Upottery Airfield, Smeatharpe

A totally unexpected surprise was an adult Bewicks Swan flying quite low south east at 8.50. Great grey shrike still present but elusive in the strong wind. 87 golden plover on the rough pasture until 9.05 when flushed by someone/something unseen and flew off east. Single mistle thrush and song thrush mixed in with around 60 fieldfare. 4 stock doves, 1 raven and one adult male stonechat.

Exminster Marshes

The fw red-breasted goose back today, with brent geese in the large field directly south of the M5 from the canal bank, over the high tide this morning. Also: 11 greylag geese, 2 water pipit and 2-3 short-eared owls (from 1500 north of Station Rd.)

Thurlestone Bay

Still blowing a F8 sw with much stronger gusts in the very heavy hail showers, with little shelter managed to stay up to 11.30.

A flock of 100 Wigeon flew into the bay and landed on the seabefore continuing west. A single Guillemot and 12 Gannets were the only other birds over the sea .

On the beach a first Dec record for me of a Knot with 5 Turnstone. an ad Med Gull on the marsh.

with2 Shoveler, 20 Wigeon, 30 Teal.

On Tstn marsh- 30 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 5 Shoveler,1 Greylag Goose, 8 lapwing & 1 Black T Godwit.

Just got back to find the postman has brought me an early Xmas present- no falling asleep in front of the Telly tonight with the 2010 Bird Report to salviate over

Clennon Valley

The Yellow-browed Warbler still in same place, 5 collybita type and 1 tristis type Chiffchaff, 3 Teal, 12 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Little Egret, 2 Shoveler.

Broadsands

Still very blowy out in the bay so most birds very close in: 9 Black-necked Grebes, 14 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red-breasted Merganser.

6 Cirl Buntings on seed in 2nd Car Park, 1 Chiffchaff in marsh.

Paignton: 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Great Northern Diver.

Thurlestone Bay

A SW5/6 soon increased to an 8 this morning, seas rogh but viz very good . A Great Skua flew west at 10.15, 78 Gannet, 16 Kittiwake, 11 Razormots, 2 Wigeon ( on sea ), 1 ad Med Gull.

Tstn Marsh this am - 1F Merlin, 12 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 5 gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 10 lapwing , 1 Black T Godwit

On S Huish Marsh - 2 Shoveler, 1 Grey L Goose

Powderham Marshes

At about mid-day the finch flock seemed to be smaller than on my last visit but there were still over 200 birds mostly chaffinches and linnets. A few greenfinches (c20), 10 redwings, 15 reed buntings and 2 (pair) bullfinches were in the hedgerows. All the birds were constantly moving probably due to the number of raptors; buzzard, kestrel (2), sparrowhawk and peregrines (2). Elsewhere one stonechat, 11 long-tailed tits and a single goldcrest. Overhead c6 skylarks and c10 redwings.

Clennon Valley

Yellow-browed Warbler showing well again - in NW corner of western most pond from small wooden bridge from the tiny feeder pond is. Birders have been looking from the wooden bridge on the causeway between the two large ponds (middle and western most) the chances are you will not see the bird from here!

Also : 1 tristis type, 2 collybita Chiffchaffs, Kingfisher, Water Rail and 3 Goldcrests.

Broadsands this morning: 4 Black-necked Grebes, 6 Great Crested Grebes 8 Razorbills, 1 Guillemot. 6 Cirls on seed in 2nd car park, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Water Rail in the marsh.

Clennon Valley Ponds yesterday

A belated pic of the ruddy shelduck on the lower pond yesterday.

Great Skua from St.Kilda off South Devon

I had a speedy response to yesterday's Great Skua sighting 30nm off Start Point.

The bird was ringed by Will Miles (of Leach's Petrel fame, if you subscribe to British Birds).

Will replied with the following interesting information on the bird:

"This is definitely one of mine, and the first ever record of one away from Kilda - totally brilliant! A live wintering at-sea record is particularly rare for these guys - so many thanks again. This fella is actually the second bird I ever ringed on Kilda. It is White/White (L) Red/White (R), ringed on Hirta on 22nd May 2007 as an adult (wing 441mm, weight 1510g, head&bill length 108.5mm). It nested every year on Kilda that I was there (2007-10) with only two other pairs on 'Mullach Sgar', quite a remote location away from the main colony in Glen Mor. Also, if I remember, the pair had rather a taste for Leach's Petrels too !"

