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High -, and low, - lights were:

- at Matford, a Cattle Egret with its carrier sp. in the field behind the petrol station;

- on the main Exminster pond, 10+ newly arrived Tufted Ducks;

- in the hedges near Turf, 3/400 Winter Thrushes, perhaps 4:1 Fieldfare:Redwing;

- six Cirl Buntings "inland";

- in the estuary, 100+ Avocet in several groups, 250+ Golden Plover, 10+ G-c Grebes, the Slav. Grebe, a distant Diver which I believe, without 'scope, was GN, but only two Mergansers (red-listing definitely seems right), and no Turnstones at Starcross over the high tide;

- no Coots, although there are plenty at Stover (something wrong with our water?), and only one Snipe.

Despite my gloom, c75spp. for the day.

On Dartmoor today so popped into Soussons to look for the Great Grey Shrike.  It was not around but a Kestrel and a Stonechat posed for a photo.

Kestrel

Stonechat

1 Firecrest in the trees at the back of Morrison's car wash in Totnes late am; 1 Kingfisher over the Dart at Staverton bridge early pm and a male Brambling with Chaffinches on the Dartington Estate, late afternoon.

09:45 - 11:41

Pair of GSW; Coal, Blue and Great Tit; Siskin; Greenfinch; Chaffinch; Robin; Nuthatch; Dunnock; a male Brambling on the feeders.

At around 10:30am, the briefest of views of the Great Grey Shrike in the northern clearfell but it couldn't be relocated.  On Water Hill above Warren House Inn put up a pair of Snipe.

Mediterranean Gull among large flock of B. H. Gulls on the lake at lunchtime today 

A small flock (10-12) feeding high in the coniferous trees. Excellent views of them detaching cones and extracting seeds. 

Today's farmland bird count produced: 586 Skylark, 55 Cirl Bunting, 40 Yellowhammer, 3 Reed Bunting, 300 Starling, Snipe, 30 Stock Dove, 750 Woodpigeon moving east, Black Redstart, 13 Stonechat, 4 Redwing, 10 Song Thrush, 25 Meadow Pipit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20 Chaffinch, 170 Carrion Crow, mf Sparrowhawk & 62 Goldfinch,  

In this morning's sunshine, 2 Marsh Tits & 4 Bullfinches.

Third visit in three days with common generally bird-less until today. A Red Kite flew over south at a height at 10.50.  The valley produced Green Woodpecker, Jay and small flocks of Redwing. Fieldfare and Blackbirds feeding on the Holly Trees.  Elsewhere there were 3 Dartford Warblers, 3 Stonechat, and 1 Raven.  

Steps down from the west side of Grenville Avenue to Sherwell Valley Road, 1.30-2.30pm. Firecrest, goldcrest, blackcap (M+F), blue tit, gt tit, coal tit, wren, blackbird, robin, & goldfinch flying over. Long tailed tits here yesterday.

Firecrest again in Compass Drive/Highglen Drive gardens 

Firecrest

Firecrest

This morning at the lake

6 Goosander 3m 3f, 9 Willow Tit, 3 Marsh Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck 2m 1f, 18 Fieldfare, 6 Redwing, 2 Long-tailed Tit.

On this afternoon's high tide: drake Goosander, 6 Little Grebes, Shag, female Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, 3 Mandarin Ducks, Snipe & Siskin.

A female seen at times during the day around Home Farm, probably the same bird has been in the area since earlier in the month

Black Redstart

2 M,1 F. Blackcaps on feeders in garden.

3 possibly 4 Green Sandpipers feeding on flooded fields beside r.Yeo about a mile west of Landcross on the Bradworthy road.

The dead Short-eared Owl was found last Thursday morning (19.11.20) by one of the Gaia Trusts volunteer wardens. Apparently the body was being sent off for analysis as there was no obvious sign of injury. It would be valuable to know what the cause of death was.

Around mid day on the high tide a Dipper was in the leat alongside the cycle track at the STW.  Kingfishers are reasonably regular on the leat, but this is the first time I've ever seen a Dipper here. 

Around Broadsands this morning, the reported Red Necked Grebe and a GND seen but far too distant to even take a record shot, so settled for some closer avian life.

Two adult Mediterranean Gulls and in excess of 75 Black Headed Gulls one of which had a metal BTO type ring. Three immature GBBG's

Missed trying for a photograph of a Peregrine chasing a Wood pigeon around the cliff face and in turn the Peregrine missed the Wood pigeon. Two Buzzards and a male Sparrowhawk about as well.

A pair of circling Raven being given by a hard time by a flock of Herring Gull.

Mix of Shag and Cormorant on one of the rocky outcrops.

Wren, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and Chiffchaff along the beach marsh.

On leaving female Bullfinch and Blackcap seen from the road.

