Sydenham Damerel, W Devon - yesterday 5/6

Red Kite at Damerel House West Devon, near Horsebridge at about 12.30.....headed off in a north westerly direction.

[from Will Walker-Smith]

Thurlestone Bay

The 2 m garganey still on the marsh at 18.30 yesterday. No sign this am .A M Shoveler this morning,

High tide waders were 1 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, in the Bay 1 Sandwich Tern,14 Black H Gull

Haldon Ridge

Superb conditions today for migrant raptors. Coming in from the west were 3 Red Kites at 11:10, 11:35 and 12:10. All headed east in the direction of the Exe Estuary, losing height after crossing the ridge. Best bird was at 13:40 when a Honey-buzzard came in on the same line, climbed high after crossing the Haldon Ridge and continued east over the Exe at some altitude (obviously a migrant on the move).

Devon/Somerset Border

Red Kite over Watchford Farm between Honiton and Taunton at ST230115 at 12.30 p.m. and then drifted into Somerset over Chuchinford and Otterford Lakes.

Landkey, N Devon

Single Red Kite drifting north over Landkey at 18:10h today

[from Andy Lansdell]

Okehampton

A Red Kite flew low slowly over the A30, immediately south of Okehampton at precisely 1617hrs this afternoon, heading towards the town.

Broadsands

Two Mediterranean Gulls 2nd Summer and 1st Summer in evening roost.

Exmouth

Mudbank - 2015 - fs bonapartes gull (also seen 1118 heading upriver) common gull, presumed leucistic black-headed gull, 3+ mediterranean gull (2fs and at least 1 adult), 25+ sandwich tern, 2 great crested grebe and 1 brent goose still.

A Few More Details From Dartmoor..

The second email of the day - I'll let people make their own minds up....

"Hi Steve

Wow I do hope our identification is correct. We saw the bird perching on a rock, the way it held itself it reminded us of a thrush, it was a bluey grey colour with black tail feathers which really stood out from the rest of the birds colouring. We didn't think it was particularly spotty, but were a few feet away from it, the bird flew off at quite low level again as a thrush might. I would say it was the size of a song thrush, but perhaps a bit slimmer. We saw it quite clearly. If it is of any use to you the map reference on OS Explorer OL 28 was 536 853.

After looking at our bird identification books and not finding anything else similar I then researched Blue Rock Thrush on the web I am sending you a link to the bird that looked identical to the one we saw http://beauquenne.oiseaux.net/monticole.bleu.4.html#monde. Note the black tail feathers which stood out so clearly on the bird we saw.

Keep me posted will you with your thoughts if it could have been anything else.

Look forward to hearing from you"

Exe Red Kites

A Red Kite flew East over Countess Wear this morning at 0930.

Yesterday a Red Kite flew low over Powderham Marsh and the Swan's Nest at 1230 before drifting over Exminster village and then Exeter.

Trew Wood, Hartland

Male Bullfinch, Grasshopper Warbler heard reeling

Thurlestone Bay

A very nice surprise at 8.30 am 2 m Garganey on Thurlestone marsh- still showing at 11.00. Plumage looked as though they were going into eclipse. Then at 15.00 3 Egyption Goose arrived.

A M Shoveler on South Huish marsh

An Alarming Email!!

I am writing this from my phone, so apologies for any mistakes.

I had this email drop in my inbox this afternoon. I must stress I do not know the observer, so have no idea how reliable this is. Naturally I have asked for more info...

"We were recently visiting Dartmoor, 2nd June 2011, and had climbed the lower slopes of Widgery Tor (Brat Tor on the map) when we spotted the Blue Rock Thrush, no photo I'm afraid, but since being home have researched the bird and can positively say that it was the Blue Rock Thrush. Have there been any other sightings on Dartmoor. If you need any further info please get in touch, I would be keen to know whether this bird is now coming over to England."

I thought I'd post this in case anyone was passing the area...

Exminster Village

Saturday May 4.
1 red kite north over village at 3.50 pm and 2 north together at 4.30.

