Thurlestone Marsh

Have been away this week on grandparenting duties- there is nothing worse than being 200 + miles away when news comes through of a patch first ( and also a year tick )  The prayer mats were out in Berkshire- managed to get away at 15.00 and arrived back on site at 18.30- quick scan over the Marsh no sign, by 18.50 success good views of the GREAT WHITE EGRET- by 19.45 it became a garden tick . 

Went over to Yarmer Beach to find the superb summer plumaged KNOT ( first time on the beach at this time of the year) also 8 Whimbrel, 5 Sanderling ,3 Turnstone , 1 Bar Tailed Godwit .

A nice story about the Egret, Harry & June Huggins have been watching this patch for more than 30 years how appropriate that it was June who couln't believe her eyes at 10.00 on Thurs when she picked up the Egret on the Marsh - over the years they have been rsponsible for quite a number of BB rarities - we have something to live up to , Many congratulations June

Countisbury & Foreland Point, North Devon

Mid morning walk from Countisbury to Foreland point in strong easterly conditions. Highlight was a Red Kite seen over the point heading east. A dozen Gannets also seen off the point but little else. In the oak woods to the east of Foreland, 6 Wood Warblers and 2 Redstarts. Plenty of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins all heading east, along with 3 Sand Martins.

Exminster marsh

Watched from 10:00 till 13:00 A nice find was a drake Garganey on the scrapes viewable from the canal bank path by fishermans car park along with pochard(m), 8 gadwall, 2 wigeon, 4 tufted duck and 2 redshank, moved down station road and whilst watching the Garganey every thing on the marsh went up then a superb osprey flew right over our heads and over to topsham at 11:00. At least 3 hobby around with good numbers of swift, a peregrine on the ground and 20+ little egrets, sparrowhawk. Earlier of goat walk 15+ ringed plover, 20+ Dunlin, 2 whimbrel. From viewing platform at bowling green marsh 55+ curlew, 15+ bar tailed godwits, 9 little egrets, 5+ black tailed godwits, 4 knot, 2 grey plover. A good morning

South Hams

Battled against strong easterly wind at Soar early morning, with only a Garden Warbler to show for it. So headed for Slapton Ley where a Marsh Harrier showed over Ireland Bay; also 50+ Swifts. Roy McCarthy phoned me to say he had seen the Great White Egret at Thurlestone Marsh (thanks Roy!) and on the way home, I watched it over the back of the marsh 1405-1425 before it flew a short distance and dropped out of view.

Isley

Malcolm Shakespeare called earlier to say he had seen the Cattle Egret fly in to the high tide roost at Isley this morning with 2 Little Egrets.

Home Farm and Isley Marshes

[05:00-08:30] Hoped to find the Cattle egret but no sign, just a greenshank and a curlew sandpiper at Home Farm. Between the jetties large mixed flock (150-170ish) of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Sanderling- at least 2 Sanderling in stunning summer plumage. One less since the peregrine passed by.

[Andy Lansdell]

White Storks

Four White Storks seen from Willand at 8.40 flying east. Also a Red Kite flew over Cullumpton Tesco at 14:30. [David O'Leary]

Kingsbridge, yesterday.

Bob Burridge had 4 White Storks fly over the centre of Kingsbridge mid afternoon yesterday, apparently losing height as they headed towards West Charleton. If they remained somewhere local for the rest of the day i'd be surprised if they left this morning as its a strong easterly here in Charleton at present - my guess is they would be sitting it out in a field somewhere.

EDIT : Just gone on Paul Bouldens website and as they were seen over the Totnes - Newton Abbott road yesterday evening i guess they won't be sitting it out in a field around here somewhere !

Bicton Park

3 Red Kites over Bicton Lake at 17.45 today. They spent around 10 minutes circling, mobbed by corvids, then flew off north east.

[Steve Oliver]

Venford Reservoir, Dartmoor

16 members of the of  DBWPS enjoyed a memorable walk above the Dart with good views of Wood Warblers, Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts.  A Cuckoo was present for much of the day on the higher land of Holne Moor causing a nuisance to Meadow Pipits.  A Green Woodpecker was present earlier in the morning, plus Siskin and Spotted Flycatcher but those who stayed until later in the afternoon were rewarded with a pair of Winchat. Thanks to Jean Millen for leading us.

Red Kite

Red kite circled then slowly drifting west over Kevicc school in Totnes. This is a first for me in Devon.

Yelland - Home Farm Marsh

Visited home Farm in the hope of seeing the Black-winged Stilt reported yesterday. No success there but a Cattle Egret was seen from the hide in the field with the large pond. Good to see a farm managed in this way, with plenty of finches, warblers and skylarks around.

Velator reserve

A few birds ringed this morning included three very juvenile Robins, a Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps and 3 more Reed Warblers, a Woodpigeon, 2 juvenile Song Thrushes and 2 juvenile Kingfishers, about a month earlier than I have been catching them in previous years. Failed to catch the Green Woodpecker which appeared, called a few times and disappeared again, shame as it would have been the 7th ring size for the session!

Belated White Storks on the Otter!

BUDLEIGH JOURNAL: Nothing quite like being gripped off on the local patch by the local paper!

Been away for about a month working and return to find out that 3 White Storks were seen in the field by White Bridge (field next to where the Purple Heron was earlier this year) on Tuesday 22nd May. Doug & Joan Cullen spoke with the guy who saw them but rather frustratingly for them, a day or two after the event! It seems the birds flew out to sea quite early in the morning on the Tuesday, so presumably it is the same 3 birds that were seen over Dawlish Warren on Monday evening (21st) and the birds must have roosted on the Otter Monday night.
The only slight comfort I have is that I was in Italy watching bears at the time!

Thurlestone Marsh

Great White Egret again 0815hrs this morning, then dropped into the 'back' of the marsh and as such not viewable?

Berry Head

0600-0830hrs: at 0610 a fly over Serin dropped into the bushes just behind the Coastguards station and Artillery Store, it stayed until 0755 before flying off high - nice male, a lot of calling on the video below..

Osprey at Axmouth on 21st

Just received the attached photograph from a friend who spotted this Osprey eating a fish off Higher Lane, Axmouth at about 3pm on Monday 21st May. He nearly crashed his car in amasement! but did manage to get some photos'......

Taw Estuary – Home Farm Marsh

Geoff Taylor reports a Black-winged Stilt on pond 3 at the Gaia Trust's Home Farm Marsh Reserve, on the southern shore of the Taw Estuary, this morning at about 09.45.

Thurlestone

Great White Egret on the second pool at Thurlestone Marsh this morning feeding in the open.
(H & J Huggins).
Hopefully photos and more news later.

Princetown

No further sign of the Common Rosefinch this morning.