from Belgium and elsewhere on xeno-canto, so I am pretty sure.

Will look for them in the morning; probably best to watch from the West bank, or maybe Colleton Hill.

15.15

9 Purple Sandpipers and 8 Turnstones at Haldon Pier. 

For the second time in the last couple of weeks a solitary Redwing, where are all the others? Good sightings of a pair of Buzzards, a small flock of about 20 Goldfinch. Green Woodpecker and a Jay in the orchard. Around the feeders in front of the hide were numerous Great Tits, several Blue Tits, plus Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock and a Nuthatch.

Around 70 ringneck parakeet 

The first Stuart Lines birdwatching cruise of the winter went well after a very wet start. Highlight was a Red-throated Diver feeding close to Exmouth marina. Slavonian and Little Grebes off Cockwood; maybe a dozen Great Crested Grebes; plenty of Shags, hundreds of Brent Geese and Wigeon, maybe 200 Shelduck, three-figure flock of Pintail and 2 Black Swans at Lympstone, less than 20 Red-breasted Mergansers in total, approx. 300 Avocets, c10 each of Ringed Plover and Greenshank, several hundred each of Golden Plover, Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit, small numbers of Grey Plover, Knot, Sanderling and Turnstone; 3 separate Kingfishers at Topsham, Turf and Exmouth.

This morning on the lake.

9 Goosander 4m 5f, 9 Willow Tit, 4 Marsh Tit, 1 Little Egret, 12 Tufted Duck, 15 Fieldfare, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 9 Long-tailed Tit

5 ringneck parakeet 

Bird of the day an Avocet in Ireland Bay ( not many records here ). Male Scaup and Black-necked Grebe still present middle of Lower Ley. Also 83 Tufted Ducks, 3 Pochards and 5 Little Grebes. Offshore 2 Great Northern Divers and at least 8 Common Scoters. One Red Admiral the only butterfly. No Gadwall and for the first time in a while no Mediterranean Gull.

13.15-14.45

Blue-winged Teal showed well on the main pool for at least an hour. Viewed from main track 50m inland from the cottages and the lime kiln. Several Snipe present. Two female Black Redstarts and a Chiffchaff on a barbed wire fence near the cottages. 

Two Short-eared Owls hunting at dusk below Warren Car Park this evening.

25+ crossbills at Burrator, in pines along Drakes Leat , very close views.

No Scoters at Downend or Baggy point early am but 9 Gannet flying north & a few Porpoise swimming south at Downend. At about 16.00, 1 Juv Great Crested Grebe on R.Caen. Single Goldeneye & 2 Scaup still on the Pond at Wrafton.

Very productive:

Highlights were:

1 female Cetti's Warbler

1 Goldcrest

1 Firecrest

1 Kingfisher (no 17 this year)

4 Bullfinch

7 Goldfinch

6 Chiffchaff

5 Blackcap

8 Blackbird

5 Redwing

17 Long-tailed Tit

Some sort of delayed migration after all the bad weather?

A few Crossbills feeding at the main car park on Haldon. At Passage House on the Teign Estuary 2 Kingfishers and 3 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers amongst the Redshanks. Usual gulls, nice to see two Little Grebes towards the opposite bank.

Seen at lunch time before the tide came in 46 Snipe & 1 Firecrest in the tree’s near the rail bridge.

Ring Ouzel, 2 Firecrests, 2 Lapwings, 6 Fieldfares, Redwing, Grey Wagtail, 12 Song Thrushes & (mainly going east) 2,400 Wood Pigeons & 25 Stock Doves. A Tawny Owl flew over the A379 by the Holberton junction.

Please note that the EAST Devon Branch fieldtrip planned for Blackhole Marsh, Seaton tomorrow (SAT 9 NOV) has been cancelled due to a forecast of adverse weather conditions with heavy rain predicted for the morning.

Also, the next fieldtrip is scheduled for TUESDAY 19 November to Ham Wall, Somerset and not the 18th as given in the Programme. 

