Thurlestone Marsh

2 Black Tailed Godwit present all day. The Mute Swans now have 6 cygnets .

This evening on the beach still 1 sp Sanderling also 1 first summer Med Gull

Exminster Marshes

Belated posting from 12 June. The first-year Bonaparte's gull at high tide with black-headed gulls (the first sighting on this side of the Estuary, I think) and four fledged lapwing, the first of the year.

Thurlestone Bay

Late afternoon cloud cover & a flat sea produced the first evening feeding parties of Manx S'water with 45. 3 Razorbill & an adult Med Gull.
On the beach a sp Sanderling.

On Thurlstone Marsh yeserday 2m 1 f Shoveler, the Mute Swans are now proud parents of 5 cygnets., also off Warren Pt rocks a nice sp Turnstone

Bowling Green Marsh - 11th June

1 Bonaparte's Gull and 3 Med Gull on pm high tide

[from Brian Croad]

SLAPTON 12-06-2011

from the memorial Car Park 09:20-11:20 all South

Manx Shearwater 243+, Storm Petrel 8, Gannet 54+, Kittewake 37+, Fulmar 25+, Razorbill 2, Arctic Skua 1 ad p/ph, Bonxie 1, Curlew 1

2 Egyptian Geese Bowcombe Cr Kingsbridge,

3 Sandwich Tern, 7 Sanderling, Ringed Plover, 9 LBB Gull and Green Sand Sth Huish/Thurlestone.

Dawlish

Seawatching from home overlooking Dawlish Bay on/off 09:00 - 18:30 produced (all south):
1 Balearic, 231 Manx, 48 Fulmar, 212 Gannet, 2 Shelduck, 6 C Scoter (20+ on sea), 1 L Egret (north), 2 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 6 Arctic Skua, 7 Bonxie, 116 Kittiwake, 2 B-h Gull, 45 S Tern, 24 C Tern, 2 A Tern, 1 Little Tern, 1 Guillemot, 1 Razorbill.

Thurlestone Bay

Bay watched again from 13.15 - 16.00 viz gradually got worse although the wind became southerly and dropped to a 5 by 16.00.

No sign of any Storm Petrel -but still worthwhile-

325 Gannet , 8 Fulmar, 4 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Great Skua (13.45 ) 1 light phase Arctic Skua (15.30 ) 5 Kittiwake, 1 Manx S'water. 4 L B B Gull, 1 Blk H Gull- all east

On the beach at high tide 8 Sanderling

Wembury

Seawatching for an hour thus afternoon was slightly less soul destroying than normal at Wembury! That said, 6 Sandwich Tern and a Bonxie were the best birds but it at least looked promising....

Hope's Nose 0700-1100

A cracking light phase Pomarine Skua close inshore at 0835, complete with spoons, was bird of the day. Also 4 Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie, 2 Storm Petrels, a dozen Common Terns and about 600 Manx Shearwaters, nicely rounded off with 2 Puffins sitting on the sea. But a decided lack of Balearics here! Would have given it longer but rather wet...

Budleigh Salterton Beach

A walk along the beach in the evening produced a surprise in the re-appearance of the now 2nd Summer Glaucous Gull. The most notable difference in plumage appears to be the new median coverts. It was feeding on the beach until 7pm at least.

Hopes Nose

Seawatching 11.30-13.00- 2 Storm Petrels south close inshore 12.20-12.30, a 2nd summer Med Gull off the rocks, 200+ Manx Shearwaters and 1 Sandwich Tern

Berry Hd

05.30hrs-11.00hrs: 1394 Manx Shearwaters, 371 Gannets, 127 Kittiwakes, 9 Balearic Shearwaters, 12 Storm Petrels, 11 Puffin, 6 Bonxie, 1 Arctic Skua (ad pale), 22 Common Scoter.

At one point just before I left I found a group of birds sat on the sea, in the same field of view in the Telescope where: 1 Bonxie, 3 Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Puffin, about 15 Manxies and a fly-by Storm Petrel! Perhaps I should have stayed longer.....

