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A walk around Riding Parks this afternoon produced nothing unusual, apart from a Mistle Thrush that sang in flight as it flew high over the valley - something I've never experienced in 55 years of birding!

8 Chaffinches, 100+ Goldfinches, 2 Goldcrests, 1 Firecrest, 6 Great tits, 4 Blue tits, 5 Long tailed tits, 2 Pied wagtails, 12 Skylarks, 1 Snipe, 5 Herons, 1 Mistle thrush, 1 Song thrush 6 Blackbirds, 2 Wrens, 2 Dunnocks, 6 Robins, Blaxton Meadow: Little Egrets, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, Shelduck, Canada Geese, Oyster Catchers,

Goldfinches

Kingfisher

6 nominate Chiffchaffs 3 Goldcrests 1 Firecrest, 3 Grey Wagtails ,3 Redwing and 20+ Blackbirds.

Excuse my lack of numbers, I'm not a counter! 

I spent about an hour watching a Kingfisher whizzing up and down at Longbridge, then ambled up to Blaxton Meadow.

Caught a Cormorant struggling to get a decent size catch down it's neck on the way.

At BM, Dunlin, Greenshank, Redshank, Kingfisher, Various Gulls, Shelduck, Wigeon, Curlew. Green Woodpecker in the woods and Buzzard overhead

Kingfisher

Cormorant

12.45-13.30

A single Great Grey Shrike showed well for short periods on the fringes of the vast northern clearfell.  It was mobile and elusive and also ranged out at least 600-700m on to the open moor SE of Shovel Down and SW of Chagford Common.

One or two birds in the wider local area at present? 

Out and about this afternoon with camera in hand.  Spotted this Short eared owl sitting on a fence post.  Long distance shot only so no close-ups.

Short eared owl

Short eared owl

100+ Goldfinches, 8 Chaffinches,12 Skylarks, 1 Snipe, 5 Herons, 1 Mistlethrush,1 Song Thrush, 6 Blackbird, 2 Wrens, 2 Dunnocks, 6 Robins, On Blaxton Meadow: Little Egrets, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Canada Geese and a Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Black Redstart on Poseidon House at Neptune Park (South West Path) off Cattedown Road

At Isley Marsh 20 Wigeon 30 Teal 34 Shelduck 7 Grey Plovers 3 Oyster Catchers about 500 Golden Plover and 200 Lapwing. 

At Home Farm Marsh over looking the river 1 Whooper Swan 3 Shelduck and 3 Brent Geese.

Parked at Bennett’s cross this morning and walked down towards soussons plantation. The great grey shrike has seen near the gate before the plantation at around 11 am. 

Black Redstart (fem/1st-w), Firecrest & Green Woodpecker.

Lone female scaup along with teal, coots, and a mute sawn at the Mica mine ponds near Wotter.

Firecrest in gardens along Compass Drive/Highglen Drive. Two Blackcap also around. 

2 males and 1 female Black Redstarts on the roof tops at Lipson, Plymouth, only managed to get 1 male before the other 2 flew off

3 Felmale Goosander shooting the bridge in Plymbridge Woods yesterday. 3 Goosander in the Plym estuary opposite Saltram on Friday 20th (1 male 2 female).

Highlights ; 1 Spotted Redshank , 3 Greenshanks , 3 Glossy Ibis , 1 Spoonbill , 20 + Ring Plovers , 1 Mistle Thrush , flocks of Redwings & Fieldfares & 1 Short eared owl . 

Upper Lake this morning,

3 Goosander 2m 1f, 2 Redwing, 1 Merlin, 2 Great Crested Grebe.

Lower Lake,

1f Goosander, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, 3 Marsh Tit, 6 Willow Tit, 1 Nuthatch.

Fem / imm Marsh Harrier briefly in the Higher Ley early morning.

Misty afternoon on Molland Common, I saw these Golden Plover (50+) flying west.  Rubbish photos although you can see that they are Plovers.

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

The Scaup reported by ML is still is situe with the Tufted ducks on the boating lakes at Youngs Park, Paignton.

In Paignton harbour on the rising tide a Kingfisher, four Turnstone and two Great Black Back Gulls.

Scaup

Kingfisher

08:45 - 11:30

Great Grey Shrike, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Willow Tit, Crossbill, Stonechat.

