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I was pleased to catch up with the juvenile Spoonbill that has been reported in the Exmouth LNR area over the last few days. It flew over from its high tide perch on the Exmouth Rugby Club Building and then ended up on the middle of the estuary as the mudflats became exposed.. 

Spoonbill flying over

Spoonbill on the mudflats

Counted 37 Great Crested Grebe. Also probable Great Northern Diver, distant, flying North.

On a gloomy late afternoon on Cholwichtown lagoon distant pics of the female Goldeneye. Tufted Ducks 6 and Mallards 5 also present.

Goldeneye

Goldeneye

A relatively short visit this afternoon, produced: Water Rail, drake Teal, Little Grebe, 20 Mandarin Ducks, female Red-crested Pochard, 24 Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwit, 217 Dunlins & Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

Farmland Bird Count: 800 Skylark but only 20 Cirl Bunting & 12 Yellowhammer - same disappearance as this time in 2020! Where have they gone? Must be a food issue, maybe better pickings elsewhere. Also: 200 Woodpigeon, 150 Jackdaw, Snipe, 28 Linnet, 12 Meadow Pipit, 82 Goldfinch, Grey Wagtail, Bullfinch & 7 Teal.

Non-avian: 8 Sika Stags, 10 Roe Deer, Grey Seal, masses of Badger diggings!

6 Black-throated, 3 Red-throated & 10 Great Northern Divers, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Great Skua, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and 30+ C.Dolphins.

In 2nd car park: 10 Cirl Buntings on seed

A dog walk around the local farmland yielded a gathering of 34 Collared Doves in trees around a grain silo to a farm, which seemed a good count. Certainly the most I've seen for a while.

At the Point at least two juv. Great Northern Divers, one really close in to the car park. At the other end near the yacht club an adult Black Throated Diver and a further juv. Great Northern. A lot of Gannets further out resting on the surface.

There was a Common Swallow flying around the Meadow View / Greenwoods estate in Hartland yesterday

Clennon Valley- Yellow-browed Warbler, Firecrest, 1-2 Siberian Chiffchaffs, several Collybita Chiffchaffs, 2 male Blackcaps, pair of Teal, female-type Wigeon.

Broadsands- 2+3 Black-throated Divers, 5 Red-throated Divers, 8 Great Northern Divers, Black-necked Grebe.

Water Rail late afternoon

This is the long distance shot of the Kingfisher and one of the Little Grebe.

Little Grebe

Kingfisher

Picture of one of the tame pair of geese sp. is attached. Missed from original posting.

Goose sp.

On Exminster Marshes the views of distant geese had us pondering over a Snow Goose type of dubious origin hunkering down with the Canadians and then we came across a pair of white geese sp. right next to the path on their own, tame as you like. Not sure what to put down for any of these now I've checked my photos. You can go off geese... 

Snow Goose of dubious origin

Today while my vehicle was in for its annual appointment with the MOT tester I took a short walk along the river from the rugby ground the the long bridge.  On the riverbank behind the old Civic Center and close  to the foot bridge was a single Common Sandpiper.  From the foot bridge I spotted a Kingfisher perched on something sticking out at the end of Barnstaple quay.  A Little Grebe was feeding just off the out flow from the river Yeo.  Close to the long bridge were three males and a female Goosander, one struggling with a flounder. 

Common Sandpiper

Male Goosander

A couple of shots of the Spotted Redshank seen at Exminster Marshes today.

Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank

First or second winter Iceland Gull on Cockle Sands just prior to dark this evening. The Spoonbill continues to show very well off Mudbank. Terrible photos on www.gobirdingexmouth.blogspot.co.uk

Counts of waterfowl over high tide this afternoon included: GN Diver, Shag, 240 Brent Geese (2+ Pale-bellied), 48 Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser, 540 Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, c950 Golden Plover, 26 Grey Plover, 6 Greenshank, 41 Lapwing, 390 Oystercatcher, 37 Ringed Plover, 40 Redshank, 58 Shelduck and 147 Wigeon. 

The synchronised roost count at dawn on 11 Dec found 133 Goosanders (40  males). This compares to 239 in Dec 2020, most of the decrease coming from non-Dartmoor sites. The main sites among the 18 covered were Meeth 33, Avon Dam 26, Tamar Lakes 22, Venford 22 and Burrator 13, with smaller numbers from Blackhill Quarry, Blue Waters, Cholwichtown, Plym Est and Wistlandpound. An additional 34 roosted at Wimbleball Res in Somerset, some of which probably ended up feeding in Devon.

