THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS

MARCH 2021

Despite lockdown regulations being in force for the whole month local patch birding with 8 regular contributors produced some impressive records.

During the month there were only 2 days of gales, 1 day with a frost and a predominately dry month.

A record total of 129 species for the month was recorded beating the previous highest total of 128 in 2017 (c/f 2020 - 125, 2019 - 114).  The years total was increased by 19 species to 139 which is the same as in the previous 2 years.

Outstanding new species were GARGANEY, LONG TAILED DUCK, GREAT SKUA, AVOCET, YELLOW LEGGED GULL, LITTLE GULL, ICELAND GULL, GLAUCOUS GULL and WRYNECK.

A first ever March record for SEDGE WARBLER with 2 birds being found on 31st.

Highlights

SWANS, GOOSE, DUCK and GREBE

BLACK SWAN - One returned to join up with the MUTE SWANS on the Avon Estuary from 17th.

BRENT GOOSE DB - Single on 1st and 25th.

SHELDUCK - Spring build up noticeable from 17th when 5 on South Huish Marsh and 21st with 15 on South Efford Marsh.

WIGEON - 25 on South Huish Marsh on 1st reduced to 2 by 31st.   On South Efford Marsh 70 on 6th with still 50 on 21st.

TEAL - Max on South Huish Marsh 65 on 9th with 30 on South Efford Marsh on 21st.

PINTAIL - 2 on the sea on 3rd, 1 male on 18th and 1 female flew SE on 24th. 

GARGANEY - A memorable start to the month with 4 male on South Huish Marsh on 1st - earliest spring record.

MANDARIN - The male still on the Avon Estuary up to 17th.

SHOVELER -  On South Huish Marsh a max on 3 on 3rd, offshore records of 2 male on 19th and a pair on 30th.

LONG TAILED DUCK -A female flew SE with 6 COMMON SCOTER and a female PINTAIL on 24th, first record since Jan 2019.

COMMON SCOTER - Only recorded on 8 days with a max of 49 on 23rd.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE - Singles in the Bay on 3rd, 17th and 31st.

DIVERS - An outstanding month with record daily totals.

RED THROATED - Recorded on 22 days with a total of 145 logged.  New daily record with 18 on 8th, also double figure counts of 17 on25th, 16 on 28th, 15 on 7th and 12 on 24th.

BLACK THROATED - A total of 10 logged on 6 days with a max of 3 on 28th.

GREAT NORTHERN - A total of 14 logged on 6 days with 5 on 26th, 4 on 28th and 2 on 29th.

A total of 169 birds logged is by far a record monthly total.

GANNET, SHEARWATERS and SPOONBILL

GANNET - Highest daily totals were 274 on 28th and 354 on 30th.

FULMAR - A max of 5 on 28th.

MAX SHEARWATER - First of the year on 23rd with 16 on 24th and 24 on 28th.

SPOONBILL - 1 on South Huish Marsh afternoon of 2nd and 1 flew over Aveton Gifford on 16th.

WATERS - A total of 16 species recorded.

OYSTERCATCHER - A max 15 on 16th.

AVOCET - 1 on South Efford Marsh on 6th.

RINGED PLOVER - 2 on the rocks at the beginning of the month.

GREY PLOVER - 1 on the rocks on 28th.

LAPWING - 30 at South Efford Marsh on 4th.

DUNLIN - Max of 3 on the beach/rocks on 3rd.

SNIPE - Max of 35 on South Huish Marsh on 7th.

WOODCOCK - 1 flushed at South Milton Ley on 2nd.

BLACK TAILED GODWIT - A max of 7 on South Huish Marsh on 19th.

CURLEW - Max of 8 on South Efford Marsh on 7th, passage birds on South Huish Marsh with a max of 4 on 25th.

COMMON SANDPIPER - 1 along the tidal road throughout the month.

GREEN SANDPIPER - 1 on North Marsh on 17th and 1 flew over Tidal Road on 24th.

GREENSHANK - Up to 2 reported along the tidal road all month.

REDSHANK - A max of 8 along the tidal road on 1st.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS - Present for another month along the tidal road.

TURNSTONE - 21 on the rocks on 28th is the highest count this year.

SKUA, GULLS and TERNS

GREAT SKUA-  Early spring records with singles on 13th and 28th.  A total of 11 species of GULL were recorded, highlights were - 

KITTIWAKE - 18 in the Bay on 28th.

LITTLE GULL - Up to 8 in the Bay on 23rd  with 1 on 24th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL -  Passage birds up to the 11th with 8 on 2nd, 7 on 3rd and 6 on 7th.

COMMON GULL - A total of 6 offshore on 25th is the highest count for some years.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL - An adult on South Huish Marsh on 18th.

ICELAND GULL - One flew SE on 25th.

GLAUCOUS GULL - A 2W passed Hope on 19th.

SANDWICH TERN - First spring record were 2 on 23rd with a max of 26 on 30th.

HIRUNDINES, CREST, WARBLERS and WRYNECK

SAND MARTIN - Late arriving this year with 3 over North Marsh on 22nd and a max of 10on 29th.

SWALLOW - 2 over South Huish Marsh on 29th were the first.

CETTIS WARBLER - 1 on South Huish Marsh on 3rd and up to 3 males on South Miltyon Ley all month.

CHIFFCHAFF - 10+ at South Milton Ley all month,regularly reported from 4 other sites as well.

WILLOW WARBLER - First of the year at South Milton Ley on 29th.

BLACKCAP -  Mostly single males singing at 5 sites.

SEDGE WARBLER - First record for March with singles on  31st at South Huish Marsh and North Marsh.

FIRECREST. -Singles at Aveton Gifford on 4th and 12th.

BLACK REDSTART - A female on the rocks on3rd and a pair in a local garden on 25th.

WRYNECK - A superb find on 31st on the Coast path adjacent to the Golf Club - A first spring record for the patch.

THRUSHES,BUNTINGS, PIPITS and MISC

FIELDFARE - Last were 2 at south Milton Ley on 8th.

REDWING - Last were 5 at South Milton Ley on 8th.

WHEATEAR - Only 2 spring records - both singles on the beach on 28th and 30th.

WATER PIPIT - Several birds at South Huish Marsh starting to show signs of summer plumage, max were 6 on 23rd.

CIRL BUNTING - reported from 3 sites.

April is one of those months when spring migration gets into full swing, expectation is high hopefully it will be achieved.

mikepassman@modbury.me.uk