Prawle

Pallas's Warbler found in the Reserve just after 12.00. Those arriving later saw 2 together. The photos above may show 2 different birds, so I might have unknowingly seen both birds! Still present late afternoon.

The day started with a spectacular display of overhead migration. First off were thrushes. As dawn broke, small groups left the bushes and headed north. Most had gone within 30 minutes, leaving totals of 100 Redwing and 50 Fieldfares, with about 20 Song Thrushes. Woodpigeons then became the main event, and birds were, for the first hour or so literally filling the sky. Moving in all directions, at various different heights and distances, one scan out to sea showed about 3000 birds in view. Later they began moving in a more ordered fashion, heading south/south-east, and the morning finished with an estimated 16000. Small numbers of Stock Doves accompanied them, totalling 40+. All the while, small groups of Chaffinches were moving north, finishing with a total of 1200. Bullfinches were also on the move, a total of 23 being one of the highest counts here. Other notable birds over included 70 Goldfinches, 3 Bramblings, 13 Siskins, 1 Redpoll, 2 Reed Buntings, Grey Wagtail and a Woodlark. Small numbers of Skylarks, Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits and Linnets also moved north.

Also seen today; Short-eared Owl, Merlin, 2 Golden Plovers, 4 Swallows, House Martin, 18 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests and a Firecrest. On a short seawatch, 3 Common Scoters, a Great Skua and a Diver sp (probably GND) went past.

Last, but by no means least (all birds count at Prawle!), a flock of 68 Canada Geese flying over the Airfileds late afternoon set a new site record.

(records also from Dave Hopkins, John Lambert and Tony Marchese)

Bowling green marsh

After a cracking morning at Dawlish Warren got the train over to topsham and arrived at Bowling green marsh at 12:45.

A quiet afternoon but still some good birds with 3 Spotted redshanks ( 2 adult and a juv/first winter ) showing very well at times. There were 200+ teal and 60+ wigeon, 1 male Pintail, 1  male Gadwall and 2 shoveler. 150+ black tailed godwits, 15+ bar tailed godwit, 40+ dunlin, 2 knot 30+ lapwing, 2 jays and 1 female sparrowhawk.

A  good end  to the day

Dawlish Warren

Arrived at Dawlish Warren just after 7:oo this morning with a cool northerly wind started to walk out towards the dunes to do a bit of vis mig hopefully and was not to be disappointed with from the word go large groups of Woodpigeon with  8000 + in the first hour they were coming from exmouth area then turning and heading  west / north west over the warren. There were good numbers of chaffinch and skylarks heading east with two groups of redpoll ( 6 & 7) with 12 siskin and at laest 50+ redwing. Then just after 8 a SNOW BUNTING  flew low overhead moving northwest calling the first year tick of the day.

The birds kept coming with 2 Peregrines attacking one of the groups of woodpigeon flying over.
Lee collins  picked out a Jack snipe flying in of the sea and heading north my second year tick  a sparrowhak flew east along the beach. Then headed over to the hide to try and see the AMERICAN WIGEON and Lee found it quickly  in with the masses of wigeon not bad views and my third year tick and a devon tick. The female Scaup was showing very well with a Red breasted merganser also 5+ bar tailed godwit and good numbers of knot and dunlin.

On the walk back to the station  had a group of 30+ Golden plover heading high north, and several smaller groups of woodpigeon  still moving west/ north west with a final total of 14000+ in 5 hours. Along the back path had a group of 6+ lesser redpoll, 15+ siskin, 5+ goldcrests  and 2 male bullfich and a female blackcap  and 20+ long tailed tits

A cracking 5 hours of  birding thanks Lee for your help this morning.

Soar

In addition to Pete's post I had a probable Dusky Warbler at 10.30 in the hedge that runs at the top of Starehole Valley, 150M NW of the ponds. Seen quite well but briefly three times, most of the plumage and jizz was right for Dusky and it was constantly calling a sharp 'tek', didn't get prolonged enough views to 100% separate from Radde's, very frustrating as it was one or the other! Disappeared into cover and not seen again despite alot of searching, hopefully might be seen again.

Also in addition: Dartford Warbler, Woodlark, 3 Mistle Thrushes, 6+ Goldcrest and at least 60 Song Thrushes in the area. A thoroughly enjoyable day despite the one that got away.

Thurlestone Bay

Missed the report on the Starling roost - numbers well down at 1500, a Swallow over the marsh at 16.30

Thurlestone Marsh

Late afternoon update - a female Black Redstart on roof of my house at 13.30. Female marsh harrier over the marsh both early am & late aft. On the marsh a Blk t Godwit, 3 Snipe , Water rail, Grey wagtail , Cettis Warbler , 30 Teal

Whiteworks,Dartmoor

130 Fieldfare; 20 Redwing; 40 Starling; 2 Lesser Redpoll - all on the move!

Soar

A busy day with quite a bit of "vis mig" from dawn including a spectacular movement of Wood Pigeons: a conservative (if crude) estimate of 18,000 birds mainly going South East, 0705 - 0910. Unusually they started moving just after dawn. During the same period: 140 Skylarks, 50 Meadow Pipits, 240 Chaffinches, 55 Goldfinches, 45 Linnets, 10 Alba Wagtails, 2 Fieldfares, 55 Starlings, 4 Song Thrushes, 1 Siskin, and 1 Greenfinch.

