Orcombe point area 09:30 till 11:45
The male redstart was along gore lane a cracking bird, also 4 blackcaps, 5 willow warbler and lots of chiffchaff, 3 buzzards.
Along the seafront back to exmouth 20+ sandwich terns close to shore then at 12:10 all gulls went up and high over an osprey heading north/ north east first of the year for me.
Friday, 6 April 2012
Exminster marshes
What a difference today; bright, sunny and calm. Obvious influx of migrants over night with an increase of singing willow warblers (7), a male wheatear, 4 swallows, at least 3 sand martins and a yellow wagtail. David Cope heard a sedge warbler on the canal bank.
The flock of shelduck had increased to 45 but the numbers of shoveller had declined to 24. Scattered over the marshes were about 20 wigeon, c25 teal, 6 tufted ducks and 8 mallard.
Yesterday evening there was an impressive number of curlew roosting at high tide (c500), 2 oystercatchers, c30 swallows and c50 sand martins.
The flock of shelduck had increased to 45 but the numbers of shoveller had declined to 24. Scattered over the marshes were about 20 wigeon, c25 teal, 6 tufted ducks and 8 mallard.
Yesterday evening there was an impressive number of curlew roosting at high tide (c500), 2 oystercatchers, c30 swallows and c50 sand martins.
Lapford
Heard singing first then saw my first Whitethroat of the year while running
between Lapford and Nymet Rowland this morning. Yet to hear first Willow
Warbler this far inland or see first Swallow. [Frank Youngman]
South Milton
The Little Bunting still present this morning on the seed pile by the sewage works. Also 6-10 Reed Buntings, 2 Willow Warbler's (1 singing) and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Bowling green marsh
From the hide 06:20 till 07:30
3 spotted redshank again this morning including the near summer plumage bird, 10 knot, 60+ bar tailed godwit, 2 greenshank, cetti's, 3 reed bunting, 4 little egrets, pintail(m), 4 shoveler, 6 gadwall, 2 roe deer, 100+ black tailed godwits, 3 willow warbler, 4+ chiffchaff, 1 blackcap
3 spotted redshank again this morning including the near summer plumage bird, 10 knot, 60+ bar tailed godwit, 2 greenshank, cetti's, 3 reed bunting, 4 little egrets, pintail(m), 4 shoveler, 6 gadwall, 2 roe deer, 100+ black tailed godwits, 3 willow warbler, 4+ chiffchaff, 1 blackcap
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Otter Estuary
Purple Heron showed well in the second field north of the bridge (South Farm Road). At 16.45 was near the ditch to the left of the field. Talking to other birders on site the bird had been very active between the second and third fields. I only got to see him as a Grey Heron had spooked him out of the ditch. Other birds were blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch and Green Woodpecker.
Otter Estuary
Despite not seeing the Purple Heron today, other birds of interest today included:
5 Wheatears on the cricket pitch
Water Pipit and Yellow Wagtail seen by visiting birders
1 Grey Plover on the scrapes and best of all a Little Ringed Plover this evening
5 Wheatears on the cricket pitch
Water Pipit and Yellow Wagtail seen by visiting birders
1 Grey Plover on the scrapes and best of all a Little Ringed Plover this evening
Plymouth
A superb male Pied Flycatcher in my garden (Mount Gould) at 8.15pm tonight! The first record here in over 20 years of living here.
photo by Jake Aley
Exmouth
Orcombe Point - 0650, 1700 & 1900 - three short visits today but would have liked to have spent longer. Although very cold and damp, migrants were in good supply. A singing male firecrest along the coast path towards Sandy Bay was unusual - the first I've ever heard singing in this country. The hedges were alive with at least 30+ phyllosc sp, predominantly willow warbler and there were 8 wheatear, 4+ meadow pipit, 2 blackcap, 1 male redstart (top fields), a bullfinch and best of all a superb male ring ouzel found this evening by Brian Heasman in the top fields.
