Seaton Area

Yesterday morning there was a Cuckoo calling at Steadcombe Vale east of the River, also a Grasshopper Warbler in the same spot by the roadside.

At Seaton marshes were 3 Wheatear with another 3 at Colyford Common also a Whinchat,
Today at the fields by Beer Cemetery were another Whinchat, Whitethroat, 11 Swifts, 6 House Martins & decent numbers of Swallows.

Exminster marsh

In the rain 11:30 2nd winter Iceland gull in field by s-bends before being flushed by a birder trying to cross the field lost in flight towards topsham thanks to Paul a visiting birder who also had it in flight Also hobby over north sedge & reed warblers very vocal and 2 yellow wagtails and an Egyptian goose

Bowling green marsh

A quick look in this morning produced an Egyptian goose,3 common sandpiper, 8+ whimbrel, 1 greenshank, pochard(m), cetti's, sedge warbler, reed warbler, lots of swallows,sand martins, house martins, 30+ black tailed godwits, 2 tufted duck, 7+ blackcap, 12+ chiffchaffs, 4+ willow warbler.

Exminster marshes

Early evening produced a hobby perched on wires making short hunting sorties. Lots of hirundines including a few swifts. A bright male yellow wagtail feeding under the hooves of brown cows. a male pintail, flighty teal, lots of small groups of vocal whimbrels and the odd curlew, a mobile group of black tailed godwits and a lone bar headed goose. A fox wandered around the marshes out in the open for at least an hour.

Plymouth

Observations: Plymouth 27/04/2012 07.45
One of our pair of Swifts was back on the IR camera monitored nest site at Peverell early this morning. By many days the earliest return date we have ever seen. It was very keenly preening all over and doing various wing stretches, including the high wing stretch. How long will we have to wait for the other half of the pair to return?
It's well worth keen swift watchers checking out any larger colonies of swift sites they know towards dusk as there may be other early returnees back on their nesting sites

[Robert Hurrell]

Pottington to Ashford Sewage Works.

14:20 - 15:45
8 Bar-tailed Godwit; 1 Black-tailed Godwit; 8 Common Sandpiper; 11 Whimbrel; c60 Shelduck and  plenty of Chiff Chaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps.
Also Peacock, Orange-tip and Small Blue butterflies about.

Slapton Ley

13:30-16:30, Walk from the bridge to Torcross and back.

Redshank, 2 Sandwich Terns, 7 Wheatear and 2 Yellow Wagtails. ( No sign of yesterdays Nightingale )

Beesands

12:20-13:00

21 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 2 Sandwich Terns and 3 Wheatear.

Start Point

08:10-12:00, Light and Farm only.

Sandwich Tern, Tree Pipit, 2 Redstarts, 13 Wheatears, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 8 Blackcaps, 30 Willow Warblers and 5 Chiffchaffs.

Exmouth

Orcombe Point - 0550 - 0745 - 5 blackcap, 12+ willow warbler, 6+ chiffchaff, 10 'Greenland' wheatear, 3 whitethroat, 4 goldfinch, 1 yellow wagtail, 1 swift, 2+ swallow, 1 house martin, 2 whimbrel, 13 common scoter and 1 great northern diver.
Orcombe Point - 26/4 - 14+ fulmar, 21 whimbrel, 11+great northern diver, 2 great crested grebe, 12+ common scoter, 1 arctic skua, c40+ pale-bellied brent goose, 3 manx shearwater, 1 turnstone and 1 sand martin.
Mudbank - 26/4 - drake eider on sandbar - house tick no 132.
Mudbank - 25/4 - little tern and c40+ sandwich tern.
Mudbank - 23/4 - 28 pale-bellied brent goose and 1 common tern.

Sharkham Point

After the school run this morning, 9 Blackcap, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (singing) 8 Chiffchaff, 11 Swallow, 2 House Martin, singing Skylark and a mix of Linnet and Greenfinch.

Lundy 26th April

A bit of very late news from yesterday - didn't get back until late last night and have been at work all day, so... anyway, a good fall of passerines on Lundy yesterday, and with an hour after an all-day meeting on the island, I managed to see (all in Milcombe valley & the road to the boat): 2 Grasshopper Warbler, single Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Swift, House Martin and White Wagtail, 60+ Blackcaps and similar numbers of Willow Warblers, and many small parties of Swallows (being snacked on by the local Peregrines: how many swallows make a meal?). Aside from that, other people with a bit more time mentioned a couple of Ring Ouzel, at least 2 Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, several more gropper and lashings of Blackcaps and Willow Warblers everywhere.

