End of January Update

Whilst I was away on holiday a few records received which are well worth listing

 

Nick T has had JAY  ( 104 ) in his garden-

 

Bob B had a GREEN WOODPECKER  (105 ) in the Hotel grounds .

 

Arthur L had a female RED BREASTED MERGANSER (106 ) in the Bay on 28th also a FIRECREST in Mallards Lane

Tues 24 Jan 2012

 Managed to walk round the Bay before the rain & poor viz came in at 11.30.

 

Waders on the beach - 10 RINGED PLOVER, 2 SANDERLING , 2 TURNSTONE ,  a single CURLEW flew across the Bay  ( first of the year )

Offshore 23 GANNET and a single  RED THROATED DIVER.

 

GLOSSY IBIS on the back marsh this morning.

 

Another first for the year was a BARN OWL seen by AJL early one morning last week.

 

Last posting for a few days

Mon 23 Jan2012

GLOSSY IBIS only noticed early morning.

 

South Huish Marsh  this morning- A GREEN SANDPIPER, GREYLAG GOOSE.

 

A couple of hours sea watching from Warren Pt produced 2 GUILLEMOT, 2 RAZORBILL, 8 AUKS , 1 FULMAR , 3 GANNET  and Terry Lakeman !

 

The ringing team  caught a tristis type CHIFFCHAFF  at South Milton Ley.

 

Stopped off at Horswell House wood ( on the road from South Milton village to the coast ), this is about the only place on the patch where you can find NUTHATCH- came up trumps again found one on  a large tree , also 5 REDWING & 2 LONG TAILED TIT

 

 REED BUNTING numbers building - around 40 at S M Ley with 11 on my feeders.

Sun 22 Jan 2012

 The last 2 days have seen virtually no change on Thurlestone marsh - the GLOSSY IBIS feeding amongst the 35 WIGEON at the back of the marsh , BLACK TAILED GODWIT and LAPWING still present. Only change in the Duck population was 4 SHOVELER.

 

Over at South Huish marsh likewise no change  the GREYLAG  GOOSE  still amongst the 135 CANADA GOOSE.

 

 Yesterday in the Bay the only white winged GULL was MEDITERRANEAN 

 

Have updated the 2012 Year List which totals 100 species despite the abscence of some commoner species which were expected ,  the lack of a good cold spell is the most likely cause .

Fri 20 Jan 2012

GLOSSY IBIS has been here for 10days- still spending mopst of the time feeding on the back marsh. LAPWING ,BLACK TAULED GODWIT also still  here. Duck numbers seem lower only 25 TEAL and 30 WIGEON.

 

After an hour seawatching which only produced 5 GANNET , 4 RAZORBILL and a single GUILLEMOT decided to go on to Aveton Gifford  where along the tidal road were-  1GREEN SANDPIPER, 4 COMMON SANDPIPER, 20 CURLEW, 9 SNIPE , Both the BEWICKS & BLACK SWAN on th e river with2 LITTLE GREBE

Thurs 19 Jan 2012

Only a brief  visit to the Bay at lunchtime which in 45mins produced -- 

 

20 GANNET, 25 AUKS ,   1 GREAT NORTHERN DIVER , 3 GUILLEMOT, 4 RAZORBILL

2 TURNSTONE.

 

On Turlestone Marsh the GLOSSY IBIS spent most of the day feeding at the back of the marsh.

Wed 18 Jan 2012

Visability very poor all day .  I can report the GLOSSY IBIS was on the back of the Marsh at 08.00, 10.15 and 15.30 .

 

Information from a neighbour confirms a female BLACK REDSTART has been spending time on their house for most of the last week.

 

Great photo on Devon Birds blog of the male GOOSANDER in the Bay on Sunday - as far as i am aware this is the first Male for the site.

Tues 17 Jan 2011

 A cloudy morning with no wind produced a flat calm sea unfortunately the visability was only moderate at first.

 

Bay watched from the comfort of the Warren Pt seat. With a flat sea the flocks of AUKS were easier to pick up . In 2.5  hours  225 flew east with the largest flock 55.