Return trip as weather front cleared and rain stopped: 17.45-1915hrs: 126 Manx Shearwaters, 80+ Gannets, 51 Kittiwake, Balearic (one of each colour phase!), 1 Storm Petrel, 1 Pomarine Skua (pale phase), 1 Arctic Skua (ad Pale), 3 Puffin, 4 Common Scoter.

Thurlestone Bay

07.30- 10.00., heavy rain -poor viz f6/7 se wind 110 Gannet , 7 Common Tern, 2 Sandwich Tern, 6 Fulmar, 15 Manx S'water, 2 Balearic S'water, 1 L B B Gull. all going east

Will go back when I have dried out, hopefully some Stormies will be on view

Exmouth

Seafront - 0750 - 0930 - black tern and dark phase arctic skua both lingering. Also several manx shearwater, gannet and kittwake, c20+ sandwich tern, 3 commic tern plus 2 aythya duck sp (prob tufties) south. I was pretty sure I'd get stormies this morning but they were probably all out in the murk!
Late evening update - at least 4 great skua inc 3 together and 1+ dp arctic skua.

Torcross

Gentle stroll down Torcross line this afternoon. On the sea just off Torcross surprised to see a female Tufted Duck swimming north with a brood of 9 young which included a yellow individual which i guess must have been a wayward mallard duckling. Better start having diving lessons.

Bowcombe Creek

Two 1st summer Mediterranean Gulls (one quite advanced, with brighter bill and more black hood than the other). Also three Egyptian Geese and a Bullfinch feeding young.

Exminster Marshes

After almost a two week break I visited the marshes this morning. Although some of the pools are looking dry there are still areas of open water. Family groups of recently fledged whitethroats, reed and sedge warblers and great and blue tits suggests a good nesting season so far. Several groups of young swallows were mixing with house martins. A singing willow warbler is a little unusual. A single barnacle goose with 12 Canada geese and four greylags completed the exotics.

English Channel 30+nm SSE off Start Point

Good birds around the boat today, which may bode well for the blow arriving on Sunday! Highlight a Sabine's Gull (presumed first summer, lacking full black head and yellow bill tip of adult), an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 50+ European Storm-petrels, 2 Bonxies. Surprisingly the most numerous gulls were 1oo+ Lesser Black-backed (mostly adults - failed or non-breeders?), with a handful of Herring and Great Black-backed .

Warren House Area

Looking for Bumblebees this morning before the rain/hail set in: 3 Bombus monticola, Grasshopper Warbler, Whinchat and 3 Cuckoo. Also a single Cordulegaster boltonii hung up in the cold. Not sure what the injury might have been due to but I can't believe it flew into something.

juv gt spotted woodpecker.

juv gt spotted woodpecker being feed by mum near Hartland forest.
by Nigel Bastin.

Clennon Valley

Drake Gadwall (moulting > eclipse) first June record at site, also 1 Ruddy Shelduck.

Rose-coloured Starling - Colyford

This is a very painful post to be writing, as it would appear the local birders have all missed out on a would be patch lifer!

This morning I got an email saying a bird that looked like a Magpie but with a pale bill was seen in Colyford near the post office on 7th June....

Early this evening, the accompanying photos were then sent to me....


Arrrrgggghhhhh!!!

The bird was also seen nearby in Orchard Close yesterday, feeding off a fat ball just outside a kitchen window! And whilst searching for it this evening, a resident came out and kindly informed us that he had also seen it; he watched it walking around his front lawn on Tuesday!

Fingers crossed it's still there...

Thurlestone Bay

late pm went looking for Manx S none seen however time not wasted as a Great Skua flew into the Bay at 17.35 and sat on the sea , on rocks off Warren Pt- a Whimbrel and a Turnstone.

