Dartmoor Ouzels

Greetings All

Just a quick note to mention that we shan't be publishing Dartmoor Ring Ouzels on Devon Bird News during the breeding season. No doubt regular Devon birders will already know where to go and look for them, but the declining population can probably do without the added disturbance which may be inflicted upon it through broadcasting locations on the internet. So can co-authors please comply with this policy and pass the word. Many thanks for your understanding.

Gavin

River Dart - yesterday 6/4

From train, between Buckfastleigh and Staverton - 2 pairs Mandarin, 1 pair Goosander.  [Richard Smith]

Challacombe area

Soggy morning with mist a drizzle at times. Willow warblers have moved in since last weekend with 7 singing, 3 Crossbill, and a Male Redstart being the highlights.

Thurlestone Bay

The Little Bunting showed at the feeding station at 16.45 for c10 mins.


3 Wheatears around South Huish; 3 Sandwich Terns in the bay (2 lingering early afternoon).

Powderham Park

One of the Ospreys present on and off all day, viewable from the lay-by, showing well sat on top of the closest dead tree in Powderham Park and has caught at least 2 fish today at c11am and 5.20pm.

Thurlestone Bay

Increase in the Swallow numbers today - singles at 09.45 and 17.15.

Bob B heard the first Reed Warbler this morning at South Milton Ley.

In the bay early this morning 4 Sandwich Tern and 1 Common Tern with a Wheatear by the cafe.

Thurlestone Marsh this morning held 20 Teal, 2 Snipe and a Water Pipit.

Little Bunting reported by visiting birders both in the morning and late afternoon

Braunton Marsh

The Adult Whooper Swan still with 36 Mute Swans on Braunton Marsh just west of the round linhay again this afternoon.

Exe Estuary

One of the Ospreys was seen patrolling the main channel between Cockwood and Powderham, from 13:20 - 13:30, accompanied by the customary swirl of clamouring gulls. Then the same, or perhaps a second bird, was picked up shortly afterwards tucking into a fish-based snack on one of the sand bars in mid-channel, this time with a couple of crows hanging around for some scraps. All this viewed from the east side of the river.

Still no hirundines over here!

Around the exe

Bowling green marsh from the hide 07:30 till 08:20

2 spotted redshanks, including the near summer plumage bird, 100+ bar tailed godwits, 100+ black tailed godwits, 12+ knot, cetti's, 2 reed buntings, 6 gadwall, little grebe and 2 roe deer

Orcombe point 09:30 till 12:30

1 wheatear in field along gore lane , a decent fall of 40+ willow warblers, 25+ chiffchaff, 12+ blackcap, 1 stonechat, 4 eider, and along the seafront back to exmouth 13+ sandwich terns

Exminster marshes

One spoonbill with the shelducks (c30), one little ringed plover and 5 sand martins all near the canal-side car park. Elsewhere 2 blackcaps singing, only 3 willow warblers singing and numerous chiffchaffs.

Paignton

A male Pied Flycatcher was a surprise visitor to my mothers garden in the middle of the Foxhole estate yesterday evening, it stayed for about 10 minutes before moving on. 

Prawle

2 of todays Redstarts ... all Redstarts are smart, but some are smarter than others!

The nearest we came to an Osprey carrying a fish !!

Good numbers today, though as to be expected, a bit thin on variety. The total of 9 Redstarts were all males, while other migrants included 14 Wheatears, 11 Blackcaps, 60 Willow Warblers and 40 Chiffchaffs. An early morning seawatch turned up 25 Manx Shearwaters and 10 Common Scoters. (New butterflies for the year today were Wall and Small Copper). PM, JL, TM.

Yesterday (5/4), an evening seawatch returned a total of 320 Manx Shearwaters, along with a single Red-throated Diver.

Beer Head & Axe Estuary.

On Beer Head this morning there were 2 Redstarts, 2 Wheatear & a thin scattering of willow warblers & Chiffchaffs

This afternoon at Corination Corner the very pale Iceland Gull was loafing about, then later seen on the site next to Tesco.

Plym Estuary

Two White Wagtails on Blaxton Meadow this afternoon amongst the usual flock of Pieds. Also 9 Little Egrets, 12 Shelducks and 1 Common Sandpiper.

Bowing green marsh

Watched from the hide from 17:00 till 19:15

The 3 spotted redshank were back in tonight, along with 12 greenshank, 103+ bar tailed godwit, 6 gadwall,1 pintail,4 shoveler,15+ knot, peregrine, 2 swallow

Thurlestone Bay

Still no Hirundines but at least 3 WHEATEAR.

In the Bay this morning - 15 GANNET, 13 RAZORBILL, 3 SANDWICH TERN, 1 RED THROATED DIVER ( on the sea - partial sp )

Thurlestone Marsh had 2 SNIPE, 9 TEAL, 2 SHELDUCK, 3 WILLOW WARBLER.

On South Huish marsh -3 SHELDUCK, 3 TEAL and a female WIGEON.

A visiting RSPB Group from Plymouth had the best birds of the day- 2 PURPLE SANDPIPER, WHITETHROAT and a nice Male REDSTART.

LITTLE BUNTING seen at 8.00 and 17.15 . A visiting birder from Cheshire left home at 02.30 arrived on site at 08.15 and waited until 17.15 before he had good views- his name Ian Fleming ( 007 )- he was the person who found the American Robin at Exminster marshes last year .

Rillage Point to Watermouth (nr Ilfracombe)

Good visible (and audible!) migration this morning. Small flocks of Meadow Pipits, Goldfinches and Linnets striking out to sea, heading north; 7 Crossbills going west; four Rooks heading straight for Wales high into the NE headwind; 16 Swallows (in ones and twos), 3 Sand Martins and 5 House Martins (the latter in one group and my first of the year); plus 4 Chiffchaffs and 1 Blackcap in the scrub. As unexpected as the migrating Rooks was a single Tree Pipit, which flew high over Widmouth Head calling as it went out to sea - just about the earliest I've ever recorded.

Otter Valley, Budleigh Salterton

Purple Heron showing well around mid day with first showing at 12.05 and then at 12.37 and 1.00pm. (after which time I left). All in vicinity of reed bed and ditches in 'second field'.  Seen mainly in flight and walking out of reeds.  Also a female Green Woodpecker, 4 Willow Warbler and the odd Sand Martin and Swallow.

Powderham marsh

  A male Ruff here this afternoon, coming into breeding plumage, but unfortunately lame, hopping on one leg all the time. Also 3  Little Ringed Plovers, a Green Sandpiper, a Peregrine and a Raven.
  If these LRP's are different to the 4 on Exminster marsh on April 1st., we've now had 8 birds at least [one on March 17th ]. They seem more numerous every year now.

Exmouth

Orcombe Point - 0625 - 5+ blackcap, 11+ chiffchaff , 2 bullfinch, 30+ meadow pipit, 1 stock dove, 3 wheatear, 9+ willow warbler, 1 red-legged partridge and the 4 eider still present. Also the ring ouzel and redstart still present but I saw neither this morning, annoyingly.
Mudbank - 11+ little egret, 1 dark-bellied brent goose, 34 red-breasted merganser, 34 sandwich tern and 1 osprey north upriver at 0910 with it or another at 1200 and 2 osprey fishing the estuary at 1500. Additionally one with fish heading inland towards Haldon @ 1640. Also spoonbill circling Powderham Park @1650 - all viewed from the back garden. Also 2 sand martin through.