Saturday, 16 October 2010
Isley Marsh and Instow
9:00 - 11:00 5 Spoonbill showing well in the estuary. 6 Bar-tailed Godwit on the shore near Instow jetty together with a few Teal, Wigeon and a dozen Turnstone. Distant views of a young Winchat in the field adjacent to the short-cut footpath and lots of Meadow Pipits around.
Soar
A little bit of "vis mig" over the Warren early on - c60 Chaffinches and 15+ Siskins plus a single Fieldfare.
Elsewhere, 11+ Golden Plover, 7 Lapwings, a Firecrest (Stare Hole), 40+ House Martins, 4 Redwings, a Merlin, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 10+ Ring Ouzels (mainly in Stare Hole).
Mystic Meg eat your heart out!
Elsewhere, 11+ Golden Plover, 7 Lapwings, a Firecrest (Stare Hole), 40+ House Martins, 4 Redwings, a Merlin, 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 10+ Ring Ouzels (mainly in Stare Hole).
Mystic Meg eat your heart out!
Wembury 16/10/10
2 Wigeon, 100+ Skylark, 2 Swallow, 1 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff and 7 Bottlenose Dolphin this AM.
Berry Hd - St Mary's Bay
Above Female Redstart, Left Firecrest
Around the headland this afternoon:
1 Redstart, 3 Firecrest, 10 Goldcrest, 13 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Great Spt Woodpecker, 3 Redwing.
Froward Point
07.30 - 13.00. Cloud 0/8. Light northerly first thing, strengthening to moderate.
Unsurprisingly no sign of any Ring Ouzels this morning under clear skys, and far fewer Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests around of late but a 'flock' of 4 Firecrests together in Sycamores towards Froward Cove late morning. Some light but constant hirundine passage east plus definite easterly movement of Red Admiral.
Unsurprisingly no sign of any Ring Ouzels this morning under clear skys, and far fewer Chiffchaffs and Goldcrests around of late but a 'flock' of 4 Firecrests together in Sycamores towards Froward Cove late morning. Some light but constant hirundine passage east plus definite easterly movement of Red Admiral.
Sharkham Point area
Yellow-Browed Warbler. Located in in Sycamore/scrub to the rear of St Marys Bay at 1400hrs. After a walk back from a birdless headland I heard a call only ever heard before on my Ipod. A bit of phishing and the bird came right out in front of me. Last seen 1420hrs with Chiffchaffs.
Dawlish Warren - AGP negative news
Despite extensive searching, no sign of yesterday's American Golden Plover at Dawlish Warren either side of high tide today. Interesting 'vis mig' and other bird news at http://www.dawlishwarren.co.uk/ later.
Saturday 16th October - Berry Head, Brixham
07.30 to 10.00 in a fresh Northerly with clear skies.
Three Ring Ouzel on the South facing scrub below the cafe, and a late female Redstart in the Southern Fort. Also Skylark 18, Siskin 11, Goldfinch 20, Chaffinch 9, Alba Wagtail 7,Song Thrush 6, Goldcrest 6, Meadow Pipit 40+, Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk.
Three Ring Ouzel on the South facing scrub below the cafe, and a late female Redstart in the Southern Fort. Also Skylark 18, Siskin 11, Goldfinch 20, Chaffinch 9, Alba Wagtail 7,Song Thrush 6, Goldcrest 6, Meadow Pipit 40+, Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk.
Friday, 15 October 2010
Dartmoor
Tuesday 12th Black Redstart below Black Tor, nr Princetown (Anna Easton)
Today at least six, possibly one or two more Ring Ouzel in Rowan Trees at Shallowford. Also small flock of Mistle Thrushes nearby.
Today at least six, possibly one or two more Ring Ouzel in Rowan Trees at Shallowford. Also small flock of Mistle Thrushes nearby.
Exe Estuary
The Black-necked Grebe and Slavonian Grebe were together at high water off Starcross. Also there was a party of 14 Greenshanks feeding together - a nice sight. Elswhere on the west side of the Exe 2 Swallows at Powderham and a report of a Red-breasted Goose on Exminster marshes (not confirmed). Almost 30% of the Brent Geese counted were juvs - suggesting best breeding success for years.
Start Point
100% cloud cover, moderate north wind easing after midday.
07:15-15:00, ( Car Park / Light / Mattiscombe Valley / Farm / Down Valley ).
Small northerly movement usual species early on, not counted. Very quiet.
3 Sparrowhawk, Merlin, 6 Golden Plover, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 105 Swallow, 55 Skylark, 6 Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest, 40 Starling, 2 Brambling, 38 Siskin and a Reed Bunting.
When a great big hairy mongrel dog attacks you and its attractive female owner apologises and says its because you look like the dog, things can only get better !!
