Otter Estuary
Single Glossy Ibis still favouring the field just north of the Cricket Pitch today, 2,000+ Starlings roosting in the reedbed this evening and I am sure you will no doubt be saddened to hear negative news on the Ring-necked Parakeet tonight, despite searching!

Exe estuary

The American Golden Plover was lurking at Turf again this lunchtime; as yesterday, feeding on the patch of green seaweed on the mudbank just south & opposite Turf.

A Merlin over the Goatwalk at Topsham late morning, and a single Spotted Redshank just south of the Goatwalk.

Male Blackcap at Bowling Green Marsh, by the path to the viewing platform.

Devils Point, Plymouth

Late p.m. Three Med. Gulls this evening; two adults and a second winter.
Also a Sandwich Tern in the sound.

Exe Estuary, Exminster marshes

Single Glossy Ibis near the canal side car park but mobile. An unringed Red-breasted Goose on the lagoon and a probable American Golden Plover flew from the marshes to the estuary. Landed on the mud to the east of the canal. Several Cettis Warblers calling and showing well along the canal.

Start Point

A Merlin headed straight out to sea mid-day

At nearby Beesands

c30 Swallows and a House Martin

The Otter Estuary
A single Glossy Ibis remains on the scrapes and roosted again this evening. Also 2 Black-tailed Godwit. Biggest surprise though, was a Ring-necked Parakeet first heard and then seen being chased by Jackdaws as it headed over towards Granary Lane, presumably to roost somewhere. An escape or maybe a wandering bird from the huge and increasing numbers in the South-East?

Short-Eared Owl

A Short Eared Owl showing very well at Mansands Marsh, south of Brixham this evening.

Froward Point

07.45 - 12.10. Cloud 8/8. Light westerly first thing, strengthening throughout the morning.

Most notable were 2 Ring Ouzel west over Froward Cove at 08.20, with 1 Reed Bunting over and a Treecreeper through with a mixed Tit flock. Otherwise, 136 Goldfinch and 21 Siskin over west.

Great Grey Shrike

seen by Malcolm Shakespeare at Trew wood plantation nr Hartland from the road opposite Clovelly Country Club at 12.00

also seen
Red -throated diver seen off Hartland point
3 Back Cap , 3 Yellow Hammers and a Barn Owl nr Blagdon farm valley 8.30 am

Instow

Malcolm Shakespeare saw a Black redstart 1st winter male at Instow cricket pavilion at 15:00 today

Mansands

Afew wildfowl on the marsh, with 12 Teal, 2 Gadwall, 2 male Shovelers and 8 Mallards. Also a Water Rail, 11 Snipe that are visible, 2 Coots and 6 Moorhens. In the reeds by the beach the Cetti's could be heard calling. Just off shore with afew Herring Gulls and Great Black-backs, 9 Lesser Black-back Gulls.

On the gorse slope between Ivy Cove and Coleton Fishacre were two male Ring Ouzels.

Exe estuary

From 10:30 am until 12 noon at least, a juv American Golden Plover off Turf. Flew in from downriver, watched on the mudflat for 90 minutes. Opposite the gate across the seawall footpath, just south of Turf. Some really awful photos taken, but they'll probably not be worth much.

2 adult Med Gulls at Topsham rec. ground, one colour-ringed red on the right leg, inscribed FAJ7, the other unringed.

Great Grey Shrikes

The Great Grey Shrike, presumed pale first winter, still showing very well on Aylesbere Common mid morning in the main valley left of the tarmac track, just left of the pond. Nearby, a second Great Grey Shrike, an adult, on Woodbury Common, found by BH, is presumably the bird seen at Hawkerland earlier this week, looking very settled but always distant in the valley below the road north of Woodbury Castle. Also 9 Fieldfare, a Green Woodpecker and several Dartford Warblers (inc. 2 singing males) at Aylesbere. Interestingly, further Shrikes reported from Bellever and Trew Plantation, makes a record(?) 4 present in the county at the moment.

Start Point

Some overnight rain, 60% cloud cover. Light Westerly wind soon strengthening after daybreak.

07:15-12:00. Car Park ( vis mig ), Light / Farm / Mattiscombe Valley.

Vis mig never really got going before rain came and stopped it. All headed south.
Swallow, 20 alba Wagtail, 60 Meadow Pipit, 5 Brambling, 70 Goldfinch, 10 Chaffinch, 50 Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, 8 Siskin.
Elsewhere just 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Goldcrest and a Reed Bunting.

Berry Hd

Above: left Black Redsart; right Ring Ouzel

Overhead quiet again highlights among commoner finches etc:

1 Merlin, 1 Brambling, 1 Swallow, 7 Siskin, 1 Yellowhammer, 10 Song Thrush, 1 Grt Spt Woodpecker & 5 Bullfinch.

Around Headland:

1 cracking Male Black Redstart, 2 Ring Ouzel (in Quarry), just 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 5 Goldcrest & 2 Stonechat but 30+ Long-tailed Tits again in one flock.

In Torbay:

1 ad male Common Scoter at Preston, 1 Red-throated Diver at Broadsands.

Vis Mig - Beer

The highlight of a 'vis mig' watch from Beer Stables 08:15 - 09:30 was easily the two Woodlark west at 09:00. They passed low and just to the north of me offering excellent views in perfect light. Very chuffed indeed - the first (and very long over due!) 'vis mig' record of this species for the patch!

Other totals include: 7 Wood Pigeon, 144 Jackdaw, 2 Redwing, 5 Skylark, 1 Swallow, 24 alba Wagtail, 27 Meadow Pipit, 8 Starling, 1 House Sparrow, 207 Chaffinch, 5 Greenfinch, 21 Goldfinch, 5 Linnet, 19 Siskin and 1 Lesser Redpoll.

Looking east towards Seaton, Axe Cliff and the Axe Estuary

A small part of a flock of 105 Jackdaws

Otter est. and Aylesbeare Common

The Glossy Ibis remains near the cricket pitch beside the Otter, a 2nd winter Med Gull on the river, and two Kingfishers showing well near White Bridge.

Aylesbeare Common

A Great Grey Shrike is still present at Aylesbeare Common today

[from Dick Andrews]

Fantastic day to be out &about.
09.30-12.30 Bolberry to Soar Mill Valley. Considerable number of birds at the top of the valley,highlight were 4 Woodlark feeding together viewed down to 20 yds.,also 160+ Meadow Pipit,125+ Skylark, 200+ Linnet, 37 Goldfinch, 50+ Chaffinch, 16 Robin, 5 Redwing, 8 Song Thrush, 8 Blackbird,5 Stonechat ,7 Cirl Bunt., 1 Blackcap, 1 Wheatear, 1m Whinchat., 1 Chiffchaff.

4 flocks of Jackdaw flew east -total 160

This aft walked the Erme Est 180 Wigeon , 8 Little Grebe ,58 Curlew.

18.00 Thurlestone Marsh - 35 Teal , 50 Wigeon , 3 Water Rail , ,Cettis Wblr. Starling roost 7500+( Big increase on recent nights)

Berry Head, Brixham

0730 -1000 hrs, clear skies, light Westerly and morning frost (ice on the screen of the car!).

Mistle Thrush, Ring Ouzel and flock of 28 Long Tailed Tits in the scrub near the light house at first light but little overhead, Alba Wagtail 7, Goldfinch 20, House Sparrow 5, Chaffinch 4, Bullfinch 6, Skylark 3 with Meadow Pipit 20+, Song Thrush 6 and Goldcrest 3.