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Went down to the reserve this evening hoping for a few Swallows. Well I saw a few (about 14) but there was just too much wind blowing the nets and by 9 o'clock I was on my way home. However, a large dark bird flying over the field to the south of the reserve was a dark female Marsh Harrier, which put up a Snipe. There were the remains of a Snipe in the reserve yesterday - is this the culprit? Sparrowhawk more likely I think. As I was finishing off putting the nets away, a pair of Tawny Owls exchanged calls.

At the Skern on the incoming tide there were 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, approximately 200 Oystercatcher, 40+Curlew, 3 Whimbrel, 4 Ringed Plover, at least one Dunlin calling overhead, one Knot in the same plumage as the bird seen earlier along Fremington Pill, 2 Sandwich Tern (adult with juvenile) and 20+Medirerranean Gull including six juvenile birds. There were probably more Meds but rain stopped play!

The 2nd bird with the redshanks was just a lone dunlin, . Also a kingfisher, by the sluice, and the call of a tawny owl at the top of the Pill 

Dunlin

Dunlin

This afternoon at Fremington Pill there were two interlopers with the numerous redshanks. The 1st shown in these pictures Is a Knot

Knot

Knot

Additions to Martin's sightings below: 2 Tree Pipits, Whinchat, 2 Ravens, Sparrowhawk & Mediterranean Gull.   

Female Pintail again out on the scrape, 2 Little Egrets near the entrance to the reserve. A few Chiffchaffs calling in the reserve.

Today 0600-1015hrs:  71 Balearic Shearwaters, 12 Manx Shearwaters, 9 Shearwater Sp. (Manx or Balearic), 1 Arctic Tern, 20 Common Tern, 61 Sandwich Terns, 4 'Comic' Terns, 5 Arctic Skuas, 1 Great Skua, 1 Skua Sp. 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 18 Common Scoter, 601 Gannets, 30+ Common Dolphin, 10-12 Harbour Porpoise. 

Yesterday around Berry Head and on cruise: 1 juv Long-tailed Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas, 1 Great Skua, 3 Black Terns, 2 Arctic Terns, 30+ Common Tern, 25+ Sandwich Tern, 4 Balearic Shearwaters, 1 Manx, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 40+ Common Dolphin, 30 Harbour Porpoise 

Paid a visit just after the rain had stopped first thing this morning and managed to see the following.

44 Curlew, 6 Greenshank, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, Kingfisher, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Stonechat, 2 Whitethroat, 10 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Spotted Flycatcher and the best bird of the morning a Pied Flycatcher.

Yesterday I had a reasonable count of 18 Little Egret, 14 Grey Heron and a Little Grebe.

Surprised to see a very large low flying raptor NE over the Croquet Club at 0745 this morning. Not much more than a silhouette at 100 yards in poor light but I thought I saw some white on the tail. Assumed to be an IOW White-tailed Eagle. I should say I'm no expert but am familiar with Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Heron. Certainly none of those, and just huge!     

2 Spotted Flycatchers (at base), Tree Pipit (over), Common Sandpiper (Smallhanger Pool), 14 Dunlin and 5 Ringed Plover (Drakelands Pit).

On this afternoon's high tide: 2+ Mediterranean Gulls, Kingfisher, 4 Greenshanks, Whimbrel, 10 Oystercatchers & a Shag. Also, Swift, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Stonechats, 2+ Whitethroats & a Roe Deer. 

A bit of movement in some all-too-brief dry & bright conditions this morning: 1 Red Kite flapping its way E along the coast just offshore, 4 Swifts, 175 Swallows, 70 House Martins and 1 Sand Martin. Also a single migrating Curlew and 240 Manx Shearwaters.

Earlier in the week, 3 more Balearic Shearwaters amongst 370 Manxies on the morning of 16th.

Second recent morning visit to Soar abandoned due to dense fog!! Easterlies next week should help though.

At Harleston Grey Wagtail on pond & Willow Warbler trying to come in the back door!

A look over the beach this morning produced 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 5 Ringed Plover in Torbay 4-6 Common Dolphin & 2 Harbour Porpoise.

Mansands: 3 Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff & 1 Harbour Porpoise.

Mediterranean Gull in amongst flock of Black headed gulls. Metal ring on its left leg. 

Excellent day at the W.C.Marsh with close and prolonged views of a Kingfisher. Peregrine 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Buzzard 1, Kestrel 1, many Reed and Sedge Warblers, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, Cirl Buntings 2, Blue, Great and L.T. Tits, Whimbrel 1, Curlews 12, Dunlins 16, Ring Plovers 10, Little Egrets 23, Herons 6. Just before we left an Osprey drifted over the Marsh and flew up Frogmore Creek.