Bowling green marsh
A cold overcast afternoon on the marsh from the viewing platform looking over the estuary 20 ringed plover, 10 knot, and a spotted redshank, 2 red breasted mergansers
From the hide 17:00 till 18:30.
3 spotted redshank one about three quarters into summer plumage a cracking looking bird, 10 knot, 78 bar tailed godwit, 140+ black tailed godwit, 80+ redshank, 2 shoveler, 6 wigeon, 6 gadwall, good passage of swallows and sand martins, little egret, little grebe
Not a bad afternoon
From the hide 17:00 till 18:30.
3 spotted redshank one about three quarters into summer plumage a cracking looking bird, 10 knot, 78 bar tailed godwit, 140+ black tailed godwit, 80+ redshank, 2 shoveler, 6 wigeon, 6 gadwall, good passage of swallows and sand martins, little egret, little grebe
Not a bad afternoon
Thurlestone Bay
A bitterly cold day with a brisk ENE wind.
3 hr sea watch from 09.15 produced - 7 Common scoter and a Teal east, 10 Sandwich Tern, 2 Razorbill and 2 Great crested Grebe in the Bay.
First large passage of Meadow Pipit- 175 came in off the sea and flew north - largest flock 40.
This eve. high tide wader roost - 14 Turnstone and 21 Oystercatcher
3 hr sea watch from 09.15 produced - 7 Common scoter and a Teal east, 10 Sandwich Tern, 2 Razorbill and 2 Great crested Grebe in the Bay.
First large passage of Meadow Pipit- 175 came in off the sea and flew north - largest flock 40.
This eve. high tide wader roost - 14 Turnstone and 21 Oystercatcher
Otter Estuary
The Purple Heron showed nicely between approx. 15:15 and 15:45 this afternoon in the 3rd field north of Whitebridge lane, having flown across from the 2nd field. Last seen wandering down into the wet ditch inside the wide hedgerow on the N side of the 3rd field. Stunning bird!
Very little else showing in the cold conditions. Just a scattering of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, plus 2-3 Willow Warblers.
Exminster marshes
A walk around the southern part at lunch time revealed few birds. It was cold, overcast and damp. On the lagoon a few ducks remain; 4 gadwall, 20+ shoveller and a few tufted duck. Low over the water were c12 swallows and c25 sand martins. Elsewhere on the marshes I counted 15 swallows, c20 shelduck, 30 teal, a single dark bellied brent goose (at Turf) and 7 curlew. Few birds singing but those that were included willow warblers (2), chiffchaffs (5) and Cettis (3).
Little Haldon Hoopoe - Negative News
No sign of
the Hoopoe around the crossroads last night 17.40 – 18.20 or this morning 07.30
– 08.15
[Will Salmon]
[Will Salmon]
Teignmouth Golf Course and Otter Estaury
The blog published earlier today with pics of the Hoopoe and Purple Heron was for yesterday 4 April, not today. Aplologies for not making it clear!
Teignmouth Golf Course and Otter Estuary
The Hoopoe showed well in the morning feeding on the golf course and flying across the road to the heath before returning to feed again.
In the afternoon I went to Whitebridge hoping to see the Purple Heron which had been elusive the previous afternoon. During the afternoon and early evening it showed well on a couple of occasions.
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Teignmouth Golf Course and Otter Estuary
The Hoopoe showing very well early morning by the 'Little Haldon' Crossroads on Teignmouth Golf Course-either by the disused building north west of the crossroads or on the golf course south east of the crossroads. Also a Willow Warbler singing. A Ring Ouzel was reported there at 4pm.
The Purple Heron showing well on and off all afternoon in the 2nd field north of White Bridge, on the Otter Estuary. Also a Swallow this evening and a Green Woodpecker calling by the river.
The Purple Heron showing well on and off all afternoon in the 2nd field north of White Bridge, on the Otter Estuary. Also a Swallow this evening and a Green Woodpecker calling by the river.
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