Ludwell (and Goosemoor)

2 firecrests, 2 bramblings, nuthatch (good record for here) and a green sandpiper today

Also - 2 spotted redshank at goosemoor yesterday

[from Nigel Pinhorn]

(White-Throated) Sparrow

Stand down everyone !!! Photo posted on Birdforum this evening of a Dunnock with a pure white throat in a garden in Exmouth today. As stated, may be confused for something rarer for the unwary!!!

Charleton Marsh

Waxwing feeding in hawthorn opposite sewage farm gate [from John Lusher]


I do hope this is the first of MANY photos of Waxwing in Devon this winter, and that a good number of them actually make it to the south-easternmost parts of East Devon for a change!! GH

Darts Farm etc

Cattle Egret at Darts Farm this afternoon. Single goldeneye and Red-breasted merganser and 2 Little grebes at recreational playing fields, Topsham.

[from Martin Elcoate]

Scobbiscombe and Kingston

Merlin, Golden Plover 72, Chaffinch 120+, Brambling 4+, Skylark 140+, Linnet 25+ and Snipe 6. And a very cold NE wind.

[from Steve Cox]

Thurlestone Marsh

Bitterly cold morning - a Jack Snipe flew into the marsh at 8.15. Only duck on the water 6 Shoveler & 3 Wigeon . 1 Black T Godwit &1 lapwing.

A single Dunlin in the Bay

Torbay yesterday

Picture of the lapland bunting at Berry head taken yesterday morning. Also a roe deer there, flushed by dog walkers inside the north fort - it eventually escaped out of the fort entrance and into scrub outside.

Brixham breakwater: 8 purple sandpiper and 1 grey seal.
Preston Sands - long tailed duck still present.

Berry Head

The Lapland Bunting still late morning by the cafe in the North Fort and showing to just a few feet.

Exmouth

Orcombe Point - 8am - bitterly cold - skylark c100+, lapland bunting 1, golden plover 22, snipe 4, meadow pipit c30+, siskin c12+
Blackhill Quarry - 9am - teal 24+, tufted duck 25, mediterranean gull ad

English Channel 20nm SSE of Start Point

From boat today: a Manx Shearwater - very unseasonal, especially as winds have been fron the north or north-east - should be off South America by now! Otherwise good numbers of Kittiwake (c150) and 5 Bonxies.

Torbay

Pictures of some of the Chiffchaffs at Broadsands and Clennon Valley today. Managed to get some great footage of the tristis Chiffchaffs displaying and calling to Mikes recordings on the camera today but the settings I used wont allow playback on the PC unfortunately. Also took another look at the Lapland Bunting at Berry Head, people and prams passing within 3 foot of the bird.

Thurlestone Bay

Walk round the Bay this am produced 13 Ringed Plover , 8 Turnstone, 1Chiffchaff (on coast path),9 Teal on sea then flew west.

Thurlestone Marsh this aft. 55 Wigeon ,35 Teal, 2 lapwing ,2 Black tailed Godwit, 3 Water Rail, 60+ Snipe

Ide and Torbay

At least three Hawfinches at Ide this morning, also Chiffchaff, 5 Siskin, with a Golden Plover and 80 Redwing over.


Couldn't find the Long-tailed Duck off Paignton, but singles of Common Scoter, Red-throated Diver and Black-necked Grebe.

Star of the morning was the Lapland Bunting on Berry Head, just north of the Cafe....

Another cold and frosty morning. The marsh has been breached again at Mansands (right). But this does bring birds from the vegetation out in the open to feed on the mud more, with 4 Water rails calling, but only 1 seen (right), 29 Teals, 8 Mallards, 8 Gadwalls, 2 male Shovelers, 2 Coots, 11 Moorhens and 67 Snipes. Also a Cetti's Warbler at the top end of the marsh.

Broadsands & Clennon Valley

tristis Chiffchaff Broadsands

Broadsands: 7 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Red-throated Diver. 1 tristis Chiffchaff in marsh, 14 Cirl Buntings on seed in back of 2nd car park, 1 Reed Bunting.

above 2 tristis Chiffchaffs Clennon Valley

Clennon Valley: 14 Collybita Chiffchaffs, 2-3 tristis Chiffchaffs, 8 Goldcrests.

(Lapland Bunting still present at Berry Head today)

Dawlish Warren

Thursday 25th -Sunny but NW wind and cold on the Warren. Rewarded with the drake Scaup feeding in Shutterton Creek on dropping tide & 5 Eider on edge of main channel into the estuary on the Warren side. About 2pm went to Langstone Rock, where there was a Red throated Diver spending more time under water than on top and 30+ Common Scoter well offshore. A trawler attracted a large following of Gannets - didn't count them, too busy trying to keep tabs on the Diver.
Rupert Ormerod

Berry Head

Lapland Bunting eventually located at the exact same time my child became hysterical, which was handy. Showing well down to 8 foot at times.
Located at the Northern Fort Cafe feeding on the grass near to the canon, still present at 1445hrs

A nice frosty stroll from Scabbacombe Head to Froward Point this morning. First, 4 Golden Plovers in a field near Coleton Camp carpark. A Dartford Warbler (right) in some gorse showing well, between Ivy Cove and Coleton Fishacre, and 3 Firecrests at Coleton fishacre, 2 in the gardens and 1 by the coastal veiwing point.

