Saturday, 4 September 2010
Dawlish Warren today
Within 550+ Dunlin & 360 Ringed Plover were 7 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers & 2 Little Stints, finding them not always easy at it would appear. Offshore 1 juvenile Arctic Tern showed well if beliefly this afternoon. Lee
SOAR, SOAR MILL
walk about today produced a few bits and bobs but nothing of note (for me anyway) a few of the Plymouth lads were out as well so may have done better?
Redstart 2 Whinchat 2, Spot Fly 3 Yellow wag 10+ White wag 12 N Wheatear 5 Chiffchaff 10+ willow warb 4+ (6+ Clouded Yellow)
Redstart 2 Whinchat 2, Spot Fly 3 Yellow wag 10+ White wag 12 N Wheatear 5 Chiffchaff 10+ willow warb 4+ (6+ Clouded Yellow)
Slapton Ley
Walked from Slapton Bridge down the line to Torcross and back this afternoon. Very quiet, saw the usual female Marsh Harrier but apart from that just 5 Sandwich Terns and 2 Wheatears.
Beer Cemetery Fields
Today - 14.00 - 14.30- 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Redstart (m)
Yesterday -3rd sept - 12.00-12.30- 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Whinchat.
Also a Hobby on sept 1st.
Yesterday -3rd sept - 12.00-12.30- 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 4 Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Whinchat.
Also a Hobby on sept 1st.
Clyst Estuary
Bowling Green Marsh held 35 Little Egrets, 15 Greenshank and about 10 Pintail, but very few waders on a neap high tide.
The cliffs near Otterton were quiet, just a couple of Wheatears and 4 Yellow Wagtails.
Kingsbridge Estuary
Charleton Marsh / Bay, 07:00-09:00, low tide.
2 Egyptian Geese, 6 Teal, 50 Ringed Plover, 28 Dunlin, Turnstone, Greenshank, Med Gull, 2 Common Tern, Kingfisher.
2 Egyptian Geese, 6 Teal, 50 Ringed Plover, 28 Dunlin, Turnstone, Greenshank, Med Gull, 2 Common Tern, Kingfisher.
Friday, 3 September 2010
Nightjar in Plymouth
I received a phone call earlier in the week and when I called at the house I discovered the bird that had died hitting their patio doors the night before was a male Nightjar. The house concerned was the last house on the Woolwell Estate and actually backing onto Cann Wood.
Yelverton - Wryneck on 31 August
Tony John received a message to say a couple had found a Wryneck trapped in their porch. Fortunately they thought to take these photos before releasing the bird which appeared unharmed.
Black Hole Marsh & Colyford Common
3 Curlew Sandpipers and 1 Little Stint still present, with a few Dunlin and Ringed Plovers, plus 1 Greenshank.
2 Lesser Whitethroats on Coly Common, one carrying 2 unsightly ticks (photo)
2 Lesser Whitethroats on Coly Common, one carrying 2 unsightly ticks (photo)
Kingsbridge Estuary
4 Med Gulls ( 3 adults, second winter ) off Embankment Road Pumping Station, Kingsbridge this evening.
Taw Estuary
 |
| Great Black-backed Gull |
Fremington Quay at 14:00 hrs,high water - No sign of the Great White Egret. Only note worthies were 6 Common Tern and a Great Black-backed Gull tucking into a flounder.
Isley Marsh - 30 Knot and 100 Oystercatcher at the outfall high tide roost. Also a single Cormorant in the outfall pond ( not seen many in there
 |
| Knot |
 |
| Common Tern |
Berry Head
10:30-13:00: steady passage of Gannets (165), Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas, 2 Manx Shearwaters, Balearic Shearwater (photo). Highlight was 10+ Common Dolphins heading south fairly close in (fairly rare sighting here!).
Thurlestone
O7.30 Thurlestone Marsh - 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Wblr, 3 Blackcap, 1 Cettis Wblr, 1 Garden Wblr, 10 Teal, 2 L Grebe, 3 Black T Godwit.