AND... please note that the fieldtrip on Thurs 12 DEC (a visit to Woodbury Castle), will NOT include an indoor meeting as advertised on the Programme.  Sorry folks

Morning met conditions: wind NNW force 5.  Estimated minimum morning passage  c 300 Guillemots SE flying at c1m above waves in ground effect with tail wind component.  

Also 1 No Purple Sandpiper

At Prawle point ( Reserve ) 2 Firecrests, 3 Goldcrests and 2  Chiffchaffs, this morning. Overhead several small flocks of Wood Pigeons. Small groups of Chaffinches and small flocks of Starlings, all moving West. At Moorwell Pond just 2 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest and 1 Redwing with more small flocks of Starlings overhead moving West.

Haldon Forest, two Crossbill, good movement of Wood pigeon overhead, two GSWP, Siskin, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Pied Wagtail.

Around Exminster marsh four Greylag Geese in with the Canada geese, Heron and several Little Egret, good numbers of Starling and a build up of Lapwing.

RSPB BGM ~ Ten Greylag Geese flew in on the high tide, lots of Redshank with good numbers of Dunlin, six Pintail duck, Shoveller, Teal, Wigeon, Little Grebe the Long Billed Dowitcher eventually showed well, all be at the back of the marsh, several Snipe.

This morning at Stover, 4 Goosanders (2 male, 2 female type), 1 male Pochard, 32 Coot, 23 Tufted Duck, 4 Mandarin, 1 Kingfisher

Blue-winged Teal this morning feeding on the main marsh.

Please keep to the main paths do not enter the fields and under no circumstances use the path that is being constructed at the moment - it is not open to the public yet and is dangerous. The Blue-winged Teal is best viewed from the main track leading to the beach and the public footpath leading from the beach up to South Down Farm.

After a flog around West Cornwall chasing Pipits yesterday, a slight break in the weather this morning allowed a short ringing session. Mostly Tits this time including 7 Long-tailed Tits, also a Goldcrest, 2 Blackbirds, 2 Goldfinch and a juvenile male Sparrowhawk. 2 Water Rails seen.

Nothing on the scrape - large thresher type machine cutting hedges by the large barn. Also evidence of progress with the project for wind generated energy: two tethered balloons (rather than kites) down near the estuary.

am:- 44 female Common Scoters at Downend this morning but further out to sea.

Firecrest photo for earlier post.

Around the farm at this morning's  ringing session. At first light 12 Chaffinches and 7 Blackbirds in the tops of the sycamores , with several more Blackbirds alarm calling in the bushes ( more than the local birds ). Also present 13 Goldcrests ( 7 caught and ringed ) ,5 Firecrests ( 2 caught and ringed, both 1st. Yr. m's )and 3  unringed birds together actively feeding and hovering beneath the sweet chestnut leaves. Also 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 male Blackcap. Overhead a Raven and a few small flocks of Wood Pigeons moving SW.

Along the canal and in the adjacent ditches, at least seven each of squealing Water Rails and singing Cetti's Warblers;

On Exminster Marsh, a female Sparrowhawk spooking the ducks;

In the estuary, at least 150 Avocet, at least 600 Golden Plover, good numbers of commoner waders, and several each of Great Crested Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser;

Between Turf and the cycle bridge, a Cirl Bunting singing from a thorn bush;

From the cycle bridge, at least twenty of the Pintail which have "gone missing" from BGM;

From the sea wall, a Red-throated Diver (my first of the year) and twenty-five Common Scoter.

Didn't check the flooded field at Starcross, so missed the Cattle Egrets, but still over eighty spp. for the day.

Views of 3 mobile Hawfinches this morning. Also 1 male Brambling and a small group of Crossbills,

A single Purple Sandpiper back at Haldon Pier this morning.

Distant view just west of car park last Sunday

On Monday 4 November, a female Sparrow Hawk traversed the marsh in front of the hide then flew tight along the  wooded bank on the east of the marsh.

Shortly after, a juvenile male Peregrine hovered briefly over the marsh.  He was joined by an adult female as he headed for the foreshore, possibly teaching him the pair hunting technique used by local birds.

Female Sparrowhawk

Juvenile Male Peregrine Falcon

Tawny owl calling at home just on first light.

