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Pleased to say that the ringed adult male Swan and one cygnet were present on the pond this morning, only other birds of note were 3 Gadwall. Over the Tarka trail on the scrape a Redshank again.

Still a couple of Jays in the reserve with a Kingfisher, GSW, Water Rail and Goldcrest. Buzzard and Kestrel nearby.

2 Black-necked grebes still off Shelly Beach around midday (previously seen by others on 28th and 29th - Jo King put me on them today). Towards Mudbank a male peregrine (unusually?) remained squatting on a 'grassy' sandbank (apparently with its feet in the water!) at the edge of the duckpond until the incoming tide flushed it into flight. On a larger sandbank two ravens attempted to kill a juvenile herring gull.  One had it pinned on the sand upside down and was stabbing at it with its bill, while the other stood close by warding off a murder of crows keen to join in. The first raven then dragged it along the sand by a wing before the gull managed to regain its feet, but its right wing appeared damaged. The ravens continued their attack it as it flapped desperately around the sandbank. I was then distracted by the peregrine and ten minutes later ravens and gull were no longer there. (Editors may advise that this post is too long).

Best sightings on a rather dull afternoon were: 7+ Goosanders (2+ drakes), 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Little Grebes, 175 Dunlins & a Black-tailed Godwit.

Additions to other posts:-

Beesands Ley: 2 female Lesser Scaups & dark-bellied Brent Goose.

Start Point: Black Redstart, Common Scoter, 3+ Bluefin Tunas & 30+ Common Dolphins.

Slapton Ley & beach: Black-necked Grebe, Snow Bunting, 2 Mediterranean Gulls (ad + 2nd-w) & thousands of Starlings putting on a good pre-roost show at Torcross.

Purple Sandpiper (1),  Turnstones (14), Med Gull (1), Rock Pipit (3)

In passing today happy to report we spotted at least six adult Whooper Swans along with two 1st winter birds. Quite a flock. Also seen in the field with the scrape adjacent to the border road to the left of the 90° bend (if Burrows bound) were 30 plus Curlew, and 6 Lapwing....along with one female Ruff. No camera! We returned 10 minutes later having collected same... the ruff was gone! 

Good numbers of waders and good variety of species recorded for my WEBs survey this morning between 10.30 and 12.35:

Gulls: HG, BHG, CG, GBBG; Mallard, Wigeon, Shelduck, Canada Goose, Goosander, L Grebe, G Heron, L Egret, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, Cormorant, Shag, Oystercatcher. 

John Lloyd

Single Glossy Ibis , Grey Heron , Little Egret , Spotted Redshank , Greenshank , 30 + Black tailed Godwits , Kingfisher above sluice.

On the tide today large numbers of, Golden Plover, Brent Geese, Dunlin, Greenshank, Redshank, Lapwing, afew ringed plover, Skylark, Linnets, Goldfinch and Stonechat. 

Paul McEleny and I sifted through the many Rock and Meadow Pipits on the beach at Wembury until we eventually had great views of our target…Water Pipit, seen 150 metres away from the sewage pipe (in the direction of Wembury Church). Other notable birds were the singles of Sanderling and Common Sandpiper, a male Cirl Bunting  and 6 Med Gulls. We also had great views of a Stoat which was greeted by an angry mob of Rock Pipits and escorted from the premises.

Haldon: Hawfinch west over Butterfly Walk at 10:15. On Butterfly circular walk - 6 Crossbill, 20+ Lesser Redpoll, 1+ Brambling, 30+ Siskin and usuals.

Slapton, off Memorial Car Park: Velvet Scoter offshore at 12:30 - found by another birder, but still present when I left at 13:00. Other sightings as per Rob Macklin.

Beesands: Ring-necked Duck still. No sign of 2 Lesser Scaup mid-afternoon, hopefully hiding/out of view. Single Pochard also on Ley. Great Northern Diver offshore. 

Ring-necked Duck

This afternoon at Fremington pill there were; 1 Spotted Redshank and 1 Greenshank at the head of the pill, 2 Snipe and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits feeding on the water edge adjacent to the Bungalows and further on near the iron bridge was another Greenshank and a number of Black-tailed Godwits also saw a Curlew along the way.  On the riverbank near Anchor Wood there were 2 Shelduck and a Lapwing.

No Camera today.