BBS near Chudleigh Knighton

No, not a Buff-backed Shrike (if one exists), but my first Breeding Bird Survey visit of the year. Finally found a dry morning to do it! Nothing new for the list (74 species since 1994, but only 31 today - the average is 45 species over the two survey visits). Perhaps best were 6 Stock Doves, of which 4 were at an isolated garden feeder! Other notables were Canada Geese with 6 goslings, Marsh Tit (actually singing), 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Grey Wagtail, 4 Skylarks and a Yellowhammer. The last two are remnants of a small 'farmland bird' population, originally on four arable fields; three of these are now grassland and two are horse-grazed. 'Horsiculture' has fundamentally changed big areas around here and bird populations seem to have changed as a result, possibly for the worse. However, Yellowhammers seem to be closely associated with stables around here and presumably utilise feed put out for horses. I think the Skylarks hang on partly because there are quite large, sloping or hilltop fields in open country - just right for them. Sadly, the 1-2 pairs of Woodlarks that used the arable and set-aside in the past are now gone - I doubt whether Devon's farmland population of this species (I think 50 pairs was the last survey estimate) has been maintained in recent years. Oh, and as I was leaving a Swift flew over.

Exminster marshes

Lots of water but not as deep as predicted; some cars are getting through the flood on Station Road. Unfortunately the swan's nest next to the road, with 7 eggs, was washed away in the night. James Diamond and I  counted the whimbrel at high tide - two or three flocks totalling 305 birds. Still impressive but not as much as the counts earlier in the week.

The main drama was a female peregrine that took a female gadwall on the water. She tried to drown the duck and then swam, using her wings, to the bank. The duck was still alive as she began to pluck it. A few minutes later the peregrine flew onto a post to dry out. Later still we could find no trace of the duck just a pile of feathers. Did the duck escape?

Elsewhere 3 wheatear, 2 bullfinches, 5 tufted ducks, 10 wigeon, 5 (-1?) gadwall and lots of swifts.

Wrafton

Early (ish) walk down to Sherpa revealed my first Wheatear, 2 Common Sandpiper, an arrival of Sedge Warblers in song and chasing about already, several singing Reed Warblers, Swallows and Sand Martins in good numbers, several House Martins, and 2 or possibly even 3 Swifts.  What was probably a Yellow Wagtail flew away before I could be 100% certain. One Whimbrel. On Wrafton pond, the pair of Pochard remain.

Berry Head

0630-0900hrs although there was relatively little moving overhead the headland did have several grounded migrants, it was good to see a few Whitethroats back on territories - at last. Noteable birds today: 3 Grasshopper Warbler (singing), 22 Willow Warblers, 9 Blackcaps, 5 Whitethroat, 6 Chiffchaff (on territories), 7 Wheatear several of the males looking very bright on underside and brownish backs (Icelandic/Greenland birds), 2 Swift, 12 Swallow, 1 White Wagtail on ground at headland early on, 1 Great Skua > high N over headland, 13 Rooks > high N over headland they are usually fairly scarce on the headland with no colonies very close by.

Below: Icelandic/Greenland Wheatear left. Grasshopper Warbler right.

Bowling Green Marsh - update

The Black-winged Stilt was present until 2050hrs at least, in fading light. When I left it was directly in front of the hide. Also an Osprey was seen circling briefly to the north of the marsh at about 1950hrs, before drifting off towards the Exe. Several Whimbrel were present and 19 Greenshank flew in at 2020hrs but found it difficult to settle. 8 Gadwall on the main pool. Cetti's and Sedge Warblers were also heard.

Out and about

Exminster marsh arrived early in hope of seeing the Black Winged Stilts. No sign of them but spotted my first swift of the year. Whimbrel numbers were around 300. Lots of warblers about. Reed, Willow and Cettis. Dawlish Warren set up my scope just as some Pomarine Skuas were passing. Was only here 10 minutes and spotted borh Arctic and Great Skuas when I received news that a Black Winged Stilt had been spotted at Bowling Green Marsh so headed straight there. Bowling Green Marsh got there to quite a crowd gathered looking in to the field to the left of the hide. The Black Winged Stilt was showing very well and we all got great views and photos. Yarner Wood popped along to see if I could see the Wood Duck. Fab views of him and he has paired with a female Mandarin. He has his work cut out fighting off all the other drake Mandarins!!! A walk around the wood produces a Solitary Wood Warbler and 3 Pied Flycatchers! All in all a good day out!

kenwith n.r.

  Male mandarin duck on lower pond.

Thurlestone Bay

Another day wherethe main highlights were the Skua's.

Between 9.30-12.3- 12 Arctic Skuas ( 7 dark & 5 light phased) - at 12.00 5 flew over the car park and proceeded to fly up the valley. A sinle Bonxie recorded.

6 Sandwich , 6 Arctic and 3 Common made up the Tern count. A single Manx Shearwater, 6 Fulmar 
5 Kittiwake. Waders -just 15 Whimbrel.