07:15-15:00, ( Car Park / Light / Mattiscombe Valley / Farm / Down Valley ).
Small northerly movement usual species early on, not counted. Very quiet.
3 Sparrowhawk, Merlin, 6 Golden Plover, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 105 Swallow, 55 Skylark, 6 Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, 7 Goldcrest, 40 Starling, 2 Brambling, 38 Siskin and a Reed Bunting.
When a great big hairy mongrel dog attacks you and its attractive female owner apologises and says its because you look like the dog, things can only get better !!
Froward Point
07.35 - 13.05. Cloud 7/8. Light northerly.
Very little movement this morning. Short-eared Owl at roost in a hedge at the point from 07.50 until at least 12.15 when I started back. Also still 2 Ring Ouzel, 1 Firecrest and 1 Woodlark over.
R. Taw 15th October
Fremington Pill 1035.
2 Ruff ( m & f), 3 Greenshank
Isley Marsh 1130.
14 Greenshank with 20 present when I went past again at 1400.
2 Sparrowhawk including a pale creamy-white individual.
Yelland 1210.
9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, 2 Sandwich Tern.
Instow 1240.
60 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 98 Dunlin.
cheers
Nigel
2 Ruff ( m & f), 3 Greenshank
Isley Marsh 1130.
14 Greenshank with 20 present when I went past again at 1400.
2 Sparrowhawk including a pale creamy-white individual.
Yelland 1210.
9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, 2 Sandwich Tern.
Instow 1240.
60 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 98 Dunlin.
cheers
Nigel
Berry Hd
08.30 -09.30
Brambling 1, Siskin 23, Chaffinch 24, Bullfinch 4, Reed Bunting 2, Yellowhammer 1, Redwing 5, Song Thrush 6, Swallow 20, Ring Ouzel 1, Goldcrest 4, Blackcap 3, Stonechat 3 and Chiffchaff 12.
Brambling 1, Siskin 23, Chaffinch 24, Bullfinch 4, Reed Bunting 2, Yellowhammer 1, Redwing 5, Song Thrush 6, Swallow 20, Ring Ouzel 1, Goldcrest 4, Blackcap 3, Stonechat 3 and Chiffchaff 12.
Black Hole Marsh
The Solitary Sandpiper was still showing well this morning, also a Curlew Sandpiper, two Little Stints, Ruff and three Green Sandpipers. No sign of this Pec though... or of anyone who has seen it!?!
Beer Head much quieter this morning, with very little passing over head.
Beer Head much quieter this morning, with very little passing over head.
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Exmouth late pm
Orcombe Point - 1540-1650Yellow-browed warbler 1 (in 'dung field' hedge at the top of Gore Lane), chiffchaff 2+ mistle thrush 3, grey wagtail 1, song thrush 1+, swallow 6+, house martin 1, skylark c20+
Elsewhere female scaup and 8 great crested grebe off Mudbank Lane late afternoon with at least one pale-bellied brent with several hundred dark-bellied. 50+ swallow feeding over the Maer this evening.
Start Point
Clear spells in night, 100% cloud cover by dawn. Moderate-fresh northeast decreasing slightly after midday.
07:00-15:15. ( Car Park / Light / Mattiscombe Valley / Farm / Down Valley ).
Some overhead stuff early morning but random directions, no counts.
Sparrowhawk, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 120 Swallow, 160 House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Black Redstart, 20 Robin, 2 Wheatear, 40+ Song Thrush, 4 Redwing, 20+ Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, 12 Blackcap, 26 Chiffchaff, 11 Goldcrest, 4 Firecrest, Coal Tit, 40 Siskin.
07:00-15:15. ( Car Park / Light / Mattiscombe Valley / Farm / Down Valley ).
Some overhead stuff early morning but random directions, no counts.
Sparrowhawk, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 120 Swallow, 160 House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Black Redstart, 20 Robin, 2 Wheatear, 40+ Song Thrush, 4 Redwing, 20+ Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, 12 Blackcap, 26 Chiffchaff, 11 Goldcrest, 4 Firecrest, Coal Tit, 40 Siskin.
Froward Point
07.30-13.55. Cloud 8/8. Northerly veering north-easterly 3-4 (gusting 5). Cold.
c. 20 Chiffchaff, 10-15 Goldcrest, 1 Firecrest, 5 Wheatear and 3 Stonechat at or around Froward plus 3 Ring Ouzel together still. 10+ Song Thrush, 2 Redwing, 6 Siskin, 17 Swallow and a handful of Meadow Pipit east/northeast.
Also 1 Short-eared Owl flushed from a crop field beside the track just before the last gate to the point at 08.00, flew to a nearby hedge, watched until 08.30. Light was poor (as is my digiscoping!)
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