Yeaterday big movement of Gannet- 330 in 3 hrs, plus v good views of a pod of 10 Bottle nosed Dolphins feeding c150 yds offshore

Hoopoe

Thought people would be interested in reading this blog post here...

http://shoshiplatypus.blogspot.com/2011/05/hoopoe.html

I particularly like the video at the bottom of the page! The birds was only seen on May 27th and not since.

Turf Lock

One female Marsh Harrier seen coming in off the estuary and heading inland over the Turf locks at 11.35

[from Kevin Bainbridge]

Dawlish etc

3 Bottle Nosed Dolphins 500yds off the beach moving west at 11.07 am; also one dark phased Arctic Skua heading east.

One Red Kite over the village of Cheriton Fitzpaine this afternoon 15.32

[from Kevin Bainbridge]

Sydenham Damerel, W Devon - yesterday 5/6

Red Kite at Damerel House West Devon, near Horsebridge at about 12.30.....headed off in a north westerly direction.

[from Will Walker-Smith]

Thurlestone Bay

The 2 m garganey still on the marsh at 18.30 yesterday. No sign this am .A M Shoveler this morning,

High tide waders were 1 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, in the Bay 1 Sandwich Tern,14 Black H Gull

Haldon Ridge

Superb conditions today for migrant raptors. Coming in from the west were 3 Red Kites at 11:10, 11:35 and 12:10. All headed east in the direction of the Exe Estuary, losing height after crossing the ridge. Best bird was at 13:40 when a Honey-buzzard came in on the same line, climbed high after crossing the Haldon Ridge and continued east over the Exe at some altitude (obviously a migrant on the move).

Devon/Somerset Border

Red Kite over Watchford Farm between Honiton and Taunton at ST230115 at 12.30 p.m. and then drifted into Somerset over Chuchinford and Otterford Lakes.

Landkey, N Devon

Single Red Kite drifting north over Landkey at 18:10h today

[from Andy Lansdell]

Okehampton

A Red Kite flew low slowly over the A30, immediately south of Okehampton at precisely 1617hrs this afternoon, heading towards the town.

Broadsands

Two Mediterranean Gulls 2nd Summer and 1st Summer in evening roost.

Exmouth

Mudbank - 2015 - fs bonapartes gull (also seen 1118 heading upriver) common gull, presumed leucistic black-headed gull, 3+ mediterranean gull (2fs and at least 1 adult), 25+ sandwich tern, 2 great crested grebe and 1 brent goose still.

A Few More Details From Dartmoor..

The second email of the day - I'll let people make their own minds up....

"Hi Steve

Wow I do hope our identification is correct. We saw the bird perching on a rock, the way it held itself it reminded us of a thrush, it was a bluey grey colour with black tail feathers which really stood out from the rest of the birds colouring. We didn't think it was particularly spotty, but were a few feet away from it, the bird flew off at quite low level again as a thrush might. I would say it was the size of a song thrush, but perhaps a bit slimmer. We saw it quite clearly. If it is of any use to you the map reference on OS Explorer OL 28 was 536 853.

After looking at our bird identification books and not finding anything else similar I then researched Blue Rock Thrush on the web I am sending you a link to the bird that looked identical to the one we saw http://beauquenne.oiseaux.net/monticole.bleu.4.html#monde. Note the black tail feathers which stood out so clearly on the bird we saw.

Keep me posted will you with your thoughts if it could have been anything else.

Look forward to hearing from you"

Exe Red Kites

A Red Kite flew East over Countess Wear this morning at 0930.

Yesterday a Red Kite flew low over Powderham Marsh and the Swan's Nest at 1230 before drifting over Exminster village and then Exeter.

Trew Wood, Hartland

Male Bullfinch, Grasshopper Warbler heard reeling

Thurlestone Bay

A very nice surprise at 8.30 am 2 m Garganey on Thurlestone marsh- still showing at 11.00. Plumage looked as though they were going into eclipse. Then at 15.00 3 Egyption Goose arrived.

A M Shoveler on South Huish marsh

An Alarming Email!!