2 large male Wheatear at South Huish Marsh looked to be of the Greenland race.
On Thurlestone marsh -1 Swift, 15 swallow, 1 Sand  Martin, 14 Teal and the male Wigeon

Beesands Ley

Red-crested Pochard X Tufted Duck hybrid present this afternoon. Also a couple of hundred Swallows and a couple Whimbrel.

Berry Head seawatches yesterday 25th

A few shots taken in dull light-the Black Guillemot flying and swimming, a Bonxie and a rather distant Pom Skua

Slapton Ley

08:30-14:30.
Miserable weather on arrival, southwest wind and rain with little shelter at Torcross. Good numbers of Gannets and Fulmars in Start Bay but nothing matching the excitment elsewhere, all i saw were a couple of Sandwich Terns and a couple of Brent Geese ( too distance to assign to race ) heading south. Walked down the beach towards the central car park and came across 20+ Wheatears, the males were big and bright suggesting they were Greenlands. Good numbers of Swallows moving through with some House Martins and Swifts.The highlight of the day was a singing Nightingale unseen in the bushes and trees on the leyside of the road c 400 metres south of the central car park.First heard at 10:00 it never sang with great vigour but still giving out odd snatches until 12:00 at least.  Other noteworthy birds were the suspected usual female Marsh Harrier and a great compact flock of 4 Great Northen Divers c200 metres offshore which included 3 in summer plumage.

Bowling green marsh

After hearing the news of black winged stilt on bowling green marsh this morning had to hope that the bird would stay until I finished work at 2 and luck was in not great views as it stayed down to the right of the hide flying a couple of times a stunning bird and a first for Bowling green marsh. Thanks to some visiting birders had a report of hobby over Between 12:00 and 12:30 also 117 whimbrel This afternoon there was 8 gadwall, 1 pintail(m), 4 tufted duck 8+ whimbrel, good numbers of swallow, sand martins, and house martins

Exminster marshes

A bit quieter today. Also Station Road is partially flooded. Lots of swifts, I counted well over 100 and saw one flock of 23. Whimbrel numbers were well down, about 330 in 3 discreet flocks. However  by 10.30 most of these had moved north or east due to repeated attacks from at least one female peregrine. A flock of 48 bar-tailed godwits reacted in the same way. There was also one greenshank and one common sandpiper.

Sedge and reed warblers were singing well and a lesser whitethroat sang briefly along the railway path. (Note- this path is flooded and impassable near Turf).

Beer - Seawatch

Two watches from Beer today 6.00 - 10.30 & 14.00 - 16.30, combined totals - 4 Pomarine Skuas, 13 Arctic Skuas, 44 Great skuas ( maybe a few were the same birds, but there was a lot out there )50 Sandwich Terns, 1 Little Tern, 3 Common Terns, 70+ Kittiwakes, 17 Common Scoter, 2 Velvet Scoter, 100 + Whimbrel, 49 Brent Geese,  2 G N Diver, 1 R T Diver, 1 B T Diver, also a few Manx Shearwaters. 

Wrafton

Can't match the excitement 'down south', but good numbers of Swallows outnumbering the Sand Martins about 5-1. 2/3 House Martins, and a lone Common Sandpiper this evening.

Exminster marshes

Dashed out to the marsh as soon as finished work at 14:00 and glad I did getting good views of the 3 black winged stilts thanks to the use of a scope from the gathered birders. Poped home via matford marsh were the Egyptian goose Was still present. Returned to exminster marsh at 17:00 with bins and scope had 23 wheatear in fields on right of station road and my first swifts for the year with 20+ in 2 hours. No sign of the black winged stilts but large numbers of whimbrel very mobile best estimate was 800-1000 including a group of 130+ high over the estuary. Good numbers of swallows and sand martins and 12+ house martins 30+ little egrets around the marsh, 100+ shelduck, 6+ wigeon, 8+ tufted duck, a brief view of a short eared owl towards the motorway bridge. An excellent afternoon

Orcombe Pt., Exmouth.

Early morning 3 Pomarine Skuas [ 2 LP and 1 DP ] initially seen off  Dawlish Warren "boathouse" arrived off Orcombe Point, settling on the sea but occasionally chasing terns and gulls before disappearing. Mid-morning, and another 3 were seen on the sea off the seafront, all LP this time. After some time, they were joined by a Bonxie, took off, climbed high, facing South , and were blown North up the Exe, backwards! Earlier a group of 5 Bonxies flew West, and a dozen Pale-bellied Brents.   All the Poms were full-spooned crackers!

Exminster Marshes

During a short spell when the rained stopped mid-afternoon, 2 of the 3 Black-winged Stilts flew close to the canal car park for about 10 minutes.

