THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS

AUGUST 2014

After a really hot and sunny July, the month started with heavy rain on 1^st, 2^nd and 6^th then on 10^th remnants of hurricane Bertha passed through with winds that started South  F 6/7 then backed West F 8.   This heralded an unsettled pattern that continued until the end of the month.   Winds were mainly NW from 18^th to 24^th, however SE F 4 and F 5 on 26^th and 27^th did bring some good wader passage with 10 species on 27^th.

New species for the year were:  PIED FLYCATCHER, KINGFISHER, CURLEW SANDPIPER, RED POLL AND BLACK TERN taking the total to 167 (c/f 177-2013 and 182 – 2012)    Monthly total species recorded was 118 (c/f 2013 and 2012 – 124)

Significant sightings for the month

First CANADA GOOSE back on Thurlestone Marsh on 15^th with 52 which departed that evening.

DUCKS

TEAL – Numbers built up from 3 on 1^st to a max of 22 on 31^st on Thurlestone Marsh.

On 20^th 4 flew east.

MALLARD – Post breeding moult numbers built up to 140+ on 29^th on Thurlestone Marsh.

COMMON SCOTER – Recorded on 8 days – main passage occurred on 2^nd-38, 10^th – 36 and 27^th – 21 .

SHEARWATERS, GANNET, GULLS TERNS AND SKUAS.

MANX SHEARWATER – recorded on 9 days with counts in excess of 100 on 10^th – 106, 19^th 150+ (all feeding on a calm sea) 24^th – 190+, 25^th – 356, 26^th – 188 and 31^st – 302 (flew east in 40 mins)

BALEARIC SHEARWATER – Recorded on 5 days with 3 on 15^th and a max of 8 on 31^st.

Most of our SHEARWATERS pass well out in the Bay, to correctly ID, BALEARIC conditions need to be a calm sea with a reasonable light.

FULMAR – Recorded most days, passage numbers were 10^th – 13, 19^th – 10, 27^th – 10.

GANNET – Another recorded most days, significant counts were – 6^th – 250+, 10^th – 385, 14^th – 142.

KITTIWAKE – Very few recorded, first Juv was on 25^th.

MED GULL – Only recorded on 5 days with a max of 2 Juv on 31^st (Note up to 40 on Kingsbridge Est)

BLACK HEADED GULL – numbers in the Bay rarely exceeded 50 and no noticeable passage.

COMMON GULL – A Juv on 5^th and 2 on 28^th were the only records.

LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL – Only noticeable count was 14 on 27^th.

GREAT BLACK BACKED GULL – 65+ moved through on 25^th.

HERRING GULL – passage of mainly Juvs on 25^th when 255 logged.

YELLOW LEGGED GULL – An adult on South Huish Marsh on 4^th and a juv on 16^th.

ARCTIC SKUA – 1 flew east on 25^th.

GREAT SKUA – single on 10^th and 2 on 18^th.

BLACK TERN – a single flew east on 28^th (AJL, MBP)

SANDWICH TERN – Only 3 records – 21^st – 1, 25^th – 2 and 28^th – 3.

COMMON TERN – Single on 25^th, 27^th – 4, 28^th – 16.

ARCTIC TERN – Single on 28^th.

The build-up of TERNS around Berry Head, Start Bay, and Plymouth Sound on 26^th-29^th of many hundreds did not result in any influx here, although small amounts of Whitebait were washed up on the beach.

STORM PETREL – Strong S winds on 10^th resulted in 1 flying east in the morning.

EGRETS, HERONS, RAILS AND GREBES

LITTLE EGRET – Usual maxima are 5 on Thurlestone Marsh, 3 on South Huish Marsh and 2 on the rocks so it was a surprise at 06.55 on 23^rd when 20 were on Thurlestone Marsh (15 flew off at 07.00).   This is a patch record.

HERON – Up to 5 on both marshes.

WATER RAIL – Calling birds on Thurlestone Marsh from 3^rd.  Only sighting was 1 on South Huish Marsh on 19^th.

LITTLE GREBE – single on Thurlestone Marsh from 1^st until 20^th.

RAPTORS

HOBBY –single on 1^st and 8^th were the only records

KESTREL – Our resident bird has departed, a Juv on 26^th and 30^th were the only records.

SPARROWHAWK – Seen regularly probably 2 or 3 birds.

PEREGRINE  -  In frequent sightings only.

BUZZARD – Up to 4 seen daily – plenty of our very pale birds around.

WADERS – A total of 17 species recorded with 10 on 27^th a possible patch August day recorded.

OYSTERCATCHER – Max 27 on 16^th.

RINGED PLOVER – recorded on 11 days, only reasonable counts were 1^st – 11, 25^th – 26 and an exceptional count on 27^th of 163 (largest flocks of 40 and 32.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER – Juvs on 6^th, 23^rd to 26^th and 29^th .

SANDERLING – Max was on 2^nd – 25, otherwise only seen on 4 other days, 4 resting on South Huish Marsh on 25^th was an unusual record.

CURLEW SANDPIPER – One briefly on the back pool at South Huish Marsh on 19^th (AJL, MBP).

DUNLIN – Recorded almost daily mostly on South Huish marsh – counts in excess of 10 were – 15^th – 10, 18^th – 18, 17^th – 16, 18^th – 12, 25^th – 12 and a max on 27^th of 33.

SNIPE – Recorded on both marshes from 1 -16^th with up to 2 birds Thurlestone Marsh had 4 on 20^th and 3 on 23^rd .

BAR TAILED GODWIT – 2 flew onto the rocks on 27^th and next day they were on Yarmer Beach.

