4-12 nm off Start Point

From a fishing boat off Start Point today we saw: 5 Puffins, numerous auks (mostly Guillemots), 4 Common Terns, 20+ Manx Shearwaters, 6 Bonxies and a diver sp. Most of this was approx. 4 nautical miles off Start (wthin sight of land). Attending the boat were the usual Gannets and Fulmars, while the most numerous gulls were Lesser black-backed with 50 or more (presumed migrants including some darker types).

Thurlestone Bay.

A calm & quiet day but still with some surprises. On Thurlestone Marsh this am a male Tufted Duck ( this is not a regular visitor), 25 Teal and 10 sand martin In the Bay A rthur Livett had a 2w Little Gull 3 Red T divers flew eastat 10.55. The ringing team had a very successful morning at South Milton Ley -12 Sedge , 8 Willow ., 1 Reed Warblers, 7 Blackcap with 2 reeling Groppers

Sherpa Marsh

Had a quick look around the marsh early this evening and found much to my delight a drake Garganey! Also a number of Sand Martins as well as a sprinkling of Swallows.

Dartmoor

A pair of Red grouse flying over Birch tor today. Also Soussan's valley [below Bennets cross], resounded to the song of willow warblers, but sadly, this was my first spring visit to this area without sight or sound of a Cuckoo, or a Whinchat for that matter though the latter is easily overlooked. I would be intertested to hear if anyone else has seen either of these two species hereabouts this year.

Exmouth

5pm - Mudbank Lane - 270+ pale-bellied brent goose. Also 3 dark-bellied brent still, 8 red-breasted merganser and 11 whimbrel. We always get flocks of pale-bellied brents going through at this time of year but this is by far the largest number I've ever seen.

Prawle and Slapton

Arrived late at Prawle after spending time watching 4 Hares running in and out of the road into fields near Chivelstone Cross,at one stage only a few feet from the car. Prawle itself fairly quiet, a few distant groups of Manx passing west in morning, scattered Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat on land. 4 small divers probably Redthroated passed east during morning and a Blackthroated was also reported. At Slapton a Great Northern Diver just north of Torcross, several Large Red Damselfly at rear of higher ley.

Stover

5 Broad-bodied Chasers emerged and flew this afternoon (earliest reported in Britain this year), despite almost no sunshine. Over 25 Large Red Damselflies also emerged. One pair of Great Crested Grebes with a nest, 1 Snipe (late!) and 1 Willow Warbler were the only birds of note.

Otter Estuary / Budleigh Seafront

Seems as if the Bonaparte's Gull has departed. Only 2 Black-headed Gulls on the estuary this morning in contrast to the 6-7 that have been associating with the Bonaparte's Gull in recent days. Other birds included at least 6 singing Cetti's Warblers, 2 Whimbrel north up the estuary and 4+ Sandwich Terns off the seafront. However, whilst scanning the sea, a distant Glaucous Gull sat off-shore was a nice bonus as it slowly followed a small fishing boat. Unbelievably, it followed the boat all the way in to Budleigh beach allowing very close views of this 2nd winter bird. Best viewable from western side of seafront around hauled up fishing boats.

Dippers

An adult and juvenile Dipper on the River Walkham yesterday.


[Tom Wallis]

Beer Head

Numbers a bit slim, but a few nice arrivals (06:10 - 08:30)

1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Yellow Wags, 4 Willow Warblers, 4 Chiffs, 8 Blackcaps and 1 Wheatear.

Bonaparte's Gull - River Otter, Budleigh Salterton

A couple of pics of the Bonaparte's Gull taken yesterday at midday

Thurlestone Bay.

First Common Sandpiper of the year on the rocks, in the bay - 1 1w Med Gull, 5 Wheatear, 7 Whimbrel, 22 Manx S'water, 1 Turnstone. South Milton Ley - Wood Wblr still, 1 Grasshopper Wblr. East Soar this am - Bob Burridge - 1f Redstart, 10 Wheatear, 2 Grasshopper Wblr.10 Whitethroat I covered Bolberry Down to Soar Mill Valley - 3 Grasshopper Wblr ,9 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Cirl Bunting.

Hillhead, Brixham

Osprey up the valley this evening from the direction of Mansands, past Southdown then north over Paignton, 6.55pm.

Otter Estuary

Whilst successfully looking for the Bonaparte's Gull this morning a Common Sandpiper was also seen nearby. There had also been a report of a Green Sandpiper earlier. Three Whimbrel came in off the sea, flew around a bit and then flew off again. Later, walking along the estuary, 7 (seven) Wheatear were around one of the scrapes above the cricket field. A pair of Stonechats and a Brimstone were the only items of note on a visit to Aylesbeare Common in the early afternoon.

R. Taw Pottington-Ashford SW. 1500-1630

Following heard singing: 4 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat and 1 Sedge Warbler.

94 Shelduck, 5 Grey Plover, 3 summer-plumaged Dunlin and 7 Wheatear.

Braunton

Ringing today produced 5 Willow Warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers and 4 Sedge Warblers, along with some resident species. Amazed to read of the Swallow passage at Hartland - they all seem to have by-passed the marshes at Velator and the Great field! Had a report of a Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Down End (Saunton Down).

Somewhere in Devon...

Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker today - photo by Simon Thurgood

Berry Hd

Seawatching 0645-0715hrs; 5 Puffin (also 4 later from top of headland), 158 Gannets, 22 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Little Egret.

Migrants around Headland; 2 Ring Ouzel, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Redstart, 18 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 11 Wheatear (including at least one NW type see photo), 4 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Redpoll, 4 Blackcap, 2 House Martin, 4 Swallows.

Exminster marshes

In the drizzle this morning from 08.30 to 09.30. Two common sandpipers, 4 whimbrel (included two feeding on the fields near the viewing platform and two more flying over the estuary calling for their mates) and lots of singing reed warblers and sedge warblers. Two gadwall and a few teal still. Also what looked like a very pale female pintail with a dark cap. Only seen briefly from the middle car park. Yesterday a green woodpecker sang (!) from a dead tree on the canal bank. Its many years since I recorded one of these on the marshes. No sign today. In my garden the resident male robin has incorporated bits of Cettis warbler song into its repertoire. I have heard this once before on the marshes so it may be the same bird.

Hopes Nose

7 Puffin, (including one nice group of 3), 14 Manx shearwaters and 3 Common Scoter south between 8.30-9am. Lots of birds in the bushes, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling, 5 Whitethroat, 20+ Willow Warblers and several Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.