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On the moors above Owley, South Brent my first Cuckoo of the year, always remaining distant but calling well by the time I left, very few small bird species to be seen but a pair of Green Woodpecker, Kestrel and a Mistle Thrush seen.

Matford, Exeter ~ Five White Stork.

Exminster Marshes ~ Certainly two and possibly three Short Ear Owls this evening (one possibly blind in its right eye) a solitary Whimbrel, Kestrel and a drake Pintail.

Short-eared Owl

White Stork

19:40

5 ringed White Stork; looked as though they were settled for the night.

Walked the towpath/sea wall/back road again this morning. Of note were:

- along the way, song from seven warbler spp., including my first Whitethroat of the year, and a trickle of hirundines of all three spp.;

- on Exminster Marsh, a residual handful of Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler, two Greylags with the Canadas, the usual Kestrel on a pylon, and, unusually, a Little Grebe on the main pond;

- in the estuary, my first Whimbrel and Sandwich Terns of the year;

- near the Powderham footbridge, a Wheatear and seven Cattle Egrets;

- in Powderham Park, two Egyptian Geese and five Tufted Ducks.

As a bonus, a Stoat crossed the cycle path near the M5 viaduct, and obligingly paused for long enough for us to get a good view of each other.

Since reporting an unusual zero Goosander count at the Avon Dam on 30 March, I've had another zero and two counts of four, including this morning when two pairs were roosting. One pair flew out just before 6 am, the other mated just after and then, instead of the usual fly-out, spent most of the next 45 minutes hugging the shore and swimming towards the top of the reservoir, resting briefly on the shore and then swimming back. As they swam, often with bill and eyes below water (see photo), they dived frequently and were clearly fishing. Have only seen this once before at AD which is primarily a roost site. Rising trout close inshore and low water levels may have provided the right conditions for feeding. Perhaps this also occurred on the zero count dates. In poor light and choppy water, I could easily have missed birds, especially red-heads, swimming and diving close inshore. Usually they stay in open water.

The Night-heron in a willow just north of Slapton Bridge again, and showing reasonably well just after first light (but no sign arounfd midday). Also, the Red-necked Grebe still on lower ley & 15 Sandwich Terns over the sea.

At Start Point, 4+ Wheatears, 2 Whitethroats & a Willow Warbler.

The drake Ring-necked Duck present on Beesands Ley and a flock of 13 Whimbrels in a nearby field. 

Night-heron

Night-heron

Heard my first Cuckoo further up river in the direction of Legis Tor, but could not locate, at 7:00pm.

2 pairs of ravens together over the garden this afternoon.

Red Kite drifting south west over bungalow at 11 am today

Stonechat, Wheatear around Capstone, and Peregrine observed from coastal path east of Hele.

Met Josh a young birdwatcher from Surrey today at Molland and he told me he had heard - and photographed - a cuckoo near Dunkery Beacon the previous day. Later on, at Bottreaux Mill I heard one calling too.

14 Redpolls seen at Roborough Down, also of note, Greenfinchs, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Linnets, Willow Warblers

Bit more action today with 18 Wheatear, 20 Whitethroat, Snipe, singing Reed & Sedge Warbler, Sand Martin, 4 Swallow & Kestrel.

following a tip off that 2 Red Kite were heading my way at 10am- picked up one crossing Torquay and watched it drifting slowly north 10.05-10.10am- 

3 Red-throated Divers and a Sandwich Tern south at Berry Head this morning. Very quiet on the top of the headland with 1 Wheatear, 5 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warblers, 5 Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaffs.

Clennon valley - 1 Red Kite drifted over >NE at 4.20pm 

Highlight of a three hour visit were 18 Whimbrel and 2 near breeding plumage Bar-tail Godwit and my first Reed Bunting of the year.

The scrape is following Wrafton Pond into losing all the interesting birds! No Godwits or Snipe today and only 2 Teal. There was however a Snipe in  the reserve - briefly, before (just like yesterday) it hopped over the fence into the reed-bed. Very few Warblers: a few each of Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warbler and a lone Reed Warbler in the reserve. Around Sherpa, 4 Reed Warblers, a few Teal and a drake Shoveler. Around the new pond beyond Sherpa 5 Wheatears and a Whimbrel. Only one Swallow in two days.