Upottery Airfield, Smetharpe

Great Grey Shrike still present this morning though a little elusive in the strong wind. No sooner have I made a comment on the absence of golden plovers when they turn up again!! 32 on the barley field and a group of approximately 60 went north east. A single lapwing was the first since mid October. Circa 1500 starlings in various groups and 70 fieldfare on the rough pasture.  A few more gulls beginning to show with a 2nd winter great black backed being the first of the winter. A nice group of 19 house sparrows feeding on the sillage heaps.

Prawle

Seawatch 8.00 - 11.00 returned totals of 3 Red-throated Divers, 307 Gannets, 10 Fulmars, Red-breasted Merganser, Curlew, Great Skua, 65 Kittiwakes and 252 Auks. A quick walk around the village before the rain came turned up little more than 2 Water Rails, a Goldcrest and a Firecrest.

Dawlish Warren

The drake American Wigeon showed briefly from the hide, lurking in Shutterton Creek; most of the birds on the Starcross side of the creek were busy dodging bait-diggers, dog-walkers and birders. Aside from that, the usual selection of waders as expected, 5 distant scoter offshore - all apparently Common - and a frustratingly distant skua heading east. Might, just might, have been a Pom.

English Channel 30nm SSW off Start Point

Out on a fishing boat yesterday, a few interesting bits and pieces in the channel. Up to 15 wintering Bonxies around the boat, one carried colour rings (so awaiting some feedback on this bird as to where it was ringed); see photo - left leg double white, right leg red over white. There were far more large gulls foraging around the boat than normal, mostly Herring, Great and Lesser Black-backs and good numbers of Kittiwakes. Fulmar numbers have picked up again and there was one dark phase ( a 'dark' as opposed to a 'double dark'). Best bird was a cracking dark morph 1w Pomarine Skua, though sadly I have no photos as it disappeared soon as I waved a camera!
Below photos of unringed Bonxie and 'dark' Fulmar.

Devils Point, Plymouth

A Spoonbill was on Drakes Island this morning at around 09.30.
I missed it's departure towards the Tamar but another birder got a nice shot of it in flight. Perhaps he will post it here??

Clennon Valley

Yellow-browed Warbler showing well this morning from small wooded bridge dividing western most large pond and tiny feeder pond (this is the best place to watch from the bird always returns here but does wander fairly widely). 6 collybita type chiffchaffs, 2 tristis type Chiffchaffs one calling very similar to the Broadsands bird http://devonbirdnews.blogspot.com/2011/11/broadsands_25.html the other with a soft 'see-ou' not the classic tristis flat 'hiii', both birds look good for tristis! Also 7 Goldcrests, 1 Pintail, 2 Shoveler, 11 Tufted Ducks, 1 Pochard, 2 Water Rail.

Stoke Gabriel

2 Egyptian Geese today. [Terry Lakeman]

Slapton Ley

2 Gn Diver in the Bay, 1-3 Guillemot, doz Razorbill, Marsh Harrier, 2W med Gull, 2 Chiffchaff and Fem Blackcap

"Pied" GBB.

Further to Steve's post; I saw this bird on the Plym about two weeks ago. Unfortunately
I can't find the date in my note book. Russell Eynon tells me he has been seeing this bird on and off since October but again no dates.

Kingsbridge Estuary

Curlew Drive - Charleton Marsh ( 12:00-13:45, low tide ).

c 60 Brent Geese, 2 Tufted Duck, 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit and c 150 Golden Plover. Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaffs West Charleton sewage works.

Scorhill Tor

Several dozen brambling roosting in the beech trees below Scorhill Tor late afternoon.

Matford & exminster marshes

13:15 till 14:30 a look around matford marsh produced 11 snipe, 1 water rail, 12+ shoveler,85+ wigeon, 100+ teal, 200+ lapwing, 1 little grebe and a black headed gull in full summer plumage, and a possible tristis type chiffchaff calling and showing briefley by the seats on the back pool.

14:45 till 16:15 after several attempts to catch up with short eared owl over the last couple of weeks i was finally rewarded with the fantastic sight of 4 showing very well flying over the fields between station road and the motorway bridge also 1 snipe 20+ fieldfare, 30+ redwing and a large roost of long tailed tits by the bridge on station road.

A very enjoyable afternoon on the marshes

Elberry Cove, Paignton

2p.m Saturday, FIRECREST very active in small copse on southern corner of public area above the cove, using tree trunk thickly covered in ivy where footpath divides. Also Bullfinch seen in bramble thickets.
A mere 6 Black-necked Grebes offshore with 6 Great Crested Grebes; also 6 Razorbills close in.

Axe Estuary

A 1st-winter Caspian Gull was flushed by canoes around 13:40. It landed briefly by the tram sheds before flying off W with other large gulls.