11 on the sea were able to be identified as 10 RAZORBILL & 1 GUILLEMOT.

 

Only  14 GANNET and 24 KITTIWAKE  flew east. 

 

On the sea a BLACK THROATED DIVER (later flew east )  9 TEAL, 6 WIGEON.

 

On South Huish Marsh - 3 GADWALL , 17 WIGEON , 12 TEAL, 1 GREYLAG GOOSE, 1 2w MED GULL.

 

Didnot see the GLOSSY IBIS at Thurlestone Marsh until it flew in to roost at 16.45. With 10 SNIPE a single JACK SNIPE.

 

Roosts at the Marsh - 25 STARLING ( last year 100k + ) and 75 PIED WAGTAIL

Mon 16 Jan 2012

 

 

Sunny cold day - sharp frost overnight with 60% of the Marsh iced over at 08.00, Easterly wind F 3 with superb visability.

 

At 08.00 both the GLOSSY IBIS & MARSH HARRIER on /over the marsh.

 

Seawatching from the Flats sheltered from the wind provided 2.5 hrs ( 10.00- 12.30 )

 of continuous passage.

 

152 GANNET ,  130 KITTIWAKE ,  72  RAZORMOTT , 3 COMMON SCOTER . first FULMAR -2 . 1 GREAT NORTHERN DIVER   flew east at 10.30 , 1 flew west at 10.55 with another 3  together east at 12.05. Another first for the year  a GREAT SKUA flew east at 12.05.

On the sea 4 RAZORBILL.

 

Bob B at South Milton Ley had - 20 CHIFFCHAFF( inc 1 eastern & 1 tristis types )

1f BLACKCAP, 1 M.  YELLOWHAMMER

Sun 15 Jan 2012

 GLOSSY IBIS  spent most of the day feeding on the back of the Marsh- which was not viewable from the main road. The female MARSH HARRIER flew over twice this afternoon flushing -35, SNIPE, 60 TEAL, 30 WIGEON, 2 LAPWING, 1 BLACK -TAILED GODWIT.

 

 Waders in the Bay - 12 RINGED PLOVER, 2 SANDERLING, 10 TURNSTONE, . on the sea a GREAT-NORTHERN DIVER  , 4 RAZORBILL.

 

The Bay continues to produce surprises- today  a SANDWICH TERN flew close inshore and then east at 12.30. My first winter record.

 

AJL & Graham Daw  had a GREEN SANDPIPER on South Huish Marsh.

 

Male BLACKCAP in my garden.

Sat 14 Jan 2012

 

 

 

Record shot of the GLOSSY IBIS taken at Thurlestone marsh this morning. Having seen it depart east at 09.15 it did not travel too far as it was back on the Marsh at 11.00 . It was also reported flying over Aveton Gifford during the day . Don't know if has returned to roost tonight.

 

Early this morning on the marsh  70 TEAL , 20 WIGEON,  4 SHOVELER.

 

This afternoon worked the upper parts of the  river  Avon Valley - Hatch Bridge to Topsham Bridge-  produced 2 DIPPER, 2 GOOSANDER, NUTHATCH, MARSH TIT

 

More photos posted on the Photo's page

Fri 13 Jan 2012

 

 

  Having only seen the GLOSSY IBIS in the evening gloom it was nice to see it rising from the marsh at 08.15 , a couple of circuits and off it flew to the east. Nice surprise to see it fly in to roost at 16.30 . I wonder which  local farm pond it is feeding on ?

 

Also on the Marsh were 60+ SNIPE, 1 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, 45 TEAL, 18 WIGEON. At 13.30  noticed all the Snipe had been flushed, quick scan found a scruffy female MARSH HARRIER quartering ( also returned at 15.00& 16.45)

 

On the beach ( near the flats ) the first BLACK REDSTART  of the year -A FEMALE.