1 Red Kite over house at 4.10 this afternoon drifting North.

Red Kite.

Two beautiful Wheatear on the lowest scrape this morning. Lots of warblers in the reedbeds with good views of Reed Warbler, and possible Sedge Warbler heard singing. Chiffchaff, 2 Swallows,1 Kingfisher, 2 Grey Heron in field,2 Canada Geese, Swans, Mallard, Teal and plentiful Shelduck, but no Wigeon seen. 1 Sparrowhawk , Moorhen, Pheasants and all the usual finches, tits etc

0800 - 1200. Migrants this morning - Grasshopper Warbler (2), Swallow (20+), House Martin (4), Whitethroat (1), Willow Warbler (2), Chiffchaff (4), Wheatear (2). Only butterfly one Common Blue.

Common Blue Butterfly (Eds Holly Blue..?)

Best today was Redstart at Bolt Tail; also: Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sand Martin, 3 Wheatear, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Willow Warbler & 2 Raven.

Non-avian:  Wall Brown

During this morning's walk: 2 Common Sandpipers, Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Grey Wagtails, at least 1 Siskin,10+ Stock Doves & 8 Mandarin Ducks.

My first Cuckoo of the year at Cadover this morning. Redstart, 14 Wheatear, 11 Willow Warbler, Green Woodpecker etc in the area.

At base of Crownhill Down - 4 Wheatear and 2 Willow Warbler.

Skylark

This morning: Mistle Thrush and 3 Stock Dove

Great day at Slapton yesterday with the Night Heron by the bridge. G.C. Grebe, distant views of the R,N, Grebe, Gadwall, Tufted Ducks, Whimbrel, Grey Herons, Ravens, Jays, Magpies, Cettis, Reed and Sedge Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, G.S. Woodpeckers, Swallows, Blue, Great, and L.T. tits, 

G,C Grebes

Jay

My third visit to Slapton Bridge was this afternoon rewarded with the Night Heron showing itself in full view albeit briefly.

Night Heron

Night Heron

Went to watch the redstarts at Brisworthy plantation and saw meadow pipits and a few wheatear on the way. There seem to be several redstarts this year. Pretty much guaranteed to see them in fair weather. 

In addition to the birds seen by others today at Slapton - RN Grebe in Ireland Bay, 10 Sandwich Tern, 2 Dublin, 5 Whimbrel, 5 Wheater (3m, 2f), 9 Reed Warblers, 2 Water Rails, Willow Warblers and Chiffs.

At least 10 Greenshank on the mud viewed from the cycle path screens along the boardwalk beside the River Clyst near Bowling Green Marsh. Just a single Greenshank from the viewing platform at Bowling Green.

Cuckoo on HorridgeCommon - SE of Rippon Tor-close to cairn.

Since seeing the Night heron at Slapton at 6am, drove up to ideford common /chiff chaff and willow warbler ,Wheater males, tree pippits, stonechats, lots of linnets, green and gs woodpecker, buzzard, chaffinch, coal and blue tits, oddly enough a lonely redpoll sitting in a tree by itself, bit late in the year? Yellowhammer, swallow passing over, Jay, woodpigeon and lots of lizards, 50-100 seen

I

Cadover area: Redstart, 11 Wheatear (8m,3f), 8 Willow Warbler, 8 Sand Martin, Swallow, 4m Reed Bunting and Green Woodpecker

Slapton: Night Heron, 4+ Reed Warbler, 7 Sandwich Tern offshore

Beesands: 6 Whimbrel in scarecrow field above ley. Whitethroat on coast path. 3 Gadwall, 2+ Reed Warbler.

Night-heron

My first birding since lockdown began last year, on the river Dart at Staverton around ten am. A pair of goosander, one dipper walking on and under water! a tree creeper and a host of other birds. Good to be out and about again and to see how nature has benefited from less human intrusion. Also first orange tip butterflies of the year, one at Staverton and one in my garden in Paignton.

Dipper feeding, possibly young?

A change to milder conditions & some east in the wind, produced 5 Wheatears (all males). Also, 9 Mute Swans, Bar-tailed Godwit, Shag, a pair of Stonechats, Brimstone & 9 Roe Deer.