Redwings in good numbers moving as soon as it was light enough to see, two small flocks of Fieldfare over, the Redwings again dropping into Holly trees to feed on berries.

The Wood pigeon migration again under way with up to 500 birds passing by in flocks of up to 50 birds mostly headed west and out towards the A38 valley by sunrise at 07.13hrs.

A further watch up to 08.20hrs gave a total of 2000 plus Wood pigeons, 3 Stock Dove, a flock of 100 plus Jackdaw, two flocks of Fieldfares one of 50 plus and a flock of 22 with Redwings beyond counting.

At Soar this morning: 2 Ring Ouzels, 2 Black Redstarts, Firecrest, 2 Fieldfares, 16 Redwings, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Redpoll sp (presumed Lesser), 150 Jackdaws & overhead, 2,800 Wood Pigeons going in no particular direction (only a handful of Stock Doves with them). Also 3 Roe Deer.

In the afternoon, at Slapton Ley, a Wryneck watched for a few minurtes 500m south of Memorial Car Park, beside the road, before disappearing. Also Black-necked Grebe, 4 Pochards, Chiifchaff & 3 Swallows.  

3 hrs of observation this afternoon at the usual location at Haldon, including a walk through the woods, eventually at 3.30pm gave up a brief view and record photo of one Hawfinch. The presence of a Sparrow Hawk on the pylon wire may account for the few birds, other than pigeons, present! Never saw any Crossbill!

Male Hen Harrier and Merlin again late this afternoon hunting around Grenade Range.

5 female Common Scoter at Downend this morning on my way to Croyde. None at Baggy point & on the way home checked at Downend again & they had gone.

Someone I know mentioned that in the recent severe gales & heavy surf the mussels had been torn from the rocks so if there is no food for them at Downend they will search elsewhere.

From Cockwood steps at high tide - a real mix of summer and winter 3 red-breasted mergansers, one little grebe, one great crested grebe and the Slavonian greb, also two sandwich terns.

At Bowling Green the long-billed dowitcher showed well if distant, early afternoon.

Yesterday a great northern diver off Exmouth in the Duck Pond.

Richard's Pipit late this afternoon on Orcombe Point. In large grass field at top of Gore Lane with Skylark flock.

3 juv(?) scaup diving off the old Yelland power station outflow adjacent to the roost this morning at 11:30.

Spoonbill still present early morning at the western end. May be visible from the Passage House car park around high tide.

Between 07.10hrs and 08.30hrs this morning over South Brent westward movement of Wood pigeons mostly small flocks of 40 plus birds but one flock of 400 plus birds, not as many as reported elsewhere but some 1500 birds counted in that time.

Eight Stock Dove, good numbers of Redwing, smaller numbers of Fieldfare with one flock of 25 birds, a flock of some 30 plus Chaffinch dropped it to a boundary field hedge.

Very close up views of a Tawny owl that was being given a hard time by a pair of very raucous Jays.

Three Firecrest around the town today. One along the Otter, just south of White Bridge, another on South Farm Road and the third bird along the West Cliffs.

Scaup number 2.

Male Scaup, 75 Tufted Ducks, 5 Pochards ( around the middle of the Lower Ley ). Offshore 5 grey geese flew south @ 10:00 and I could not id them ( hopefully someone else may pick them up elsewhere ), 2 late Sandwich Terns off the Memorial Car Park and a flock of 9 Common Scoters.

Kayak trip round Teign estuary this am:

Drake Common Scoter and Spoonbill

  
Common Scoter                                                  Spoonbill

Quick visit to see if any Redwing had returned and wasn't disappointed. About 6-8 mainly around/feeding on Yew Tree berries especially the large Yew in the north-west corner of the cemetery..Also Jay, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, a brief glimpse of a Goldcrest pair and all the usual tits etc. 

        
  Green Woodpecker            Greenfinch            Green Sandpiper (Northbrook, viewed from Rifford Road)

Single Goldeneye this morning.

1 Male Firecrest in the ivy on the side of the road, by the ford lane entrance to the bridal path. 

Now 2 Scaup on the pond & the single Goldeneye.