I am writing this from my phone, so apologies for any mistakes.

I had this email drop in my inbox this afternoon. I must stress I do not know the observer, so have no idea how reliable this is. Naturally I have asked for more info...

"We were recently visiting Dartmoor, 2nd June 2011, and had climbed the lower slopes of Widgery Tor (Brat Tor on the map) when we spotted the Blue Rock Thrush, no photo I'm afraid, but since being home have researched the bird and can positively say that it was the Blue Rock Thrush. Have there been any other sightings on Dartmoor. If you need any further info please get in touch, I would be keen to know whether this bird is now coming over to England."

I thought I'd post this in case anyone was passing the area...

Exminster Village

Saturday May 4.
1 red kite north over village at 3.50 pm and 2 north together at 4.30.

Churston Ferrers

Red Kite over my house at churston ferrers near brixham at about 1pm this afternoon, mobbed by gulls and then it returned before heading off west

[from Chris Noakes]

Wembury Odds and Sods

Unseasonal Sand Martin and Whimbrel this morning and a Grey Seal. A pod of about 10 BN Dolphin passed east this evening (2 medium sized calves).

Yesterday in Plymouth, 7 Bombus hypnorum around the University campus with 6 together in the evening.

Dartmoor

A Red Kite was lingering this afternoon around Leedon Tor, viewed from the B3212 between Dousland and Princetown it was still there when I left a couple of hours ago.
Not much else seen in the Burrator area just a couple of Cuckoos and Redstarts. We seem to have lost Wood Warbler and Tree Pipit here unless anyone knows better??

A Red Kite was seen yesterday by Graham Bools over the Mount Gould area of Plymouth. Get on Bosey!!!

Westward Ho! Haunted House to Cornborough Cliffs.

06:20 - 09:00

Being such a brilliant sunrise start to the day, I thought I can`t stay in bed and waste this and
a VERY slow one-way stroll produced:-

29 Common Whitethroat; 31 Jackdaw; 2 Great Tit; 12 Blackbird; 18 Linnet; 5 Goldfinch; 6 Chaffinch; 4 Red-legged Partridge; 31 Blue Tit; 2 Chiffchaff; 6 Stonechat; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 2 Robin; 1 Pheasant; 1 Yellowhammer; 2 Skylark; 1 Rook; 17 Carrion Crow.
Very little over or on the sea:- 12 Herring Gull; 4 Cormorant and 1 Lesser black-back Gull.
The area was full of fledglings.

Also 1 female fox with a poodle cut brush sniffing around the bushes.

Exmouth

Belle Vue Road - 0850 - red-rumped swallow north over house and heading upriver. Also 1 peregrine, hobby (north 1238), 9+ red kite (all slow north 1225 and 1255, 3+ at 1630 and 4 at 1654), c20+ sandwich tern. All the kites have so far drifted down from Haldon, apparently hitting the river around the Powderham area before heading northwards.
Yesterday - adult mediterranean gull and grey wagtail.

Bystock Pools DWT reserve

One or two downy emerald dragonflies on the pool today, also several emperors.

Thurlestone Bay

No raptors over the Bay - but still some action

A Great Northern Diver on the sea before flying east at 10.15, 1 Sandwich Tern , 1 Whimbrel , 1 Sanderling flew through

Trumpeter Finch in N Devon - yesterday 2/6

Interesting report has just appeared on BirdForum this afternoon...

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=202205

Dartington - yesterday 2/6

Yesterday evening an adult Red Kite flew over Dartington CC from Totnes heading toward Staverton, accompanied by a few Crows and a Herring Gull.

[from Seb Loram]

Pallid Swift

Does anyone know anything about the possible Pallid Swift over the old Newton Abbot Hospital yesterday with 4 Common Swift?

Mamhead etc

Two Red Kites over Mamhead Obelisk briefly at 13:45 today.

10+ Mandarins on the River Dart at Buckfastleigh this morning, viewed from the road bridge.