Exmouth

Brief visits to the seafront and Mudbank Lane (and looking into the sun's glare most of the time) early afternoon produced 5 Eider at the former site (also reported from Dawlish Warren), and an adult Mediterranean Gull and a female Goldeneye at the latter, the dropping tide also not helping with distance!

Broadsands

approx 9 Cirl Buntings on seed in back of 2nd car park, 3 Reed buntings and tristis Chiffchaff still in marsh - calling regularly.

(The Lapland Bunting is still at Berry Hd today, outside the N Fort Cafe)

English Channel - 20nm SSE off Start Point

24/11/10. Around fishing boat off Start Pt, numerous gulls, c100 Kittiwakes, 15 Fulmars, 6 Bonxies.

Hawfinches

The three Hawfinches still showing well in Ide this morning. Earlier, at least eight more were seen to leave roost at a private site nearby and fly north.

[Roy Adams]

Wed 24th Nov - Waxwings in Chagford

3 waxwing feeding on a rowan bush in private garden at Chagford, around 12 noon today.

Thurlestone Bay.

Only 2 items of interest today- 2 1stw male Black Redstarts by the flats. A m Brambling on hedgerow at Huxton X ( road into Thurlestone )

Torbay

Tristis Chiffchaff 24/11/10 Clennon Valley Collybita Chiffchaff 24/11/10 Clennon Valley

A good days birding!

9 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Great Northern Divers, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Long-tailed Duck and Common Scoter (Paignton).

Broadsands: 11 Cirl Buntings on seed in back of 2nd Car Park, 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Brambling, i tristis Chiffchaff (very vocal bird) present for its 3rd day - no other Chiffchaffs there!

Clennon Valley: 1 Tristis Chiffchaff, 14 Collybita Chiffs, 8 Goldcrests, 5 Snipe, 3 Water Rail

Tristis Chiff (same as above) Lapland Bunting, Berry Hd

Berry Head: 1 Lapland Bunting found by one of the rangers - very tame (and not the ranger)! It spent most of it's time under the picnic benches outside of the N Fort Cafe.

Dawlish Warren - YBW

Hi guys, a walk around the warren this morning produced one late Yellow-browed Warbler in with a tit flock, seen along the coast path by Groyne 11, in the Tamarisk bushes down on the edge of the Golf coarse, heard calling as well.

[from Kevin Bainbridge]

Thurlestone Marsh

A flock of 23 Lapwing flew in at 8.30 & left at 8.40. 2 Water Rail, 35 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 3m Shovelar. 14 Siskin flew west.

Late pm Bob Burridge on the Marsh flushed 2 Water Pipit ,40+ Snipe, 20 Reed Bunting.

Siberian Chiffchaff at S M LEy am + 6 Chiffs

On S Milton sands this pm 1 juv Black Redstart on the rocks

Berry Head

Great northern diver close in off the quarry this afternoon.

A few photos of the Cattle Egret, Red-brested and Brent Geese in the adjacent fields to Darts farm

Scobbiscombe and Erme

Skylark 100+, Linnet 70+, Golden Plover 15 at lunch time.

[from Steve Cox]

Brixham

mid-pm: 20 Purple Sandpiper on the breakwater and a Great Northern Diver close by.

Darts Farm

10.15am: Cattle Egret back in the field with the cattle, accompanied by a quite aggressive Little Egret - immigrants unwelcome, it looked like! Red breasted Goose also present in front of the Brent Goose flock.

Good news - the Brent Geese appear to have had a decent breeding season; there was a minimum of 40 juveniles present out of a total flock of 250+ (16%) at Darts Farm, and there were a number of birds sitting in the grass and only showing their heads. Average counts on the lower Exe around Exmouth are showing 19% juveniles. That's the best for three or four years.

[from Rupert Ormerod]

Paignton

Clennon Valley

26 Redwing flew over heading north.

8 Chiffchaff

2 Goldcrest

3 Shoveler(2m.1f)

2 Pochard

3 Teal

1 Water Rail

2 Snipe

Preston

2 Black necked Grebe

1 Long tailed Duck

Exmouth Marina

The two Black Redstarts (male and female) were together on the roof of Ropewalk House overlooking the marina basin at lunchtime, performing very well.

Exminster Marsh

A quiet walk with lots to see. Fewer thrushes flying north but still at least 100 Fieldfares and 200 Redwings. Also 12 Skylarks. On the ground both a Water Rail and Cettis Warbler gave prolonged views. The hundreds of Teal and Wigeon on the shallow floods ignored a female Peregrine sitting close to them recovering from eating a recent kill. No sign of the Glossy Ibis and I speculate that the bird has moved to the Otter where two were seen yesterday. Also the 3 Water Pipits seen close to the lane yesterday were not so obliging today.