44 species on this morning's high tide including:-

142 Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 68 Dunlin, 92 Canada geese, 38 Curlew, 25 Turnstone, 18 Wigeon, 1 Goosander (m), 2 Little grebe, 1 Common sandpiper. Around the estate were 15 Redwing, 5 Ring necked parakeet, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Stonechat,1 Treecreeper, and 5 Crows harassing 1 poor little Kestrel.

A Yellow Browed Warbler in the same location as the one present on the 19th. Also on site 3 Collybita Chiffchaffs and overhead 2 very vocal Ravens.

Y. B. Warbler.

A Y-b W was feeding and persistently calling at the N end of Belle Isle Park 0800-0900 today, using the larger trees which still have a few leaves on.

2 Common sandpipiers along Cornworthy end of Bow Creek, I wander if these are going to overwinter or just on late passage?

My wife has seen a male black redstart in a garden in Montpellier road Exmouth twice in the last couple of days.

Looking out to sea at Slapton, a few divers both red-throated and great northern, 2 Red-breasted mergansers, a flock of about 14 common scoter and a curlew flew out to sea.

Red-throated Diver

Great Northern Diver

Whilst looking for the Great Grey Shrike, I was delighted to come across a male Snow Bunting.  

1st winter male black redstart, today and yesterday

Visibility was surprisingly good at Fernworthy Plantation despite this afternoon's persistent mizzle.  We found yesterday's Great Grey Shrike perched on the barbed wire fence at the northernmost point of the forest perimeter, now clear-felled.  We found it again on the NE side of the clear-fell as us and the bird completed our circuits in opposite directions.

First singing Song Thrush in the garden today - lockdown spring just around the corner! Singing Chiffchaff here yesterday.

Back to the rain today, but a few nice sightings nevertheless: Woodcock, Snipe, Common Sandpiper, 27+ Turnstones, 50+ Dunlins, 7 Greenshanks, 18 Wigeon, Little Grebe, 2 Shags, c70 Fieldfares, c45 Redwings, 4+ Siskins, Treecreeper, Stonechat, 4 Stock Doves & 10 Roe Deer.

Goodrington: 1 fw drake Scaup with Tufted Ducks on the boating lakes, also Kingfisher and 1 Chiffchaff around the back of the lakes. 2 ad winter Mediterranean Gulls on the beach with Black-headed Gulls and 2 Great Northern Divers looking toward Broadsands.

Clennon Lakes: The Yellow-browed Warbler (full tailed) was up near the top 4th feeder lake today and 1 Chiffchaff.

Rock Pipit

Today over Soussons Down:Jays 2, Magpies 2, Fieldfares 60+, Redwing 6, Blackbirds 6, Song Thrush 1, G.S.Woodpeckers 2, Treecreeper 1, Great tit 2, Coal tits 3, Kestrels 3, Buzzard1, Ravens 3, Crows6, Woodpigeons 50+, Stonechats 2, Snipe 3, Robins 3, Dunnocks 2, Goldcrests 5, Starlings 20+

Goldcrest

Fieldfare

Saw this Buzzard and one other sitting on adjacent post near Blackmoor Gate. Moved on to Fremington Pill late afternoon and got this photo of three Glossy Ibis feeding together. 1 Spotted Redshank feeding close by.

Buzzard

Three Glossy Ibis

2 flocks of Wood Pigeon taken mid morning.  The 1st coming in from the sea and the 2nd moving east to west.

Early am - Only 1 Common Scoter at Downend & none at Baggy Point.

Late aft - Gold is my favourite colour on Horsey at the moment!

Whooper swan (1cy), also 2 adult Mutes with 3 cygnets, 4 little grebe on Saltpill with high water levels. Pair of kestrels.

Back at Fremington Pill 4 glossy ibis, spotted and common redshank, kingfisher and just before leaving a very vocal little owl.

Whooper Swan (1cy)

The first clear day since I don't know when and the Wood pigeons were on the move over the South Brent area from just before sunrise, not huge numbers but flocks from 20 to 100 birds.

A high flying tiercel Peregrine passed overhead around the same time.

Migrating Wood pigeons

Migrating Wood pigeons

A feeding Great Northern Diver was showing extremely well in the outer harbour this afternoon.

Great Northern Diver with a fish.

