MON 30 JUNE
A morning of very light winds , flat calm sea and sunny periods. Met up with Graham and Vic T joined us at 10.45
Although little wind there was amovement offshore - 72 MANX SHEARWATER, 35 GANNET, 5 BLACK H GULL, 7 COMMON SCOTER, 9 AUKS.
At South Huish Marsh the highlight was a HOBBY ( 160 ) picked up by Vic it flew off towards Hope Cove- a first for the year. " TEAL (m + f ) and a SPARROWHAWK .
Calling in the village were 2 COAL TIT .
Monthly species total was 93 ( joint lowest total with Feb 14 ) over the last 4 years
SUN 29 JUNE
A very quiet w/end on the patch. The heavy showers did not cause any waders to drop in and offshore almost nothing.
A female TEAL flew into T'stone Marsh late evening Sat, 2m TEAL on South Huish Marsh . SEDGE WARBLER outside my garden. Lots of juv birds moving through
Bob & Gary whist driving thru the lanes this morning had - YELLOWHAMMER, BULLFINCH, SPARROWHAWK and GREAT Sp WOODPECKER
Only one more day of June , this month is going to set a new lowest total of species recorded in the last 4 years.
FRI 27 JUNE
Another morning of total cloud with very heavy showers, wind increased to F5/6 in the squalls.
Seawatching from the car park produced - 112 GANNET, 20 MANX SHERWATER, 1 BALEARIC SHEARWATER ( flew east at 10.50 ), 1 FULMAR, 2 SANDWICH TERN feeding in the Bay.
On South Huish Marsh 3 SAND MARTIN , 2 m TEAL still
THURS 26 JUNE
With some heavy showers and squally winds ESE F4/5 anticipation was high after yesterday, unfortunately the wind dropped to F2 by 10.30 and nothing was moving - even the GANNET total struggled to 25. 2 COMMON SCOTER and 2 SHELDUCK flew east. 4 SWIFT flew south and 11 OYSTERCATCHER on the rocks
WED 25 JUNE
A distinct change in the weather with 100% cloud this morning and a F4 ESE wind - more birds about though
Seawatching - 3 flocks of COMMON SCOTER 6,14 & 40 flew east, only 20 GANNET, , several flocks of MANX SHEARWATER totalled 55, 8 AUKS,
1 KITTIWAKE , 1 FULMAR & 3 BLACK H GULL
On the rocks the first returning waders - sinlges of CURLEW and REDSHANK also OYSTERCATCHER now up to 15
Nothing new on the Marshes
TUES 24 JUNE
Another glorious sunny morning with a flat calm sea and no wind .
First juv CHIFFCHAFF through the garden this morning
A walk round South Milton Ley produced - 25 + CHIFFCHAFF ( many juv 's ) 8 BLACKCAP, 10 LONG T TIT, 20 BLUE TIT, BULLFINCH, SEDGE WARBLER.
On South Huish Marsh- 2m TEAL, 1 juv SHELDUCK, 1 SPARROWHAWK
Offshore a few GANNET, 1 SHELDUCK -east
MON 23 JUNE
Roost last night at T'stone Marsh was 300+ STARLING 10 SAND MARTIN 60+ MALLARD
On T'stone Marsh this am - 15 SAND MARTIN and late afternoon 4 BLACK H GULL.
Met up with Graham Daw - seawatching from the car park - 35 + GANNET, 55 KITTIWAKE, 2 SWIFT -s , 28 COMMON SCOTER. On the rocks 8 OYSTERCATCHER
At South Huish marsh -35 SAND MARTIN, 1m TEAL, , 2 SWIFT, 1juv SHELDUCK
Total sunshine with a light ESE breeze
FRI 20 JUNE
Before leaving for Malvern managed to spend just over an hour seawatching from the car park, which produced -
60 GANNET, 20 KITTIWAKE, 25 MANX SHEARWATER, 1 FULMAR
THURS 19 JUNE
A day for spending on the beach or relaxing on a sun lounger- hot sunny and little breeze.
Offshore this morning limited to a few GANNET, CORMORANT , SHAG and a KITTIWAKE.
On South Huish Marsh the bestviews I can remember of 2 Stoat playing by the metal gate near the car park. , birds limited to- 4 SWIFT, 7 SAND MATIN a few each of SWALLOW & HOUSE MARTIN. SEDGE & CETTIS WARBLER, 2 m TEAL, 25 HOUSE SPARROW ( must have been a good breeding season )
Along the lanes - YELLOWHAMMER, WHITETHROAT, SKYLARK, STOCK DOVE .
Spent an hour at West Buckland - in particular watching my fav summer garden visitor - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, as well as- 2juv COAL TIT, 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 5 BLACKCAP, GREAT SP WOODY and other common species .
Late news via AFD - A RED KITE over South Milton on Sunday9 2nd record this year )
Having just returned from France we are away this w/end in Malvern . Normal service resumes on Monday
WED 18 JUNE
Arrived back from Brittany late last night so it was something of a late start this morning . After France to say it was quietwas an over statement .
Highlights on South Huish marsh - 10 SAND MARTIN, 2 BLACK HEADED GULL ( my first returning birds ), 2 m TEAL. Offshore only a few GANNET.
Whilst away only records rec'd were from AJL - Sun 15Jun - on S H Marsh 4 TEAL ( 3m 1f ), 1 COOT . Mon 16/6 around 08.30 a SPOONBILL flew into T'stone marsh ( 2nd patch record of the year )
Brittany Trip 10-17 JUNE
Will post a more detailed report over the next few days .Had a great time, Graham Daw and myself managed a total of 114 species. Based in Quimper for 4days, then down to the Gulf of Morbihan and finally Tregastel.