Also on the river were 41 Dunlin, 3 Med Gulls and at least 5 Bar-tailed Godwits

Thurlestone Marsh

Big reduction in Duck numbers from Thurs., paticularly Teal - no more than 10 today. Waders on the mash 8 lapwing, 8 Snipe , 1 Jack Snipe, 1 Black T Godwit.

A new arrival in the garden a juv m Black Redstart

On South H Marsh this morning 5 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon, 1 Grey Lag Goose, 2 m Bullfinch & 1 Chaffinch in the copse

Velator reserve

Ringed at the reserve today after a couple of days away, and not filling up the feeders was slightly disappointing with finches well down on recent days - 2 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Bullfinch, 5 Greenfinch. However, the 6th Great Spotted Woodpecker of the autumn, and a retrap adult female Green Woodpecker, along with a good haul of wintering thrushes - 2 Song Thrush, 11 Blackbird, and 5 Redwings made up for it. So did the retrap male Blackcap ringed a few weeks back, a male Reed Bunting (first of the winter) and 2 wintering Chiffchaffs, both collybita. There's been a small arrival of birds this week, I also saw an unringed Goldcrest - they have been very rare there this winter.

Upottery Airfield, Smeatharpe

First visit this morning since last Sunday. Pleased to find the Great Grey Shrike still present and a better showing of passerines with around 30 chaffinch, a very smart male bullfinch, around 10 each of meadow pipit and skylark, 5-6 stock doves and approximately 2000 starling. The golden plover seem to have deserted for the time being.

English Hen Harriers in a bad way.

Please read the www.birdguides.com article, "English Hen Harriers `four steps` from extinction" and consider signing the petition.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/23089

Very few seem to know about the petition and not many have signed. Come on you birders!

Clennon Valley

The Yellow-browed Warbler showing well again in NW corner of Western most pond (interesting to compare it to the Hume's Warbler in Dorset: http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/oi_humes_warbler_051211.htm )
also 2 collybita type chiffchaffs and 2 tristis type chiffchaffs ( at least one calling similar to a collybita but a touch flatter), 3 Goldcrest, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Water Rail and a Ruddy Shelduck!

Bursdon Moor

Called in at Bursdon on our way home from Cornwall this afternoon. At 4.15 - and unusually in still broad daylight! - a male Hen Harrier flew around (needless to say on the other side of the moor from where we were parked!). Shortly after, a female Merlin flew in and perched in the only significant hawthorn out on the moor. It was cold so we left!

Exminster Marshes

In late afternoon there were at least 3 Short-eared Owls hunting over the NE section - looking in the distance from the Swan's Nest bridge they were towards Topsham and the M5, but moving around a lot. There was also a Water Pipit near the canal car park.

At 16:50, 2 Woodcock seen in flight near Haldon Racecourse.

Seaton Area

The Wheatear is still present on Seaton Marshes this morning, with two Stonechats.

At Colyford WTW at least 15 Chiffchaffs along the northern edge, all appeared to be collybita-types.

Lastly, has anyone else seen this Great Black-backed Gull? It was on the Axe Estuary yesterday.

After posting this pic on my blog, Mike Passman informed me he had seen it (or an identical bird!) in Thurlestone Bay a couple of weeks ago. I would be interested to hear if anyone else has, or does, see it.

Clennon Valley

The Yellow-browed Warbler was showing on and off in the NW corner of the western most pond, also tristis type and 2-3 collybita type Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests 1 Water Rail and 2 Siskin.

Berry Head

Seawatch 10:00-13:30, wind WSW (245) 7-8: 14 Bonxies, 2 Pomarine Skuas (winter ad and imm), Balearic Shearwater, c700 Auks (mostly Razorbills), c300 each of Gannets and Kittiwakes, 2 Red-throated Divers.

Thurlestone Bay

F8 SW gale this morning- managed to find a sheltered corner by the cafe. Not much in quantity but certainly quality. Bay watched 90.30-12.45.

Very rough seas with poor viz.

75 Gannet , 5 Razormott, 1 Razorbill (on sea) all the quality between 10.20-11.10 first a female Long-tailed Duck , then a Balearic Shearwater, followed at 11.10 by an ad Sabines Gull - all flew east about 150 yds offshore.

Thurlestone Bay

Strong NW winds do not produce anything -even the gannets are well down.

Best sighting a F Merlin, on South H marsh,.

Totals on both Marshes - 14 Shoveler, 6 gadwall, 30 Wigeon, 100 + Teal, 6 Snipe , 8 lapwing , 1 Black T Godwit, 1 Greylag Goose.

Waders on the beaches - 13 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling.