Stonechat

Chiffchaff

Female Black redstart on village roof. Single Swallow over Ley Reed bed.

Second time lucky, distant views of a single short-eared owl. Also, unconfirmed report of one found dead 2 days ago. 

Short-eared Owl in flight (very distant)

12:30

Yellow-browed Warbler downstream of first lake on muddy path by stream.

On the rising tide, 5 Little Grebes, 25+ Turnstones & 6 Greenshanks with the Redshanks & Dunlins (on the wall, after being disturbed from Blaxton Meadow by a helicopter). Also, Treecreeper, 3 Siskins, 18+ Stock Doves, 4 Stonechats & 10 Roe Deer.

74 curlew near high tide at Hackney, river Teign today.  Good number for a winter flock here. Also 14 Redshank, one greenshank, two dunlin and a common sandpiper.

100+ Fieldfare, in a mixed feeding flock with 30 Redwing (several very dark birds probably Icelandic), and 20 Starling.  A good number of Meadow Pipits, about 20, still in area, and one male Stonechat.  15+ Ravens in adjacent field mostly on a sheep carcass.

Migrants this morning were 3 Goldcrests ( one a 'continental ' bird ) , 2 nominate Chiffchaffs and on the roof of the new house by the beach 2 ,1st. Yr. m. Black Redstarts.

1st. Yr. f. 'Continental' Goldcrest.

Late report for Monday 23.

7 Goosander 3m 4f, 7 Willow Tit, 3 Marsh Tit, 3 Redwing, c60 Fieldfare, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 2 Jay.

Late afternoon....The four glossy ibis were feeding in the field and on the margins of Salt Pill Duck pond. They flew towards the creek to roost at about 4pm.

The highlights of a walk from Barnstaple to Isley this morning were:

- two Cattle Egrets on Penhill Marsh;

- a sixty-plus flock of Winter thrushes, perhaps two-thirds Redwings;

- the Spotted Redshank in Fremington Pill. No Ibises as the water was too high - where do they roost? Missed the Goosanders reported earlier;

- two Spoonbills asleep on Isley Marsh;

- at least ten Water Rails. Squeals came from every patch/strip of suitable habitat.

On private farm land alongside Dartmoor above South Brent this afternoon, a flock of some 20 Wigeon flushed from a woodland pond, other birdlife was a little sparse, 2 Raven, handful of Fieldfare, small numbers of Redwing feeding on holly berries, a flock of 20 Starling, a flock of Long Tailed Tit and not a great deal else.

Now two full tailed Yellow-browed Warblers (the tail- less bird has not been seen for a week or more) one is along the stream (very muddy path) below the lakes and the other up around lake 3. also 2 collybita Chiffchaffs and 1 Siberian Chiffchaff in sallows on lake 3.

Small flock of Redwings and Fieldfares feeding on the berries this afternoon on the Tarka trail on the Barnstaple side of Fremington.

Quiet afternoon walk at Wembury Point hoping for either a firecrest or black redstart but saw neither. Very busy on the beach with people out enjoying the weather so no shorebirds either. Two singing Cirl Buntings the only notable sightings along with a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel. 

 2 Firecrests. 4 Goldcrests. 2 Chiffchaffs ,2 Grey Wagtails and in the horse paddocks and adjacent fields 20+ Redwing and 20/30 Blackbirds.

Ad. f. Firecrest.

Dunlin numbers have shot up, with 101 today. Also: 6 Little Grebes, Kingfisher, 6 Wigeon, 7 Greenshanks, 2 Snipe, 23+ Turnstones, Green Woodpecker, Stonechat, 2 Siskins, Grey Wagtail & 13 Roe Deer.   

Great Grey Shrike showing well on top of dead tree trunks in cleared woodland.

Great Grey Shrike

09:58 - 11:14

Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit; Chiffchaff; Chaffinch; Carrion Crow; Cormorant; Moorhen; Grey Heron; Herring Gull; Woodpigeon; Mallard; Magpie; Robin; Goldfinch; Wren and Kingfisher.

Great Grey Shrike (m) still in Vitifer- Golden Dagger area, this time  on the south side of gate at approx position SX 681 802 sighted around 1045 this morning. Other sightings in Vitifer area, Fieldfare (5), Blackbirds, Meadow Pipits, Buzzard, Kestrel, Ravens.

Goosanders at the quay , 2 males & 2 redheads.

Picture of the Elberry Cove Red-necked Grebe from Nigel Smallbones.

1 Red-necked Grebe off Elberry Cove this morning with at least 7 Great Northern Divers.

In the back of the 1st car park there was a Yellow-browed Wabler, 2 Firecrests and a Chiffchaff.

                                                             Yellow-browed Warbler Broadsands

Male and first winter Snow Buntings still on the Burrows at 9.45 this morning. Feeding inconspicuously near the 8th green.

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 .