Also: 1 Short-eared Owl flushed from scrub between Bolt Head and the Warren at c0730; 1 Golden Plover; c25 Stock Doves; 2 Redwings; 1 male Ring Ouzel; 1 ad fem Hen Harrier (fields around East Soar Car park); 1 Black Redstart; 1 Merlin; 2 Bullfinches, 2 Firecrests (West Soar); 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker; and 1 Wheater.

Overall a lively day!

Berry Head

A couple of Black Redstarts, photographed today by Simon Thurgood...

Upottery Airfield, Smeatharpe

Great grey shrike still present to dusk. 100+ fieldfare with a sprinkling of redwing and 400+ woodpigeon

Exminster Marshes

This afternoon to dusk: unringed, adult red-breasted goose with Canada geese (I guess a returning presumed escape); male merlin to roost; and one short-eared owl (Topsham Lock area).

Also: 12 golden plover, 200 lapwing on the Marshes & 1000 starling in the Exe reedbed roost.

Wembury

Chaffinches were bird of the day with at least 400 going west this morning (all in groups of 5 - 20). A conservative estimate of the Woodpigeons was about 800 going east (seeming having arrived off the sea) first thing and another 500 or so going west later. Also 5 Siskin, 2 Jay, quite a few Skylarks, 50+ Redwing and the first Fieldfare of the Autumn. Birds seemed to be cutting over Wembury Point then heading west.

Start Point

07.00 - 14.00 (with Perry from 09.30 - 11.00) see his post for conditions and much more detailed counts:
Gannet (4 ad.s E), Hen Harrier (1 fem. right at the point apparently in off the sea at 07.45 and headed NW. up the point), Woodpigeon (flock of 200 E. far out over water), Black Redstart (2 at the lighthouse), Fieldfare (5 at farm), Redwing (1 at farm), Dartford Warbler (1 singing W. of Mattiscombe Bay), Blackcap (5+ at farm), Chiffchaff (1 in lighthouse tamarisks), Firecrest (2 in lighthouse tamarisks, 1 at farm), Pallas's Warbler (1 on private land nearby), Brambling (2 N. over with Chaffinches), Siskin (3 at farm), Bullfinch (3-4 at farm), Cirl Bunting (1 fem. at farm)

Start Point

06:50-12:00. Fresh to strong NW in the car park first thing, Light to moderate N by mid morning with bright conditions.

Vis mig from the car park 07:00-10:00, all headed between west to north except Woodpigeons.
10200 Woodpigeons, most cutting southwest inland on a heading between Slapton to Prawle / Portlemouth, largest flock 2500 +, 4 Swallow, 104 Skylark, 22 Meadow Pipit, 12 alba Wagtail, 27 Starling, 630 Chaffinch, 250 Goldfinch, 16 Siskin, 26 Linnet, 11 Greenfinch, 10 Lesser Redpoll, 10 Bullfinch, 12 Brambling and 3 Reed Buntings. Elsewhere an additional Lesser Redpoll and Grey Wagtail. A few thrushes around eg 15 Redwing and 6 Fieldfare. 5 Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and Firecrest in the farm, Chiffchaff down at the light. Flock of c300 Starlings around the mast field.

Thurlestone Bay

Superb morning more like early Sept than Nov.

Having returned from a few days of vg birding in Norfolk with reasonably good views of Bearded Tit I was not expecting to find the first ones for c20 years on South Milton Ley. Bob B had 7 at 09.00 near the bridge which departed with their typical spiral high flight . 2 more were heard and seen at 10.00 with at least 1 still calling at 11.00.

Whilst waiting for the B T 's to appear the ploughd field had a good flock of Pipits which included 2 Water Pipits and 2 Cirl Bunting,1 Yellowhammer. 6 Siskin over with at least 750 Wood Pigeon. 2 Chiffchaff in the bushes

In the bay a 1st w Med Gull, 12 Dunlin.

Firecrest in Teignmouth garden

Heard and eventually pished this beauty into my garden from next door.

Berry Hd

Some good over head migration today despite the fresh N wind and clear(ish) conditions: 2200+ Wood Pigeons > SW unfortunately not over the headland mostly 1-2 miles inland so I probably missed lots!, 320+ Chaffinches >NE, 4 Brambling, 11 Bullfinch, 7 Siskin, 2 Redpoll, 1 Yellowhammer, 29 Skylark, 1 Swallow, 2 Redwing, 25+ Songthrush, 4 house Sparrow plus smaller numbers of commoner finches and pipits.

Around the headland: 1 Black Redstart,3 Goldcrest.  

Woodpigeons on the Move

3000 woodpigeons flying SW over Bickleigh, mid Devon in 1.5 hrs this morning.
[from Peter Burston]

Bere Ferrers

Immature Glossy Ibis at Bere Ferrers this morning between 08:48 and 09:03 (grid ref 464635) - then flew up the river Tavy.

[from Neil Moore]

Kingsbridge Estuary

this evening: 7 med gull (2 1W, adW's ) Black Necked Grebe was a nice surprise.
BB per comm this evening: 2? Bearded tit Sth Milton Ley 200/400M from footbridge?