Churston Ferrers

Red Kite over my house at churston ferrers near brixham at about 1pm this afternoon, mobbed by gulls and then it returned before heading off west

[from Chris Noakes]

Wembury Odds and Sods

Unseasonal Sand Martin and Whimbrel this morning and a Grey Seal. A pod of about 10 BN Dolphin passed east this evening (2 medium sized calves).

Yesterday in Plymouth, 7 Bombus hypnorum around the University campus with 6 together in the evening.

Dartmoor

A Red Kite was lingering this afternoon around Leedon Tor, viewed from the B3212 between Dousland and Princetown it was still there when I left a couple of hours ago.
Not much else seen in the Burrator area just a couple of Cuckoos and Redstarts. We seem to have lost Wood Warbler and Tree Pipit here unless anyone knows better??

A Red Kite was seen yesterday by Graham Bools over the Mount Gould area of Plymouth. Get on Bosey!!!

Westward Ho! Haunted House to Cornborough Cliffs.

06:20 - 09:00

Being such a brilliant sunrise start to the day, I thought I can`t stay in bed and waste this and
a VERY slow one-way stroll produced:-

29 Common Whitethroat; 31 Jackdaw; 2 Great Tit; 12 Blackbird; 18 Linnet; 5 Goldfinch; 6 Chaffinch; 4 Red-legged Partridge; 31 Blue Tit; 2 Chiffchaff; 6 Stonechat; 1 Lesser Whitethroat; 2 Robin; 1 Pheasant; 1 Yellowhammer; 2 Skylark; 1 Rook; 17 Carrion Crow.
Very little over or on the sea:- 12 Herring Gull; 4 Cormorant and 1 Lesser black-back Gull.
The area was full of fledglings.

Also 1 female fox with a poodle cut brush sniffing around the bushes.

Exmouth

Belle Vue Road - 0850 - red-rumped swallow north over house and heading upriver. Also 1 peregrine, hobby (north 1238), 9+ red kite (all slow north 1225 and 1255, 3+ at 1630 and 4 at 1654), c20+ sandwich tern. All the kites have so far drifted down from Haldon, apparently hitting the river around the Powderham area before heading northwards.
Yesterday - adult mediterranean gull and grey wagtail.

Bystock Pools DWT reserve

One or two downy emerald dragonflies on the pool today, also several emperors.

Thurlestone Bay

No raptors over the Bay - but still some action

A Great Northern Diver on the sea before flying east at 10.15, 1 Sandwich Tern , 1 Whimbrel , 1 Sanderling flew through

Trumpeter Finch in N Devon - yesterday 2/6

Interesting report has just appeared on BirdForum this afternoon...

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=202205

Dartington - yesterday 2/6

Yesterday evening an adult Red Kite flew over Dartington CC from Totnes heading toward Staverton, accompanied by a few Crows and a Herring Gull.

[from Seb Loram]

Pallid Swift

Does anyone know anything about the possible Pallid Swift over the old Newton Abbot Hospital yesterday with 4 Common Swift?

Mamhead etc

Two Red Kites over Mamhead Obelisk briefly at 13:45 today.

10+ Mandarins on the River Dart at Buckfastleigh this morning, viewed from the road bridge.

[from Will Salmon]

Paignton

A Red Kite over Waddeton (near Paignton) at 1545 slowly drifting northwards.

[from  Rob Brennan]

Buckfastleigh area

Mark Darlaston and myself had a Red Kite drift slowly SW at 1050hrs today

Thurlestone Bay

Surprisingly only the2nd record of the yr a Redshank on the rocks. Female Marsh Harrier over both marshes this aft - a scruffy looking bird different to the one earlier this month

Exmouth and Ideford Common

Mudbank - 0530 - slavonian grebe, 1 great crested grebe, c20+ sandwich tern, c200+black-headed gull but couldn't find the bonaparte's gull this morning. Also just 2 whimbrel and the brent goose still.

A late reed warbler was singing in scrub behind the house this morning

Ideford Common - 3+ redpoll, 3+ siskin and juvenile crossbill (photo). Noticeably more breeding tree pipits than on the East Devon Commons.

Arlington Court

Went up to the woods today to deal with the nest boxes. We ringed 49 Pied Flycatchers (five adults) 4 nearly fledged Nuthatch, and two broods of Redstarts, both with five young, best here for many years, and a third brood had fledged either today or yesterday. Sadly neither sight nor sound of Wood Warbler.

