A lapwing flew south over Chelston this morning (very unusual here) and a female Blackcap in the garden.
On a completely different subject, does anyone have any more info on the Eagle Owl report from near Clovelly yesterday?
Saturday, 25 December 2010
Brixham
Sharkham Village- A good number of birds around the garden today including male Black Redstart (a pair have been resident over the last few weeks), Meadow Pipits and loads of Redwings. The last few days have seen 3 Lapwing on the common areas also.
On another note I was very pleased to recieve 'The Birds of Devon' as a present from my wife today. On first looks it's excellent!
Happy Christmas.
On another note I was very pleased to recieve 'The Birds of Devon' as a present from my wife today. On first looks it's excellent!
Happy Christmas.
Slapton Ley & Beesands
A festive wander around today was quite rewarding. On the sea off Beesands was a Velvet Scoter and 4 Red-throated Divers. Beesand Ley itself still mostly frozen but in fields close by were 50+ Lapwing and 20+ Golden Plover.
While at Slapton Ley highlights were a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier hunting the line and in with the wildfowl, on the unfozen part by Ireland Bay was a 'redhead' Smew. Again a fair few Lapwing on fields around the Ley and 3 Woodcock and 2 Snipe. On the sea another 3 Red-throats and Great Northern Diver.
While at Slapton Ley highlights were a 'ringtail' Hen Harrier hunting the line and in with the wildfowl, on the unfozen part by Ireland Bay was a 'redhead' Smew. Again a fair few Lapwing on fields around the Ley and 3 Woodcock and 2 Snipe. On the sea another 3 Red-throats and Great Northern Diver.
Paignton - yesterday 24/12
9 Waxwings near top of southfield avenue,Paignton at 3pm today
[from Chris Noakes]
[from Chris Noakes]
Friday, 24 December 2010
Brixington, Exmouth
Sadly no sign of any Waxwings around my house today. However there were 300+ Redwings stripping berries off every available bush in the neighbourhood, with a couple of Fieldfares and a Mistle Thrush. The male Blackcap was loitering around my back garden all morning, but didn't see the female today. A new garden tick was a Common Snipe which flew low over early morning.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Tarka Trail etc...
Snowy cycle on the Tarka Trail from Barnstaple to Braunton this morning:
Near the new bridge, a Pochard floating down on the outgoing tide was unusual.
A few Bar-tailed Godwits with Redshank, Dunlin, Grey Plover and 4 Sanderling around the Pottington/Bradiford Water area - nothing of note on the reserve.
Across on the Penhill saltmarsh were the most Wigeon I have seen on the estuary in many a year - may have been over a thousand. Plenty of Canada Geese in smaller flocks.
On Wrafton Pond - which still has some unfrozen water - 6 Shoveler, and 16 Common Gulls in amongst the Black-headed and Herring Gulls.
In the Velator reserve, still lots of Song Thrushes and Redwings, but the Buckthorn berries are fast disappearing! Highlight of the morning was 2 Woodcock in the reserve.
Only fell off the bike once!
[from Jon Turner]
Near the new bridge, a Pochard floating down on the outgoing tide was unusual.
A few Bar-tailed Godwits with Redshank, Dunlin, Grey Plover and 4 Sanderling around the Pottington/Bradiford Water area - nothing of note on the reserve.
Across on the Penhill saltmarsh were the most Wigeon I have seen on the estuary in many a year - may have been over a thousand. Plenty of Canada Geese in smaller flocks.
On Wrafton Pond - which still has some unfrozen water - 6 Shoveler, and 16 Common Gulls in amongst the Black-headed and Herring Gulls.
In the Velator reserve, still lots of Song Thrushes and Redwings, but the Buckthorn berries are fast disappearing! Highlight of the morning was 2 Woodcock in the reserve.
Only fell off the bike once!