Hoping to catch a glimpse of the Whooper Swan returned from its summer holiday as reported by Rob yesterday we were delighted to find not one, but SIX! Of the small flock, four are Woppers, and there was one other individual separate from this group  

Five of the six Whoopers

A closeup of one of the six Whoopers

2 Great Northern Diver & one Red-throated Diver plus c.30 Common Scoter offshore. On the ley Goldeneye, 5 Pochard.

Two Purple Sandpiper by Tinside Lido. 

From the Broadsands sea wall and towards Elberry Cove up to five Red Throated Diver, one Great Northern Diver, along the pathway male Stonechat, Wren and two Rock Pipit.

In the back car park five Cirl Bunting and a female Kestrel.

At Kerry Downs bridge, near South Brent, Treecreeper, flock of Long Tailed Tit and Goldcrest.

Cirl Bunting

Treecreeper

Welcome back

So pleased to see our close friend the Whooper Swan back again on Braunton Marshes & now as an adult looking in tip top condition.

It was first seen & identified as a juvenile by Malcolm Shakespeare on the Gaia Trust reserve during autumn /early winter 2020 & later moved onto Braunton Marshes for the remainder of the 20/21 winter. It departed in the spring of 2021. I wonder if it made it to Iceland during the breeding season? 

A Firecrest was seen in the garden this morning..

The Snow Bunting found yesterday feeding along a path at Ideford Common was still there today. When disturbed, it merely flew up into the edge of the adjacent scrubby woodland for a while - the first time I've ever seen a Snow Bunting perched in  tree! The bird was at SX 90434 78381 (or  What3Words: called.received.guideline). It's not the same bird as the male at Slapton, despite suggestions that it might be.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting - in a tree!

This afternoon on Mountbatten beach was a Purple Sandpiper feeding with a flock of 15 Turnstone, also 3 Rock Pipit, Oystercatcher, Shag, Cormorants.

I didn't see any live Swans on Wrafton Pond this morning. One was dead in the reed-bed across form the viewing platform and another was being eaten by a Crow at the far end of the pond. I'm not sure what the cause of this is, but the bread-feeding brigade are still much in evidence, although there seem to be fewer Rats at present. I think (I'm not certain about this) that some rodent control people were here a few weeks back... hmmm.

6 Shoveler and 4 Wigeon there. In and around the reserve, a female Marsh Harrier over the reed-bed at Sherpa was causing much consternation: a large flock of Golden Plover and a few Curlews were in the air with a few Ducks. Little Egret, 3 Meadow Pipits, 2 each of Water Rail, Jay. Buzzard, Cetti's Warbler, and single Kingfisher and Redwing, plus the usual Tits, Blackbirds and Finches.

Great White Egret flew over Powderham Marsh this morning. Also 24 Teal, 203 Lapwing, Water Rail and Ad M Sparrowhawk. Otherwise small numbers of passerines & thrushes 

Walking the dog around Riverside Park in a bitterly cold wind  - a handful of thrushes (4 Blackbirds, 4 Fieldfares, 1 Redwing and 1 Song Thrush) and surprisingly, a single Swallow, quartering the grassy areas.

No great change today: 7 Goosanders (3 drakes), drake Teal, 23 Mandarin Ducks, 24 Wigeon, 3 Little Grebes, 3 Shags, ad-w Mediterranean Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Greenshanks & a Sparrowhawk.

late post for am Friday 26th November: 3 Black-necked Grebes on the Ley (southern end) and at least 2 GN Divers and 20 Common Scoter on the sea. 

A short walk along the Tarka trail produced 7 Black tailed Godwits, 5 fm Goosander & a family of 10 foraging Long tailed tits as well as a small charm of Goldfinch in the vegetation alongside the trail.

Today's sightings included: 16 Turnstones, 8 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, 170 Dunlins, Snipe, 3 Little Grebes, at least 6 Goosanders (3+ drakes), drake Teal, 24 Wigeon, 17+ Mandarin Ducks, Polish-ringed adult Mediterranean Gull "PHAU", Grey Wagtail & 2 Stonechats.

Male Ring-necked Duck and two female/imm Lesser Scaup showing sporadically from the hide and from the bench on the seaward side of the ley this morning. Reeds hamper visibility at both locations.

A recent walk from Ottery St Mary to Tipton St John along the river revealed Dippers, Grey Wagtails, 2 Little Grebes, Little Egret, Cormorant and Buzzards. 

Dipper

Little Grebes

c120 Lapwing on the high ground above the Orchard with 4 Buzzards present. A Dipper and L Egret below on the River Tale. A Jay carrying an acorn looked very pleased with himself!