5 Reed Bunting back on the garden feeders

Seaton Area

Wheatear still on Seaton Marshes today, showing much better along path to hide. On the Estuary mid afternoon were six Bar-tailed Godwits and and three Med Gulls.

At Brascombe Mouth this morning, a Firecrest at the sewage works with two Chiffchaffs. Lastly, a female-type Black Redstart at Seaton Hole this afternoon.

Clennon Valley

The Yellow-browed Warbler showed very well this afternoon in sallows and alders top NW corner of largest westernmost pond. 4 Goldcrests, 4-5 Chiffchaffs pesent (no sign of the eastern type bird). Also around ponds: 1 Pintail, 1 Little Egret, 1 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, 5 Tufted Ducks, 3 Water Rail.

Berry Head

Nigel Smallbones phoned in to say there were 3 BlackRedstarts on the southern slopes (out of the NW wind) of the Southern Fort this morning. Also Hundreds of Gulls moving north into Torbay.

Clennon Valley

..




Yellow-browed Warbler another strange calling (short sharp 'Tee' )  warbler, but too bright to be anything else! It's with about 4 Chiffchaffs including a white undersided chiff I was trying to attract out of the top of the trees when this bird dropped in less than 6ft away calling. Remained at very top (western most) ponds in willows between a small feeder pond and main pond

Broadsands

Good to meet another blogger Rob Macklin on the headland this morning between us we managed to see:
1 Red-necked Grebe, 56 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Red-throated Divers (no Great Northerns today!), 3 Common Scoter, hundreds of Kits, auks other Gulls and Gannets out in Torbay.

Around the car park: 13 Cirl buntings on seed in 2nd car park, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 collybita type Chiffchaffs and the tristis type (odd calling) Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrests.

At Preston: 2 Black-necked Grebes.

Two of the Chiffchaffs present the olive looking collybita type left and odd calling browny-grey tristis type right. In bright - neutral light today there appear to be some olive streaks in the mantle and possibly nape of the tristis type bird - olive in the other parts of wings/tail and rump are not so important. In the field a little yellow on the undertail coverts; combined with the odd call (despite it responding only to tristis song playback) must make this bird an intergrade or just a bird from the eastern contact zone between abietinus/tristis?

Broadsands

The tristis type Chiffchaff still present with the collybita, both calling. On the sea were 34 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Black-necked Grebe and a couple of Great Northern Divers. Still lots of Gannets feeding in the bay with plenty of Auks but no Kitts. Couldn't find the Red-necked Grebe or the Slav's today.

Dawlish Warren

Colorful drake Eider close in off Langstone Rock.

Exmouth and West Hill

There was a Black Redstart around rooftops in Madeira Villas, Exmouth, this morning - apparently seen there regularly. Visiting one of Andy Swash's 'regular' Firecrest sites in West Hill soon revealed an apparent pair - as usual, associating with Holly bushes (Holly and Yew seen to be important to Firecrests, at least out of the breeding season).

Slapton Ley

Offshore a Slavonian Grebe and further out a raft of Gannets. The Marsh Harrier appeared at 2.30 then again at 3pm over the bridge. 3 Cettis heard plus 2 colybita Chiffchaffs and as Starlings began to appear a female Sparrowhawk flew over the Ley.

 

[Tony Marchese]

Prawle

This Chiffchaff, in East Prawle Woods, looked good, sounded good, so probably is good for 'tristis'

Water Pipit, still in Horseley Cove.

Very uneventful 2.5 hour seawatch, with only 4 Common Scoters and a small passage of 24 Lesser Black-backed Gulls of any note. Elsewhere, 15 Purple Sandpipers and a Med Gull along the shore, Water Rail still at Moorwell, 2 Black Redstarts, a 'normal' Chiffchaff and 3 Goldcrests.

Broadsands

The sea was fairly busy with: 4 Great Northern Divers, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 3 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Slavonian Grebes, 13 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Razorbills. As Josh noted still lots of Kittiwake and Gannets on the Torquay side of Torbay 4 Cirl & 1 Reed bunting on seed in back of 2nd car park and the tristis type Chiffchaff again in the marsh also 3 Goldcrests and a Water Rail.

At Preston Seafront there were 3 Black-necked Grebes and 5 Great Crested Grebes.

Upottery Airfield, Smeatharpe

The Great Grey Shrike present late this afternoon sitting low down in a hawthorn bush on the rough pasture. Having visited three times this past week after an absence of two weeks whilst on holiday without finding the bird, I  thought it had moved on so was pleasantly surprised. However very few other birds around with passerines very low in number - 20 fieldfare being the only other birds of note.

