The incredible mild Autumn continued throughout the month with the temp reaching 20C+ on 31^st   Whilst there were a few days with some heavy showers there were only three days with gale force winds which included the remnants of at least two Atlantic storms.

With only 6 new species for the year, taking the total to 179 (c/f 2013 – 190,  2012 – 193), two of them yet again were patch ticks – COMMON CRANE and WHOOPER SWAN, other additions were BRENT GOOSE (pale bellied), SOOTY SHEARWATER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and RING OUZEL.   Total species recorded this month was only 112 (c/f 2013 – 118, 2012 – 130)

Good visible migration mornings were towards the end of the month, particularly 22^nd, 25^th, 28^th and 31^st.   The Garden Watch surveys carried out on 15 mornings ( I was on holiday in Cyprus for 7 days) the max daily total again 45 species with a monthly total of 69 species.

Significant sightings for the month:-

SWANS AND GEESE

MUTE SWAN – Recorded on 2 days – on 10^th 2 flew east and then 2 AD + 2 JV were on the sea.   On 22^nd 1 AD flew around the marsh and continued SE up the valley.

WHOOPER SWAN – Whilst I was away Bob had 3 AD over South Huish Marsh on 14^th (spent the next 2 days at Aveton Gifford).  On 19^th we arrived back at 04.00 so it was a great surprise when at 09.30 I looked out of our window to find 2 AD and 3 JV on the back pool not more than 30 yards away.   They roosted on the Marsh usually arriving around 17.00 and leaving at 07.50-08.00 each morning.   Last seen at 07.45 on 25^th.     Incredibly on 22^nd an adult was with the MUTE SWAN that flew through.   A total of 9 birds recorded - a patch record.

CANADA GOOSE – Numbers built up to over 300 at the end of the month spending most time at South Huish Marsh during the day.

BRENT GOOSE (DARK BELLIED) – Recorded on 5 days highest totals being 10 on 7^th and 18 on 9^th – all flying east.

BRENT GOOSE (PALE BELLIED) – 2 flew in off the sea and up the valley on 30^th first records for 2 years.

DUCKS

TEAL -  Present throughout the month on both marshes – highest totals were 60 on 7^th, 45 on 19^th and 40 on 25^th.

SHELDUCK – Singles recorded on two dates 14^th and 29^th both on South Huish Marsh.

WIGEON – Only recorded on 6 days, passage birds were 6 on11th and 24 on 12^th.

MALLARD – Highest total for the month were 106 on21st.

SHOVELER – A single JV on Thurlestone Marsh from 21^st – 24^th.

TUFTED DUCK – Highlight of one viz migrant watch on 22^nd when a male flew around Thurlestone Marsh before continuing east.

COMMON SCOTER – Recorded on 6 days – highest total only 15 on12th.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER – Highlight of a sea watch on 28^th when a female flew east.

DUCKS AND GREBES

Only a single record of a RED- THROATED DIVER flying out of Hope Cove and going west on 1^st.

LITTLE GREBE – A single bird on Thurlestone Marsh from 6^th, two together on 30^th.

SHEARWATER, GANNET, HERONS, EGRETS AND CRANE

SOOTY SHEARWATER- A single record of one flying east on 21^st.

MANX SHEARWATER –Only one record, one flying east on 23^rd.

BALEARIC SHEARWATER – Recorded on 3 days – singles on 6^th and 8^th and a record total of 28 flying east – largest flock was 7.

GANNET – recorded most days with significant counts of 180 on 3rd, 900 on 6^th and 620 on 8^th.

CORMORANT – noticeable increase to 12 birds on 7^th.

SHAG – A total of 20 on 7^th is the highest of the autumn.

LITTLE EGRET – Again present throughout the month, highest total was 8 on 10^th.

GREAT WHITE EGRET – One watched by John King at 07.30 on 22^nd on Thurlestone Marsh – second record this year and fourth for the patch.

COMMON CRANE – Late afternoon on Sunday 19^th report received of a CRANE on South Huish Marsh, at first light on 20^th it was standing no more than 30 yards from the car park amongst some CANADA GEESE.   Gave superb views to the many local birders until departing at around 11.15 a.m.

This is the third site record although these is some doubt that the previous two were never submitted to Devon Birds.

RAPT0RS

BUZZARD – Seen daily, a max of 5 on the 2nd.

SPARROWHAWK – At least two or three around the patch.   2 together flying SE early on 28^th could have been migrants.

MARSH HARRIER – AJL had a JV/ Female over Thurlestone Marsh briefly.

KESTREL – At least two birds around the coast.

MERLIN – A female flew through South Huish Marsh on 2^nd.

PEREGRINE – Recorded occasionally with sometimes 2 together.

RAILS

WATER RAILS – Up to5 calling on South Milton Ley and 3 on Thurlestone Marsh.

WADERS

A disappointing month with only 10 species recorded.

OYSTERCATCHER – Max 38 on 3^rd.

RINGED PLOVER – A max of only 3.

GOLDEN PLOVER – Bob had one in off the sea on 12^th.   A flock in fields near to Elston Farm contained 40 on 27^th increasing to 76 on31st.

LAPWING – A single bird flew north on 22^nd and 2 were with the PLOVER on 31^st.

SANDERLING – A max of 3 on 8^th

DUNLIN – Small numbers only up to the middle of the month with a max of 8 on 10^th.

