The Yellow Browed Warbler still at Clennon Valley this morning showing well from the wooden bridge.
This evening, a Short-Eared Owl showed well at the northern end of Exminster Marsh
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Thurlestone Bay
This report covers the last 2 days-
Friday - A female Goosander was a surprise flying in off the sea & straight up South Milton valley.
An increase in Duck - on Thurlestone marsh - 7 Shoveler, 32 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 10 lapwing.
On South Huish marsh - 1 Greylag Goose, 200+ Teal, 50 Wigeon 9 gadwall.
Saturday - Waders on the beaches at high tide- 14 Turnstone, 2 sanderling, 13 Ringed Plover, .
Only duck on Thurlestone marsh - 50 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 5 Shoveler
Friday - A female Goosander was a surprise flying in off the sea & straight up South Milton valley.
An increase in Duck - on Thurlestone marsh - 7 Shoveler, 32 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 10 lapwing.
On South Huish marsh - 1 Greylag Goose, 200+ Teal, 50 Wigeon 9 gadwall.
Saturday - Waders on the beaches at high tide- 14 Turnstone, 2 sanderling, 13 Ringed Plover, .
Only duck on Thurlestone marsh - 50 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 5 Shoveler
Bowling green marsh
Watched from 08:45 till 12:00
On the walk down to the hide had a male blackcap and 80+ redwing 15 fieldfare,
From the hide 180+ bar tailed godwit, 450+ avocet, 400+ black tailed godwit, 250+ wigeon, 140+ teal, 40+ Dunlin, 1 knot, 70+ redshank, 2 tufted duck, 1 snipe , 2 little egret and 1 cetti's warbler calling
On the walk down to the hide had a male blackcap and 80+ redwing 15 fieldfare,
From the hide 180+ bar tailed godwit, 450+ avocet, 400+ black tailed godwit, 250+ wigeon, 140+ teal, 40+ Dunlin, 1 knot, 70+ redshank, 2 tufted duck, 1 snipe , 2 little egret and 1 cetti's warbler calling
Isley Marsh and Foreshore to Fuel Jetty
09:00 - 11:00
Unpleasant birding in strong N.W. wind; blowing straight onto the shore.
Difficult to make an accurate count due to bins and scope being blown about.
On the Tarka Trail from Yelland level crossing to Instow Barton Marsh, 23 Fieldfare;
1 Redwing; 7 Bullfinch and 1 Buzzard.
Jetty Roost.
c180 Grey Plover; c350 Dunlin; 19 Bar-tailed Godwit; c100 Lapwing; 54 Turnstone;
20 Knot; 34 Redshank and just a few Oystercatcher, Teal and just 1 Wigeon.
Isley Marsh.
10 Spoonbill; c250 Teal; c150 Wigeon; c70 Curlew and 9 Greenshank.
Unpleasant birding in strong N.W. wind; blowing straight onto the shore.
Difficult to make an accurate count due to bins and scope being blown about.
On the Tarka Trail from Yelland level crossing to Instow Barton Marsh, 23 Fieldfare;
1 Redwing; 7 Bullfinch and 1 Buzzard.
Jetty Roost.
c180 Grey Plover; c350 Dunlin; 19 Bar-tailed Godwit; c100 Lapwing; 54 Turnstone;
20 Knot; 34 Redshank and just a few Oystercatcher, Teal and just 1 Wigeon.
Isley Marsh.
10 Spoonbill; c250 Teal; c150 Wigeon; c70 Curlew and 9 Greenshank.
Friday, 16 December 2011
Bradiford reserve
A quick look in this morning at high tide. The river had backed up considerably, water completeely submerging the scrape and the reedbeds. In amongst the Teal (40?) and Mallard (a few) was a smart drake Pintail. On the other side of the river was a lone Black-tailed Godwit.
Clennon Valley
Yellow-browed Warbler still in same place NW corner westernmost pond where tiny feeder pool streams into the top pond. also 1 tristis type (Alan D, if you got any good shots could you post them?) and 3 collybita Chiffchaffs, 2 Goldcrests and Water Rail.
Broadsands this morning: 2 Black-necked Grebes, 15 Great Crested Grebes, 27 Wigeon. around car parks 9 Cirl and 1 Reed Buntings on seed, 1 tristis type and 1 collybita type Chiffchaffs in marsh.
Broadsands this morning: 2 Black-necked Grebes, 15 Great Crested Grebes, 27 Wigeon. around car parks 9 Cirl and 1 Reed Buntings on seed, 1 tristis type and 1 collybita type Chiffchaffs in marsh.
Seaton Marshes
Wheatear still present on Seaton Marshes this morning, with two Stonechats. Be good if it stays in to the new year!
Also yesterday, two Slavonian Grebes off Beer (found by Ian McLean).
Also yesterday, two Slavonian Grebes off Beer (found by Ian McLean).
Added by GH
Northam Burrows
Two Snow Buntings feeding quietly around the edge of Sandymere Pool this morning. One was a very smart male, and probably a different bird from those earlier in the autumn.
73 Brent Geese on the Skern including 1 Pale-bellied, and around 40 Shelduck. Plenty of small waders, but impossible to get the scope on them in the wind.
73 Brent Geese on the Skern including 1 Pale-bellied, and around 40 Shelduck. Plenty of small waders, but impossible to get the scope on them in the wind.
Thursday, 15 December 2011
nr. Ashburton
Flushed a Woodcock in Owlacombe Wood, couple miles northeast of Ashburton this morning.
Yelland Taw est
9 Spoonbills feeding in field between Islay marsh and the main road opposite Lagoon view at 13.45 hrs still present at 16 15 hrs.