[from Will Salmon]

Paignton

A Red Kite over Waddeton (near Paignton) at 1545 slowly drifting northwards.

[from  Rob Brennan]

Buckfastleigh area

Mark Darlaston and myself had a Red Kite drift slowly SW at 1050hrs today

Thurlestone Bay

Surprisingly only the2nd record of the yr a Redshank on the rocks. Female Marsh Harrier over both marshes this aft - a scruffy looking bird different to the one earlier this month

Exmouth and Ideford Common

Mudbank - 0530 - slavonian grebe, 1 great crested grebe, c20+ sandwich tern, c200+black-headed gull but couldn't find the bonaparte's gull this morning. Also just 2 whimbrel and the brent goose still.

A late reed warbler was singing in scrub behind the house this morning

Ideford Common - 3+ redpoll, 3+ siskin and juvenile crossbill (photo). Noticeably more breeding tree pipits than on the East Devon Commons.

Arlington Court

Went up to the woods today to deal with the nest boxes. We ringed 49 Pied Flycatchers (five adults) 4 nearly fledged Nuthatch, and two broods of Redstarts, both with five young, best here for many years, and a third brood had fledged either today or yesterday. Sadly neither sight nor sound of Wood Warbler.

Thurlestone Bay

Quite a lot of fledged young around this am - Blackcap , Chiffchaff ( at least 3 groups) L T Tit ,Coal Tit . A Goldcrest in Mallards lane was a nice surprise ( none around in may )

On the Beach 16 Sanderling ( my first June Record ) a number in s plumage.

Late news from Tues - Bob B had a Cuckoo and Garden warbler at S Milton Ley

Exmouth

Mudbank - 1030 - fs bonaparte's gull with c100+ black-headed gulls.
Also slavonian grebe and 2 great crested grebe.
Yesterday - Seafront - 1 roseate tern with 6 common tern.

Bowling Green Marsh

The long staying Bonaparte's Gull showed well in front of the hide amongst the numerous Black-headed Gulls at the evening high tide roost. Also 80+ Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Whimbrel and 3 Mediterranean Gulls (two 1st summer and a summer plumaged adult).

Berry Head

A 1st Summer Mediterranean Gull was feeding off Berry Head this morning otherwise just two Manx Shearwaters on a stiff W breeze ( but I was fishing - 16 Mackerel!).

Clennon Valley
Monday 30th May; two (pair) siskin feeding in my garden - strange place and time of year as they don't breed locally, to my knowledge and I didn't see any in the garden during the whole of the winter!

Broadsands
Sunday 29th May; 1st Summer Med Gull in evening Gull roost with 17 Black-headed Gulls.

Prawle

After peering through the mist for over 4 hours, it finally cleared to allow about 90 minutes of decent seawatching. Counts as follows; 3 each of Great Northern and Black-throated Divers, 39 Manx Shearwaters, Balearic Shearwater, 3 Storm Petrels, Great Skua and 5 Puffins, along with a steady movement of Gannets, Auks and Kittiwakes. This evening there was an unexpected surge of wader activity. Pride of place goes to the flock of 21 Sanderlings, not only the latest spring record here, but also a site record. Also present, 12 Turnstones (the first since mid March), 10 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover. Elsewhere, just late singles of Spotted Flycatcher and Reed Warbler.

Thurlestone Bay

Arrived back at 18.30 -first bird in view over the marsh- the female Marsh harrier

Dartington Hall Gardens

3 spotted flycatchers

Sea bits and pieces

Seems both large shearwater species have been seen in the channel recently!! See http://marinelife-charm3.blogspot.com/. Also good numbers of Puffins and Stormies coming out of Lyme Bay on the weekend.

Berry Head

Black Redstart by the coastguard station [from Tim Clyburn]

More Tree Bumblebees

This photo from Tim Stripp in Exeter - one of a few in the garden over the last couple of months.

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.

Topsham

1 fs Med gull at recreational playing fields late afternoon.