2 Spoonbills east side of Torridge estuary opposite Appledore shipyard, midday.

First Winter Black Redstart (m) is back in again near the Chapels and along the back wall. Also present the usual corvids, blackbirds, nuthatch, coal tit, blue tits, great tits and gulls. Nice Red Admiral also present

Nice to be able to do a circuit in sunshine this morning. At least 60 Fieldfares heading north, a Dipper singing, & a male Kingfisher showing well (both at Longbridge), Common Sandpiper, 7 Greenshanks, 16 Wigeon, 3 Little Grebes, 6+ Siskins & 2 Redwings.

 A Yellow Browed Warbler ,which at one point perched briefly on the top string of a mist net , just to add insult to injury.. Also on site a Siberian Chiffchaff ( unringed ,so a different birdt to the one ringed on the 17 th.) ,8 nominate Chiffchaffs , 1 Firecrest and 2 Goldcrests. Overhead  2 Redwings ,7 Fiieldfares and several flocks of Woodpigeons ( not counted )

Collybita Chiffchaff

1st. Yr. f. Firecrest

I thought a Greenfinch on my garden feeder was good going this morning, then this fw male Black Redstart popped up on a neighbour's roof!

First winter male Black Redstart

Flock of shimmering Golden Plover sheltering from strong westerly winds during a brief burst of sunshine this aft.

A couple of male Blackcaps arguing and feasting on the berries of the Callicarpus in the garden.today. Also a male Siskin on the sunflower feeders.

Male Blackcap

A Woodcock flushed this afternoon while walking the dogs at home, first one seen this year.

Plenty of low flying Wood pigeons dropping out of the fog and overcast skies this morning, still plenty of "thrush" movement mostly Redwings but a small flock of Fieldfare as well.

A male Siskin on the garden feeders feeding on niger seeds.

Siskin

Siskin

Siberian Chiffchaff, 2 collybita Chiffchaffs, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Firecrests & 10+ Goldcrests this afternoon.

Red Throated Diver flying then landed on the sea. Gannets flying and diving for food. 

Around Blaxton Meadow & the upper estuary, on this afternoon’s rising tide: Goosander (redhead), 15 Wigeon, 152 Redshanks, 54 Curlews 2 Little Grebes & a Kestrel. 

Yesterday a walk through a private mature deciduous woodland on the edge of Dartmoor above South Brent gave several flocks of Wood pigeon, Mistle Thrush and Redwing.

Two Jay, a GSWP, Heron, Raven and a mixed flock of mainly Blue Tits with at least four Goldcrest and a Roe deer.

 At home today notable increase of birds using the garden feed station, 24 plus House Sparrow, 12 Greenfinch, two sightings of a 40 plus flock of Goldfinch with double figures around the feeders, Chaffinch numbers continue to grow, Blue Tit numbers showing a marked increase to the point it was difficult to count them. Several flocks of Redwing.

BTO ringed Goldfinch and Blue tit seen on the feeders.

This afternoon several flocks of 40 / 50 Wood pigeon over and shortly afterwards a soaring female Peregrine, Grey wagtail on the house roof.

Grey Wagtail

BTO ringed Goldfinch ~ Greenfinch

On the R. Plym at low water, around 2:00pm, two Dippers were foraging on the shingle opposite the mouth of the Tory Brook.  Viewable from Plymouth Rd bridge.

Flock of 14 red-breasted merganser at Coombe Cellars, Mid-Teign Estuary lunchtime

Kingfisher flew up river as I arrived. Little Egret out by the scrape. At least 4 Water Rails calling, one Chiffchaff, 1 Redwing, GSW, a Tawny Owl woke from it's slumbers and emitted a few subdued toots. I was also treated to a flyover by 6 Swans: the wing noise as always quite fabulous.

A Siberian Chiffchaff ( intergrade plumage type ) , Also on site 6 Goldcrests and 2 nominate Chiffchaffs.

Siberian Chiffchaff.

On the sea: 6 Great Northern Divers, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Guillemot

A late Swallow flew W over the 2nd car park. 

A good number of birds on Blaxton Meadow this evening on the rising tide, including: 61 Curlews, 10 Oystercatchers, 49 Dunlins, 121 Redshanks, 6 Greenshanks, 15 Wigeon & a Kingfisher. Nearby, Green Woodpecker & Sparrowhawk.

Late afternoon.....Two Snow Bunting feeding on high tide debris between 8th green and makeshift sea wall at the mouth of the estuary.

A late swallow flying around when I got to work this morning at Ashford, also a flock of about 40 redwing.