Just outside the patch, a Sedge Warbler singing near Tothill Park.

Managed to get to the beach before the dog walkers, hence the following:-

Whimbrel 13, Bar-tailed Godwit 4, Curlew and Ringed Plover,

Watched a chiffchaff bringing small feathers to line its nest hidden low to the ground in bramble, bracken and nettle. Also from the same viewpoint  a blackbird busily feeding a fully-fledged youngster. 

 Night heron juv still present north of the bridge very low in the willows fading on a huge shoal of roach. 

Male great-spotted woodpecker drumming.Spotted 3 times this week.

Evening visit to the Exminster and Powderham marshes, female Sparrowhawk, female Marsh Harrier, two Green Sandpiper, two Ringed Plover, Snow Goose, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff and nice to see some Lapwing.

At the river exe 1 great-crested grebe and 20+ sand martins . By Mill on the Exe the local female goosander  was inspecting some mallards , the " one -footed " common sandpiper was nowhere to be seen by the wheir next to Mill on the Exe . Afterwards , at the beginning of Exminster marshes 5+ shelducks , 4+ little egrets , a pair of teal and 2 pairs of coots , 1 greylag goose keeping its distance from the abundant Canada geese , a flock of 15+ curlew landed onto one of the fields . Heading deeper into the marshes a pair of pheasants , 2 buzzards overhead , 2 kestrels flying quiet low , 1 female sparrowhawk also flying fairly low , 1 chiffchaff and 3+ singing. The highlight of the trip was the 1st brood of mallard ducklings , 7 , and on my way back the male  Great-spotted woodpecker which had been drumming on the same area for the past 2 days was drumming again on a tree trunk on a small woodland , establishing his territory , now that it's early spring.

Late evening walk at Wembury Point very quiet the only birds of interest 2 Whimbrel 3 Ringed Plover 1 chiffchaff 1 Willow Warbler and 3 singing Cirl Bunting.

Mid-am: 1 Cuckoo, 2 singing Redstarts, 5 singing Pied Flycatchers, 1 singing Tree Pipit etc. 

Midday - still 6 Cattle Egret in field adjacent to Penhill Marsh (was 9 yesterday  so could be more in unsighted fields behind).

Quick afternoon visit: just what the doctor ordered, I met Richard Berridge, who quickly asked if that was a Little Ringed or a Kentish Plover. Well LRP was my thought, so I phoned Sue Bruce who was soon on site with reinforcements in the form of a telescope. So Little Ringed Plover it was. Great; missed them at South Huish the other day.

A Garden first and unusual record of a Female Common Whitethroat, bathing in our tiny pond, overlooking Oakland Park.

Also recently 20 Common Scoter on sea off Coryton Cove

Walked all the way out to the Fishermans Huts this morning, saw several groups of 2,3, and 4 Whimbrel (or were they the same group?) One of them was also out in the middle of Horsey Mere with 3 Bar-tailed Godwits. 5 Greenshank near the breach too. Only one Swallow all morning. No singing Reed, Sedge or Whitethroat along the Toll Road.

Walking nearly every path at bellever forest and tor hoping for crossbillsbut no luck. Plenty of willow warblers, chiffchaff. Gs and green woodpeckers, pippits, skylarks, jays, goldcrest, coal tits, blue tits  robins l, dunnock, song and mistle thrush. Was treated to a male redstart on the very top of a tall pine. No cuckoo's heard yet.  

Not much new this morning, but the Bar-tailed Godwit still around with 2 Greenshanks & my first Common Sandpiper on Blaxton Meadow for a while. Also, Green Woodpecker, Stonechat (male), Shag, Common Gull (2nd cal yr) & 4 Roe Deer.

Very few migrants on a very cold morning at Dawlish Warren on Saturday but a couple of Chiffchaffs posed quite nicely.

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

3 Cattle Egrets on the marsh on Saturday evening, in fields on the right by the double bend although distant.

Cattle Egret

I yellow wagtail 30 bar tailed godwit 3 whimbrel 

Mid afternoon Green Sandpiper showing from the view point.

A brief look at lunch time only in passing but nice to see first Hobby of the year. 

A  f/imm. m Black Redstart on the church roof.