Berry Head - Tues 17th May

Nice photo of a Turtle Dove taken at Berry Head on 17/5 by Len Ingram, whilst holidaying in the county.

Exmouth

Mudbank Lane - early am - fs bonaparte's gull still, fs mediterranean gull, brent goose, 2 great crested grebe, 3+ sandwich tern, c40+ dunlin and an unidentified 'tringa' type wader downriver at 0745. Slavonian grebe was again present late yesterday evening.

Black Hole Marsh

This adult White-fronted Goose was a bit of a surprise in front of the 'island hide' this morning. At 10:30 it went for a fly around and appeared to land on/near Seaton Marshes...

Swans

The Swans on Wrafton Pond have hatched 8 cygnets, this follows 7 last year, so good production.

Wembury

A female Marsh Harrier over the West Hill area this evening flew towards Staddon/Jennycliff. The first bird worth reporting from Wembury for nearly a month!

Thurlestone Bay

Waders in the Bay this morning - 4 Whimbrel, 6 Turnstone , 4 Sanderling, 1 Purple sandpiper.

South Milton Ley- Garden warbler singing, a Sedge Warbler retrapped- originally a french ringed bird ( details still awaited from Paris ) but had also been retrapped here in May 2010

Thurlestone Bay

Waders in the Bay at 17.00-18.30- 12 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 1 Turnstone, 3 Whimbrel

A Misty Twitch

Couldn't resist posting this photo! Today's Trumpeter Finch twitch on Lunday - photo by Shaun Barnes, and emailed by Nicola Saunders, the Lundy warden.

If only all twitches were so sparsely attended...

Lundy

Pressure off ! The male TRUMPETER FINCH still on Lundy today but only after a terrific struggle. Got to Lundy and was greeted by a blanket of mist and drizzle giving only a 30-40 yards visibility. After 15 birders searched high and low there was no sign and despite being seen upto 10am, we were all convinced it had moved off before the mist descended, but at 2.10 a couple picked the bird up sat in the wall to the right of the gate on the Halfway Wall. After a few brief flight views, the trail went cold again but then miracously, the same couple who were walking back to the village relocated the bird half way back along the track to the Quater Wall. The lady very kindly came all the way back to tell us and amazingly the bird was still present when we all arrived. The bird then gave itself up and showed for the next 40 minutes on the main track at 20 yards range, occasionally flying up and down the track calling when disturbed by non birders. Also on the island today, several Spotted Flycatchers, Turtle Dove, Whimbrel and Sedge Warbler. Many thanks to Shaun Barnes who played the perfect 'host' today and for keeping tabs on it for the last few days.

Lundy

Took the trip to Lundy today. 180 or so on board but not many birders. Shaun Barnes sent me a text just as we were boarding to say the Trumpeter Finch was still present. By the time we arrived, the cloud had blown in and by the time we all trooped up to half-way wall, it had gone to ground and wasn't refound (very briefly) until 2p.m. Fortunately it was then found nearer to quarter wall than it had been seen previously, and showed well sometimes down to 3 yards!
A couple of Spotted Flycatchers seen on the island and a fast flying Turtle Dove seen from the Oldenburg disappearing into the mist towards Wales about half way back!

Exmouth

seafront - 0600 - 2 great northern diver, 1+ mediterranean gull, c150+ black-headed gull, 10 great crested grebe, 2+ sandwich tern, 1 roseate tern, 2 sanderling.
mudbank - 0645 - fw/s bonaparte's gull, 1 brent goose, 6 great crested grebe, 3 sandwich tern.

Thurlestone Bay

The female Marsh Harrier showed well at 07.15 & 11.00

16.00 Warren Pt rocks - high tides this week so decided to spend some time on the point to see what waders come to roost- 5 Turnstone ( looking superb in sp )1 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin & 1 Purple Sandpiper ( my first May record ). 4 Common Scoter flew west

Lundy Trumpeter - yesterday 15/5

A smart photo of the Lundy Trumpeter Finch in song yesterday, from Shaun Barnes

Thurlestone Marsh

Nice set of sightings Pat- not up to your levels but a very quiet day brightened up this evening with an adult female Marsh Harrier quartering the reeds- no tail feathers missing so a different bird to the Slapton one seen recently

Prawle - ancient history!