First calendar year Glaucous Gull in field across ley from the Memorial Car Park briefly late morning. Adult Yellow-legged Gull in Ireland Bay.

At Beesands Ley the Ring-necked Duck and 2 Lesser Scaups still present. Also 83 Tufted Ducks and 6 Pochards.

The S.Devon Group of Devon Birds had a very successful walk around Exminster Marshes this morning. 16 birders took part and had excellent views of a wide range of species. Highlights included Spotted Redshank, Snow Goose, Egyptian Goose, Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, a large flock of Golden Plover, Avocet, Water Rail and Cetti’s Warbler. The full Bird list and a bird report will be placed on the S.Devon Branch news soon. Looking forward to our Indoor Branch Meetings starting at the Courtenay Centre, Newton Abbot on 17th January at 7.30pm with Speaker John Walters.

Spotted Redshank at Exminster Marshes RSPB Reservecthis morning, on the pool at 50.6767331, -3.4738898.

Black Throated Diver.

Good to see the male Blackcap back on the peanut fatcake feeder again today after a two day absence. Still appears to be just the one.

Male Blackcap in our garden in Braunton

A walk from the Pill Head to the Quay and back this morning revealed many of the usual waders along with four adult plumage  Glossy Ibis, one female Kingfisher on the railings by the reserve outfall, one of each Spotted Redshank & Greenshank. 

Broadsands: Black-necked Grebe, 2 Black-throated Divers still, Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, adult Med Gull.

Clennon Valley: Yellow-browed Warbler still, 1+ Siberian Chiffchaffs, 2 collybita Chiffchaffs, Water Rail, Gadwall etc.

We were curious to see the impact of the restoration work in this area.  Our journey was rewarded with 58 species, including Water Pipit, Green Sandpiper and Slavonian Grebe.

A welcome return to the feeders in the garden today of a male and female blackcap. A very active Goldcrest inspecting the apple tree. this is the third year in a row that one goldcrest has visited the garden for a few days. At least 5 male and 3 female blackbirds coming for the sultanas and broadly tolerating each other.

Escot Park this morning turned up at least 3 Siskins high and distant in the trees over the lake and a pair of Bullfinch in the wetland area together with 10+ Chaffinch. I've attached a record shot of the Siskin - not great, but they were high and distant.

Record shot of a distant Siskin.

On a visit this morning: Teal (female-type), 8 Goosanders (3 drakes), 23+ Wigeon, 213 Dunlins, 2 Little Grebes, 2 ad-w Mediterranean Gulls (including Polish-ringed PHAU), Firecrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail & 7 Roe Deer.

During the WeBS count today finding 2 black-necked grebes was a nice surprise. Initially seen in mid channel near the Powderham cycle bridge (over the railway) the birds moved upstream and were seen off Turf at high tide. Also up to 7 great-crested grebes and 16 red-breasted mergansers suggests lots of food in the estuary.

On the Exminster marshes up to 10 chiffchaffs included 5 along Station Road. Some were very vocal. Also 2 of the marsh harriers were near the lagoon and a Cettis was singing quietly near the railway bridge next to the Swan's Nest.

245pm. Spoonbill . Feeding amongst egret dunlin red shank widgeon teal pintail shelduck and Brent 

Bumped into Tim Jones as I was exiting the reserve early afternoon. He'd been doing the Chivenor WeBS count. Best bird a Short-eared Owl at the confluence of the rivers initially on the Chivenor side, but then flew over to Horsey.

I had a female Black Redstart in my garden this morning.

Belated news from yesterday morning's high tide at Skern, Taw Estuary:  2 G N Divers (towards Yelland), 3 Shag, 2 Pale-bellied with 100+ Brent Geese, c6 Pintail. The wader roost held 7 Knot, 2 Greenshank, hundreds of Golden Plover (800?) and Dunlin, fewer Redshank, Curlew and 1 Bar-t ailed Godwit. Great viewing at a site I've rarely visited.

Pale-bellied Brent Goose

Shelducks and Brents

1 purple sandpiper with 1 turnstone below Pier One, 08.30

Late for yesterday,

Lower Tamar Lake dawn count.

22 Goosander 6m 16f, 5 Gadwall 2m 3f, 2 Wigeon 1m 1f, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2m Tufted Duck.

We saw this goose with a flock of Canada geese 11th December in the morning.

