THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS

FEBRUARY 2014

A month that has not been like any other in the 10 years I have been covering the patch.   Days of gales and storm force winds, rain which never seemed to stop at times.   Damage to the coastal strip and roads by the Rock Flats and Leasfoot Beach completely washed away. Gusts of 80 mph₊ (F12+) and mountainous seas on 5^th – waves crashing over the dunes and onto the 1^st hole of the Golf Club.   At times it was difficult to stand up. Gales F11+ from 11^th to 15^th and further rain saw both marshes in flooded state.

Surprising a very mild month with only a light frost on the morning of 16^th.

Six new birds for the year - WATER PIPIT (99), LITTLE GULL (100), PUFFIN (101), TREE CREEPER (102), PINTAIL (103) and COOT (104),

The total species recorded was only 91 (c/f 97 in 2013) – this is the lowest monthly total since these reports started in 2011.

GULLS were probably the highlight of the month with a total of 10 species recorded and at least 4 different GLAUCOUS GULL with 3 together on 23^rd.

Significant Sightings for the month.-

MUTE SWAN – with pairs holding territory on both marshes a total of 9 on 21^st was a years maximum.

DUCKS

MALLARD numbers rose with the increased water level with a max of 60 on 17^th.

SHELDUCK started to be on the marshes earlier than previous years with a max of 12 on 20^th.   WIGEON numbers on the marshes peaked at 115 on 4^th, same day that 300+ flew west (patch day total of 415 is a very high total).   TEAL numbers fairly static with a max of 70 on 16^th.   Only a single record for PINTAIL with a pair on the sea on 16^th.   SHOVELER numbers very low with a max of 5 on 7^th and none thereafter. (No GADWALL recorded at all).   TUFTED DUCK are scarce birds here normally 2/3 records a year, the female from January returned on 7^th and present until 20^th.   On the 8^th it was joined by a male (for 1 day)

Only a single record for COMMON SCOTER with 5 flying east on 13^th.

DIVERS AND GREBES

Only records occurred on 4^th when a single RED THROATED and 4 GREAT NORTHERN were through the Bay.

A LITTLE GREBE on Thurlestone Marsh recorded on 5^th, 7^th and 21^st.

RAPTORS

Still only the regular local species of SPARROWHAWK, BUZZARD, KESTREL and PEREGRINE.

EGRETS

Increase in LITTLE EGRET noted with 5 on 16^th and years max of 6 on 20^th.   WATER RAIL noted and calling on both marshes.   MOORHEN numbers totalled over 20 and finally the first COOT of the year at South Huish marsh on 23^rd/24^th.

Whilst the storms did result in some AUKS being washed up dead the numbers were’nt as high as other coastal areaS with up to 10 GUILLEMOT and 5 RAZORBILL (also 1 KITTIWAKE).  A PUFFIN in a very tired state picked up by a local resident on 9^th and taken to a vets (not known whether it survived).   A significant AUK passage on 4^th with 235 logged flying east.

WADERS

Only 7 species recorded – OYSTERCATCHER max 40 on 7^th.   RINGED PLOVER – 6 on 24^th. SANDERLING max 2 on 1^st, SNIPE max 13 on 16^th.   CURLEW 1 on 11th, TURNSTONE max 25 on 6^th and finally a WOODCOCK in Nick T’ s garden on 24^th.

The month will be long remembered for the numbers of GULLS brought into the Bay by the Storms in particular KITTIWAKE with over 250 on 8^th, 125+ on 14^th, up to 30 on South Huish Marsh.

Several days with counts above 100 for BLACK HEADED GULL and a max of 300+ on 18^th.   On the afternoon of 8^th a flock of GULLS on Thurlestone Marsh contained several KITTIWAKE and an adult LITTLE GULL.

Some of the MEDITERRANEAN GULL starting to look resplendent with summer plumage hoods starting to show, recorded on 5 days with a max of 5 on 19^th.

Resting LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL reached 30 on 14^th and 25 on 27^th.

A remarkable 4 different GLAUCOUS GULL records started with an adult on 16^th, a biscuit coloured 1^st W on 17^th, single adult from 18^th to 21^st and finally 2 Ad and a 2^nd W together on 22^nd/23^rd.

WARBLERS – Still no BLACKCAP records a few CHIFFCHAFF by the sewage works with a SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF in my garden on 18^th.

TREE CREEPER recorded twice at West Buckland – 11^th and 24^th.

No flocks of THRUSHES – no FIELDFARE so far this year, REDWING only 5 on 1^st and 4 on 7^th.   A single MISTLE THRUSH on 5^th.

A single WATER PIPIT on 8^th.   A male CIRL BUNTING in a local garden on 16^th and a pair on 18^th.   Single YELLOWHAMMER at Huxton Wood on 24^th.   Max REED BUNTING on my feeders were 6 on 16^th.