Wembury

As happens every December/January I remember that Water Pipit ID is a lot easier that I make it seem through October and November! A real corker at the point this afternoon. Also 10+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls (normally pretty rare here over the winter months). There were 2 second winter birds as well which I had never seen here.

4 Crossbill over the garden in the village this morning.

Aveton Gifford

The juv. Bewick's Swan still presents on River Avon amongst 23 Mute Swans. Also 3 Redshank, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2-3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Wigeon, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Kingfisher, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Curlew and over 100 Mallards were seen today afternoon.
Observers: Matt Twiggs, Gábor Tresó and me.

Bursden Moor - yesterday 3/12

2 Hen Harriers (adult male & ringtail) at Bursdon Moor on Saturday late afternoon.[Will Salmon]

Exminster marsh

Arrived at the marsh at 08:30 along station road 22 fieldfare and 30+ redwing good numbers of wigeon and 12+ shoveler, 1 male pintail on the first scrape. 4 cetti's warblers calling from various locations around the marsh, 7+ reed buntings, 1 great spotted woodpecker.

On the lagoon 4 pochard, 6 gadwall, 3 shoveler

From the turf hotel on the rising tide 285+ avocet, 15+ red breasted mergansers, 100+ grey plover and 2000+ Dunlin, 2 bar tailed godwit, 4 great crested grebes, lots of Brent geese

On way home stopped at matford marsh, 8 snipe, 1 water rail, 450+ lapwing, 80+ wigeon, 5 shoveler, 3 tufted duck, 100+ teal, 35 black tailed godwit

Torbay

Had a look at the bay from Battery Gardens, Brixham at lunchtime. Large amounts of Kitts and Gannets feeding in the bay managed to drag in a Great Skua.
Also 2 Great Northern Divers and a Red Breasted Merganser were present

Slapton Ley etc

A family walk along the higher ley at Slapton today threw up a marsh harrier, a bittern and whilst watching a short eared owl quartering over the reeds we accidentally flushed another one on the beach side of the road. The owl returned to sit on the beach where its plumage made it virtually invisible. Cettis were still singing and a kingfisher flew upstream of the bridge.

Also the juvenile Berwick Swan has returned to Aveton Gifford and seemed to be particularly vocal.

[Tim Clyburn]

Exmouth and Otter

Maer Rocks - 0740 - 10 common scoter, 3 great northern diver, 2 velvet scoter, 1+ red-throated diver, 2 turnstone, 1 eider, 1 great crested grebe, 16 dark-b brent goose.

Mudbank - 0835 - 4 greenshank, 4 teal, 2 goldeneye, 1 shoveler, 2 pale-bellied brent goose.

Carter Park - male black redstart (photo).

Otter Estuary - fw caspian gull (see field notes), 1+ ad mediterranean gull, 1 male black redstart (first beach east of Otter Head).

Maer Rocks yesterday - late pm - 1 purple sandpiper, 15+ turnstone, 2 great northern diver and 1 eider.

The caspian gull was present for about 5 minutes at 1pm before the whole gull flock was spooked and the caspian flew upriver, past me in the east hide and then back south and out of sight. A large, long-necked classic first-winter bird, very beautiful.......if gulls are your thing!

Broadsands

The odd calling tristis type chiffchaff was still present with at least one collybita chiffchaff in the marsh, also two Water Rail.

At sea there was a big dispersed flock of feeding Kittiwake 400+ and Gannets 60+ on the Torquay side of Torbay. Off Broadsands there were 6 Great Northern Divers (none very close!), 5 Black-necked Grebes, 13 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Common Scoter, 3 Razorbill and 1 Guillemot. The auks and a good number of Shags were feeding very close to the shoreline taking tiny bait fish. 

Velator reserve

Big increase in Blackbirds yesterday - 15 ringed along witha Redwing and a Song Thrush. STill scores of Greenfinches taking advantage of the berries and feeders - 38 ringed.

river torridge landcross n devon

adult whooper swan with 2 mute swans , seen from iron bridge landcross at 10.00 hrs today

Middle Soar

Wing-tagged Great Bustard in the 'pepper pot' field, and 6 Golden Plover in the field next door. [photos from Barry Rankine]

Thurlestone Bay

Had a day off patch- Went to Chew and had 3 American waders - Sharp Tailed S'piper, Spotted S'piper & 2 Long B Dowitcher, on the way back stopped off to look at the Red B Goose at Darts Farm .

Bob B on site here ,7 Bearded Tit & Kingfisher at South Milton Ley also a male Tufted Duck flew east .