Behind the sewage works a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest amongst the Long-tailed Tit flock. Below the outfall, a drake Goosander and three redheads. Red-crested Pochard and Teal still on Saltram duck pond. At dusk at Longbridge was a Dipper, but it was too dark to see if it was the ringed bird from yesterday.

Not often I ring 3 Warbler species in mid-December, but 2 Chiffchaffs, a Cetti's Warbler and a smart adult male Black0cap were all  ringed this morning, and a close cousin - Goldcrest, too. Other highlights amongst only 19 ringed were the 14th Kingfisher of the year, the 4th Jay this autumn (only 2 ringed in the previous 10 years!) 4 Goldfinch but only a worrying 2 Greenfinch.

South of the reserve 2 Marsh Harriers, both I think females, but one appeared and almost immediately landed in the reed-bed. 

Also despite the depredations of yesterday's shooting fraternity good numbers of Teal on the scrape.

Torbay coastal ~  46 Turnstone at Marine Parade, further round the coast, five Great Crested Grebe, GND, three Black Throated Diver.

Clennan Valley ~ At least four Siberian Chiffchaff, Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Goldcrest, Long Tailed Tit, Wren and a Yellow Browed Warbler.

On leaving a Peregrine seen flying over on three occasions. 

Yellow-browed Warbler

1st wint Marsh Harrier, 240+ Wigeon, 70+ Teal, 26 Shoveler, 30+ Pintail, 6 RB Merganser, 950+ Dunlin, 800+ Blackwits, 315 Avocet, 150+ Curlew, 39 Grey Plover, 330 Lapwing, 4 Sanderling, 800+ DB Brent Goose & 2 Great C Grebe

2 Purple Sandpiper, Black Redstart Capstone Rocks and Runnymede Gardens

Female Goldeneye still on pit. Record digi scope video: https://bit.ly/3dDrbwZ 

Two Goosander (1m,1f), 8 Tufted Duck and 2 Little Grebe also there.

15:00

1 Whooper Swan with 5 Mute Swan from path next to toll road.

2 Common Sandpiper

1 Otter

Otter

Otter

Yesterday at BGM: Avocets(on the Exe), Blackwits, Dunlin, Teal, Golden Plover, Shelduck, L.Egret, Shag, Cormorant, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Mallards, Shovellers, Pintail, Tufted Ducks, Wigeon, Pochard, Coots, Mute Swans, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Wrens, Reed Buntings, Redwings, Stonechats, Pheasants, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk. LBBG opp. the hide but psycho was behaving himself whilst we were there!

Bullfinch

Pintail

Yesterday at Exminster Marshes: Shoveller, Teal, Wigeon, Lapwing, Dunlin, Redshank, Snipe, Curlew, Moorhen, Cormorant, Marsh Harriers 2, Ravens, L.T. Tits, Canada Geese (a leucistic speciman amongst them) 

Canada Geese (with leucistic bird)

Curlew

A walk incorporating this morning's high tide produced: Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Goosanders (2 drakes), 2 Little Grebes, 24 Wigeon, Common Sandpiper, 7 Greenshanks, Black-tailed Godwit, Jack Snipe, 17 Turnstones, Treecreeper, Grey Wagtail & 7 Roe Deer. 

Yesterday at Haldon: Siskins, Redpolls, Crossbills, Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Goldcrest, Song thrush, Nuthatches, GSWP, Blue, Great and Coal tits, Sparrowhawk.

Song Thrush

Common Crossbill

I got to the scrape before 10a.m. this morning and thought I didn't see much, but I'm glad I checked with the bins coz there were 2 Spoonbills sheltering by the grass on the nearside. I tried to show them to a cameraman nearby but they had gone. I wasn't sure why but further investigation along the trail revealed a big brave shotgun toting shooter. Another was approaching from the Velator direction. They proceeded to make a lot of noise and put up ALL the birds which generally fly South towards the other waiting guns. Depressing. At least one duck was shot about 100m out in the field. Probably as a result the reserve was a bit quiet this morning.

The winter Cirl Bunting feeding station in the 2nd car park (now cordoned off from cars) is going well with 24 Cirl Bunting and 1 Reed Bunting present this morning. Just 1 Chiffchaff in the marsh area.

At a recent WeBS Local Organisers meeting, Mike Smart, LO for the Severn Estuary, asked for help with the WWT’s Curlew project – “head-starting”, i.e. taking eggs from airfields where the nests would otherwise have been destroyed to prevent bird-strikes, raising chicks from these eggs in aviaries, and then releasing them with the aim of strengthening local breeding populations – 50 young Curlews were raised at Slimbridge in 2019. This year they have released about 30 more young head-starts with colour rings on Dartmoor. If you should see any of these birds and are able to record the ring number, please sent the data to: curlew@wwt.org.uk. Thank you; Martin Overy, Exe WeBS LO.

