Saturday, 6 November 2010
Wembury 6/11
2 or possibly 3 Firecrest between riding stables and Churchwood Valley. Also 300 Woodpigeon and good numbers of Linnet and Skylark zipping about.
Prawle area
Seawatch 07.00 - 09.00 produced 150 Gannets, 106 Kittiwakes, and a Shearwater too distant to positively identify, either Manx or Balearic.
Between 09.00 and 10.00, approx 2180 Woodpigeons flew SW, with a very small number of Stock Doves mixed in, and a further 600 Woodpigeons were feeding in stubble fields.
Other birds included 2 Golden Plovers, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Swallow, 2 Black Redstarts, 30 Long-tailed Tits, Brambling, Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, 13 Goldcrests and 3 Firecrests.
Between 09.00 and 10.00, approx 2180 Woodpigeons flew SW, with a very small number of Stock Doves mixed in, and a further 600 Woodpigeons were feeding in stubble fields.
Other birds included 2 Golden Plovers, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Swallow, 2 Black Redstarts, 30 Long-tailed Tits, Brambling, Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs, 13 Goldcrests and 3 Firecrests.
Clennon Valley
Caught up with the Yellow browed Warbler here today. Very elusive, showing briefly just a couple of times.
Nearby from Preston Beach car park the Long tailed Duck was much more co-operative just offshore. (Even my wife managed to pick it up and without leaving the car)!!!
Nearby from Preston Beach car park the Long tailed Duck was much more co-operative just offshore. (Even my wife managed to pick it up and without leaving the car)!!!
Lyme Bay - approx. 15nm E of Berry Head
From fishing boat: masses of gulls following local trawlers, also 4+ Great Skua, 2 (juv/1w) Pomarine Skua, 1 (3s) Arctic Skua chasing Kittiwakes (photos to come!).
Thurlestone Marsh
Afternoon- 1 Swallow over at 15.30.100+ Wigeon ,30 Teal, 1 Black T Godwit, 1 Lapwing,2 Water Rail.
Went over to Beesands this am- the Red Necked Grebe offshore opp football field at 10.30. Very few ducks on the Ley
Went over to Beesands this am- the Red Necked Grebe offshore opp football field at 10.30. Very few ducks on the Ley
Berry Head
Over-head migration: 6 Brambling, 133 Chaffinch, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Reed Bunting, 13 Siskin.
Around Headland: 1 Wheatear, 2 Black Redstart, 1 Firecrest, 12 Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Little Egret.
3 Harbour Porpoise off end of headland.
Friday, 5 November 2010
Future ID problems?
Quote from the Dawlish Warren website, Thursday, 4th Nov. (since edited!), 'a brambling in the treecreeper by the main pond'. This may well cause a few ID headaches next year!!
Slapton Etc
Slapton
4 Swallows, 7 Common Scoter, 50 Meadow pipits
Pigs Nose Valley
1 Firecrest, half way down the track
[from Nik Ward]
4 Swallows, 7 Common Scoter, 50 Meadow pipits
Pigs Nose Valley
1 Firecrest, half way down the track
[from Nik Ward]
Kingsbridge Estuary
From the hide on Charleton Marsh mid-afternoon ( high tide ) were a couple Whimbrel with the Curlew flock flying around the bay and a Kingfisher on the marsh.
Start Bay
Went out to Start Point first light and walked down to the lighthouse. Although there was a fresh to strong west-southwest wind the road was sheltered as always when the wind is anything around this direction. The frequent showers were unpleasant though and only a couple each of Redwing and Song Thrush were seen.
Went around to Beesands where a Red-necked Grebe was on the sea off the football pitch. A late Wheatear was also present on the beach road. Duck and Coot numbers on the ley were lower than last month and just a handful of Gadwall seen. Water Rail, Kingfisher and a couple Cetti's Warblers heard.
Next stop was Torcross where an adult Yellow-legged Gull was watched on the beach before heading around to Beesands at 11:00. A couple good sized flocks of large Gulls on the beach held nothing noteworthy , no sign of last weeks Glaucous Gull. Finally stood on Slapton Bridge for 40 minutes hoping for a sign of the Great White Egret seen a couple of times in recent weeks. Had to settle for a Little Grebe in the channel.
Went around to Beesands where a Red-necked Grebe was on the sea off the football pitch. A late Wheatear was also present on the beach road. Duck and Coot numbers on the ley were lower than last month and just a handful of Gadwall seen. Water Rail, Kingfisher and a couple Cetti's Warblers heard.
Next stop was Torcross where an adult Yellow-legged Gull was watched on the beach before heading around to Beesands at 11:00. A couple good sized flocks of large Gulls on the beach held nothing noteworthy , no sign of last weeks Glaucous Gull. Finally stood on Slapton Bridge for 40 minutes hoping for a sign of the Great White Egret seen a couple of times in recent weeks. Had to settle for a Little Grebe in the channel.
Torbay
Goodrington: 2 Black-necked Grebe
Paignton seafront: Long-tailed Duck (showing well relatively close to shore)
Paignton seafront: Long-tailed Duck (showing well relatively close to shore)
Clennon Valley
Yellow-browed Warbler still present this afternoon behind golf driving range just W of YMCA it is nearly always in the dense tangled willow that has fallen and overhanging the stream about 10m W of the grilled and railed storm drain outflow pipe. It can be elusive but rarely moves from this spot.
A new (possible) tristis Chiffchaff also around willows beside 2nd Pond (non calling and lacks the normal rusty cheeks), 5 collybita Chiffchaffs also present around the ponds and stream.
Also: 4 Water Rail.
A new (possible) tristis Chiffchaff also around willows beside 2nd Pond (non calling and lacks the normal rusty cheeks), 5 collybita Chiffchaffs also present around the ponds and stream.
Also: 4 Water Rail.
Great Grey Shrike
Great Grey Shrike still mid morning on Hawkerland Common and showing well
[from Jean Millen]
[from Jean Millen]
Start Point - seawatch
Seawatching 08:45-12:30 (wind WSW4-6), fairly quiet (but it is November after all!): 202 Kittiwakes (34% juvs/1w), 88 Gannnets, 33 Auks (mostly Razorbills), Great Skua and Balearic Shearwater (heading N!). Also 3 Turnstones and a Purple Sandpiper.
Exeter
Lunchtime today: one Green and one Common Sandpiper at the Exe overspill by the canal basin. Also one Finnish and one Swedish-ringed Black-headed Gull coming to bread, along with a couple of birds whose rings weren't fully readable.
Snow Bunting - Dartmoor
One this morning 100 meters west of the summit of Gibbet Hill (near Brent Tor) at 08:30. Grid Ref: SX499811
[from Charlie Elder]
[from Charlie Elder]
Torbay
Broadsands: 2 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Red-throated Diver - also flying over 3 Curlew and 3 Wigeon. 4 Cirl Buntings on seed in back of second car park, 2 Chiffchaffs in marsh with 5 Goldcrests.
Paignton: 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Common Scoter
Paignton: 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Common Scoter
Thursday, 4 November 2010
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