3 prs mandarin duck together with c. 30 mallard upstream Gosford Bridge, Ottery St Mary

On a lovely sunny morning: 7 Goosanders (2 drakes), 24 Wigeon, 24 Mandarin Ducks, 3 Little Grebes, 162 Dunlins, c20 Turnstones, 2 Common Sandpipers, 8 Greenshanks, Black-tailed Godwit, Sparrowhawk, 3 Stonechats, Bullfinch (male) & 6 Roe Deer. 

09:06 - 10:50

Highlights: Common Gull amongst the Black-headed. Pair of Pochard. Gadwall, Tufted, Pintail, Teal and Shelduck. Single Avocet. Mistle Thrush by the railway bridge.

Greenshank (3), Common Gull (2) on Goosemoor.

8 blackbirds (plus fieldfare and mistle thrush) on garden windfalls and large numbers of blackbirds in the East Devon lanes - must be a fall of continental birds

Whilst walking the dog this morning, a small wader on concrete siding to weir on the flood relief channel side of the weir, I presume a Common Sandpiper, no bins or camera to confirm identity.

Water Pipit along the beach at Wembury yesterday, flighty and mobile with the Rock Pipits and Meadow Pipits but always eventually returning to the beach near the sewage pipe. Also a Common Sandpiper along the waterline. 

Water Pipit

A 20-minute scan from Dawlish Warren this morning produced 4 G N  and 1 R-t Divers, 20+ Common Scoters and 15+ G-c Grebes.

In the estuary, from Starcross were 14 R-b Mergansers and 50+ Barwits, and, between Turf and Topsham, 7-800 Golden Plovers, 600+ Lapwings and 300+ Avocets. Did not attempt to count the many hundreds of Brents, Dunlin or Blackwits. Common Gull numbers noticeably up.

On Exminster Marsh were a Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine (adult m., so not the bird that was here in October).

Eighty+ spp. for the day, including the pair of Tawny Owls calling from Belle Isle Park as I type.

Bit of an influx of Chiffchaffs today 10+ collybita types and 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs - two together at top end and another at bottom end stream. Also Cetti's Warbler, 3 Water Rail and rare at site a Wigeon! 

                 Two Siberian Chiffchaffs                                         single Siberian Chiffchaff

09:56 - 13:01

Male Ring-necked Duck and two Lesser Scaup were the highlights. A single Pochard was also present.

Bit slow to start with around the Haldon Forest Park this morning, just on tick over around the feed station, small numbers of Siskin, Nuthatch, GSWP, Pied Wagtail and Song Thrush, a fly over Crossbill. Plenty of Chaffinch but no sign of the recent Brambling's.

Around the corner by the admin buildings a flock of 15 plus Crossbill feeding in on pine cones brightened rather dull day.

Common Crossbill

Common Crossbill

I was joined by Andy Lansdell today while I was ringing. We eventually recorded 25 birds ringed including a Redwing, 6 more Greenfinch, 6 Blackbirds, a Chiffchaff, 2 Cetti's Warblers, plus some other locals. Retraps included 2 Robins with 'S' rings from 2016, and one of the Jays ringed recently. Of note we recorded 41 species in, over or close to the reserve, the highlights being a  single Fieldfare, and a Merlin which flew North over the reserve carrying prey, and returned South a while later unencumbranced. At least 6 Water Rails heard. 

400 plus finches feeding on the bird mix …..in particular the fodder radish…….mainly Chaffinch but 60 Brambling present……the most seen at this site……..also Bullfinch Greenfinch Linnet and Goldfinch.Many Dunnock foraging along with 80 Pheasant.35 Fieldfare still feasting in the orchard along with 18 Blackbird and a Magpie.90 Starling feeding mainly on worms and dung beetle/larvae.Non avian included 5 Roe Deer and several bumblebees taking advantage of the afternoon sun.Tawny Owls hooting in abundance this evening……at least 5 individuals.

Today at a roadside near Chagford there were a number of Fieldfare, a Wren, two Coal tits, a Great tit, numerous Blackbirds and a single Great spotted woodpecker.

Coal Tit

Great Tit

A visit to the Skern & Northam Burrows this morning before a Covid booster vaccination this aft..

Good numbers of birds on the Skern on a falling tide inc c1500 Golden Plover, 3 Ruff, Brent Geese, Shelduck, Curlew, Dunlin, Sanderling,Grey & Ringed Plover & Redshank.