Thurlestone Bay

Quite a lot of fledged young around this am - Blackcap , Chiffchaff ( at least 3 groups) L T Tit ,Coal Tit . A Goldcrest in Mallards lane was a nice surprise ( none around in may )

On the Beach 16 Sanderling ( my first June Record ) a number in s plumage.

Late news from Tues - Bob B had a Cuckoo and Garden warbler at S Milton Ley

Exmouth

Mudbank - 1030 - fs bonaparte's gull with c100+ black-headed gulls.
Also slavonian grebe and 2 great crested grebe.
Yesterday - Seafront - 1 roseate tern with 6 common tern.

Bowling Green Marsh

The long staying Bonaparte's Gull showed well in front of the hide amongst the numerous Black-headed Gulls at the evening high tide roost. Also 80+ Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Whimbrel and 3 Mediterranean Gulls (two 1st summer and a summer plumaged adult).

Berry Head

A 1st Summer Mediterranean Gull was feeding off Berry Head this morning otherwise just two Manx Shearwaters on a stiff W breeze ( but I was fishing - 16 Mackerel!).

Clennon Valley
Monday 30th May; two (pair) siskin feeding in my garden - strange place and time of year as they don't breed locally, to my knowledge and I didn't see any in the garden during the whole of the winter!

Broadsands
Sunday 29th May; 1st Summer Med Gull in evening Gull roost with 17 Black-headed Gulls.

Prawle

After peering through the mist for over 4 hours, it finally cleared to allow about 90 minutes of decent seawatching. Counts as follows; 3 each of Great Northern and Black-throated Divers, 39 Manx Shearwaters, Balearic Shearwater, 3 Storm Petrels, Great Skua and 5 Puffins, along with a steady movement of Gannets, Auks and Kittiwakes. This evening there was an unexpected surge of wader activity. Pride of place goes to the flock of 21 Sanderlings, not only the latest spring record here, but also a site record. Also present, 12 Turnstones (the first since mid March), 10 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover. Elsewhere, just late singles of Spotted Flycatcher and Reed Warbler.

Thurlestone Bay

Arrived back at 18.30 -first bird in view over the marsh- the female Marsh harrier

Dartington Hall Gardens

3 spotted flycatchers

Sea bits and pieces

Seems both large shearwater species have been seen in the channel recently!! See http://marinelife-charm3.blogspot.com/. Also good numbers of Puffins and Stormies coming out of Lyme Bay on the weekend.

Berry Head

Black Redstart by the coastguard station [from Tim Clyburn]

More Tree Bumblebees

This photo from Tim Stripp in Exeter - one of a few in the garden over the last couple of months.

Tree Bumblebee

Hi Rich

Had four (in two days) in and around Shapwick Heath in Somerset a few weeks ago, so they are definitely coming this way.

Bombus hypnorum

1 or possibly 2 Bombus hypnorum (Tree Bumblebee) in my garden in Wembury yesterday evening. This recent colonist has only been recorded about 8 times in Devon and 3 in Cornwall but is probably out there if you look carefully. BWARS would be grateful for any records.

Exmouth

Seafront - 0600 - 2 great northern diver south, 1+ common tern, 1 hobby low across the sea and north over the Warren.
Mudbank - 4 great crested grebe, 1fs mediterranean gull and 1 arctic tern but no sign of the bonaparte's gull despite there being a decent gathering of about 80+ black-headed gulls.

Challacombe

A trip round Challacaombe today provided the following views of garden warblers, willow warblers, crossbills, cuckoos, meadow pipits, several tree pipits, redstarts, redpolls, spotted flycatchers, a wheatear eating a slow worm amongst others, no sign of winchats but it was windy and the birds were keeping low.

Orcombe Point

A Honey Buzzard flew in off the sea at 1330hrs, over the top fields, receiving quite a bit of attention from the local crow population, before gradually drifting off northwards five minutes or so later.

Exe Estuary- breeding lapwings

Most people will be aware of the now small breeding population of lapwings on the Exe Estuary RSPB reserve. A team of RSPB staff & volunteers are closely monitoring the birds this year to assess success and evaluate the need for further management measures.