[from Jon Turner]
Bunts Lane - Seaton
Plenty of birds in the garden today - 40+ Redwings, 12 Fieldfares, 56 Blackbirds, also 6 Brambling ( 2 male & 4 fems ) 3 Blackcaps, 2 Marsh Tits, and 3 Woodcock over the woods at dusk.
Beesands
The ley almost completely frozen with no wildfowl apart from 86 canada geese. I did however flush out a Bittern on the path to the hide. Lapwing seem to be everywhere with c. 40 in the field and others drifting over in ones and twos. Also saw a fox sneaking down to the lakeside, perhaps in the hope of an unwary coot!
I would like to offer salutations to John Gale for his stirling efforts to save the roosting wrens, I don't think intervention is a bad thing John, I'd like to think that if you found me shivering under a tree, you'd put me in a box and feed me worms.
I would like to offer salutations to John Gale for his stirling efforts to save the roosting wrens, I don't think intervention is a bad thing John, I'd like to think that if you found me shivering under a tree, you'd put me in a box and feed me worms.
Thurlestone Bay - South Milton Ley
Thurlestone Marsh this am - 45 Stock Dove -N ,75 Skylark, 30 Linnet 10 Redwing , 40 Fieldfare, 4 Lapwing , 1 Grey Wag., 15 Snipe
South Milton Ley late am - Walked round the top end 7 Woodcock ( a site record for me), 7 Teal, 1 m Shoveler, 6 lapwing, 45 Fieldfare ,20 Redwing 15 Song Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff( they must be hardy) No Cettis Wblr.
South Milton Ley late am - Walked round the top end 7 Woodcock ( a site record for me), 7 Teal, 1 m Shoveler, 6 lapwing, 45 Fieldfare ,20 Redwing 15 Song Thrush, 3 Chiffchaff( they must be hardy) No Cettis Wblr.
Colyton WTW
Despite a good look this morning I couldn't find the Eastern (?) Yellow Wagtail, but at least 2 Chiffchaffs and 3+ Water Pipits were in residence. No sign of Woodlarks in the field across the road either - too much snow I guess.
Torbay
Clennon Valley - no sign of the Bittern this morning but 1 Ruddy Duck, 5 Gadwall, 6 Wigeon, 5 Teal, 8 Shoveler, 5 Lapwing, 5 Snipe around ponds and 3 Bramblings >over.
Broadsands: sea too choppy to check but 22 Cirl Buntings on seed at back of 2nd carpark and 5 Reed Bunting and 11 Dunnocks! still a flock of 200+ Skylark in the stubble field.
Broadsands: sea too choppy to check but 22 Cirl Buntings on seed at back of 2nd carpark and 5 Reed Bunting and 11 Dunnocks! still a flock of 200+ Skylark in the stubble field.
Torquay
1 female Brambling at the top of Cockington Valley and lots of Fieldfares and Redwings around Upper Cockington/Chelston.
Waxwing Wembury
A single Waxwing by the school briefly this morning but no sign when I searched for it again - lots of gardens!!
Underdown, Haldon Forest - Wren Roost Update (yesterday 23/12)
The wren roosts at Underdown have been severely affected by the cold weather. Three days ago I counted about 30 birds going to roost in our house martin's nest. On returning home after a drink with neighbours at 9pm I saw that wrens were falling out of the nest and hopping about in the snow - the nest had collapsed. I immediatly decided to catch all remaining birds in the broken nest, so using a net I leant out of the bathroom window and took the whole lot including the nest. I transfered them into a cat basket and went to find other birds in the snow. Back indoors the birds had got out of the cat basket and we had 20 wrens flying around the house. We left them to go to roost and all birds flew off fine the next day at 8am. I spent the morning making a replica house martin nest for birds to use, and amazingly some used it the following night.