3 Snow Bunting still on Northam Burrows.

Offshore, 300 Guillemots, 30+ Razorbills, 5 Common Scoters, 2 Kittiwakes & a Fulmar in nice calm conditions. However mammals stole the show with c20 Harbour Porpoises & 35+ Common Dolphins putting on a good show. three Fieldfares in the bushes.

Later, on Brixham breakwater, a Purple Sandpiper and 11 Turnatones.

12 + Goosanders ( 1m & 11 brown-heads ) , 1 Goldeneye f , 50 + Black-tailed Godwits , 1 Peregrine giving the 100s of Lapwings hell & 1 Snipe .

A trip to South Hams with Rupert Ormerod and Dick Andrew to see the Snow Bunting, Lesser Scaup and the RN Duck was the plan. If you are going for the Snow Bunting be aware it could be on the beach amongst the Shingle as it was this am. We walked right by thankfully on our return it was pointed out to us on the beach movement gave it away so be warned!!. What a stunning bird. Lesser Scaup and RN Duck was also seen, and a bonus 2 GN Divers off Slapton Sands so a good morning.

Snow Bunting

1 of 2 Lesser Scaup

Both female Lesser Scaups still at Beesands ley today favouring the south side of the ley close to the reeds either side of the hide but probably best viewed more distantly from the seaward side of the ley looking back - plus the drake R N Duck still there 

This morning at the Lake,

28 Goosander 8m 20f, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Willow Tit, 3 Gadwall 2m 1f, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Nuthatch, 3 Coot, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Cormorant.

Juvenile Whooper Swan. 

Snipe 5, Wrens 2, Meadow pipits 8, Stonechats 6, Starlings 30+, Redwings 12, Buzzard 1, Raven 1, and a solitary GWP. 2 cock Blackcaps in the Yucca tree in our Plympton back garden.

Wren

Blackcap

On a visit this morning, most notable were a Marsh Harrier seen flying from above the scrapes, heading W then out of sight (09.20); two Cattle Egret with a Grey Heron in the field inland from the Turf Locks marina (11.00).

1 Black Redstart.

I feel obliged to send a image of the Snow Bunting, which was a very smart specimen!

Snow Bunting

Drake Ring-necked Duck and 2 female/immature Lesser Scaup at Beesands. While the Ring-necked kept with Tufties, the Lesser Scaup (which slept a lot) kept on their own; one has more restricted white around the bill base, but both have only black on the nail at the bill-tip. Also 2 Cattle Egrets, 3 Pochard, Black Swan and Kingfisher. Earlier, the confiding male Snow Bunting was still just south of the Memorial car park at Slapton.

Lesser Scaup

Ring-necked Duck (back left)

Two Brambling with finch flock on feeders next to Segway hire. 12:00pm

A 1-2pm search of the orchard above and behind the court produced around 5 fieldfares and 10-12 redwing, also a significant influx of blackbirds. Other birds included 2 jays, 2 greenfinch, goldfinches, robins, great tits, carrion crow and a buzzard.

Redwing

Fieldfare

Checked out the best sites for winter birds finding 133 Yellowhammer, 45 Cirl Bunting, 630 Skylark, 20 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Redwing, 350 Starling. Sadly looks like wintering raptors & owls are a thing of the past!

A sharp increase in Dunlin to 128 on the early high tide; also, 2 Teal, 2+ Little Grebes, 24 Wigeon, 26 Mandarin Ducks, Black-tailed Godwit, Siskin, 2 Stonechats & 11 Roe Deer.

Late for yesterday 22nd

14 Goosander 4m 10f, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Willow Tit, 1 Marsh Tit, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swan, 1m Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron, Good numbers of Teal and Mallard.

Nice day at Dawlish Warren today. Nothing too exciting but 1700+ Dunlin, 45 Knot, 20+ Barwit, 20+ Grey Plover, 60 Shelduck, 200+ Brent G, 5 RB Merg, 12 Great C Grebe, 1st Med Gull, Kestrel & Kingfisher were the best bits.

Later at Haldon Forest Butterfly Walk 2 Hawfinch. 

Small flock of Redwing enjoying the abundant berries in the reserve this afternoon. 

6 lapwing in field with sheep. Also c. 50 redwing 12 fieldfare, 1 skylark. In garden, yesterday and today red admiral feeding on Mahonia nectar.

Snow bunting remains at the south end of the memorial car park at the top of the beach by the path.

1 Spoonbill at high tide on the mud spit at Passage House, Newton Abbot this morning. Difficult viewing as it spent most of the time asleep, with the sun immediately behind!

Spoonbill on Teign at Passage House