Spring At Mansands

On the lane down from Brixham to Mansands, a pair of Blackcaps (the male singing) and a Sparrowhawk and a small flock of Meadow Pipits appeared to fly in off the sea. Also a Firecrest near the new hide. [Tim Clyburn]

Brixham Kumlien's

Thanks Dave Leigh for the call. As I arrived the 3w Kumlien's Gull dropped near to the pontoon that Tom Whiley had photographed it last week. Looking from the War Memorial near to the Breakwater I picked the bird up on one of the enclosed floating pontoons opposite the fish quay.

I have an exhibition of my sketches and paintings on at Cockington Court, Torquay until 11th Feb free entry open 10am - 4pm daily

Brixham

Live blog from the site! Awful digiphone pic of the Kumliens gull on the marina pontoons re-found by Dave Leigh this afternoon, Mike L sketching away as I write. Quality!

Southcott Valley, East the Water.

The adult Little Gull was still here this morning at 10:30, with at least 6 Common Gulls, several
Black-headeds and Lapwing.

Another Ibis...

This colour-ringed Glossy Ibis was found and photograped by Rob Horrell at Lower Tamar Lakes yesterday (20/1/12).

Skern

First winter Little Gull over Greysands Lake late morning. This is the second Little Gull around Bideford following the adult found yesterday.

Exmouth

West Lodge - 1550 - yellow-browed warbler - still present, showed reasonably well for a couple of minutes late this afternoon, calling on and off. It was in trees along the stream towards the back of the marsh. On Tuesday there was a lesser redpoll in the copse along with a sizeable pre-roost gathering of goldfinches. Also treecreeper and chiffchaff still there.

Thurlestone Bay

Glossy Ibis still on the back of the marsh where it spends most of the time feeding, unless takes a short fight will ber difficult to see from the road. ,

, Aveton Gifford this morning - 1 Green & 4 Common Sandpiper, 9 Snipe ,3 Redshank, 20 Curlew . on the river both Bewicks and Black Swan, and 2 Little Grebe.

Seawatching this morning only produced 5 Gannet and 4 Razorbill , 1 Guillemot in an hour .

Southcott Valley Bideford east

adult Little Gull in valley opposite the scrap yard at 11.30 today.

Brixham Kumlien's Gull

3w Kumlien's Gull photographed in Brixham (inside the marina) on Sunday by Tom Whiley. Note the grey pigmentation in the primaries, dark-looking eye and traces of immaturity in wing coverts. Head shape appears less rounded than in glaucoides. This is the first Devon record in nearly twenty years!

Goosanders

Pete Adey took this picture of two Goosanders on the Otter at Dotton this afternoon.

Brixham Harbour

The adult Iceland Gull in Brixham on Sunday 15th was a 3rd winter Kumlien's Gull!

Brixham

Yesterday watching around the harbour and for returning trawlers from the breakwater revealed no white-winged Gulls but 2 Little Gulls (ad and 1w, this ad had half the tail missing!). On the breakwater 20 Purple Sandpipers and Ringed Plover.

Chiffchaffs

Mike Tyler sent me this photo of two Chiffchaffs ringed at Colyford yesterday. One is clearly Collybita, and the other most likely a Tristis. Anyway very good to have them side by side as comparison.

Chagford

On the edge of the moor above Teigncombe, under a line of beech trees at least 2 bramblings were feeding amongst 40+ chaffinches.I am sure there are many more as I have seen them hereabouts before christmas. Other activity included, mistle thrushes, fieldfares & redwings.
On the edge of Meldon Common 50+ siskins with greenfinches and a nice male goldcrest in the hedge below. 2 Jays as well.
Finally,on Padley Common much croaking coming from puddles, pools & ditches complete with frog spawn.
Spring is here!?

Labrador Bay

Apart from the usual passerines lurking round the cliff and fields, Razorbills were scattered liberally across the bay below the cliffs, with a single distant diver (presumed Red-throated on structure) and Great Crested Grebe as well. Best of all, a (the?) 2w Iceland Gull flying along the cliffs for a while at 14.30.

Brixham last week

These pictures, taken last week, of a female Common Redstart were sent to me by a Brixham resident. The pale buffy edges to the tertials and secondaries are not unusual in 1st winter western birds and are normal in more eastern forms. The tips of the greater coverts seem quite richly coloured rufous.











I was a little concerned that the tone and colour of the photos might have been wrong ant that it was just a over-exposed photo of a Black Redsart but all the photos are the same all well balanced on and the camera set on auto, so what you see is pretty much just as the bird looked in reality.

PAIGNTON

Went down to the sea front at first light this morning and discovered a dozen or more Brent Geese in the bay , together with 6 Great crested Grebe and a solitary Razorbill .

Exminster Marshes

Very brief visit between 13.45 and 14.30. The glossy ibis was very close to the lane - so not one of the birds seen near Crediton. The water pipit was reported to be near the bend in the track but I failed to see or hear it. Lots of birds spread over the marshes but the highlight for me was a small group of finches; a male bullfinch, 4 goldfinches and a male chaffinch sitting in a bush quite close together and in full sun. What a picture and the colours!

The big flock of brent geese was out on the estuary.

Crediton

Two Glossy Ibis feeding in wet field near the entry to Tesco's, Crediton at 12.30 - no longer present at 15.30.

[Heather Woodland]