Exminster and Matford Marshes

The 3 Black-Winged Stilts still early afternoon viewable from near the end car park looking towards the lagoon and several hundred Whimbrel.  Nearby, the Egyptian Goose still on Matford Marsh.

Thurlestone Bay

After a very stormy night and some very heavy rain ( there is more water on the marsh than at any time this year) expectations were high- we were not disappointed . Bay watched 06.15 - 12.30 Watchers PaulB , Bob B, AJL, Nick T  Mike Morris and myself.

It was a Tern and Skua morning, probably the largest total of Skua's in a morning for many years.

Common Tern  93,  Sandwich Tern  77 , Great Skua - 10 ( inc 2 groups of 4 ) Arctic Skua 9 ( inc dark intermediate and pale phases ) Whimbrel 63, Bar Tailed Godwit 3 , Gannet 265, Fulmar 9 , Razorbill 16,
Kittiwake 77, Great Northern Diver ( sp )1, Brent Goose ( d b )1 .

A brief look by Nick at South Huish marsh produced 10 Swallow, 5 Wheatear, 1 Sedge Wblr.

At 11.30 news re'cd  of Swift at Thurlestone marsh - quick visit produced 2 (first of the year ) 4 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, and 10 Swallow.

Will post later if any addn'l news

Exminster marshes

Shortly after a very heavy shower at 11.18 I started to count whimbrel. At about 450 I realised I was looking at 3 black-winged stilts. I forgot to count the remaining whimbrel. After another very heavy shower I was unable to re-locate them. They were near the canal-side car park.

Also c20 swifts, 1 probable little-ringed plover and hundreds of whimbrel. Also c45 geese flew over , probably brents - pale bellied.

poor photo

Berry Head

Updated 2055hrs:

Seawatching 0600 - 2000hrs 1 sum plum Black Guillemot, 7 Puffin, 2 Great Northern Divers, Red-throated Diver, 4 Pomarine Skuas (all full spooned),75 Great Skuas, 7 Arctic Skuas, Balearic Shearwater, 2000+ Manx Shearwaters, 100+ Sandwich Tern, 11 Common Tern, 23 Arctic Terns, 11 Comic Terns, 22 Whimbrel, 1 Common Scoter, 3 Shoveler and Brent Goose. Good passage of Auks including many Razorbills peaking around 500/hr, good movement of c400 Fulmars including 4 dark (intermediate) birds and one double light bird. Also a Swift

Perhaps the Black Guillemot is the same as the East Devon bird last week - if so where has it been for the last week! Dave Norman Managed to get a few photos of the Black Guillemot as it flew past, hopefully they will be published later.

 ML,MD,DMN,BMcD,KB,SS

Rillage Point to Watermouth last night

18.00 to 20.00 between the showers on Tuesday evening, 24th April: 2 Swifts offshore were the first of the year here. In the scrub, two singing male Whitethroats, four male Blackcaps and a scattering of Phylloscs. A trickle of Swallow and House Martin passage westward, hugging the shoreline.

Braunton Burrows

Following Tom's post. I went out to the Burrows this evening, and three things happened.
1. Met a non-birding friend who said they'd been seeing up to 4 Owls here for about 6 weeks. (!)
2. Saw a Short-eared Owl.
3. Met Tom, who had seen 2 Owls before I arrived.

So three Short-eared Owls this evening. Lots of Swallows vapouring about, and a few singing Willow Warblers. Got back to the car just before the rain set in.

Exminster Marshes

Cycled along the Exeter canal this evening after work, caught in a long downpour at Exminster but worth it for the flock of whimbrel - counted 132 in the field immediately in front of the canal-side viewing platform, then a further flock out on the river, and a few birds on the sea wall beyond the turf. Recording of the birds, in the rain, here

Upottery Airfield, Smeatharpe

The first wheatears of the spring this afternoon dodging the hail showers - 3 males and 2 females. Also 15 swallows and 8 stock doves.

Exminster marshes

A quick visit between 9.00 and 10.00 this morning coincided with the high tide. The wader roost contained 62 curlew, 9 dunlin, 2 black tailed godwits and 2 whimbrel. I counted another c80 whimbrel elsewhere. Roosting shelduck numbers were very impressive with over 109. A dense flock of 22 little egrets was on the field north of Station Road.

3 swifts were the first I had seen this year and a female wheatear was near the lagoon.

Broadclyst

Tawny Owl photographed this morning in Ashclyst Forest by Richard Wellington.

Exminster Marshes

Had a 2 hour walk round the marsh this morning between 9.30 and 11.30 and saw some good birds.

First Swift of the year (always good to see!) also lots of Hirundines about, 150+ Whimbrel and a female Marsh Harrier at 11.08 circling over the main lagoon then gained height and off high to the north.