A total of just 12 pairs settled on the reserve and so far they have made 17 nesting attempts on Exminster & Powderham Marshes. Nest cameras have been used to monitor 7 of these attempts, of which 4 have successfully hatched young.

At this point in the season birds may settle elsewhere to make second attempts and young birds can be very mobile. If you do come across apparent nesting activity on the Exe away from Exminster or Powderham Marshes, or if you see any young anywhere on the Reserves do please drop a line to sally.mills@rspb.org.uk. Thanks.

Start Point

Start Point Seawatch 10:30-16:00. Heading SW were: 3 Balearic Shearwaters, 2135 Manx Shearwaters, 86 European Storm-petrels, 15 Puffins, 23 Razorbills, 191 Guillemots, 150 Gannets, 37 Fulmars, Wimbrel and a Bonxie (this one went over the lighthouse! see photo). Why do I never see any spring Cory's!

Also Swifts still coming in off the sea, while there was a couple of hundred over Slapton Ley when heading home.

11th MAY- Reposting this news as it was deleted when Blogger crashed.
30nm SSE off Start Point while out fishing.

An unseasonal Sooty Shearwater in moult (photo), also 2 Bonxies, 20+ European Storm-petrels (photo).

Hendham

Saw a Turtle Dove at Hendham nr Woodleigh this morning ( c 4 miles north of Kingsbridge ).

Sunday 22 May 2011

Beesands Ley

Bruce Church managed these shots of Osprey over Beesands Ley at 16:40

Exminster Marshes

About 10.00 this morning I witnessed an impressive display of aerial maneuvering as two hobbies (looked like a pair) tried to catch a swift. I don't think they were successful. I lost them for a few minutes but when they reappeared they decided to harass a buzzard. A single black-tailed godwit was the only wader on the high tide roost and it was accompanied by 7 shelduck. Apart from a few house martins, swallows and a few more swifts everything else was keeping out of sight and out of the very strong winds.

Thurlestone Marsh

Ad female Marsh harrier this afternoon, a Black T Godwit on the back marsh most of the day (only the 2nd this year )

No postings from me for 8 days off to Majorca( S'albufera )

Dawlish Warren

The immature Bonaparte's Gull was visible distantly this morning from the hide, in mid-estuary. Only other thing of note in my WeBS section was 3 Whimbrel. On the sea, 25 Gannets diving and at least 75 Shags in two groups. Also 2 Sand Lizards along the dune ridge and Hairy Dragonfly, Brown Argus, Small Adder's-tongue and lots of Blue-eyed Grass at Greenland Lake.

Topsham

1 fs Med gull at recreational playing fields late afternoon.

Berry Head - Tues 17th May

Nice photo of a Turtle Dove taken at Berry Head on 17/5 by Len Ingram, whilst holidaying in the county.

Exmouth

Mudbank Lane - early am - fs bonaparte's gull still, fs mediterranean gull, brent goose, 2 great crested grebe, 3+ sandwich tern, c40+ dunlin and an unidentified 'tringa' type wader downriver at 0745. Slavonian grebe was again present late yesterday evening.

Black Hole Marsh

This adult White-fronted Goose was a bit of a surprise in front of the 'island hide' this morning. At 10:30 it went for a fly around and appeared to land on/near Seaton Marshes...

Swans

The Swans on Wrafton Pond have hatched 8 cygnets, this follows 7 last year, so good production.

Wembury

A female Marsh Harrier over the West Hill area this evening flew towards Staddon/Jennycliff. The first bird worth reporting from Wembury for nearly a month!

Thurlestone Bay

Waders in the Bay this morning - 4 Whimbrel, 6 Turnstone , 4 Sanderling, 1 Purple sandpiper.

South Milton Ley- Garden warbler singing, a Sedge Warbler retrapped- originally a french ringed bird ( details still awaited from Paris ) but had also been retrapped here in May 2010

Thurlestone Bay

Waders in the Bay at 17.00-18.30- 12 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 1 Turnstone, 3 Whimbrel

A Misty Twitch

Couldn't resist posting this photo! Today's Trumpeter Finch twitch on Lunday - photo by Shaun Barnes, and emailed by Nicola Saunders, the Lundy warden.