5.30 Saturday. Two of the mallard ducklings on Saltpill Pond have gone over the overflow and are in distress in the pool at the bottom with no way back up. Anyone with a large net could rescue them as there's a ladder. Any takers?

Cadover visit for 30minute on my way back over a dozen sand Martin's and seems the river bank they took interest in they are nesting in. Right by a car park and people standing on top of that part of the bank. 

Hoping to see or hear cuckoo today but no luck not for other way here today it seems. Highlight was being told of wheater at the barn, had no wheater but it was a male restart singing in the trees tops  a first for me. Made it worth it.

Also  seen around on the walk. Stonechats, skylarks, pippits, robin, dunnock,  swallows, mallards and ducklings, raven, buzzards, long/blue/great tits, heron fly over, wren, vs woodpecker heard, signs of badgers as well. 

Sandwich Terns 6 Whimbrel 5 Bar T. Godwits 2 (1sp)  Whitethroat 5.

At high tide: 2 Tufted duck (m,f), 3 Common Sandpiper, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Swallows, Ravens and 5 Buzzards overhead.

4 Whimbrel enjoying a well deserved rest after migrating up from their wintering grounds on the West African coast. Still some way to go to their breeding grounds.

A few more grounded migrants today: 1 female Redstart, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (singing - not seen), 5-6 Willow Warblers, 3 Whitethroats, a Yellowhammer and a couple of new Blackcaps. Lots of Goldfinch now - once mostly just autumn passage!

                     female Redstart                                                         Whitethroat

Late post from yesterday - 9 Cattle egrets in clampits fields, viewed from the Traka trail.

2 Little Grebe - one with 2 young, one with 3 in pond behind the Warren. 2 Gannet diving out at sea.

Pair of dippers, showing well

A pair of Black Swans on sea close inshore off Budleigh seafront at lunchtime.On a sightseeing trip from Dawlish maybe!

Late afternoon walk across Preston fields to enjoy Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, etc and surprisingly flushed a Wheatear from the grass, flew up onto a nearby fence so I was able to observe fairly closely and identified as a female. Also watched group of Jays in the trees and bushes. 

4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Wheatears and a rather splendid male Yellow Wagtail by the Marsh next to a heaving Car Park and Beach! We also had the restricted views of the Night Heron earlier.

39 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Whimbrels , 3 Dunlins and 3 Sandwich Terns in the bay. Still a male Wigeon and 3 female Teals on the Marsh

A flock of 4 ravens flew low over the house late lunchtime.

Four buzzards over clay pits, pair of Mandarin ducks, two treecreepers, two dippers, nuthatch and numerous blackcaps and chiffchaffs in song. 

Best today 4 Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler, countless Chiffchaffs & Blackcaps (looks like another bumper season for these two), House Martin, migrant Green Woodpecker flying west & calling, House Martin, male Sparrowhawk, 100 Linnet and Buzzard carrying prob.grass snake.

Later at Harleston 3 Buzzards high NE late pm, even at that height being escorted away by resident buzzards!

Heard a Cuckoo, great to have them back. 

Whimbrel & summer-plumaged Dunlin newly arrived on Blaxton Meadow with 4 Greenshanks, the Bar-tailed Godwit & rapidly diminishing numbers of Curlew & Redshank. Otherwise, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a pair of Stonechats, Shag & Sparrowhawk. 

5 Bar-tailed Godwits & 1 Ruff flew in to forage on Horsey this morning while I was scanning the nature reserve for birds.

Warmer and peaceful at Lower Tamar this morning.

1 Pair of Tufted ~ducks, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Jay, 1 - 2 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Buzzards soaring nearby.   Unusually no Willow Warblers seen or heard.

Thanks Stewart for your comments, and I would agree with you if someone else had posted this sighting, especially since there are buzzards that frequent this area, including a pale form one I regularly see on telegraph posts.

However, this was an Osprey. I was so surprised that I even double backed to check as I doubted myself initially. Didn't seem phased by the cars passing by, and like I said previously, enabled some excellent close up views.

I am fairly certain the "Osprey" sighting on  telegraph pole @ Berry Down is a mistaken identity for a pale phase Buzzard

My first pair of Whinchats today. Increasing number of meadow pipits on this area of moorland

An interesting morning around the headland - virtually no common migrants around just 1 willow Warbler and 1 Whitethroat, but then discovered a Dartford Warbler and a fly over Short-eared Owl (montage photo).