9.15 - 12.45 Thurlestone Bay - 3 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel, 29 Ringed Plover, 14 Sanderling, 1 Knot, 5 Dunlin , 1 Redshank ,1 Wheatear, 5 Yellow Wags[from Mike Passman]
Taw News (GW Egret still)
Great White Egret still at Fremington Quay this morning + 21 Little Egrets
1 Ruff and 3 Black-tailed Godwits beneath Taw Bridge @ 07:45
Also c.100 Redshanks + 1 Greenshank at Fremington Pill
[from Maurice Clements]
1 Ruff and 3 Black-tailed Godwits beneath Taw Bridge @ 07:45
Also c.100 Redshanks + 1 Greenshank at Fremington Pill
[from Maurice Clements]
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Plaster Down, Tavistock
Three juv Ringed Plover feeding on edge of Dartmoor. Present since at least Sunday evening. Still there this afternoon happily feeding despite a family playing cricket very close by. Viewable from the road.
(Tony John)
(Tony John)
Fremington Quay - Great White Egret
Malcolm Shakespeare found this bird this afternoon. Present at 16.00 (still there when I left at 17:30). Pictures are hugh crops taken with stacked converters from afar so poor quality.
Axe Estuary And Beer Head
Beer Head was very quiet this morning; 46+ Yellow Wagtails, with singles of Ringed Plover and Grey Wagtail over.
Black Hole Marsh then produced three Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint amongst the Dunlin and Ringed Plovers.
On the Axe Estuary a juvenile Goosander, eight Black-tailed and one Bar-tailed Godwit.
Black Hole Marsh then produced three Curlew Sandpipers and a Little Stint amongst the Dunlin and Ringed Plovers.
On the Axe Estuary a juvenile Goosander, eight Black-tailed and one Bar-tailed Godwit.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Black Hole Marsh
2 Curlew sand at Blackhole marsh tonight also juv Little Stint 31 Dunlin ,12 Ringed plover and 2 Barn owls
[From Phil Abbott]
[From Phil Abbott]
Kingsbridge Estuary
Charleton Marsh / Bay, 17:30-19:30, rising tide.
Osprey ( in bay briefly at 18:10 then flew into Frogmore Creek ), Great Crested Grebe, 24 Ringed Plovers, 44 Dunlins, 2 Sanderlings, 2 Sandwich Terns and a Kingfisher.
Osprey ( in bay briefly at 18:10 then flew into Frogmore Creek ), Great Crested Grebe, 24 Ringed Plovers, 44 Dunlins, 2 Sanderlings, 2 Sandwich Terns and a Kingfisher.
Instow Oil Jetty Beach
10:00am - 11:30am . 2 Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 16 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnestone 6 Dunlin and a single Wheatear.
Haldon Ridge - A Honey at Last!
A Raptor watch in company with Mark Darlaston in great conditions was rewarded with a Juvenile Honey Buzzard at 1055hrs. The bird came up from the forest and circled before heading west and out of sight.
Also a scan of the Exe from a viewpoint a little later 3 Osprey were located soaring high. One bird was seen hunting further down the river a little later.
Also a scan of the Exe from a viewpoint a little later 3 Osprey were located soaring high. One bird was seen hunting further down the river a little later.
31/08/10 - Western Channel - 15-30nm SE Start Point
During fishing trip: 4 Black Terns, 15 Common Terns, 3 Arctic Terns, 20+ Great Skuas, 50+Storm Petrels (but still no Wilson's!) , Sooty Shearwater and Balearic Shearwater
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Topsham Recreation Ground
An adult Yellow-legged Gull on the Exe off here this morning showed well . Seen here a couple of weeks ago so may be semi-resident...
Nearby the Osprey still on the Clyst barge, and a couple of Yellow Wagtails on Tremlett's field.
Sharkham Point
From yesterday evening.
6 Willow Warbler, 14 Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (near to car park), 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Wheatear, 7 Chiffchaff.
6 Willow Warbler, 14 Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (near to car park), 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Wheatear, 7 Chiffchaff.
Monday, 30 August 2010
Exe Est / Exmouth
The 2 Black Terns which have roosted in the Exe the last two nights were off Exmouth beach from 0730-0830 at least.