If only all twitches were so sparsely attended...

Lundy

Pressure off ! The male TRUMPETER FINCH still on Lundy today but only after a terrific struggle. Got to Lundy and was greeted by a blanket of mist and drizzle giving only a 30-40 yards visibility. After 15 birders searched high and low there was no sign and despite being seen upto 10am, we were all convinced it had moved off before the mist descended, but at 2.10 a couple picked the bird up sat in the wall to the right of the gate on the Halfway Wall. After a few brief flight views, the trail went cold again but then miracously, the same couple who were walking back to the village relocated the bird half way back along the track to the Quater Wall. The lady very kindly came all the way back to tell us and amazingly the bird was still present when we all arrived. The bird then gave itself up and showed for the next 40 minutes on the main track at 20 yards range, occasionally flying up and down the track calling when disturbed by non birders. Also on the island today, several Spotted Flycatchers, Turtle Dove, Whimbrel and Sedge Warbler. Many thanks to Shaun Barnes who played the perfect 'host' today and for keeping tabs on it for the last few days.

Lundy

Took the trip to Lundy today. 180 or so on board but not many birders. Shaun Barnes sent me a text just as we were boarding to say the Trumpeter Finch was still present. By the time we arrived, the cloud had blown in and by the time we all trooped up to half-way wall, it had gone to ground and wasn't refound (very briefly) until 2p.m. Fortunately it was then found nearer to quarter wall than it had been seen previously, and showed well sometimes down to 3 yards!
A couple of Spotted Flycatchers seen on the island and a fast flying Turtle Dove seen from the Oldenburg disappearing into the mist towards Wales about half way back!

Exmouth

seafront - 0600 - 2 great northern diver, 1+ mediterranean gull, c150+ black-headed gull, 10 great crested grebe, 2+ sandwich tern, 1 roseate tern, 2 sanderling.
mudbank - 0645 - fw/s bonaparte's gull, 1 brent goose, 6 great crested grebe, 3 sandwich tern.

Thurlestone Bay

The female Marsh Harrier showed well at 07.15 & 11.00

16.00 Warren Pt rocks - high tides this week so decided to spend some time on the point to see what waders come to roost- 5 Turnstone ( looking superb in sp )1 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin & 1 Purple Sandpiper ( my first May record ). 4 Common Scoter flew west

Lundy Trumpeter - yesterday 15/5

A smart photo of the Lundy Trumpeter Finch in song yesterday, from Shaun Barnes

Thurlestone Marsh

Nice set of sightings Pat- not up to your levels but a very quiet day brightened up this evening with an adult female Marsh Harrier quartering the reeds- no tail feathers missing so a different bird to the Slapton one seen recently

Prawle - ancient history!

I posted a blog last wednesday that was one of those deleted. The gist of it was several days spent at Prawle, with pretty good results. Below is a brief roundup.

7/5; Seawatching produced 4 Black-throated Divers, 557 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 19 Whimbrel, Great Skua, Arctic Skua and 2 Puffins. A single Turtle Dove was the only other noteworthy bird.

8/5; Just single Great and Arctic Skuas of note on the sea.

9/5; Yet more seawatching, turning up Great Northern Diver and 2 Balearic Shearwaters. Big surprise today was the reappearance of the Woodchat Shrike. Last seen on 2/5, it was looked for in between times, but had either gone off somewhere else, or had been hiding really well! Equally nice was a Quail flushed from the coastpath near Langerstone Point.

10/5; Best day of the week. First up was a female Serin, feeding beside the road. I was advised not to publicise this bird, with the possibility of breeding, but as it has not been seen since, it's safe to assume it was a migrant. Later, a female Montagu's Harrier flew north over the airfields. This bird carried a wing-tag, so hopefully details of it's origins will be discovered in due course. Completing the line-up of decent birds was a female-type Golden Oriole, this one unfortunately being on private land. A 1st winter Med Gull and Spotted Flycatcher made up the numbers for today.