A couple of pictures of yesterdays 'Greenland' leucorhoa Northern wheatear, note the very buffy and cinnamon tones to the underbody, neck and lores and very long wing projection with the  primaries very nearly reaching the tail tip.

Three Green Sandpipers on the floods this afternoon.

The reserve was positively bursting with birds late this morning (well, compared to yesterday - 3 species recorded)!

Good numbers of Tits, Finches and Redwings, and the first Reed Bunting for several months. Sparrowhawk over again. Little Egret out on the scrape.

A Speckled Wood (last butterfly this year?) and a Migrant Hawker were on the wing along with several Bumble Bees.

Oddly with all the mud in the water yesterday, there was a Dipper in the river by the bridge.

Jay and Nuthatch in my garden early on.

14.25-15.10

Male Black Redstart showing well in the quarry.

Snipe, Kingfisher & 6 Greenshank on Blaxton Meadow this morning. Four Mandarin Ducks & a redhead Red-breasted Merganser on the estuary.

08.30 - At last after 6 days of dense cloud & frequent drizzle,rain & wind the sun was shining & it was dry!

The single remaining Goldeneye was diving for food for the duration popping up for just a second or two.

The female Scaup appears happy alongside the male Tufted Duck which has caused a few identification headaches in low light for some of the birders who thought it may be a female Tufted Duck but the size & shape of the bill, the absence of a tuft, diving behaviour & being larger & broader across the beam than the male Tufted Duck was diagnostic.

Surprised to find this beautiful Snow Bunting on Southern edge of Morte Point this afternoon. Typically very bold and not fussed by walkers near the footpath! 

20+ Goldcrests ( 11 ringed /9 " continental" ), 7 Chiffchaffs (4 ringed ) and a late Willow Warbler ( ringed / nominate trochilus ). At the beach a Black Redstart. f./ imm. and 5 Robins around the beach cottages. Overhead small flocks of wood Pigeons moving S/SW,( not counted ) .

Redwings and Mistle Thrushes back in Ford Park Cemetery, but no sign yet of the Black Redstart

Redwing

Mistle Thrush

Now 4 Spoonbill on Isley roosting on this mornings high tide .      Around 200 Teal and 12 Black tailed Godwit on adjacent Gaya trust pond.    Just 5 Med gulls on river Torridge.

Prompted by Peter Reay's report on 31/10/19 of inland sightings of Black Redstarts I had an early morning look at some of their favourite roofs, above the Lower Ferry, in Kingswear today.I quickly came across 3 together on a roof catching the early morning sun.

A late Northern Wheatear 'Greenland' type leucorhoa on beach just north of the main beach, 1 Firecrest , 3 Common Scoter, 4 Teal 1 Great Crested Grebe and several hundred Wood Pigeons heading south.

Female Merlin chasing pipits over Dawlish Warren Beach at 4.45 this afternoon. Then flew off very low over the sea towards Dawlish.

Two Eiders, a Great Northern Diver & a Grey Seal in the Sound, a Pheasant on the Hoe, a Common Sandpiper in the Cattewater & on the lower Plym Estuary, 33 Turnstones & 3 Little Grebes.

Long-billed Dowitcher and a few snipe around, plus the usual

First Blackcap of the winter (male) at garden feeders this morning.

By the time I go to Wrafton Pond, it was coming on dusk, needless to say the Scaup wasn't showing, but a pair of Tufted Duck, and a pair of Gadwall were, along with a lone female Goldeneye and a notable increase in Coot numbers.

Three black redstarts in the quarry near the wire fence, also a woodcock flushed out from the quarry and flew around twice then out over the headland.

15 Goldcrests ( 7 caught and ringed ) , of which 6 were""continental" birds,2 Firecrests ( 1 ringed ), 1. Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap and 2 Cirl Buntings above the car park. A few more Robins than the local birds,but less than a week ago. A quick look at Moorwell Pond, from the road on the way back showed 6 Goldcrests and 1 Chiffchaff.

There are now 24 Goosander on Tottiford Reservoir, including 3 males. Nearby about 30 Fieldfare flew in from the south east preceded by 7 Mistle thrush. First Fieldfare I’ve seen this season. 

1 Scaup still on pond