Highlights - Crested Tit at 3 sites, Chough, Dartford Warbler, Savis Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Honey Buzzard, Cattle Egret, Bee Eater, Turtle Dove, Mid Spotted Woody, Brent Goose, Cirl Bunting, Serin.
Fabulous weather, good food and some decent wine
TUES 10 JUNE
After a scan of the beaches resuted in nothing at all took up residence at Warren Pt by 08.25 for a 4hr sea watch. Morning started with sunny periods and a F5 SSW wind, later squally showers with gusts up to F7.
To begin with the GANNET were flying past only yards offshore -120 logged in the first hour , of these 60% were sub adult birds. Final total was 300.
90 KITTIWAKE is agood June total here, 5 FULMAR, 7 AUKS, 6 COMMON SCOTER flew east, 1 ad COMMON GULL, .
Best records were time logged - 10.48 a STORM PETREL (159 ) flew east
( picked thanks to a passing warship that provided a backdrop ).
11.30- a lp ARCTIC SKUA in an aerial battle with a KITTIWAKE .
11.40 -2 RED T DIVER flew east close inshore ( sp ), my latest Diver records for the patch .
An enjoyable June morning ., hopefully the wind will abate this evening as Graham Daw and myself ( plus wives ) are off on the ferry to Brittany
for a week.
Report will be posted on our return - au revoir !
MON 9 JUN
Fine sunny morning with increasing cloud cover and showers pm . Light ESE wind
Offshore from the car park a steady constant stream of GANNET which must have exceeded 100 by 13.00. 5 KITTIWAKE , 6 MANX SHEARWATER and 8 COMMON TERN ( together ) all flew east . At 12.25 Graham Daw picked up a dp ARCTIC SKUA which eventually landed on the sea .
Only interest on South H Marsh - Male TEAL still and a SAND MARTIN over.
Surprised to find a SPOTTED FLYCATCHER in the village
FRI 6 JUNE
A cloudy morning which later gave way to sunny periods. A F4 SE wind backed to ESE and increased to F6/7 by 12.30.
Spent the morning in the car park seawatching - was not as good as hoped for but nevertheless still produced some good records -. From 07.45 to 12.30 -
GANNET 220 mostly going east. 9 FULMAR , 38 GREAT B B GULL ,
3 KITTIWAKE, 7 MANX SHEARWATER, 24 COMMON SCOTER ( east )
3 SANDWICH TERN -spent 3hrs flying around the Bay. 22 CORMORANT
( east ) , 1 AUK, 1 GREAT N DIVER - west ( my latest record ) , 1 dp ARCTIC SKUA - landed on the sea at 11.25, 4 SWIFT and 2 FERAL PIGEON
At South H Marsh Gary had a SAND MARTIN.
Next post Mon away visiting family
THURS 5 JUNE
Late on Tues the STARLING roost was over 200. On Wed the only record of note was a single DUNLIN on South Huish Marsh
A fine sunny morning with alight W breeze and good viz . On the beaches only 10 OYSTERCATCHER ( first day no Whimbrel recorded )
Offshore 12 GANNET, 12 KITTIWAKE ( one flock ) 2 AUK and a FULMAR.
At South Huish Marsh the male TEAL, 2 SHELDUCK with 2 yng, 2 MOORHEN with 2 yng, 2 MUTE SWAN ( flew west at 12.00 ) 2 SEDGE WARBLER. WREN feeding 2 yng.
Just after 12.00 2 SANDWICH TERN flew east and 4 SHELDUCK west
Looking forward to Fri morning f6/7 ESE /E winds with a rain front to the west , could be interesting
TUES 3 JUNE
An overcast morning with a brisk WNW F4 wind. A typical early June quiet morning .
On the beach 3 DUNLIN and 2 WHIMBREL. Offshore a few GANNET and
2 FULMAR
2 MUTE SWAN flew in and tried to land on T'stone Marsh - the resident cob soon saw them off.
At South H Marsh the TEAL still and a brief visit of a LESSER B B GULL
MON 2 JUNE
Rain until 10.30 with low cloud and poor viz, a S3/4 wind which veered SSW then SW and by 13.00 was F1 . Despite initial thoughts the morning turned out quite well . Graham Daw and myself recorded from the Rock Flats and then later the car park - 190 GANNET ( mostly east ) 6 AUKS, 5 KITTIWAKE, 3 FULMAR, 5 SANDWICH TERN , 2 ARCTIC SKUA ( 1 dp,
1 lp, ) 1 BONXIE . 10 COMMON SCOTER.
On South Huish marsh - Male TEAL, pr SHELDUCK + 2 young
SUN 1 JUNE
A fine sunny morning until 09.00 when the cloud cover arrived . A WNW
F 3 wind.
An early start for the new month- Offshore a few GANNET, 2 flocks of COMMON SCOTER totalling 25 flew east along with 3 AUKS 2 FULMAR .
and 5 KITTIWAKE
By the footbridge 2 REED WARBLER singing.
On South Huish marsh a single DUNLIN.,5 SHELDUCK.
Quick visits to South Milton Ley, Huxton Cross and the Buckland Valley .,
produced - 1 m YELLOWHAMMER, 6 SKYLARK, 15 LONG T TIT, 3 BLACKCAP ( also 4 young fledged birds ) 2 JAY, GREAT Sp WOODPECKER, MISTLE THRUSH..
Total species recorded 57
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