[Kevin Bainbridge]

Matford marsh

Egyptian goose showing well 14:35 on matford marsh

Skern and Instow

07:00-08:00 Skern.
Very poor showing at high tide in the cold NW wind.
Just 4 Great Black-backed Gulls; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 6 Shelduck; 71 Herring Gulls;
2 Whimbrel; 1 Pied Wagtail and just 5 waders( believed Ringed Plover) in flight off-shore.

08:25 Instow Cricket Ground.
16 juvenile Common Gulls on the green and 8 Whimbrel on foreshore. All put up by dogs.

Braunton Burrows

Braunton Burrows

6.50pm, 3 quartering S.E Owls. fairly close to one another. very good views. approx 8min stroll in a SW direction from Burrows Car Park. (main entrance)

No camera I'm afraid but unreal views.

Thurlestone Bay

Evening update - Bob B at 18.00 had another 22 Common Tern and a Little Tern fly through, earlier another 10 Manx S'water offshore and 2 Wheatear in the cafe field

Brixham breakwater

22 Purple Sandpipers under the old fuel pier. Record number, for me anyway! 4 or 5 is more usual.

Thurlestone Bay

Although viz poor at first the conditions and a brisk SE breeze provided a superb viz mig morning . Bay watched from 08.00-13.00 by Bob B & myself.  Tern movement was great . A total of 375 Common Tern through by11.00 included flocks of 100, 200 and 50. A Little tern at 11.40 was my first spring record here. Finally Sandwich Tern were 45.

2 Bonxie, 195 gannet, 13 Kittiwake, 27 Manx Shearwater, 31 Common Scoter, 1m Wigeon, 1 Red T Diver, 15 Whimbrel , 1 Bar Tailed Godwit ,1 sp Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 1m Yellow Wagtail, 120 Swallow, 2 House martin 2 Sand Martin .

Berry Head

Seawatch 0750-1050. Arrived as an intense belt of rain slackened off, good  numbers of birds moving south as soon as I looked out. Totals Manx Shearwater 1500+, Bonxie 17, Pomarine Skua 3 with full spoons(one very close), Arctic Skua 5 (one pale phase), Puffin 5, Common Scoter 15, Little Gull 1, Mediterranean Gull 3, Sandwich Tern 2, Red-throated Diver 1, Pale-bellied Brent Goose 7. Did not count auks initially as I assumed these would be mostly local, but large numbers then started passing and I estimate 3000 including several large groups of   Razorbills. Passage reduced considerably  after 10.00

Exminster marshes

This evening between 6.00 and 7.30 bird activity on the marshes was dominated by whimbrels. Shortly after 6.30 pm 77 flew north, in small groups and calling loudly. Another 40 were at the roosting site with about 87 curlew, 2 oystercatchers and 2 knot, but another and larger flock of 203 was feeding on the field next to the canal just south of the viewing platform. This gives a total count of at least 320 whimbrels.

Elsewhere 2 peregrines, including a sub-adult on a kill in the middle of the marsh, 78 shelduck and lots of swallows, sand martins (c30) and house martins (c30).

Exminster Marshes 21-22 April

Whimbrel numbers continue to increase, with 240 by early afternoon on 22nd.  Also: 2 short-eared owl and single swift both days.

Plym Estuary

19 Whimbrel over Blaxton Meadow this evening (2 settled on the meadow last night with a lone Curlew). Otherwise little of note.

Challacombe - yesterday 21/4

Saw & heard my 1st cuckoo of the yr yesterday at challecombe..(Martin Cox)

Fremington Quay

Two immature spoonbills showing very well in creek along with two little egrets and two whimbrels.

Thurlestone Bay

Sunday 22 April

In the Bay - 31 Whimbrel, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Wheatear,, 1 Purple Sandpiper. Staedy passage of Swallow up to 12.30

Exmouth

Orcombe Point - 0620 - 0800 and 1510 - 1700 - 14+ common scoter, 22+ sandwich tern, 30+ manx shearwater, 1+ razorbill, 7+ fulmar, 4 great northern diver, 2 little tern and 1+ arctic skua. Also 55+ whimbrel, 16+ bar-tailed godwit, c30+ wader sp and 1 turnstone. Additionally 1+ siskin and 1 sand martin with a trickle of linnets and goldfinches through.
The last couple of days have been very quiet but yesterday 1 tree pipit over and Friday a single crossbill over. Of note there were at least 170 kittiwake on their Sandy Bay nest ledges on Friday.

Yarner and Trendlebere Down

Another good morning before the showers. Plenty of pied flycatchers in song around Yarner, along with quite a few wood warblers. Up on Trendlebere a distant cuckoo, my first of the year, tree pipit, siskin, redpoll and stonechat. Recording below is wood warbler from this morning. Second phase is the bird's less frequent "piping" song.