A Great Northern Diver off the pier. Usual gulls. Lots of European Shags off the Ness and a Cormorant. Also two more Great Northern Divers off the Ness, including one in full summer plumage!

Of late: still several Water Rails squealing, A very vocal Chiffchaff yesterday, along with a fly-through Sparrowhawk. Today a flock of over 70 Goldfinch tinkling in the treetops. And the first Primrose!

Early Primrose

Great Grey Shrike around Vitifer tin mine ruins beside the Redwater Brook.

Around the slope as you walk in from the Warren House Inn

Soussons Down across from the Golden Dagger Mine ruins

At around 13:30 today a yellow-browed warbler (full tail) was seen at Clennon valley in company with blue tits, goldcrests and chiff-chaffs.  Seen from path near second pond.  

While collating some of my photos I came across this photo of a small gull that I had forgotten about.  It attracted my attention at the time because of its size, lack of head markings, its short dark beak and its general behavior.  

Small gull

Alongside the River Exe today were single Bar-headed and Barnacle goose amongst a flock of 360 Canada geese. On the very swollen river downstream at Stafford Bridge were 2 Little grebes and a pair of Mute swans with 4 cygnets.

am: a whopping 26 Goosander on the reservoir and an equally impressive 25 (or so) Crossbills feeding in one of the tall pines by the dam.

8 ringneck parakeet

Later this morning at Fremington Pill under the cloudy sky there were a few Redshank, a couple of Spotted Redshank, a couple of Greenshank, a Kingfisher, one Glossy Ibis, a Lapwing and a few Wigeon.

Spotted Redshank

Greenshank

The Yellow-browed Warbler was still in willows around lake 2 this afternoon and a Siberian Chiffchaff with a collybita Chiffchaff in scrub by lake 1. Two more Chiffchaffs and at least 9 goldcrests around the site.

This morning between the showers:  27 Teal, 17 Wigeon, 2 Black tailed Godwit, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Great crested Grebe on the Tamar. 4 Shelduck and a Greenshank on Ernesettle creek.  On the way home, 3 Goldcrest and a Firecrest in Budshead wood.

This morning's WeBS count included 72 Coot, 12 Moorhen, 2 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Heron, 25 Tufted Duck, 2 Shovelor, 1 Teal, I male Wigeon, 1 male Pochard, 5 Mute swan, 2 Little Grebes and 1 Great crested Grebe. Yesterday 25 Common Snipe were counted, which is low for mid November.

Surprised to see on our patio, 1st year Black Redstart. 

Dodged the rain this morning to do a circuit of the patch on the low tide. Kingfisher, 2 Little Grebes,Goosander (redhead), pair of Mandarin Ducks, 10 Wigeon, Common Sandpiper, adult Mediterranean Gull, Sparrowhawk, 4 Grey Wagtails, Chiffchaff & Siskin. 

A Woodcock feeding on the grass verge of the tennis court was my first for the autumn and an unsusual location.

During a short visit between the heavy showers this morning there were an impressive number of ducks on the marsh. A flock of about 70 mallard (almost all drakes) is the largest flock I have seen for a long time. Also present, but not counted, were pintail, shoveller, teal and wigeon. Because the tide was low in the estuary there were few waders; a single ruff (same individual as last winter), a few redshanks and black-tailed godwits. A single cattle egret was amongst cattle opposite the Swan's Nest pub, west of the railway line. 

1 fw drake Scaup with the tufted ducks. It's the same Scaup that was at Clennon Lakes a week or so ago. Also a Black Redstart on Young's Park Road houses it then flew over toward the Inn on the Quay pub.

                                            First winter drake Greater Scaup with female Tufted Duck

2 Cattle Egrets feeding on flood meadows with 3 Little Egrets and 2 Grey Herons just down stream of church.    

A nice selection of birds in the garden this morning , pair of mistle thrush, blackbirds, female blackcap, robin wren goldfinch chaffinch and Star of the garden a solitary redwing.

Redwing

Just hanging around the duck pond before getting soaked in the rain, glad to see the holly tree full of redwings, about 4 of them. Also present were 4 nuthatch, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, mistle thrush, R.N parakeet, sparrowhawk, buzzard, g.s woodpecker, chaffinch, robins.  Some curlews in the nearby cowfield. 

1 GN Diver - Exmouth Marina

1 Grey Plover - Shelly Beach

20 Dunlin 

1 Greenshank

50 Turnstone 

20 Redshank

40 Brent Goose

2 Shell Ducks