Paignton

Oldway.

1 Redwing

Clennon Valley.

2 Siskin

2 Snipe

2Pochard

1 Shoveler

smeatharpe aerodrome

31 Golden Plover plus Tawny Owl nearby but no sign of GG Shrike late afternoon.

Thurlestone Bay - South Milton Ley

Back on the patch after a few days birding in Norfolk .

This morn on the marsh 5 Little Egret, lapwing. Blk T Godwit, 50+ Teal, 3m Shovelar, 2 gadwall.

S M Ley at 1530- 4+ Water Rail, 2 Cettis Warbler 9 Chiffchaff,10 Reed Bunting.

12.15 Aveton Gifford -Singles of - Comm Sandpiper, Green sandpiper, Redshank, Egyption Goose, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail

12.30 Upton X (South Milton)- 100+ Caffinch , 1m Brambling, 30+ Linnet, 150+ Skylark, 1 Reed Bunting

Golden Plover

c60 mid-Soar in field between the Car Park and Pepperpot.

Clyst Marshes

No sign of Cattle Egret this morning but still Presumed escaped Red Breasted Goose with 200 Dark Bellied Brents, also lots of thrushes on the move today

Ide

One Hawfinch was showing in treetops at 1240hrs, just past the entrance to West Town Farm, to the right of the lane. Apparently, up to 3 birds had been seen earlier this morning, but they can be quite elusive!

Torbay

Goodrington - 2 Black-necked Grebe, 38 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver
Paignton Seafront - Long-tailed Duck still present
Preston Seafront - Low tide, amongst Turnstones, and Oystercatchers was a single Knot

Wembury

Cirl Bunting 5 (2 males) and Yellowhammer 3 at HMS Cambridge end of Wembury this morning. Also 10 Skylark.

[from Steve Cox]

Newton Abbot

High tide at Passage House was almost like being on a proper estuary, with a range of waders including single Grey Plover, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits and no less than five Dunlin.

Also a Black Redstart at Abbotsbury Church this evening.

No sign of the Wryneck at Labrador Bay but plenty of Cirls.

Exeter - Thursday

A Black Redstart around Cathedral Close

Slapton Ley:

Further to Marks post for today:
Balearic Shearwater N 10:00hrs AFD PS EW, Firecrest 2, Chiffchaff

Kingsbridge Estuary

Charleton Marsh quiet this afternoon with just 15 Teal present. Out in the bay ( high tide) viewable from the hide were 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, male Goldeneye and 6 Grey Plover. Many gulls , mostly Black-headed and good nos of Common towards Lincombe but to glary to check them out well.

Beesands Ley

Very quiet on the ley this morning, possibly the water quality is poor at the moment as apparently it is at Slapton Ley. The only ducks were Teal, Shoveler, 3 Gadwall ( paltry number for this site ), 6 Mallard, 16 Pochard and 4 Tufted Duck. Also just 9 Coot present. Inevitably a healthy flock of 51 Canada Geese in an adjacent field. 3 Water Rails calling and a singing Cetti's Warbler. Of interest a roost of 25 Cormorants included two with gular angles right on the border for sinensis. If anyone is at Beesands and wants to check them out take the new permissive footpath past the hide and lean over and look right at the first gate after c 40 metres.

Brixham

Sharkham Village complex, 2 Black Redstart present.

Slapton

The female Marsh Harrier still present this afternoon initially seen in Ireland Bay and then later over the Higher Ley, latterly lingering at Strete Gate and showing really well. Also an Adult Med Gull in Ireland Bay and also a Kingfisher.

Topsham - Darts Farm

Cattle Egret showing this morning in various fields around Darts Farm

Smeatharpe Aerodrome

Great Grey Shrike between 9.40 and 10.20. Plus 17 Golden Plover, 2 Snipe, 40 Lapwing, 4 Ravens, 20 Fieldfare and 1000 Starling.

[from Doug Stannard]

hawfinch at Ide

Exminster Marshes

Hundreds if not thousands of winter thrushes flying north over the marshes were the most I have seen this autumn. Mostly Fieldfares with a slightly smaller number of Redwings. Also a few Song Thrushes, Woodpigeons and a small flock of Skylarks, including one in full song. The bushes also held good numbers of thrushes together with at least 5 Bullfinches, one Brambling and a single Chiffchaff.

Elsewhere on the marshes James Diamond reported one Ring Ousel (with thrush flock), 2 Spotted Redshanks and 3 Water Pipits.

Branscombe

An hour's seawatching from 07:40 produced 21 Gannets, 2 Common Scoter, 31 auk sp (close ones all seemed to be Razorbills), 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Kittiwake and a Red-breasted Merganser. Most of that fairly predictable lot flew east. More surprising were 2 Balearic Shearwaters west - at 08:14 and (more distantly) 08:15.

Ide

3 Hawfinch near West Town Farm, Ide early this morning. Also still a large flock of Fieldfare in the area plus several Siskin.