11/5; Seawatching once more, with 7 Great Northern Divers flying west the highlight. Also of note, a flock of 11 Ringed Plovers flew through, and the Med Gull was still off the Point. Single Spotted Flycatcher and a couple of Willow Warblers were the only migrants of note.

13/5; 2 Sanderlings and a lingering Purple Sandpiper were the highlights of a brief evening visit.

West Teignmouth

2pm Hobby hunting hirundines

Lundy yesterday, Prawle today

For those thinking 'you can't tick that - it's dead' - don't worry, it came alive again!

As Roy says, unbelievable lack of birders making the trip. Great day, great bird, and well done to all those involved in the finding and identification. Also on the island, up to 15 Spotted Flycatchers.

Back to Prawle this morning, and was greeted by the beautiful sounds of a singing Golden Oriole in the bottom of the reserve. Managed 2 views of it, (confirming it to be a 1st year bird), one in flight as it flew to the top end of the reserve, and one later in the Ash trees back at the bottom end. Went quiet at 8.15, but was heard again around mid-day. Only other birds of note were 3 Spotted Flycatchers.

Lundy

Made the trip across to Lundy yesterday. Unbelievably only eight other birders on board and only five from Devon!
Excellent views of the Trumpeter Finch on the ground and on the wall. With less than a dozen peolpe watching (plus a steady trickle of intersted walkers) there was none of the jostling and shoving I was expecting.
The big question of the day was "Where is everybody"???

Kingsbridge Estuary

Very quiet around Charleton Marsh and Bay this afternoon on the high tide. Surprised to see a pair of Great Crested Grebes in the bay displaying ( including the weed dance ).

Beesands Ley

Wildfowl present this morning included 11 Tufted Duck and 4 Pochard. A pair of Gadwall had at least 4 young with them. Also a pair of Great Crested Grebes and, unusual here this time of year, a Little Grebe. Out in Start Bay on a fairly calm sea a pair of Shelduck with 9 very young ducklings swimming north about 500 metres offshore - thankfully unnoticed by the local gulls.

Exmouth

Orcombe Point - 0535 - 3 great northern diver north and apparently inland including these two birds together.

Mudbank - fw/s bonaparte's gull upriver at 0730, 1 brent goose still and 4 great crested grebe. Also 1 siskin south and1 red kite high north upriver at 0920 viewed from house.

Lundy

Had a couple of emails full of cracking photos from Shaun Barnes tonight. The top two from today, and the rest from the last five days on the island...

From the top: Trumpeter Finch (x2), Golden Oriole, Dotterel, Cuckoo, Whimbrel and Gannet

Cuckoo

Two Cuckoos calling and showing well in larch forest about a mile behind Warren House Inn.

[Jake Wood]

Exmouth and Commons

Orcombe Point - early am - 1 whinchat (top photo), 1 hobby, 1 spotted flycatcher (all scarce on Orcombe) and 1 great northern diver.

Very little on the Commons this afternoon but every stonechat, aparently without exception, showing pretty much wholly white rumps with limited streaking on the uppertail coverts (note the lower bird is ringed). The moth pictured is an (early?) small grass emerald which is a very scarce and localised breeder.

Exminster Marshes

A steady but light passage of swifts over, usually in twos, and a few swallows. One dunlin and one ringed plover were continually being harassed by a lapwing - suggests another was sitting close by. A pair of gadwall (2 pairs yesterday), a pair of shoveller (failed breeders?) and at least 10 male mallards. 5 broods of mallards at different ages are the most I have seen for many years. Otherwise quiet - might be better at high tide this afternoon.

Trumpeter Finch - Lundy

Here's a photo from Shaun Barnes (taken yesterday mid afternoon) of the stunning Trumpeter Finch currently on Lundy, showing well by halfway wall. What a stunning first for the County - Lundy does it again...

photo (c) Shaun Barnes

A Technical Hitch

Apologies for the technical errors on this blog over the past day. Blogspot.com encountered a serious problem, and they were forced to delete all posts made since Wednesday to rectify it.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused by this but it was out or our control.

Steve Waite

Grand Western Canal

A walk between Tiverton and Burlescombe produced a few decent birds including eleven Blackcaps, four Chiffchaffs, three Reed Buntings, a Green Woodpecker, Swallows, House Martins, Swifts, seven Sedge Warblers, a Whitethroat, eight Reed Warblers and one Raven.