 

South Milton Ley still held 12 CHIFFCHAFF and 4 BEARDED TIT ( latter still very secrative)  

Thurs 12 Jan 2012

 

  Very cloudy day which seemed to going along as another quiet day - that was until 16.45 when I had  a last look out of my lounge window -  you know the gods are with when out of nowwhere there is a GLOSSY IBIS coming in to land on the front marsh. Drove straight round take nearly 10 mins ,unfortunately all I could see was the outline of the bird feeding on the far side of the marsh. Will be out  at first light .

Ranks as one of my best garden ticks. The last one on the patch was just over 2 years ago ( Sept 25 2009), which I missed being away on holiday . My second patch tick of the year and it is still only 12 Jan - whose complaining things are quiet !

 

Also on Thurlestone Marsh this morning there were 7 LITTLE EGRET - 6 very quickly flew off SE.  At 13.45 a flock of 75 LAPWING and 50 SNIPE flew over the marsh - the SNIPE landed with the LAPWING continuing SE.

 

A 2w MED GULL in the Bay was the first of the year.

 

A morning walk round South Milton Ley  produced - 5 WATER RAIL,  4 CETTIS WARBLER, 14 CHIFFCHAFF, 20+ REED BUNTING, 2 YELLOWHAMMER, 7 BULLFINCH, 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 1 TAWNY OWL, 1 GREY WAGTAIL 2 GOLDCREST

 This afternoon went  over to Aveton Gifford - along the tidal road - BEWICK'S SWAN , 1 BLACK SWAN, 2 GREENSHANK, 3 REDSHANK 17 CURLEW,5 COMMON SANDPIPER, 1 GREEN SANDPIPER 3 LITTLE GREBE, 2 EGYPTION GOOSE

Wed 11 Jun2012

 

   A calm sunny day more akin to early April. All the action centered on SOUTH MILTON LEY where Bob B & Vic T had 1 FIRCREST ( originally ringed in Nov ), 4 BEARDED TIT, 12 CHIFFCHAFF, 3 YELLOWHAMMER.  They also saw a F MARSH HARRIER over SOUTH HUISH MARSH.

 

On the beaches the waders were - 11 RINGED PLOVER, 2 SANDERLING , 3 TURNSTONE..  12 ROCK PIPIT

 

On THURLESTONE MARSH - 30 WIGEON, 25 TEAL, 3 SHOVELER, 12 LAPWING, 60 SNIPE.  The first STARLING came in at 16.30- only 30 !

 

At SOUTH HUISH MARSH -   40 SNIPE, 10 WIGEON, 1 GREYLAG GOOSE. A flock of STOCK DOVE  now 40

Tues 10 Jan 2012

 

 

  No posts for Mon / Tues- spent offsite . Picked up the SPOTTED SANDPIPER on the PLYM EST on Mon

 

Today a trip round the Exe Est with Vic T , Alan D & Eric W picked up all the expected species apart from the Surf Scoter , inc BLACK NECKED GREBE off  Langstone Rock , 3 Eider ,1 COMMON SCOTER. SLAV GREBE off Cockwood.

 

Both Owls at Exminster marshes  also GLOSSY IBIS.

 

Back on the patch Wed

Sun 8 Jan 2012

Another quiet day - a few visitors came to see the BEARDED TITS-up to 4 were reported ( I only saw a pair at 13.00) Brief views of a F MERLIN flying over the fields.

 

Bob B had 6 CHIFFCHAFF at the sewage works ( 1 in full song ).

 

 Graham Daw   had 6 Common Scoter fly accross the Bay.

 

 Thurlestone  Marsh -  our resident BLACK T GODWIT joined by a second bird otherwise no other new arrivals .

 

The big surprise for 2012- still no STARLING recorded on the patch- has anyone else got them ?

Sat 7 Jan 2012

  Just a few snippets today - early morning the WIGEON on the marsh up to 76, TEAL still  35, SHOVELER 3m 1f,  15 Lapwing, a very nice WATER PIPIT feeding amongst  the wigeon on the flooded back meadow.

 

In Mallards Lane- a flock of 35 REDWING and a mixed finch flock of 50 containing CHAFFINCH. GREENFINCH, GOLDFINCH, also 2 COAL TIT

 

Mid morning AJL had sight of a pair of BEARDED TIT from the footbridge.