Bowling green marsh

Watched from the hide this morning 26 whimbrel, 4 Dunlin, 6+ knot, 90+ black tailed godwit, 50+ bar tailed godwit, 4 tufted duck(3m,f), 3 little egrets ,1m wigeon, small passage of swallow & sand martins, 3 house martins From goat walk 50+ whimbrel

Whimbrels

Went out to look for a few this morning. At just after high tide at the Skern, I found about 15, and what I thought was a Ruff, but when I tried to get closer, it moved off and then all the Whimbrels and the Ruff were disturbed by a dog walker, and flew across to near the entrance, but by the time I got there, the rain and wind kept me in the car. Also recorded 2 Dunlin (one in lovely summer plumage) and a dozen or so Ringed Plover. Maybe 10 White Wagtails. A walk along the cliffs past Westward Ho! showed a flock of 13 Whimbrels flying out towards Lundy! Nothing else - too cold. Stopped on the way home at Fremington Creek and saw 3 more Whimbrels. Bradiford reserve was, well, windswept!

Bowling green marsh

From the hide this evening 18:45 till 20:00 1 snipe, my first white wagtail of the year, 4 Dunlin, 10 knot, 13 greenshank, 1 wigeon, 55+ bar tailed godwits, 90+ black tailed godwit, 15+ house martins and good numbers of sand Martin and swallows, 2 tufted duck (m,f)

Topsham

A beautiful morning at bowling green marsh watched from the hide 1 whimbrel, 8 knot,4 dunlin, 60+ bar tailed godwit, 100+ black tailed godwit, cetti's and sedge warbler, 1 wigeon 2 gadwall, peregrine, small passage of swallow and sand martins and 2 house martins

walked around to the goat walk and had 2 groups of whimbrel fly up river (3 & 9) also 3 sandwich tern flying around on the far side at least 60+ whimbrel feeding on the exposed mud, 3 more groups of (5,3,11) flew over and 2 groups of 3 landed on mud right in front of me.

from the viewing platform on bowling green marsh another group of 8 whimbrel flew in and 4 greenshank

In total 106+ whimbrel this morning around topsham

Exminster Marshes

A lovely calm sunny early morning on the marshes:  at least 100 Whimbrel including one flock of 70, over 30 Little Egrets, a few Reed and Sedge Warblers in song, a light passage of Sand Martins and Swallows going through, a Wheatear and a Short-eared Owl giving good views over the northern marsh.

Upottery Airfield, Smeatharpe

First visit for somewhile this evening due to heavy work committments. However I was rewarded by the presence of 3 whimbrel on the airfield which was a nice surprise; also 10 swallows feeding low over a dandelion filled meadow. 8 stock doves, 2 chiffchaff and plenty of linnets present - the latter were noted on passage through the Blackdowns earlier in the day. 

Blackingstone Rock

Lovely early morning walk at Blackingstone Rock today, everything in good voice including this tree pipit...

Wembury

Pretty dire this morning with 3 Whimbrel, 1 Willow Warbler and 2 Blackcaps. A daylight Tawny Owl at the point saved things a bit. 8 Whimbrel going west and 2 Sandwich Terns this afternoon. Also my first Swallow of the year for the garden.

Thurlestone Bay

Fine sunny day with brisk cool wind turned W around 10.30.

First sign of Wader passage with 3 groups in off the sea and flying straight up the valley- first were 3 Bar Tailed Godwit followed by 6 and later 4 Whimbrel.

In the Bay were 4 Arctic Tern ( first of the year ) 2 Sandwich Tern, 5 Manx Shearwater, 8 Kittiwake.

Migrants limlted to 36 Swallow.

No sign of the Little Bunting this afternoon

Berry Head

A brief visit this morning gave a reeling Grasshopper warbler (heard only alas), a single whitethroat and
2 Wheatear. Otherwise fairly quiet migrant wise.
Three days ago a visiting birder and myself were delighted to see a Whimbrel land on the turf in the southern
fort, it was close enough for a great photo. Just got zoomed in when out of nowhere, a charging spaniel and
smiling woman.......I'm almost over it now.

Yarner Wood

Early morning walk. A roe deer crossed the track by the office on the way in. A short walk round the wood produced 4 pied flycatchers, 3 male (1 of them singing, another courting a female), also a singing wood warbler. 8 mandarin on the pond (6 drake, 2 duck) with the drake wood duck, with a lot of courtship going on here too.

Dipper song

Some Dipper song - recorded a few days ago on the River Teign by Charlie Fleming.

Bowling green marsh

From the hide 16:30 till 18:40

Good passage of sand martins and swallows with 20+ house martins, 98+ black tailed godwits, 60+ bar tailed godwits, 8 knot,5 dunlin, 1 whimbrel, 60+ curlew, 2 gadwall, 17+ greenshank, 20+ redshank.