In Kingsbridge he had an Osprey over Tesco's flying NNW at !2.00

islay marsh

10 spoonbills including adult with white ring FJ9 on its left leg, also adult with yellow flag on its right leg. also adult med gull at westward ho.

River Plym estuary

At 13.00 Thursday Dec 1st the juv. Spotted Sand' was on the west bank of the river mouth where it runs into the wider estuary by Blaxton Meadow. 1 ad. Common Sand' and a juv. Greenshank were nearby.

A December Wheatear!

This Wheatear was on Seaton Marshes this afternoon. One was also seen here on the last day of November so it's presumably a lingering bird (it could even be the yacht club bird?). Easily the latest I've ever seen - in fact there's now only two months of the year that I've not seen Wheatear on patch!

Also this afternoon, on the Estuary were 6 Med Gulls (4 adults; 1 colour-ringed, and 2 2nd winters) and the 7 Greylag Geese still feeding on Colyford Marsh.

Mansands

On the way down the track this morning at about 8:15, looked out to sea, which was quite calm and saw a pod of about 12-15 Dolphins heading towards Sharkham Point and Berry Head, it looked as if there were a couple of young ones as well, pity they were too far to get a photo of them. The cold morning seem to have brought out a few birds, there were around 9 Bullfinches near the carpark and loads of Songthrushes in the bushes and also two Fieldfares. There were 3 Firecrests, with two in the woods as you walk down and another in the reeds by the beach. Also a male Reed Bunting popped in for awhile and two Chiffchaffs. A nice lot of birds on the marsh with 44 Teal, 12 Mallard, 14 Moorhens 29 Snipe and 3 Grey Herons. The coastguard cottages still had a couple of Black Redstarts on them (sorry no Wheatear!) the only new attraction coming to Mansands will be the new hide that will be going up sometime soon.

Powderham Marshes

Mid morning visit. Two , possibly three green sandpipers including one seen near to the Swan's Nest with 18 curlews. The fields of sun flowers are certainly attracting finches. Difficult to count or even estimate but at one time I thought the flock had about 300 birds in it - mostly linnets and chaffinches with over 50 greenfinches. Elsewhere one chiffchaff (alongside the railway), 16+ reed buntings and 8 skylarks flew over calling. In the distance, near the lagoon on Exminster Marshes a peregrine was calling and stooping repeatedly. I was unable to see the cause. A small group of 8 pipits were close to the road onto the marshes but I was unable to confirm their identity - almost certainly meadow pipits.

Broadsands

0930-1200
Slavonian Grebe very close in the bay along with 2 Black-necked Grebes. Also a couple of Razorbills with a Guillemot very close, fishing just off the shore line. 2 Great northern divers in the bay with another probable out towards Hopes Nose but too distant to confirm ID.
Tristis/eastern type Chiffchaff in company with a Colybita Chiff also present.

Exe Valley wetlands south of the double locks.

The small but perfectly formed starling roost performed again yesterday eve 16:15 ~ 16:30.  Two or possibly three sparrow hawks put on quite a show looking for a late night snack.

Greylag movements

More info can be found here http://www.bto.org/ai/pdfs/53move.pdf

The wintering population in Spain follows the channel coast and no doubt some pass through Devon and elsewhere with the right conditions, contrary to assumptions in Birds of Devon.

southcott valley bideford east

ruff still present

hartland point

9 red throated diver,2 balearic shearwater,1 great skua,30 kittewake, between 08.00-09,45

Trowlesworthy Warren, Dartmoor

Redhead goosander on the River Plym.
70 fieldfare in berry-laden hawthorn scrub.
Sparrowhawk over.

Exminster Marshes

A mid morning visit coincided with the high tide. Also very mild with virtually no wind. Altogether a very pleasant day. Continuing the greylag theme - 6 flew north high over the marshes but turned and eventually landed near to the lagoon. They appeared nervous and took a long time to land. Unfortunately almost as soon as they had landed a RAF helicopter flew low over the fierlds and most of the birds took to the air. At that point I counted 10 greylags of which 4 flew east towards BGM.

Also on the marshes - c300 Canada geese and lots of teal, wigeon and 30 shoveller. I counted 9 gadwall on the lagoon. Over 400 black-tailed gowits, c200 curlew and 226 lapwing were roosting. A few snipe were flying around. Near the Turf there were a few winter thrushes 20+ blackbirds, 2 song thrushes, 30 fieldfares and 11 redwings. On the canal bank I saw 2 Cettis and heard a further 4. Two water rails were calling from the reeds on the eatern canal bank.