BLACK TAILED GODWIT – Only recorded on 7 days – all on South Huish Marsh with a max of 2

WHIMBREL – 2 on 2^nd and singles on 7^th and 28^th

CURLEW – Singles on 17^th and 20^th.

COMMON SANDPIPER – Singles on 27^th and 29^th.

GREEN SANDPIPER – recorded on 5 days, singles apart from 2 on 8^th.

WOOD SANDPIPER – Singles on South Huish Marsh on 16^th and 25^th/26^th.

REDSHANK – More records than in previous years – single recorded on 7 days with a max of 3 (patch record!) on 6^th.

GREENSHANK – Singles on 11^th, 13^th and 27^th.

TURNSTONE – Single recorded on 2 days with a max of 5 on 27^th.

WOODPECKERS AND KINGFISHER – Only 1 record of GREEN at South Milton Ley on 31^st.

GREAT SPOTTED – Scarce only two records of singles.

KINGFISHER – Single bird by the footbridge on 8^th and over Thurlestone Marsh on 30^th.

HIRUNDINES AND SWIFT

SWIFT – Max were 22 over Huxton X on 6^th latest was one over Thurlestone evening of 26^th.

SWALLOW - No large roost this month,  not unusual to see up to 200 in a day.

SAND MARTIN – parties of up to 30 moving through towards the end of the month.

HOUSE MARTIN –up to 35 over Thurlestone Marsh / South Huish Marsh with a max roost at Thurlestone Marsh of 100+ on 22^nd.

WARBLERS – Noticeable for birds passing through my garden in the morning as well as some records in the Copse and by the ringing team at South Milton Ley.

CETTIS WARBLER – Only at South Milton Ley with a max of 4 ringed on 4^th.

CHIFFCHAFF – Daily through my garden, max were 18 on 15^th, 15 on 16^th, 11 on 23^rd, 10 on 31^st.  Max ringed was 11 on 20^th.

WILLOW WARBLER – Max for garden watch – 12 on 15^th otherwise up to 6.  Ringing team at South Milton Ley – 4^th – 33, 15^th – 23, 16^th – 24, 20^th – 42, 23^rd – 36 (total 157).

BLACKCAP – Daily on Garden watch – max 8 on 23^rd, max ringed were 5 on the same date.

GARDEN WARBLER – Single through my garden on 16^th, ringing team 3 on 20^th, singles on 4^th and 15^th.

WHITETHROAT – Up to 4 – through my garden.   Ringing team – 4^th – 8, 7^th - 3, 15^th -7, 16^th – 9, 20^th – 11, 23^rd – 7.

LESSER WHITETHROAT – single in my garden on31st.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER – Single in my garden on 7^th, another in corner of Thurlestone Marsh on 4^th (G.Daw).   Ringing team 15^th – 1. 20^th – 2, 23^rd – 2.

SEDGE WARBLER – Seen regularly around the Marshes particularly by the footbridge.   Ringing team max was 38 on 13^th, 34 on 4^th and 33 on 7^th.  A total of 153 ringed all at South Milton Ley.

REED WARBLER – Again seen regularly around the marshes – Max day ringed was 24 on 4^th and a total of 82.

THRUSHES – Whilst BLACKBIRD appear to have bred very successfully some concern over SONG THRUSH with only 1 confirmed sighting in the Copse.  Only sighting of MISTLE THRUSH was in the Hotel Gardens.

CHATS, FLYCATCHERS AND WHEATEARS

REDSTART – A Juv caught and ringed at South Milton Ley on 23^rd.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER – Recorded on 8 days with at least two family parties – 3 in a South Milton garden on 3^rd, 4 together at South Milton Ley on 20^th (3 ringed) otherwise singles in the Copse and my garden

PIED FLYCATCHER – Nick T had 1 in South Milton Village on 3^rd.

WHINCHAT – first a Juv at Huxton X on 26^th and another next day at South Huish Marsh.

STONECHAT – Several pairs still looking after fledged young – seen daily max 7 on 8^th.

WHEATEAR – first returning bird was on 4^th there after recorded on 8 days with 10 on 24^th, 9 on 26^th.

WAGTAILS

GREY WAGTAIL – single bird on 2^nd with 3 on 17^th – singles flying through on several other days.

PIED WAGTAIL – Plenty Juv birds at South Huish Marsh max count (inc adults) 40 on 16^th.

WHITE WAGTAIL – A single on 20^th with 3 on 23^rd at South Huish marsh.

YELLOW WAGTAIL – first returning bird a single on 16^th, regular from 21^st, significant counts of 25 on 24^th, 19 on 25^th, 15 on 27^th all South Huish Marsh and 30 coming into roost at Thurlestone Marsh on 31^st.

PIPITS, FINCHES AND SPARROWS

HOUSE SPARROW – post breeding flocks noticeable throughout the month with a significant total of 175+ in fields at South Huish marsh on 8^th.

MEADOW PIPIT – first returning birds 2 on 20^th seen daily thereafter although not more than 10.

TREE PIPiT – 2 birds in bushes by the footbridge on 22^nd, 3 over my garden on 28^th and 1 at South Huish marsh on 29^th.

BULLFINCH – Only a single record on 16^th.

YELLOWHAMMER – One in lanes by Huxton X on 1^st.

REED BUNTING – small numbers at South Milton Ley throughout.

GOLD FINCH – largest post breeding flock was 30 on 25^th.

CHAFFINCH – first signs of viz migration 8 over my garden on 31^st.

REDPOLL – single over my garden on 23^rd.

LINNET – first noticeable flock was 25 on 29^th at Huxton X.

With the culvert at Thurlestone Marsh blocked again by sand due to high tides mid-month, the back marsh filled up again, suddenly the MALLARD and TEAL began to increase, the mud churned up by the cattle looks good for September wader passage.