Skern

12 whimbrel,bar tailed godwit,38 ringed plover,150 white wagtails.Mainly  female types with dusky flanks with a group  presumably males 50+ very neat wiith pure  whiite flanks and tending to stay seperatefrom  the females.skern.Present on leaving at 18:15.

Thurlestone Bay

A Little Gull flew west at 10.10 ( first of the year ) 3 Manx Shearwater. A single Whimbrel on the rocks. In the bushes walking to Warren Pt a Whitethroat

Exminster Marshes

Over the high tide this evening: a drake garganey, male merlin and a beautiful flock of 101 whimbrel busily refuelling.

Skern???

Little tern,4 whimbrel,7 gey plover,4 knot,34 ringed  plover,4 dunlin,and at least 84 white wagtail.

Thurlestone Bay

Sea watched from 08.30 -12.30 ,had to leave the car park couln't put the scope up and the car was rocking . Sheltered from the NW 7/8 ( gusting 9 in the squalls) but not the heavy showers.

Totals recorded were - 320 Gannet, 74 Fulmar, 57 Manx Shearwater, 2 Great Skua, 5 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 8 Razorbill, 4 Auk sp.

Migrants restricted to 10 Swallow and 2 Sedge Warbler on Thurlestone marsh.

Gannet total highest of the year , Fulmar total is a site record for me

Rackerhays

A mixed flock of 25+ Hirundines at Rackerhays early afternoon over Dawes Pond, (half and half Sand Martins-Swallows) included 1-2 House Martins.

Skern

A good selection of birds at high tide in very unpleasant conditions. 1 Little Tern 8 Whimbrel 2 Knot 6 Grey Plover c30 Ringed Plover 3 Dunlin c100 White Wagtail

Exmoor

Just in Devon on West Anstey Common - about 60 golden plover, most in summer plumage. Flock just south of Ridge Road at 13.00.

Exmouth seafront

  0630-1100 : 13  Manx Shearwaters flew South-west, with a Bonxie and 2 Arctic Skuas mid-morning, along with at least one Common Tern amongst the Sandwich Terns, and a dozen Whimbrel.
 Truly trumped ! But beats working!

Seaton

Seawatch 06:35-09:00
234 Manx, 91 Gannet, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 diver sp., 4 Bonxies, 2 Arctic Skuas, 12 Sandwich Terns, 1 Little Gull, 10 Kittiwakes, 1 Razorbill, 2 Guillemots, 3 auk sp., 10 Whimbrel.

A very nice haul, but soundly trumped by the summer-plumaged Black Guillemot which flew past two of our colleagues stationed at Beer!

Berry Hd

Seawatching 0600-0730hrs, all birds moving south: 281 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Red-throated Divers (sum plum), 23 Fulmar, 42 Gannets & 3 Harbour Porpoises very close in to headland. Didn't appear to be any new migrants in quarry or on top of the headland and no passerines moving overhead.

          
    
        28 common gulls on instow cricket ground this evening,17:30.4 adult 24 fs,

Exminster marshes

Quick visit around 6.00 pm coincided with the high tide. About 50 curlew roosting. Other waders included the regular 2 oystercatchers, 5 whimbrel and a probable ruff that flew in and vanished. There is still a flock of over 70 shelduck roosting on the marsh. Elsewhere 16 little egrets was the most I have seen for a long time, they were feeding in the wet fields probably on earthworms.

This morning at about 7.30 4 or 5 jays flew north over the village. Another landed in a garden later in the morning. I saw another 2 or 3 a few days ago flying north. Possibly migrants?

Thurlestone Bay

Complete contrast to yesterday- F6 WNW ( later F8 ) rough sea and some heavy showers.

Sea watched from flats 09.30- 12.30 which produced - 2 Great Skua, 148 Gannet, 25 Fulmar, 55 Manx Shearwater , 10 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common scoter, 18 Auks, 3 Whimbrel. Only 9 Swallow recorded

Pale-bellied Brents

Just had a phone call from Dave Hopkins, there's 130-150 Pale-bellied Brent Geese on the Exe off Mudbank Lane, Exmouth. Presumably something to do with the flock of c100 that flew past West Bexington (Dorset) and then Beer Head earlier this morning.

Over this way, lots of grounded migrants this morning. Beer Cemetery Fields produced 45+ Willow Warblers, 2 Redstarts (males) and singles of Grasshopper Warbler and Tree Pipit. With a Whitethroat at Black Hole Marsh (along with the already mentioned Grasshopper Warbler and Common Tern) and 20 Wheatear on Seaton Marshes.

Seaton Area

Seawatch from 07:00-08:00
60+ pale-bellied Brents (in 3 flocks), 6 Common Scoter, 1 Bonxie, 2 Great Northern Divers, 1 diver sp.,4 Sandwich Terns, 8 Manx Shearwaters and a 1st-summer Med Gull. All flew W except the Med, which was loitering just off the beach.