Clennon Valley

A walk around the ponds this morning produced: 1 Mediterranean Gull (ad), 8 Chiffchaff (all collybita types), 6 Goldcrest, 3 Water Rail, 2 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 7 Tufted Ducks, 6 Snipe & 1 Little Egret. 

Greylags

Interesting comment by Steve on these Greylags. Back on 4th November we saw c20 distant 'grey' geese (which looked like Greylag) pass off Berry Head . They landed on the sea for half an hour, then headed back north. Wind was a strong easterly - that day there was also some other wildfowl passage with 6 Pintail, 2 teal and Shoveler heading south. Oh and an interesting looking Lesser Whitethroat briefly near the seawatch point! Forgot to post it at the time.

Greylags

I know it is a long long way north and east of here, but I thought this was interesting enough to post a link up on here... http://beadnell-birding.blogspot.com/2011/11/neck-collared-greylag-update.html

We've had at least three flocks on the Axe this autumn, totaling 17 birds - two of these flocks flew straight through. I know it doesn't sound like many, but taking into account the flocks seen elsewhere in the county, and seen passing Portland, this isn't a normal occurrence at all. So it does beg the question as to where they have all come from??

Thurlestone Bay

Much better visability today -still Sw F6-

Waders on the beaches / rocks -15 Turnstone, 13 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling ( first since Sept 9th )

In the bay 27 Auks, 114 Gannet, , 33 Kittiwake and a dark Fulmer all east in 1 hour late morning

Braodsands

Braodsands 3:00-4:00

On the sea was a distant Black necked grebe and a single Slavonian grebe feeding close to the shore.

Also a flock of about 9 long tailed tits, 1 firecrest and the tristis type chiffchaff that Mike found earlier.

Maer Rocks Exmouth

1 Purple Sandpiper,8 Turnstone 1 Meadow pipit and 1 Guillimot 10 foot from rocks.

Skern, Northam Burrows

08:55 - 10:30

Grey Plover 41; Dark-bellied Brent 26; Turnstone 10; Wigeon c35; Common Gull 4; Shelduck 62;
Bar-tailed Godwit 1; female Sparrowhawk and a pair of Red-breasted Merganser.
Also c200 Dunlin and reasonable nos. of Redshank, Curlew, Lapwing, Oystercatcher,
Teal, Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Meadow Pipits and mixed flocks of Linnets and Goldfinches.

Broadsands & Torbay

Around car parks: 1 Firecrerst (see above), 3 Goldcrest, 1 tristis type chiffchaff(odd calling bird again see photos), 1 collybita Chiffchaff, and 1other chiffchaff spp. 4 Cirl Buntings on seed in 2nd car park, 1 Reed Bunting.

Around Torbay: 2 Great Northern Divers, 3 Black-necked Grebes, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 3 distant scoter off Groodrington looking bulky necked/headed (perhaps velvets).

Exminster Marshes

Two short eared owls over the northern marshes this morning at 8 am.

Westward Ho!

Purple Sandpipers have only just been retaining a toe-hold in the area in recent winters, so it was good to find 3 on rocks at the east end of Nassau Court this morning.

Great Bustard - Soar

Great Bustard '06' still present at Middle Soar at 09:30 this morning.

[Pete Reay and Britta Saffron]

Also, here's a photo from Britta...

Great Bustard still at large in Devon

Great Bustard '06' was present in the Soar area for a few days up until 26th Nov - it's probably still there somewhere. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQ_blrTxh8 for some footage.

It was found by Richard Hanham at Higher Soar. Thanks to Chirs Harper and Pete Reay for reporting it to me.

Thurlestone Bay

First good blow for a while - F8 SSW with gusts up to F9- In 2.5 hrs this am - 275 Gannet, 21 Kittiwake, 1 Common Scoter & 3 Little Gull all east- 17 Turnstone on the rocks .

South Huish marsh held a Greylag Goose , a db Brent Goose, 5 Shoveler, 25 Wigeon .

Thurlestone Marsh held a Goldeneye ,6 Gadwall, 25 wigeon, 50 Teal

CLENNON VALLEY

Got out early and came across a drake Mandarin on pond 1, together with 3 Shoveler, 2 Pochard , 2 Snipe , 1
Kingfisher and 4  Tufted Duck. Did not see any chiffchaffs.

Berry Head

Seawatch with MD 0915-1400hrs
3 Great Skua
4 Sooty Shearwater
2 Manx Shearwater
2 Pomarine Skua (juv/1w)
1 Common Scoter
1 Diver sp.
Also steady passage of Gannets, Kitts and Auks, and 3 Harbour Porpoise.

Mansands

At least 2 Black Redstarts on the cottages, and about 20 Teal on the ley.

