THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS

MARCH 2014

After the ferocious storms and rain of February a month which turned out relatively mild with only a slight frost on two mornings, no gale force winds, and rain on only a few days (more occurred overnight).

Sixteen new birds added for the year with the first spring migrants being SAND MARTIN on 8^th. WHITE WINGED GULLS continued to be seen particularly towards the end of the month. Noticeable reduction in species of DUCK and WADERS compared with previous year also very few winter thrushes – first year I can remember not having recorded a FIELDFARE.

Total species recorded was 105 (c/f 121 in 2013) whilst the years total has reached 120 (well down on 132 for March 2013)

Significant sightings for the month –

MUTE SWAN – pairs on territory on both marshes, some passage movement with totals of 15 on 9^th and 16 on 13^th.

GEESE – A single record of a DB BRENT GOOSE flying east on 30^th and a surprise on 27^th when 4 EGYPTIAN GOOSE arrived on South Huish Marsh (first record for 4 years) staying until the month end.

DUCKS

MALLARD – first brood of duckling were 9 on 29^th, all predated by 31^st

SHELDUCK – 8 regularly on South Huish Marsh, maxima were 16 on 17^th and 15 on 27^th.

WIGEON - Many birds departed early with a max of 16 on 6^th and the last a pair on 14^th.

TEAL – Numbers on the marshes fairly constant throughout with a max of 45 on 17^th.   Some evidence of passage with 33 moving east on two dates.

PINTAIL – Only a single record of a pair on the sea with TEALon 9^th.

SHOVELER – 10 on the sea on 9^th with only 3 other records of up to 6 on the marshes.

GADWALL – Not been recorded since January – have they all gone to Slapton.

TUFTED DUCK – Normally up to 3 records a year, recorded in each month so far with a male on the marsh on 8^th and 3 male and 1 female on the sea on 29^th.

COMMON SCOTER – recorded on 10 days, 36 on 11^th was the highest until 31^st when 271 logged flying east – a site day record for March.

GOOSANDER – Doug Stannard was the observer who watched 3 male and 5 female fly over the Bay on 8^th.

DIVERS

All 3 common species recorded –

RED-THROATED singles on 3 dates and 4 on 20^th,

BLACK THROATED singles on 13^th, 20^th and 31^st.

GREAT NORTHERN – singles on 5 dates with 2 on 20^th.

GREBES and MISC

A single record of GREAT CRESTED on the sea on 9^th.

FULMAR passage max of 15 on 24^th, and 8 on 31^st.

First MANX SHEARWATER watched flying east on 31^st (G and M Daw, Bob B)

Max GANNET were 42 on 24^th.

RAPTORS –

A 1^st summer MARSH HARRIER on Thurlestone Marsh early evening of 12^th.

A male MERLIN over the same marsh on 17^th.

SPARROWHAWK, KESTREL, BUZZARD and PEREGRINE all recorded.

RAILS AND COOT

WATER RAIL on both marshes probably no more than 4.

COOT returned to South Huish Marsh on 17^th with 3 noted on 28^th.  

MOORHEN – big increase with both marshes holding up to 20 in total.

WADERS

OYSTERCATCHER – max were 21 on 8^th.

AVOCET – 5 flew round the Bay before departing up the valley on 30^th. This is the second Spring recording the last 10 years.

RINGED PLOVER – Max 6 on 9^th.

SANDERLING – a single record on 9^th.

SNIPE – max 10 on 13^th (very low counts)

BLACK TAILED GODWIT – first of the year were 3 on South Huish Marsh on 13^th.

CURLEW – another species with only a few records a year. Evidence of passage with 10 flying through on 8^th, followed by 9 on 9^th and 2 on 14th.

TURNSTONE – max were 9 on 8^th.

GULLS and TERNS – 10 species recorded during the month.

KITTIWAKE – 17 on 31^st max.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL – single on 6^th, 2 on 8^th and 2 on 31^st.

LESSER BLACK BACKED – 45 on 21^st max.

YELLOW LEGGED GULL – A single 2 cy recorded on 29^th (VRT and EW) .

ICELAND GULL – a 2w in fields near South Huish Marsh on 29^th.

GLAUCOUS GULL – A 2w on 18^th, adult on 23^rd and 24^th and a 1w on 31^st.

SANDWICH TERN – first were 3 flying east on 24^th and then a max of 74 in 7 hours on 31^st – a March day record.

A WOODLARK in the field behind the Café on 25^th.

HIRUNDINES

SANDMARTIN – Doug Stannard recorded the first on 8^th followed by singles on 13^th and 17^th.   Months max was 100 on 29^th.

SWALLOW – late this year – visitors recorded 2 on 29^th.

HOUSE MARTIN – 2 watched by G and M Daw on 17^th (possibly the earliest ever site record)

WARBLERS

CHIFFCHAFF numbers built up from 6 on 12^th to 19 on 26^th and a max of 20 on 30^th.

SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF – A very grey bird well watched at the sewage works on 30^th.

WILLOW WARBLER – first were 2 on 29^th with 4 on 30^th.

BLACKCAP – first of the year a male singing in a local garden on 19^th (June Huggins)

First WHEATEAR were 5 males on 13^th, first female on 26^th and a max of 12 on 27^th.

Passage of ALBA WAGTAILS noticeable from 9^th when 40 on site included 2 WHITE. A max of 7 WHITE on 25^th.

WATER PIPIT – Only record were 4 on South Huish Marsh on 8^th (VRT)

Largest MIPIT passage 30 on 14^th, otherwise no more than usual for ROCK PIPIT,

FINCHES and REED BUNTING.