Upriver shortly after an Osprey caught a fish and flew into Powderham Park, another was perched on the Clyst derrick and yet another was fishing the Exe. 3 must be a record [?] but beaten by Poole harbour today which had 5+!
Upriver shortly after an Osprey caught a fish and flew into Powderham Park, another was perched on the Clyst derrick and yet another was fishing the Exe. 3 must be a record [?] but beaten by Poole harbour today which had 5+!
Isley Marsh & Instow
One little Tern flew past Isley towards the sea accompanied by half a dozen Common Tern. No sign of the recently reported Osprey and Spoonbill.
At the High tide roost by the outfall there were several hundred Oystercatchers, a dozen Little Egrets and among them three of four Knot.
Between the outfall and the oil jetty there were close-up views of Turnstone, Dunlin and a couple of Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper all feeding in the high tide mark seaweed.
Curlew Sandpiper
Dunlin
At the High tide roost by the outfall there were several hundred Oystercatchers, a dozen Little Egrets and among them three of four Knot.
Between the outfall and the oil jetty there were close-up views of Turnstone, Dunlin and a couple of Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper all feeding in the high tide mark seaweed.
Dunlin
Kingsbridge Estuary
Charleton Marsh / Bay, 17:00-19:00, rising tide.
Osprey ( flew through bay and into Frogmore Creek 18:10 ), 2 Greenshank, 17 Ringed Plover, 36 Dunlin, 2 Knot, Kingfisher.
Osprey ( flew through bay and into Frogmore Creek 18:10 ), 2 Greenshank, 17 Ringed Plover, 36 Dunlin, 2 Knot, Kingfisher.
Dawlish Warren 30th Aug
Curlew Sandpiper 4, Arctic Tern 1, Common Tern 7
Sunny conditions made seawatching difficult today
Sunny conditions made seawatching difficult today
Start Point
06:30-10:00. Lighthouse / Mattiscombe Valley / Farm.
Clear skies, mod NW wind, most birds around the relativly sheltered farm.
3 Stock Doves, 200 Swallows, Tree Pipit, Redstart, 40 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Wheatears, 8 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps, 20 Chiffchaffs, 10 Willow Warblers, 3 Spotted Flycatchers.
Clear skies, mod NW wind, most birds around the relativly sheltered farm.
3 Stock Doves, 200 Swallows, Tree Pipit, Redstart, 40 Yellow Wagtails, 8 Wheatears, 8 Whitethroats, 6 Blackcaps, 20 Chiffchaffs, 10 Willow Warblers, 3 Spotted Flycatchers.
Beer Head
06:15 - 09:30
67 Wheatears, 15 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Blackcaps, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 23 Chiffchaffs, 10 Willow Warblers, 1 Tree pipit, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Skylark, 2+ Ringed Plover.
This morning's big rarity was a Treecreeper!
67 Wheatears, 15 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Blackcaps, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 23 Chiffchaffs, 10 Willow Warblers, 1 Tree pipit, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroats, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Skylark, 2+ Ringed Plover.
This morning's big rarity was a Treecreeper!
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Beer Head This Morning
Cold and windy on Beer Head this morning where there was a single Wheatear, a single Spotted Flycatcher and a couple of Willow Warblers.
Here's a photo of yesterday's Cattle Egret (Seaton Marshes) No sign of it today though.
New today on Black Hole Marsh, three juvenile Curlew Sandpipers.
Here's a photo of yesterday's Cattle Egret (Seaton Marshes) No sign of it today though.
New today on Black Hole Marsh, three juvenile Curlew Sandpipers.
EXMINSTER MARSH
Osprey on pylon and tree nr Turf 0730.
Yellow Wagtail 7 amongst cattle nr Lion's Rest
Peregrine chasing a Black-tailed Godwit
Yellow Wagtail 7 amongst cattle nr Lion's Rest
Peregrine chasing a Black-tailed Godwit
Curlew Sandpiper at Black Hole Marsh
One of 3 Curlew Sands at Black Hole Marsh this evening. Digiscoped.
Favourable winds!
Looking at the forecast http://www.xcweather.co.uk/GB/forecast we have high pressure and easterlies from mid-week. Might be good for some raptor drift - eyes peeled!