At Black Hole Marsh was a Grasshopper Warbler which went against the grain by actually showing itself, and a Common Tern. Also lots of Willow Warblers seemingly fresh in.

Clennon Valley

A quick visit around the ponds this morning produced my first Grasshopper Warbler (didn't see it though!) of the year, 2 Swallows, 2 Willow Warblers and numerous singing Chiffchaff. Still two Little Egret lingering on the top pond with 6 Teal and a single Mandarin drake.

Yarner Wood

To complement all the photos ... here's a sound recording ... of a pied flycatcher song at Yarner Wood yesterday.

Bowling green marsh

A quiet afternoon from the hide 15:00 till 18:00 but Some good birds notably 2 spotted redshank with 1 now in full summer plumage in with 15 greenshank, 1 whimbrel dropped in with a few curlew, 30+ black tailed godwit, 1 knot, 1 Dunlin, 1 grey plover was an unusual record, good numbers of swallows and sand martins moving through and at least 6+ house martins, 1 1st winter Mediterranean gull, 11+ common gull, 2 great black backed gulls, little grebe, 4 gadwall, 2 shoveler a peregrine caused panic as it attacked the waders but just missed a black tailed godwit, reed bunting and 40+ shelduck.

Earlier on matford marsh 3 green sandpipers, 1 little grebe

Velator

Ringing this morning produced 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 each of Blackcap and Willow Warbler, and the first Grasshopper Warbler ringed at this site!

However bird of the day was the first Reed Warbler of the year, a retrap which was also the first Reed Warbler caught last year (3 April) and also the first Reed Warbler ringed in the reserve in 2010 (on 17 April).

Later on Sherpa Marsh, 2 pairs of Gadwall, 3o Mute Swans, and a Common Sandpiper on the Pill.

South Dartmoor

Red Kite heading east 11:20. Also Grasshopper Warbler reeling, plenty of Redstarts now in.

Berry Head

Not much moving this morning just a single Willow Warbler, Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaff, highlight was a Whitethroat (my first here this spring) and one Redpoll.

Bovey Tracey

First newly-fledged birds of the season for me this year: a family of Robins on the fringe of Parke estate. Swallows around on the high moor today and yesterday included a bird pushing north through an intense hailstorm on Tor Royal Bog.

Sherpa Marsh

Late evening walk around; 3 Gadwall again, 100+ Sand Martins with a few Swallows, and maybe 40 Alba Wagtails flew in to the reed-bed, most of which seemed to be White Wagtails. 2 Little Owls again on the roofs of Marstage Farm.

Exminster Marshes

Osprey off Turf, carrying fish to Powderham Park area, at 1510; little ringed plover at Matford Marsh; and injured ruff still on Powderham Marsh.

Beesands Ley

Quiet WeBS count this afternoon, chilly wind keeping temperatures down. On the ley 11 Gadwall, 21 Tufted Duck and 7 Pochard. Single Shelduck also present. A couple Cetti's Warblers singing but no sign of any Reed or Sedge Warblers and only 6 Swallows seen in an hour.

Thurlestone Bay

A very quiet day 2 additions to the year list- Sedge Warbler on Thurlestone Marsh and a Lesser Redpoll amongst a passage of Linnets over the car park.

In the bay a lone Sandwich Tern

Yarner Wood

Pied flycatcher in reasonable voice. Brief snippet of wood warbler song. Blackcaps loud and everywhere. Mandarins and wood duck looking particularly fine. Wonderful early morning stroll.

Exminster and topsham

Exminster 07:45 till 09:30

My first Reed and sedge warblers of the year along station road also 80+ sand Martin, 30+ swallow and 2 house Martin, 6+ blackcap, 7+ chiffchaff,2 willow warblers.

Around topsham 10:00 till 13:15

200+ sand Martin through bowling green marsh in small groups most heading north east also 25+ swallows, 12+ greenshank flew over also gadwall, 1 wigeon,5+ common gulls, 6 knot, 30+ black tailed godwits and 1 sparrowhawk

Goat walk

2 sandwich terns flew up river, 60+ bar tailed godwits, 8+ knot, 50+ black tailed godwits

Rillage Point to Watermouth

One singing Grasshopper Warbler this morning, plus 30 Swallows and 3 House Martins heading into the sharp ENE breeze. Otherwise very quiet.

Berry Hd

06.30-0900: A brisk cold NE cutting into most of the headlands migrant corners and clear skies meant there was very little to be found as far as passage birds go. 12 (mostly territorial) Chiffchaffs, 2 willow Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 3 Swallows and nothing much else. Two Roe Deer were bit of a surprise in the field behind the Wardens bungalow.