I posted a blog last wednesday that was one of those deleted. The gist of it was several days spent at Prawle, with pretty good results. Below is a brief roundup.

7/5; Seawatching produced 4 Black-throated Divers, 557 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 19 Whimbrel, Great Skua, Arctic Skua and 2 Puffins. A single Turtle Dove was the only other noteworthy bird.

8/5; Just single Great and Arctic Skuas of note on the sea.

9/5; Yet more seawatching, turning up Great Northern Diver and 2 Balearic Shearwaters. Big surprise today was the reappearance of the Woodchat Shrike. Last seen on 2/5, it was looked for in between times, but had either gone off somewhere else, or had been hiding really well! Equally nice was a Quail flushed from the coastpath near Langerstone Point.

10/5; Best day of the week. First up was a female Serin, feeding beside the road. I was advised not to publicise this bird, with the possibility of breeding, but as it has not been seen since, it's safe to assume it was a migrant. Later, a female Montagu's Harrier flew north over the airfields. This bird carried a wing-tag, so hopefully details of it's origins will be discovered in due course. Completing the line-up of decent birds was a female-type Golden Oriole, this one unfortunately being on private land. A 1st winter Med Gull and Spotted Flycatcher made up the numbers for today.

11/5; Seawatching once more, with 7 Great Northern Divers flying west the highlight. Also of note, a flock of 11 Ringed Plovers flew through, and the Med Gull was still off the Point. Single Spotted Flycatcher and a couple of Willow Warblers were the only migrants of note.

13/5; 2 Sanderlings and a lingering Purple Sandpiper were the highlights of a brief evening visit.

West Teignmouth

2pm Hobby hunting hirundines

Lundy yesterday, Prawle today

For those thinking 'you can't tick that - it's dead' - don't worry, it came alive again!

As Roy says, unbelievable lack of birders making the trip. Great day, great bird, and well done to all those involved in the finding and identification. Also on the island, up to 15 Spotted Flycatchers.

Back to Prawle this morning, and was greeted by the beautiful sounds of a singing Golden Oriole in the bottom of the reserve. Managed 2 views of it, (confirming it to be a 1st year bird), one in flight as it flew to the top end of the reserve, and one later in the Ash trees back at the bottom end. Went quiet at 8.15, but was heard again around mid-day. Only other birds of note were 3 Spotted Flycatchers.

Lundy

Made the trip across to Lundy yesterday. Unbelievably only eight other birders on board and only five from Devon!
Excellent views of the Trumpeter Finch on the ground and on the wall. With less than a dozen peolpe watching (plus a steady trickle of intersted walkers) there was none of the jostling and shoving I was expecting.
The big question of the day was "Where is everybody"???

Kingsbridge Estuary

Very quiet around Charleton Marsh and Bay this afternoon on the high tide. Surprised to see a pair of Great Crested Grebes in the bay displaying ( including the weed dance ).

Beesands Ley

Wildfowl present this morning included 11 Tufted Duck and 4 Pochard. A pair of Gadwall had at least 4 young with them. Also a pair of Great Crested Grebes and, unusual here this time of year, a Little Grebe. Out in Start Bay on a fairly calm sea a pair of Shelduck with 9 very young ducklings swimming north about 500 metres offshore - thankfully unnoticed by the local gulls.

Exmouth

Orcombe Point - 0535 - 3 great northern diver north and apparently inland including these two birds together.

Mudbank - fw/s bonaparte's gull upriver at 0730, 1 brent goose still and 4 great crested grebe. Also 1 siskin south and1 red kite high north upriver at 0920 viewed from house.