 

This afternoon went over to Kingsbridge Estury to see the 1cy male Eider just off Castle point

 

Fri. 6 Jan 2012

 At long last a very pleasant day - even managed to sit on the seat at Beacon Pt. Pity there were very few birds about .

 

 In the bay 20 GANNET , 12 RAZORBILL and 2 GUILLEMOT (ON THE SEA ) ,6 KITTIWAKE flew east . 3 MUTE SWAN also on the sea then flew west.

 

 2 resident MUTE SWAN on South Huish Marsh are ringed UZ & YZ.

 

On Thurlestone Marsh  WIGEON increased to 75 otherwise no change.

 

Male Blackcap in my garden this morning.

 

At 16.00 went down to South Milton Ley- no OWLS hunting, 15 FIELDFARE, 5 REDWING, 2 SPARROWHAWK, GOLDCREST, 3 CHIFFCHAFF.

 

Bob Burridge heard 2 BEARDED TIT late morning  

 

Thurs. 5 Jan 2012

  Yet another stormy day  ,strong WNW wind increased  to F8  with very rough seas , with sand being blown into my face seawatching  ceased after 30mins during which only 3GANNET  & 2 AUKS logged. A small flock of waders contained both DUNLIN & RINGED PLOVER.

 

Drove thru South Milton to Upton Cross- despite the wind a walk through a  rape seed field produced 200+ Skylark   10 Linnet and the big surprise - I flushed a pair of GREY PARTRIDGE also a flock of 36 STOCK DOVE. I am aware of falconers releasing Partridge  around the Soar area .

 

At South Huish Marsh the flock of STOCK DOVE increased to 34- this makes a total of 70 on the patch today.

 

.

 

This aft at Aveton Gifford-- the BEWICK'S SWAN , 4 REDSHANK, 2  GREENSHANK,

1 COMMON SANDPIPER. A walk around the small marsh /wood produced TREE CREEPER, GREEN WOODPECKER, 5 SISIN, 30+ REDWING

Wed 4 Jan 2012

  Another stormy day. wind soon increased from a WSW 5 to gusts of 8. No report yesterday- when I did get out had a tyre blow out -didn't get it sorted until after 17.00.

 

Thurlestone Marsh this morning - 50 WIGEON, 30 TEAL, 5 SHOVELER, 15 LAPWING, 1 BLACK T GODWIT.

 

SOUTH HUISH MARSH-  18 WIGEON, 1 GREYLAG GOOSE, 1 SHOVELER 25 TEAL 30 STOCK DOVE ( LARGEST FLOCK FOR SOME TIME )

 

BAY SEAWTCHING 10.00-12.00    40 RAZORMOTT, 45 GANNET, 3 KITTIWAKE, 12 COMMON SCOTER , 1 RED T DIVER (EAST AT 11.00 )  1 GREAT N DIVER FLEW IN AT 10.30 landed on sea , it or another flew east at 11.15 .

 

WADERS ON THE ROCKS INCUDED A SINGLE TURNSTONE & 12 OYSTERCATCHERS.

 

Large flock of gulls in the fields with at least 1 YELLOW L GULL. Had a great candidate for the first Caspian when that group flew off !

 

Bob B heard 2 BEARDED TIT from the footbridge also had a SPARROWHAWK  &

3 CHIFFCHAFF at the sewage works.

 

This afternoon went down to Slapton-- VELVET SCOTER & a SLAVONIAN GREBE off the monument car park . On the LEY   - 2 GOLDENEYE, 1ad MED GULL, 4 GREAT C GREBE , POCHARD  & TUFTED DUCK

 

 

 

 

Monday 2nd Jan 2012

  At last a day with some sunshine- wind started to increase from 10.30 up to a WF6.

 

sea became rough by lunchtime .

 

THURLESTONE BAY- am - On the rocks 10 RINGED PLOVER, 2 SANDERLING, . Offshore- 50 Gannet (a feeding party ) ,KITTIWAKE, 5 RAZORBILL.

