Kellaton

Ringtail Hen Harrier flying SE over Kellaton, 17.40 (towards Start Point).

Weare Gifford

Whooper Swan still present [photo from Nigel Bastin]

Budleigh

At White Bridge today; 15 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler (all singing) and singles of Firecrest and Swallow.

[Alan Salter]

Wembury Again

No further sign of the Hoopoe but 3 Black Redstart (2 males) around the point - not found by me. Another female Black Red was at Wembury church this evening along with a Willow Warbler. It seemed as though stuff was dropping in all day.

Black Hole Marsh

Little Ringed Plover again today - a bit more obliging in the photography department! Also 25 Sand Martins this evening.

Exminster marshes & Turf

4 sand martins over the marshes at 8.30 closely followed by one green sandpiper flying north. On the ground 6 male pintail, 14 male shoveller and numerous pairs of teal. I heard Cettis calling from 3 sites and 4 or 5 chiffchaffs were singing. An adult spoonbill was east of the lagoon at 11.00 but flew south towards Powderham Park at 11.15.

At Turf over the high tide at lunch time was a summer plumaged Slavonian grebe, 7 brent geese and 98 shelducks.

River Dart And Teign

A couple of pictures of the Pink-footed Goose this morning at Totnes - across the other side of the river and marshes so pretty horrible pictures especially as it was with a white farmyard greylag. Three Common Sandpipers in the same area also.

The most interesting bird on the Teign Est was a Black Swan! Also 42 Common Gulls 270+ Black-headed Gulls, 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls of varying degree of darkness.

Totnes and Slapton

The Hoopoe still early afternoon at Slapton Ley but really elusive. It has now moved up to just south of the Toilet block in the Central car park but on the ley side of the road. It keeps wanting to come back to that area , seen several times perched in the low tress there, but when disturbed flys all the way across the ley to the fields to the right of Ireland Bay. Also Willow Warbler, Cettis' Warbler and Chiffchaff all singing well by the bridge, a few Swallow and Sand Martin passing through and at Torcross a very black backed Lesser Black Backed Gull on the ley.

Earlier, on the River Dart south of Totnes , a Pink footed Goose (found by ML) with 12 Canada Geese viewable from the public footpath on the south side of the river, accessed from near the boat yard. Possibly the same bird that was seen earlier in the winter at South Huish and then Beesands?

Slapton Ley

Hoopoe seen by Alan Searle this morning on Torcross Line between the end of the boulder sea defences and the lifebuoy.

Axmouth and Beer head

The Hoopoe still present in campsite area this morning .
Beer Head.
A walk around Beer head this morning with Clive williams and Dave Hellier produced male Redstart,Male and female Black redstart,12 chiffchaffs,1 Willow warbler and a flyover Brambling.

Wembury

Added another species to my "almost run over" list this morning when a Hoopoe got up from just by the car at Wembury Point at 7.20. It flew into some trees and then flopped off over the field. No further sign by 9 but it was heard calling later probably from the gardens.

Double Locks Wetlands and Matford Ponds

A quick cycle down the river from the Quay this evening.

49 Sand Martin over Riverside ponds, 8 Chiffchaff singing along the route, 1 Blackcap singing at Matford plus, 19 Pied Wagtail including 2 White Wagtail, 23 Wigeon, 9 Shoveller, 15 Teal, 1 Green Sandpiper.

Black Hole Marsh

A Little Ringed Plover this evening, and a few Sand Martins through.

Broadsands & Teign Est

Broadsands (afternoon): 6 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Razorbill, 1 Guillemot.

Teign Est (this evening): 16 Common Gull, 77 Black-headed Gulls, but nothing much else among larger gulls, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Little Egrets & 380+ Carrion Crows!

Exminster Area

The male Garganey still late afternoon on Powderham Marsh (present from yesterday) and nearby a male Merlin early evening perched on a gate post south of Lions Rest viewable from the middle car park.

Velator reserve

At least one Willow Warbler in the reserve today, although it's song was somewhat muted, perhaps more akin to subsong, which we thought was odd considering the very warm spring sunshine. Also saw an immaculate male Blackcap.

Thurlestone Bay.

Another fine day with more cloudin the afternoon.

At high tide this am waders on the beach- 1 Grey Plover ( first this year), 5 Ringed Plover , 2 Dunlin, 1 sanderling. 2 Sandwich Tern still offshore, only duck flying through were 2 m Common scoter & 2 Shelduck .

Vis mig in the morning - 45 Meadow Pipit, 15 Goldfinch& 9 Siskin. 5 Sand Martin.

Only 1f Wheatear today.

At 15.00 big increase in teal on Thurlestone Marsh to 30+, 2 f Shoveler and am Garganey. The G only seen in flight as it landedin some thick reeds behind the pumping station. A Dunlin flew through as well as 25 Sand Martin

R. Taw 09.05-12.05

Isley Marsh.
Single Great Crested Grebe, Water Rail and Greenshank.

Yelland.
172 Oystercatcher, 8 Curlew, 4 Ringed Plover, 96 Dunlin, 5 Redshank, 13 Grey Plover and 10 Turnstone. Just one Wigeon and a handful of Teal & Shelduck.

Instow Beach.
3 Grey Herons and not a lot else.

Butterflies: 1 Orange Tip, 3 Small White, 1 Peacock and 4 Small Tortoishell.

East Devon

Nice to hear that at least one pair of East Devon Dartfords has survived the winter...

[photos from Pete Adey]

Plymouth

2 Spoonbill flying in from Tamar to roost with usual Little Egrets on Drake Island, Plymouth this evening.

[from Tom Forster]