[Andrew Hanlon]

Exminster Marshes

One of the short-eared owl's on the north of the marsh at 07:30 this morning.

and

This evening there was a small (~3000) but close and acrobatic murmuration over the Exe Valley wetlands just south of the double locks.

This video is part of that group.....

Thurlestone Marsh

Numbers of Duck have reduced over the last few days, 20 Wigeon, 25 Teal, A Greylag Goose came in with the Canada's.

Over at South Huish Marsh - 25 Wigeon, 10 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 2 db Brent Goose.

Still 5 Bearded Tit , 3 Chiffchaff at South Milton Ley

In the bay 50 + gannet, 11 Kittiwake, 5 Guillemot.

Beesands & Slapton

Beesands: Great northern diver close in offshore.
On lake 27 gadwall, 2 shoveler, 4 pochard, water rail.
Also 3 stonechat.

Slapton: 3 red-throated diver south offshore plus one common scoter.
Male goldeneye on ley.

CLENNON VALLEY

3 Snipe showing on the back edge of pond 1.

3 Male Shoveler on pond 1 , together with 3 Tufted Duck and 2 Pochard.

Also seen 4 Goldcrest , 1 Chiffchaff , 1 Little Egret and 1 Treecreeper .

6 Teal at the back of pond 3

R.Taw, Barnstaple to Wrafton.

08:45 - 11:15

08:45 Green Sandpiper in the ditch just before Ashford sewage works. Still there on my return at 10:55.

c140 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 15 Little Egret on Penhill Marsh.
Also c40 Shelduck; 61 Mallard and 21 Wigeon on the river.


09:20 12 Bullfinch in the bushes between Strand House and Duckpool(Chivenor) roundabout.

10:20(return trip) Nearly all white Blackbird at Duckpool roundabout.

10:25 Male Ruff on foreshore at Heanton Court.

11:05 247 Dark-bellied Brent, mid-river just off Pottington and 3 Grey Plover.

Exminster Marshes

Two short-eared owls this evening over the northern marshes.

Seaton Area

2 or 3 Black Redstarts - 2 (including male) at Axe Yacht Club, plus a female on building next to Beach Road later.

8 Woodlarks on farmland (location withheld)

[Phil Abbott]

Prawle

Not a bad day for late November. 90 minute seawatch threw up a little(!) surprise in the form of a Puffin, flying west after a little rest on the sea. Not quite so unexpected were single Manx and 2 Balearic Shearwaters, but apart from a single Common Scoter, there was nothing more than small numbers of Gannets, Kittiwakes and Auks (mostly Razorbills). The beach walk produced 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 13 Purple Sandpipers and 6 Turnstones, and at least 1 Water Pipit still. Song Thrushes showed the first signs of winter arrivals, with 14 counted, along with 4 Redwings, a Fieldfare, and the first Mistle Thrush of the autumn. Around the bushes were 7 Bullfinches, 2 Reed Buntings, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrests and 3 Firecrests. A Water Rail at Moorwell Pond was a year-tick (!!), and a Merlin patrolled the Airfields. Finally, as a little reminder of summer, a lone Swallow fed happily over the village this afternoon.

Dawlish warren

On the falling tide this morning from 09:15 till 12:15

3000+ Dunlin, 6 sanderling, 110+ grey plover, 15+ red breasted merganser, 8 turnstone a peregrine dropped into the bight and settled on the mud also 4 stonechat, 2 bullfinch. A brief seawatch produced 1 red throated diver, 2 great crested grebes and 2 razorbill. Not a bad morning.

Exmouth

Orcombe Point - 0745 - 0830 - 17 common scoter, 1 eider and the following all west : 113+ auk sp, 9+ razorbill, 2 red-throated diver, 1 great northern diver, 1 juv pomarine skua and c2/300+ kittiwake.

Exmouth Docks - male black redstart (photo)

Mudbank (yesterday) - 3 fem-type goldeneye, 65 shelduck and 62 turnstone.

Maer Rocks (25/11) - 2 fem/juv velvet scoter still with 1 eider.

Exe at Turf Lock

Saw this at a distance - my lens doesn't have the reach of birders' scopes. In among a group of Common Gulls. Seems a bit early for breeding plumage for a Black-headed. Med or even Bonaparte's? Please don't mock my lack of expertise but I'd be grateful if anyone could say if they've had a positive ID on this in this area. Thanks. Don

EDIT Hi Don, have had a couple of BHGs on the Axe that have been very nearly in full bp - just the odd white speckle in otherwise complete hood  (Gavin)

Start Bay

Great Northern Diver just offshore from Beesands village midday.