 

SOUTH MILTON LEY - 2 WATER RAIL,GREY WAGTAIL, MISTLE THRUSH,5  BULLFINCH

 

2 CHIFFCHAFF,  

 

BOWCOMBE CREEK & KINGSBRIDGE EST-PM, GREAT N DIVER, 15 RED B MERGANSER, 8 G C GREBE, 400 DUNLIN, BRENT GOOSE. 1GREENSHANK.

 

AVETON GIFFORD- BEWICK'S SWAN , 2  COMMON SANDPIPER, 5 REDSHANK, 2 LITTLE GREBE. 2 EGYPTION GOOSE

Sunday 1st Jan 2012

  With friends not leaving until 12.00 and need for some brownie points (it is our 46th wedding anniversary ) didn't get out until 13.45.

 

The water meadow and Marsh produced - 75 WIGEON, 50 TEAL, 3 SHOVELER ,

 

35 SNIPE, 15 LAPWING, 1 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT,  1 CETTIS WARBLER, 1  WATER PIPIT  ,9 REED BUNTING  & 1 BULLFINCH at the feeders.

 

SOUTH HUISH MARSH - this pm - 2 GADWALL, 25 WIGEON, 2 SHOVELER, 75 MALLARD, 1 GREYLAG GOOSE  ,

 

Brief seawatch produced a result - after no DIVERS in Dec. both RED-THROATED  & BLACK THROATED were offshore. 20 GANNET, 5 RAZORMOTT.

 

 

Alan D & Eric W  had a flock of 25 FIELDFARE just on the outskirts of the village

 

Friday 30th Dec 2011

  Late news - John King had a Brambling on a garden feeder earlier in the week.

Another dank & dreary day - low cloud /mist W F3 wind and heay rain / showers, poor viz offshore.

 

South Huish Marsh  had 18 Wigeon, 10 Teal, 3 Shoveler, plus singles of Coot, Snipe, Greylag Goose

 

Something made most of the duck to leave Thurlestone Marsh overnight- this morning only 1 Wigeon, 25 Teal, 3 Shoveler. 15 Lapwing still on the Marsh fringe. Only 3 Reed Bunting at the feeders .

 

Looks likely the final total for the patch this year is going to be 198- certainly my highest total over the last 6/7 years.

Thursday 29th Dec 2011

Strengthening W  wind increased this afternoon to a gale F8 with  gusts of F9- difficult on the coast to even hold the bins - scope out of the question.

 

Only a couple of Gannet off shore, South Huish marsh had 26 Wigeon, 5 Teal,2 Shoveler, 30 Canada Goose .

 

Thurlestone Marsh  this morning held 1 Little Egret, 35 Wigeon, 35 Teal, 15 lapwing , 1 Black-tailed Godwit.  With the strong wind more duck likely to be in the reeds.

Wednesday 28 Dec 2011

Only really had time to look over the Marsh first thing this morning.

 

Wigeon numbers up as 42 were feeding along with 30 Teal. 3 Shoveler on the water. 3 Little Egret again, waders were 15 Lapwing , 4 Snipe & a Black-tailed godwit

 

A male Sparrowhawk caused some commotion  flying swiftly through the trees.

 

Bob Burridge reported 10 Chiffchaff at the sewage works yesterday.

 

Hoping to manage some time looking out to sea Thursday ( getting withdrawal symptons )

Tuesday 27th Dec.

Momentous day - the first ever post on this new web site  !

 

With family visiting  not much time to get out, spent just over an hour on the balcony overlooking the back of Thurlestone Marsh

 

3 Little Egret, 4 Shoveler, 10 Teal, 26 Wigeon,  1 Mute Swan, 15 lapwing, 15 Snipe, 1 Black- tailed Godwit, 2 Water Rail , 1 Cettis Warbler, 1 m Blackcap,  20 Fieldfare & 2 Redwing flew over  SE , At the feeders 10 Chaffinch, 8 Reed Bunting, , largest flock of the winter 40 Goldfinch , a Stonechat on the marsh.

 

Including more common species a total of 40 recorded.