THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS

JULY 2014

Another month of superb weather with only one day of heavy rain which comprised thunderstorms on the morning of 24^th.

Sunshine hours must have been well in excess of the July average and providing some hot days for at least a week towards the end of the month.   No significant winds recorded, mainly from the West or North West and hardly exceeding Force 3-4.

Without any strong winds and inclement weather the monthly total of species recorded was only 101 (c/f 111 in 2013)

Only two new species for the year GREEN SANDPIPER and WOOD SANDPIPER taking the years total to 162 (c/f 166 in 2013 and 171 in 2012)

Significant sightings for the month:-

SWANS and GEESE

MUTE SWAN –  the pair on Thurlestone Marsh left towards the end of the month taking their 2 surviving cygnets with them.  Left early this year probably due to the low water level.

CANADA GOOSE

First returning birds were 11 on 20^th which also departed on 24^th.

DUCKS

TEAL – 2 on South Huish Marsh on 1^st and singles on 24^th and 31^st.

MALLARD – Still several broads of ducklings – these later birds seen to be having a greater success reaching fully fledge status.   Post breeding moult numbers increasing to 50 on 31^st.

COMMON SCOTER -  Surprising total of 115 flying east on 1^st thereafter only a single male on 21^st.

SHEARWATERS, GANNET, GULLS, SKUAS and TERNS

FULMAR – 3 on 4^th was the months max.

MANX SHEARWATER – Very light passage with 2 figures counts of 15 on 1^st, 21 on 22^nd and 10 on 22^nd.

BALEARIC SHEARWATER – Scarce this year,2 on 4^th only record.

GANNET – Small numbers recorded regularly, max were 65 on 1^st and 60 on 28^th (local fishermen reporting very few Mackerel this year)

ARCTIC SKUA – only 1 recorded a DP on 20^th.

KITTIWAKE – only record 3 on 2^nd.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL – slow to arrive this year – singles on 3 days with the first Juv on 22nd.

BLACK HEADED GULL – Again slow build up of birds returning from their breeding grounds – max only 42 on 30^th.

COMMON GULL – 3 Juv on 26^th were noteworthy.

YELLOW LEGGED GULL – first Juv recorded on 10^th with an adult on 30^th.

SANDWICH TERN – only recorded on 3 days – singles on 4^th and 26^th with 3 (inc first Juv) on 23^rd.

EGRETS, HERONS, RAILS and GREBES

LITTLE EGRET – With breeding nearby on the River Avon numbers increased to a max of 5 on Thurlestone Marsh on 20^th with up to 3 on South Huish Marsh.

HERON – Up to 4 on both marshes.

LITTLE GREBE – After being absent since February a single bird arrived on Thurlestone Marsh on 27^th, still present on 31^st.

WATER RAIL – first returning bird heard on Thurlestone marsh on 23^rd.

RAPTORS

HOBBY – singles over Thurlestone Marsh on 20^th and 29^th.  

BUZZARD – Some very pale young birds around.

SPARROWHAWK, KESTREL regularly record.

PEREGRINE – flying through occasionally.

WADERS -

A total of 13 species recorded with first returning birds towards the end of the month.

OYSTERCATCHER – Max 23 on 28^th. 

RINGED PLOVER – singles on 24^th and 28^th.

SANDERLING – 2 on 24^th, 5 on 25^th and 11 on 29^th.

DUNLIN – although recorded on 11 days max were only 6 on 1^st and 10^th.

SNIPE – South Huish Marsh bird all month with 2 on 28^th.

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT – single on 26^th with 2 on 27^th.

WHIMBREL – returning birds from 20^th max 7 on 21^st.

CURLEW – 4 over Thurlestone Marsh late evening of 1^st.

COMMON SANDPIPER – singles on the rocks on 10^th and 21^st.

GREEN SANDPIPER – first record a single on 16^th with 2 on 23^rd and 25^th and singles on 2 other days.  

WOOD SANDPIPER – a single bird on South Huish Marsh from 25^th to 27^th gave very good close views.

GREENSHANK – single flew over Thurlestone Marsh calling early morning of 24^th.

TURNSTONE – Only record a single on 22^nd.

WOODPECKERS – GREEN WOODY – scarce this year a juv on 1^st and an adult on 3^rd at West Buckland.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODY – only two records on 3^rd and a Juv on the copse on11th.

HIRUNDINES AND SWIFT

SWIFT – Some good passage numbers recorded with 68 on 1^st and a large flock over South Huish Marsh of 210 on 3^rd .  Single flock of 22 fleweast on 30^th.

SAND MARTIN – small numbers throughout the month, however 170 on 3^rd and 60 on 9^th were significant.

SWALLOW – Max passage birds were 400 on 20^th.   Breeding success must be very high this year as the numbers coming in to roost at Thurlestone Marsh were impressive – started with 1500 on 1^st, 2200 on 8^th, 5000 on 20^th, 8000 on 22^nd and a max of 10000 on 24^th and finally 2500 on 30^th.

HOUSE MARTIN – No outstanding numbers – max of 30 on South Huish Marsh.

WARBLERS

Several visits by the Ringing Team of Helen, Roger and Pete to South Milton Ley just confirms what we had been missing.

CETTIS WARBLER – 4 ringed, CHIFFCHAFF 30+ on 2^nd and 10 on 27^th a total of 99 ringed.

WILLOW WARBLER – first Juv on 20+, 10 through my garden on 30^th – a total of 68 ringed.

BLACKCAP – 3 on 27^th and 5 on 30^th total  ringed 17.

GARDEN WARBLER – 1 ringed on 27^th.

WHITETHROAT – 5 on 28 max, 18 ringed,

GROPPA – 1 on 27^th,

SEDGE WARBLER – 3 on 29^th – 47 ringed.    REEDWARBLER – max 8 on 29^th – total of 64 ringed.

MISCELLANEOUS

STARLING – Numbers coming in to roost at Thurlestone Marsh max 100 on 1^st and 75 on 21^st.

MISTLE THRUSH – bred at West Buckland.

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER – 1 pair breeding on the patch, an adult and 3 Juv in a South Milton garden on21st.

STONECHAT – Several pairs now fledging  2^nd /3^rd broods.

GREY WAGTAIL – first was 1 on 6^th towards the end of the month by the footbridge 4 on 29^th and 6 on 31^st , 2 were ringed.

PIED WAGTAIL – good breeding success with up to 20 on South Huish marsh.

BULL FINCH – family party at South Huish Ley.

YELLOWHAMMER – several pairs in the lanes.

REED BUNTING – few recorded but 7 ringed.

CIRL BUNTING – only 1 bird coming to feedings.

With early August weather continuing the warm and settled spell we need some good F 6/7 winds and overnight rain to bring the birds onto the marshes and improve the sea watching.