Lots of wildlife out at the moment and the odonata highlights were a single Red-eyed Damselfly, a Hairy Dragonfly, a Beautiful Demoiselle and a female Scarce Chaser.

Surprised at no mention of the finch here.

Dartmoor

With the change in wind direction had an away day with Doug Stannard covering the south Datmoor sites

Day started well at Buckfastleigh at 9.00 from the main road bridge Mandarin, & Dipper.

Yarner Wood - Wood Warbler, Pied Fly, Spot Fly, Redstart, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Garden Warbler.

Trendlebeare Down - Siskin, Bullfinch, Tree Pipit.

Challaborough Farm / Soussons--2 garden Warbler, 6 Siskin, 1 SpotFly, 6 Cuckoo, Nutchatch, 4 Whinchat, 4 Redstart, Green Woodpecker, Wheatear, Reed Bunting.

Late news from Tues at 16.30 on Thurlestone marsh a m Little Ringed Plover ( 6th record of the spring)

Exmouth

Mudbank - 0630 - fw bonaparte's gull again this morning (also present yesterday) though distant and probably best viewed from Starcross on a low tide. Also still 3 brent goose and two great crested grebe. Red-throated diver off seafront.

Ilsington Wood

Have you ever tried "digibining" a bird in a tree above you using an iPhone at a binocular eyepiece? It is exasperatingly difficult. Fortunately this very recently fledged Tawny Owlet just sat squinting at me from its perch 4m away without moving a feather, probably the kindest subject possible.

Thurlestone Bay.

SW wind = nothing in the bay this am . At 14.00 driving out of Thurlestone a Red Kite flew thru going south .

Ringed/Flagged Sanderlings.

The ringed and flagged Sanderling that I observed at Yelland on 30/04/2011 is part of the International Wader Study Group Project that is monitoring Sanderlings on the Africa - Eurasian Flyway.
This bird was ringed in Portugal in October 2010 and my sighting was the first outside of that country.

Sightings so far:-

Colorcode: B4YYRR Name Ringer: Peter Potts 2nd Ringer: José Alves

Ringnr: D38483 Date Catch: 07/10/2010 Catching Place: Samouco beach, Alcochete

Portugal 38.44.20 N 08.59.59 W

Sightings of this bird:

Date(d/m/y) Place Observer 2nd Observer 3rd Observer

08/10/2010 Samouco beach, Alcochete Peter Potts

Portugal 38.44.20 N 08.59.59 W

31/12/2010 Samouco beach, Alcochete José Alves

Portugal 38.44.20 N 08.59.59 W

15/02/2011 Seca do Bacalhau, Alcochete beach Pedro C. Geraldes

Portugal 38.44.43 N 08.58.59 W

15/02/2011 Samouco beach, Alcochete Pedro C. Geraldes José Alves

Portugal 38.44.20 N 08.59.59 W

30/04/2011 River Taw, Yelland, Devon Maurice Clements

United Kingdom 51.04.11 N 04.10.23 W

Lets hope we see more of them.

Buckfastleigh

I had this email in the DBN inbox on my return home from work tonight...

"For what it is worth I saw a Purple Heron (flying) approx a foot above the river, whilst on the South Devon Railway 2 miles out from Buckfastleigh.

This was on 3/5/11 approx 1650hrs

Steve Harvey"

Thurlestone Bay.

Bay watched from 07.00-12.00, a brisk F5 southerly produced

21 Whimbrel, 25 Kittiwake, 37 Razormotts ,3 Manx Shearwater, 2 Common Scoter, 1 Great Skua (07.15) 1 dp Arctic Skua (09.45 ) 1 1st w Little Gull all east. on the sea 2 Black T Diver ( partial sp )

Exminster marshes and Dawlish warren

To add to John's post, the Black tailed Godwits increased to 80 with one sporting colour rings, presumably from the Iceland ringing project. A flock of 16 Whimbrel came in from the estuary and two summer plumaged Dunlin present. They were all put up by the Short eared Owl at 10.50 a.m. and re-settled on the far pool seen from the canal bank. A male Gadwall, a male Shoveler, a handful of house martins and a single sand martin were by the middle car park.
The Lesser Whitethroat was singing well from the same place i.e. the first set of gates along the path by the railway but it only showed itself very, very briefly.
Earlier, seawatching at Dawlish Warren had been all but hopeless with just a passing Red throated diver, 3 eiders on the sea and a flock of around 50 Kittiwakes feeding offshore the only things of note.