Dartmoor
At Bellever Forest :
20 crossbill - a flock of 16 by the main car park. 1m 2f Goosander on the River Dart plus Dipper.
Burrator Reservoir: 1m1f Goosander at north end, also 10 teal.
20 crossbill - a flock of 16 by the main car park. 1m 2f Goosander on the River Dart plus Dipper.
Burrator Reservoir: 1m1f Goosander at north end, also 10 teal.
Sidmouth - Jacobs Ladder
On time 2+ hours after high tide this morning the first 
group of 7 Purple Sandpipers flew off the groyne to feed on the rocks alongside the foreshore. Overall total of 11 - (a passing pedestrian said that he had seen 14 on an earlier date)
Also 14 Turnstones.
group of 7 Purple Sandpipers flew off the groyne to feed on the rocks alongside the foreshore. Overall total of 11 - (a passing pedestrian said that he had seen 14 on an earlier date)
Also 14 Turnstones.
Upottery Airfield, Smeatharpe
A totally unexpected surprise was an adult Bewicks Swan flying quite low south east at 8.50. Great grey shrike still present but elusive in the strong wind. 87 golden plover on the rough pasture until 9.05 when flushed by someone/something unseen and flew off east. Single mistle thrush and song thrush mixed in with around 60 fieldfare. 4 stock doves, 1 raven and one adult male stonechat.
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Exminster Marshes
The fw red-breasted goose back today, with brent geese in the large field directly south of the M5 from the canal bank, over the high tide this morning. Also: 11 greylag geese, 2 water pipit and 2-3 short-eared owls (from 1500 north of Station Rd.)
Thurlestone Bay
Still blowing a F8 sw with much stronger gusts in the very heavy hail showers, with little shelter managed to stay up to 11.30.
A flock of 100 Wigeon flew into the bay and landed on the seabefore continuing west. A single Guillemot and 12 Gannets were the only other birds over the sea .
On the beach a first Dec record for me of a Knot with 5 Turnstone. an ad Med Gull on the marsh.
with2 Shoveler, 20 Wigeon, 30 Teal.
On Tstn marsh- 30 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 5 Shoveler,1 Greylag Goose, 8 lapwing & 1 Black T Godwit.
Just got back to find the postman has brought me an early Xmas present- no falling asleep in front of the Telly tonight with the 2010 Bird Report to salviate over
A flock of 100 Wigeon flew into the bay and landed on the seabefore continuing west. A single Guillemot and 12 Gannets were the only other birds over the sea .
On the beach a first Dec record for me of a Knot with 5 Turnstone. an ad Med Gull on the marsh.
with2 Shoveler, 20 Wigeon, 30 Teal.
On Tstn marsh- 30 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 5 Shoveler,1 Greylag Goose, 8 lapwing & 1 Black T Godwit.
Just got back to find the postman has brought me an early Xmas present- no falling asleep in front of the Telly tonight with the 2010 Bird Report to salviate over
Clennon Valley
The Yellow-browed Warbler still in same place, 5 collybita type and 1 tristis type Chiffchaff, 3 Teal, 12 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Little Egret, 2 Shoveler.
Broadsands
Still very blowy out in the bay so most birds very close in: 9 Black-necked Grebes, 14 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red-breasted Merganser.
6 Cirl Buntings on seed in 2nd Car Park, 1 Chiffchaff in marsh.
Paignton: 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Great Northern Diver.
6 Cirl Buntings on seed in 2nd Car Park, 1 Chiffchaff in marsh.
Paignton: 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Great Northern Diver.
Monday, 12 December 2011
Thurlestone Bay
A SW5/6 soon increased to an 8 this morning, seas rogh but viz very good . A Great Skua flew west at 10.15, 78 Gannet, 16 Kittiwake, 11 Razormots, 2 Wigeon ( on sea ), 1 ad Med Gull.
Tstn Marsh this am - 1F Merlin, 12 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 5 gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 10 lapwing , 1 Black T Godwit
On S Huish Marsh - 2 Shoveler, 1 Grey L Goose
Tstn Marsh this am - 1F Merlin, 12 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 5 gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 10 lapwing , 1 Black T Godwit
On S Huish Marsh - 2 Shoveler, 1 Grey L Goose
Powderham Marshes
At about mid-day the finch flock seemed to be smaller than on my last visit but there were still over 200 birds mostly chaffinches and linnets. A few greenfinches (c20), 10 redwings, 15 reed buntings and 2 (pair) bullfinches were in the hedgerows. All the birds were constantly moving probably due to the number of raptors; buzzard, kestrel (2), sparrowhawk and peregrines (2). Elsewhere one stonechat, 11 long-tailed tits and a single goldcrest. Overhead c6 skylarks and c10 redwings.
Clennon Valley
Yellow-browed Warbler showing well again - in NW corner of western most pond from small wooden bridge from the tiny feeder pond is. Birders have been looking from the wooden bridge on the causeway between the two large ponds (middle and western most) the chances are you will not see the bird from here!
Also : 1 tristis type, 2 collybita Chiffchaffs, Kingfisher, Water Rail and 3 Goldcrests.
Broadsands this morning: 4 Black-necked Grebes, 6 Great Crested Grebes 8 Razorbills, 1 Guillemot. 6 Cirls on seed in 2nd car park, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Water Rail in the marsh.
Also : 1 tristis type, 2 collybita Chiffchaffs, Kingfisher, Water Rail and 3 Goldcrests.
Broadsands this morning: 4 Black-necked Grebes, 6 Great Crested Grebes 8 Razorbills, 1 Guillemot. 6 Cirls on seed in 2nd car park, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Water Rail in the marsh.
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