Wrens are also using our neighbours HM nests and last night one of their nests collapsed. Due to the prolonged cold weather this time birds were simple falling down dead. We immediatly got a ladder and decided to again take the remaining nest down plus birds all in one go. As I went up the ladder I was picking up hypothermic birds and putting them in my pockets. I pushed a box over the nest and slid a piece of board down against the wall, placing everything into the box. Decended the ladder with the box, I found more hypothermic birds and with my pockets full and no were else put them I ended up gently holding them in my mouth.
This morning we had 15 dead birds. I 'wren proofed' my studio, where I have housed the remaining 6 birds, feeding them live food. They have voracious appetites and will ONLY eat live food, despite what wild bird food suppliers say. They are doing well and will be released tomorrow morning, hopefully with a bit of reserve for the next 48hrs.
Some people may say I should not have interfered. A short period of cold weather, catching the first nest collapse would have saved about 20 birds, but after prolonged cold weather and the birds body reserve depleted there is very little one can do.
I estimate that about 60-100 wrens have been roosting within the immediate area and we are now down to about 10.
[from John Gale]
[from John Gale]
Dousland - yesterday 23/12
In our garden at Dousland the number of Bramblings has been increasing since the beginning of the month to a maximum of 33 today. The garden is still snow-bound and providing regular food and water attracts many species including two Reed Buntings
[Maureen and Rob Harrison]
[Maureen and Rob Harrison]
Red Kite - Willand - yesterday 23/12
Lucky enough to spot a Red Kite working low over the M5 at Willand this afternoon
[from Tim Clyburn]
[from Tim Clyburn]
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Topsham Lock
Two redhead smew together on the unfrozen pool just south of the lock, from midday on. One flew off shortly after, the other flushed by a walker later at 1.04pm. Also good numbers of gadwall and tufted duck, and a few pochard and shoveler among the many coot.
Thurlestone Bay
Expectations never live up to actuality . Not so much on the move today but still interesting
Movement this am - 22 Stock Dove -n , 10-0+ Redwing , 90+ Fieldfare, 15 Siskin -s , 34 Song Thrush, 250+ Skylark- N , 4 Mistle Thrush. 95 Lapwing, .On the Marsh 70+ Wigeon ,8 Teal, 1 Water Rail.15 Snipe. 1 Jay. 10 Reed Bunting on my feeders.
In the Bay - 3 Mute Swan, 8 Gadwall, 7 Wigeon, . 35 Golden Plover in the cafe field
at 8.20 a Grey Lag Goose flew into the Marsh -landed just outside my garden . Flew off at 9.50 -west
At Southdown Farm near Bolberry - Bob Burridge had v good views of a hunting Short-eared Owl and a male Hen Harrier- needless to say by the time I arrived neither could be found but still over 2000 Skylarks in the fields
Movement this am - 22 Stock Dove -n , 10-0+ Redwing , 90+ Fieldfare, 15 Siskin -s , 34 Song Thrush, 250+ Skylark- N , 4 Mistle Thrush. 95 Lapwing, .On the Marsh 70+ Wigeon ,8 Teal, 1 Water Rail.15 Snipe. 1 Jay. 10 Reed Bunting on my feeders.
In the Bay - 3 Mute Swan, 8 Gadwall, 7 Wigeon, . 35 Golden Plover in the cafe field
at 8.20 a Grey Lag Goose flew into the Marsh -landed just outside my garden . Flew off at 9.50 -west
At Southdown Farm near Bolberry - Bob Burridge had v good views of a hunting Short-eared Owl and a male Hen Harrier- needless to say by the time I arrived neither could be found but still over 2000 Skylarks in the fields
Thrushes Galore
Barnstaple Garden today.
Never seen so many Song Thrushes and Redwing as in my garden today - the cut up red apples seem to be bringing them in. On a berry hedge just down the road from me there must have been 50 Redwing.
Never seen so many Song Thrushes and Redwing as in my garden today - the cut up red apples seem to be bringing them in. On a berry hedge just down the road from me there must have been 50 Redwing.
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