Birding from a train!

From the Buckfastleigh to Totnes train on Saturday 7th, Trevor Leaman saw a female Goosander with 6-8 chicks, a male Mandarin and 3 Snipe.

Bowling Green Marsh

Bonaparte's Gull still present at 11.40. Also 30 Barwits, 104 Blackwits, two 1st wint Med Gulls.

Exminster Marshes

Brief visit between 9.00 and 10.00 this morning. Lots of swifts - calling and flying low over the fields. Probably about 40 with a few swallows, sand martins and house martins.

On the pools 2 whimbrel, 1 or 2 ringed plovers and 3 lapwing until about 60 black-tailed godwits flew in from the north. The combination of no scope, strong wind and a shower meant I was unable to identify a small to medium sized wader (very pale) far out in the centre of the marsh, seen from the canal bank. Still about 30 shelduck roosting.

Bowling Green Marsh

Bonaparte's Gull 1st wint at Bowling Green from 10.00 until at least 10.30.

Topsham

The reported Black Tern was still over the lagoon at Bowling Green Marsh this afternoon at about half one or two. Also present were a Mediterranean Gull and a few Whimbrel.

Plymouth

Nothing much to report, but an adult Harris Hawk over the garden had the heart pumping into overdrive for a minute or two!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Burgh Island

Shaun Robson spent the weekend at Burgh Island and managed to fit in some seawatching, with the following results:

Friday 6th evening

Single flock of 100 Bar-tailed Godwit east at c5:30pm
Whimbrel 6e

Saturday 7th 06:30 - 08:00, 11:00 - 13:00, 16:40 - 17:30

Balearic Shearwater 1e
Manx Shearwater 45e 1w
Arctic Skua 1e (pale phased)
Bonxie 1e
Common Scoter 11e
Whimbrel 16e
Bar-tailed Godwit 16e
Marsh Harrier male in off at 12:25
Kittiwake 2e

Sunday 8th 07:15 - 08:30

Manx 16e
Kittiwake 10e
Auk sp 274e
Razorbill 12e
Guillemot 2e

Exminster Marshes

A Short-eared Owl at 11am sat on post by the lagoon (viewed from viewing platform). Also Hobby briefly before chased off by Crows and numerous Sedge Warblers, Blackcap, Reed Warblers, Cetti's Warblers, Reed Buntings, Whimbrel and Lapwing.


[Barry Rankine]

Simon Thurgood also went here a little later today, and saw three Hobbies.

East Devon Commons - Black Hill Quarry area

1800-1830 this evening, Sunday, a Cuckoo calling for over 20 minutes in the area of Fryingpans and to the east of the quarry lake- grid square SY0385 First heard it very briefly a week ago in same area - again in the early evening.
Mallard with fledglings, Little Grebe, and 3 Tufted Duck on the lake.

Berry Head

Relatively quiet this morning with clearing weather but a steady trickle of Manx moving south.Bill Macdonald watched from 5.15 am, myself and Jacob Woods from 7.00-9.00. Total 175 Manx, 1 Scoter, 1 diver sp.

Exmouth

Mudbank - early morning - fw bonaparte's gull until 0830 at least, 1 little tern, 1 slavonian grebe, 2fs mediterranean gull, 2 great crested grebe, 12 turnstone, 3 ringed plover, 3 dunlin, 2+fs common gull, c15+ sandwich tern, 1 'commic' tern, 5 brent goose, 1+ bar-tailed godwit and several whimbrel.

The lower (awful) photo is of a bird that initially looked for all the world like an adult-type glauc as it flew downriver apparently dwarfing adjacent herrings. I got a better look of it off Shelly Beach where it looked far more like a white-winged herring gull!