Delighted to see our first Blackcap of the winter on the fat cake feeder first thing this morning.  Too dark for photography sadly, but a beautiful male looking very photogenic nonetheless. Last year we had as many as 3 males and 2 females so....watch this space! 

At the Avon Dam, another 27 Goosanders to add to today's total. Highest count there since last December. Included six males, and one pair mated. All gone by 0755.

Goosanders just before take-off

High duck numbers - for Stover!  8 Shoveler and 4 Wigeon are exceptional! Also at least 16 Mandarins, 3 Goosander (1 drake) and 2 Pochard, several Tufted and plenty of Coots and Moorhens. Only a few Siskins this winter.

Among the ducks this morning were 3 Pochard, 12+ Tufted and 16 Gadwall. Also 10 Greylags. Waders included 750+ Blackwits, 200+ Redshanks, and, initially 10+ Dunlin, reduced to 9+ about 10 minutes after the regular LBBG arrived; amazing how much noise a dying Dunlin can produce. All were periodically spooked by a Marsh Harrier and, perhaps another raptor which I could not locate.

On Goosemoor a Snipe was the only wader visible, and in the estuary were 2 Mergansers, 2 Common Gulls and 200+ Avocets, seen only with difficulty against the light. 

Started our (Andy Lansdell and I) birding day at Brian Nicholas' Farm south of South Molton. The Finch flock is still present in the huge Fodder Radish field. Mostly Chaffinch (several hundred) but also good numbers of Linnet, some Goldfinch, a few Green and Bullfinch but best were at least 20/30 Brambling. A few Redwing and a couple of heard but unseen Fieldfare. Marsh Tit and Nuthatch on the feeders. 5 Roe Deer. WE had a look around the Community Woodland in S Molton seeing lots of Goldfinch and a couple of Siskin with a couple of Siskin. For some strange reason we ignored the worsening weather and trailed up onto Exmoor, where visibility was pretty much zero! Moved on to Braunton Marsh where we saw 200ish Golden Plover, good numbers of both Curlew and Lapwing, 3/4 Black-tailed Godwits, and a single Ruff, with a very white head. A Barn Owl also did a fly-round. One Whooper Swan just by the road with the Mutes and 5 additional adult Whoopers in the field further back, They flew off towards the Burrows and found a field we couldn't see into! Ended up at Velator quay where a Kingfisher flashed by and then a Marsh Harrier way over above the Sherpa reed-bed which promptly dived in to roost. 50+ species.

My first Red-breasted Mergansers of the winter here, this morning: 3 drakes with 9 Goosanders (3 drakes). Also, Reed Bunting, Mediterranean Gull (ad-w), drake Teal, 20 Mandarin Ducks, female Red-crested Pochard, 24 Wigeon,  Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Greenshanks & 4 Roe Deer.  

This morning a colour ringed Dipper was feeding in the leat alongside the cycle path at the back of the sewage treatment works. (No bins, so couldn't read rings)

Lower Tamar Lake dawn count.

27 Goosander 10m 17f, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2m Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron.

Good fairly close views of the female Marsh Harrier just South of the reserve this morning. In the reserve still 2 Jays, 4 Chiffchaffs, and a good number of Finches emptying the feeders. Most other things hiding from the gales.

As per post by Keith Annison no sign of the reported Waxwings at Danes Wood, but at Killerton House good numbers of Thrushes around the car parks feeding on crab apples, numerous Redwing, Fieldfare with Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, plenty of Blackbirds, also Nuthatch, Siskin and Greenfinch.

Later in the day the female Red Crested Pochard showing well on the pond at Saltram House along with numerous Mandarin and the reported drake Teal.

Fieldfare

Red-crested Pochard

No sign of waxwings seen yesterday and few berries to keep them here. Treecreeper, nuthatch, jays, great tits, blue tits, chaffinches and robins in the wood and about 300 winter thrushes - far more redwings than fieldfares - moving through stubble in the field at the edge of the wood on the Killerton House side until they all flew off in two big flocks.

From Broadsands this morning: 3 Black-throated, 2 Red-throated & 9 Great Northern Divers, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Eider.

Video here of the Black-throated Divers:  https://youtu.be/uI5o3G3ljlg 

                                                                         Black-throated Divers