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Late out today so a quick visit to the reserve and scrape. Only bird of note was a female Pintail out on the scrape. I've seen this bird a couple of times of late in the river.

Good evening on a falling tide produced 5 Bar Tailed Godwit  6 Ringed Plover 1 Sanderling 1 Dunlin 4 Curlew 3 Little Egret and 2 Med Gull

Highlights from a fairly brief visit this afternoon: Sedge Warbler, 2 Sandwich Terns, Kingfisher, 2 Mediterranean Gulls (ad-w), Whimbrel, & 4 Greenshanks.

Further to my earlier post, the Gannet was diving into the water between Fremington quay and Heanton Court.  It seemed unusual to see a Gannet so far up the river.  The Gannet was also followed by two brown birds (not gulls) but were too far away to clearly id. No camera so no pictures.

63 Dunlin and at least 10 Ringed Plover on flooded pit.

Gannet seen off Fremington quay

Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit out on the scrape. Ringing in the reserve: Not great quantity but the quality was good: 7 Blackcaps 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, and 3 Kingfishers.

Lots of Gannets tonight just off shore and a single Ringed Plover feeding along the shore line at Wembury.

Ringed Plover

A Greenshank out on the scrape late afternoon, and, viewed from the reserve, it had moved into the small pools and was with a Black-tailed Godwit. There was a Lesser Black-backed Gull out on the scrape too. In the reserve, a Kingfisher. Male Stonechat nearby.

Juvenile Dipper with rings spotted on the Plym between Longbridge and the Flyover.

Adult hanging around as well, and a couple of Common Sandpiper also.

Roger short confirms ringed in May this year, on the nest, on the Erme at Ivybridge.

Juvenile Dipper

Juvenile Dipper

Sightings Sunday seawatch from 7.15am to 2.15pm in WSW force 2 going 4+ winds.(Forecast had been for south-west winds!) MIst at times on horizon.

1 Storm Petrel (my first for a few years here); 18 Balearic Shearwaters; 73 Manxies; 18 Kittiwakes; 7 Med. Gulls (4 juveniles) ;10 Fulmars; 900+ Gannets west; 55+ east. 103+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls west; 1 Black headed Gull east and 1 west; 1 Whimbrel and 1 Turnstone west. 5 Sandwich Terns west. 1 Grey Heron. And unusually 1 Great Northern Diver east (moulting from summer plumage).

Also a pod of 8+ Common Dolphins. At 2.15pm Pat spotted a probable Minke Whale close east.

Earlier Pat had seen 11 Balearic Shearwaters (so totals until 2.15pm of 29) , a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull and heard a probable Wood Sandpiper.

Ringed Plover, 27 Curlew, 9 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, Common Sandpiper

Wader numbers continuing to build in the Drakelands pit. Minimum of 56 Dunlin and 19 Ringed Plover. Probably more, tricky to count at distance and in moderate winds. Viewed from top of Crownhill Down with scope.

Now 3 Black-tailed Godwits on Blaxton Meadow (juv + 2 ads) & also single Whimbrel & Dunlin plus 2 (ad-w) Mediterranean Gulls. A juv Peregrine was buzzing the birds on Meadow & over head were 2 each of Swifts & Ravens. Elsewhere on the patch, Shag, Green Woodpecker,  Bullfinch, Whitethroat & 2+ Stonechats.

Still quiet with Green Sandpiper, Snipe, 43 Whitethroat, 19 Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Sparrowhawk & 80 Linnet.

4 Sandwich Terns and approx 20 Turnstones amongst the highlights this evening. 

A good day for birds of prey at South Brent, Peregrine over, two immature Sparrow hawks interacting together while on the wing, five Buzzards followed by an adult female Sparrowhawk.

Tawny owls calling this evening.

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk

Lesser Whitethroat on the fat balls by the hide at 3.00 also a family of Bullfinches and both Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.

High tide roost this morning:

12 Little Egret, 35 Curlew, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank and 3 juvenile Shelduck on Blaxton meadow. 135 Redshank and 2 Grey Heron over on the embankment. 1 Ring necked Parakeet and several Swallows over the duck pond.

Impressive (for Dartmoor) number of waders on the Drakelands pit this morning. 11 Dunlin and 16 Ringed Plover feeding on closest corner. Mostly adults of both species. Viewed from top of Crownhill Down. Scope needed.