Tree Bumblebee

Hi Rich

Had four (in two days) in and around Shapwick Heath in Somerset a few weeks ago, so they are definitely coming this way.

Bombus hypnorum

1 or possibly 2 Bombus hypnorum (Tree Bumblebee) in my garden in Wembury yesterday evening. This recent colonist has only been recorded about 8 times in Devon and 3 in Cornwall but is probably out there if you look carefully. BWARS would be grateful for any records.

Exmouth

Seafront - 0600 - 2 great northern diver south, 1+ common tern, 1 hobby low across the sea and north over the Warren.
Mudbank - 4 great crested grebe, 1fs mediterranean gull and 1 arctic tern but no sign of the bonaparte's gull despite there being a decent gathering of about 80+ black-headed gulls.

Challacombe

A trip round Challacaombe today provided the following views of garden warblers, willow warblers, crossbills, cuckoos, meadow pipits, several tree pipits, redstarts, redpolls, spotted flycatchers, a wheatear eating a slow worm amongst others, no sign of winchats but it was windy and the birds were keeping low.

Orcombe Point

A Honey Buzzard flew in off the sea at 1330hrs, over the top fields, receiving quite a bit of attention from the local crow population, before gradually drifting off northwards five minutes or so later.

Exe Estuary- breeding lapwings

Most people will be aware of the now small breeding population of lapwings on the Exe Estuary RSPB reserve. A team of RSPB staff & volunteers are closely monitoring the birds this year to assess success and evaluate the need for further management measures.

A total of just 12 pairs settled on the reserve and so far they have made 17 nesting attempts on Exminster & Powderham Marshes. Nest cameras have been used to monitor 7 of these attempts, of which 4 have successfully hatched young.

At this point in the season birds may settle elsewhere to make second attempts and young birds can be very mobile. If you do come across apparent nesting activity on the Exe away from Exminster or Powderham Marshes, or if you see any young anywhere on the Reserves do please drop a line to sally.mills@rspb.org.uk. Thanks.

Start Point

Start Point Seawatch 10:30-16:00. Heading SW were: 3 Balearic Shearwaters, 2135 Manx Shearwaters, 86 European Storm-petrels, 15 Puffins, 23 Razorbills, 191 Guillemots, 150 Gannets, 37 Fulmars, Wimbrel and a Bonxie (this one went over the lighthouse! see photo). Why do I never see any spring Cory's!

Also Swifts still coming in off the sea, while there was a couple of hundred over Slapton Ley when heading home.

11th MAY- Reposting this news as it was deleted when Blogger crashed.
30nm SSE off Start Point while out fishing.

An unseasonal Sooty Shearwater in moult (photo), also 2 Bonxies, 20+ European Storm-petrels (photo).

Hendham

Saw a Turtle Dove at Hendham nr Woodleigh this morning ( c 4 miles north of Kingsbridge ).

Sunday 22 May 2011

Beesands Ley

Bruce Church managed these shots of Osprey over Beesands Ley at 16:40

Exminster Marshes

About 10.00 this morning I witnessed an impressive display of aerial maneuvering as two hobbies (looked like a pair) tried to catch a swift. I don't think they were successful. I lost them for a few minutes but when they reappeared they decided to harass a buzzard. A single black-tailed godwit was the only wader on the high tide roost and it was accompanied by 7 shelduck. Apart from a few house martins, swallows and a few more swifts everything else was keeping out of sight and out of the very strong winds.

Thurlestone Marsh

Ad female Marsh harrier this afternoon, a Black T Godwit on the back marsh most of the day (only the 2nd this year )

No postings from me for 8 days off to Majorca( S'albufera )

Dawlish Warren

The immature Bonaparte's Gull was visible distantly this morning from the hide, in mid-estuary. Only other thing of note in my WeBS section was 3 Whimbrel. On the sea, 25 Gannets diving and at least 75 Shags in two groups. Also 2 Sand Lizards along the dune ridge and Hairy Dragonfly, Brown Argus, Small Adder's-tongue and lots of Blue-eyed Grass at Greenland Lake.