                   Short-eared Owl (montage)                                            Dartford Warbler (migrant here)

Beaples Moor @ 10.00am  Cuckoo flying across the Link Road

A late post from yesterday. During a trip ‘abroad’ to Exmoor yesterday walked a circuit through Farley Water, down to the Doone Valley, returning via Lank Combe seeing/hearing numerous willow warbler and meadow pipit, good numbers of redstart, a whitethroat, skylark, 2 wheatear and my first cuckoo of the season; a male at Farley Water. 

Four buzzards over clay pits, pair of Mandarin ducks, two treecreepers, two dippers, kingfisher, nuthatch and numerous blackcaps and chiffchaffs in song. 

Surprised to see an osprey perched on a telegraph pole on the drive to work this morning at Berry Down Cross near to Ilfracombe. Great views from the car.

Around the East Devon area again yesterday where I captured this image. It was a bit cold and windy for the little bird but it did appear during some calm periods. I was lucky enough on this visit to see two males, one female, one Wren, a few Linnets and a Willow Warbler.

Dartford Warbler

Next to Station road park I spotted the local Great-crested grebes which have been nesting next to a dam for the past 3 years .Along the river Exe today I spotted 3 swan nests one of which containing 7 eggs and another one 5 but the 3rd one is quite faraway so I haven't been able to get a good look .The female goosander seems to have been sleeping all day on the dam next to Mill on the exe , on the wheir next to Mill on the Exe there was a common sandpiper hopping along the small rocks on the wheir looking for worms and insects , this individual seemed to have missing one of its feet. On Trews Weir near Exeter Quay 3+ pairs of lesser black-backed gulls and 1 pair of great black-backed gulls also 25+ Herring gulls 2 thirds of which were 1st winters and 3rd winters the other third were adults. Cycling through the river Exe route past Riverside Valley park onto the Exe estuary 5+ little egrets 3 grey herons , a pair of blackcaps , 4+ jays calling and 3+ chiffchaff also calling .On the Exe estuary 8+ shelducks feeding on the mudflats along with 3+ redshanks and 2 oystercatchers.

Highlights are SEO in off at 12:00, 3 Wheatear on the beach, RN Grebe and the Black-crowned Night Heron. Also has 30 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow 1 Rock Pipit  and 9 Sandwich Terns 

Short-eared Owl over the northern end of the marsh this evening. Otherwise very quiet for migrants.

11am over North Molton 3 Red Kites soaring at height

Morning & afternoon visits produced: Wheatear (female), 2 Green & a Great Spotted Woodpecker, at least 1 Common Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Greenshanks & 7+ Roe Deer.

Later this evening, 2 Sandwich Terns on the lower estuary.

Wheatear

Pied Flycatchers calling, many Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, GWP and GSW, Nuthatches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, a Dipper on the Dart and the highlight of the trip a Tawny Owl in the woodland going down to the Dart.  Our thanks to Phil and Jill for info on Cuckoo, our first of the year which we found to the south of Venford Reservoir.

Tawny Owl

Cuckoo

Visit for BTO Heronry Census gave no Herons but one male Cuckoo. Also plenty of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps. One male Pied Flycatcher down in the valley

Yesterday 14th April. Visited the bench overlooking Isley Marsh but nothing out of the ordinary on the flats, gulls, heron and shelduck. Stonechats and skylarks very active in the area between there and Yelland, with linnets and greenfinches on the gorse. 3 glossy ibis and 5 redshank on Fremington Pill. On the Torridge mud just upstream from Bideford, opposite the lay-by, a probable little ringed plover.

At 07.00 this morning 15 cattle egrets were roosting in the trees at the Pill , as I made my way to Home Farm marsh at approx 07.30 the cattle egrets flew by heading to home farm ,I then found all 15 roosting at Saltpill duck pond , also at the pond were approx 40 hirundinies  , mainly Sand martins with just a couple of swallows & house martins.

Osprey over Yelland Quay at 10.45 flying up river.

A low flying Osprey harassed by Herring Gulls flew north up the Hollicombe Valley, Scadson Woods at 17.45 yesterday.