JACK SNIPE –  first returning bird flew into Thurlestone Marsh ,late afternoon of 27^th.

SNIPE – Whilst present throughout the month – very low numbers max were 12 on 2^nd and 10 on 26^th.

BLACK- TAILED GODWIT – Recorded daily from 19^th with a max of 6 on 22^nd.

TURNSTONE – Just made it onto the monthly report with 2 on the rocks on 31^st.

SKUAS AND GULLS

A single record of an ARCTIC SKUA (dark phase) east on 3^rd.

KITTIWAKE – Max of 8 on 8^th and 31^st.

BLACK HEADED GULL – Max of 150on 9^th.

LITTLE GULL – Two records of 3 on 7^th and 1 on 9^th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL – Only recorded on 5 days, singles on3, 2 on 10thand 3 on 29^th.

GREATER BLACK-BACKED GULL – 52 flew through on 10^th whilst 75+ resting in a field on 21^st (gale force winds).

TERNS

Suprisingly no records of SANDWICH TERN at all.  

2 COMMON TERN on 8^th and 4 ARCTIC TERN on 9^th (Bob B)

KINGFISHER – Recorded on11th, 24^th and 31^st around Thurlestone Marsh.

PIGEON AND DOVES

The traditional WOOD PIGEON movements started from 25^th all flying SE early morning – 1250 on 25th, 2300 on 28^th and 3700 on 31^st.

STOCK DOVE – Max of 35 flying SE on 31^st.

WOODPECKERS AND JAY

2 GREAT SPOTTED in the copse on 10^th.   A single GREEN flew SE on 31^st.

JAY – Some autumn movement most of which are to and from the Hotel ground searching for acorns.   Highest numbers were 9 on 11^th, 6 on 28^th and 8 on 30^th.

CORVIDS - Usual roost in trees near the Church in Thurlestone with at least 100 ROOK and 150 JACKDAW.  

CARRION CROW up to 10 and a few RAVEN around.

GOLDCREST – Very few records with 1 on 1^st and 4 on 25^th.   A couple were caught and ringed.

HIRUNDINES

SAND MARTIN – Last records were singles on 8^th and 11^th.

SWALLOW – Last large flock was 240 on2nd.   Still 10 over the Marsh on 22^nd.

HOUSE MARTIN – Last record 3 on 14^th.

WARBLERS

CETTIS WARBLER – Male calling on Thurlestone Marsh from 24^th to end of month.

Only 1 female at South Milton Ley.

CHIFFCHAFF – Max 8 on12th.   Small numbers moving through up to the end of the month.

BLACKCAP – Up to 3 at South Milton Ley.   Bob had an Albino with pink bill on 22^nd.

SEDGE AND REED WARBLER – Singles at South Milton Ley.

THRUSHES

BLACKBIRD – Noticeable migrant increase on 28^th when 20 recorded.

RING OUZEL – Alan Pomroy had one in hawthorn bushes with BLACKBIRDS at South Milton Ley on 12^th.   Only the second record in last 11 years.

SONG THRUSH – Migrant passing through – 5 on 22^nd and 2 on 31^st.

REDWING – first autumn record was 7 on 22^nd, 15 on 25^th, 75 on 28^th and 20 on 31^st.

MISTLE THRUSH – Patch record count of 10on 5^th and 6 on 15^th all heading north.

LARKS, CHATS, STARTS, PIPIT AND WAGTAILS

SKYLARK –Some viz migrant counts 80 on 1^st, 305 on 2^nd, 91 on 3^rd, 80 on 10^th, 60 on 28^th and 47 on 31^st.

STONECHAT – Still recorded daily, max count of 10 on 5^th.

BLACK REDSTART – first autumn migrant a JV at South Huish Marsh on 26^th also 1 on 31^st.

WHEATEAR – Recorded on 7 days, last records 2 on 18^th and 1 on 20^th.

PIED WAGTAIL – Max for some years a count of 300 on 12^th.   Roost count of 110 on 27^th.

GREY WAGTAIL – 3 recorded on 7^th and 22^nd.

MEADOW PIPIT – 170 on 2^nd, 75 on 3^rd around 40 on South Huish Marsh all month with 55 on 28^th.

ROCK PIPIT – Up to 15 on the seaweed and rocks.

FINCHES

Some viz migrants, noticeable movements were:-

CHAFFINCH – 50on 12^th, 127 on 22^nd, 67 on 25^th and 83 on 31^st

GREENFINCH – 25 on 22^nd, 43 on 31^st.

GOLDFINCH – 285 on 22^nd, 100 on 25^th, 91 on 31^st.

SISKIN – Very small passage movements this year – 12 on 22^nd, 3 on 25^th, 6 on 26^thand 10 on 28^th.

LINNET – Recorded throughout the month max 250 on 22^nd.

REDPOLL – Alan Pomroy had 1 flyover the Ley on 12^th.

BULLFINCH – 4 at the Ley on 25^th, 1 through my garden 26^th.

YELLOWHAMMER – Males recorded on 3 days.

CIRL BUNTING – Male in a local garden at the beginning of the month.

REED BUNTING – Viz migrants counts of 11 on 22^nd and 9 on 25^th.

STARLING – Noticeable increase of roost of 1000on 30^th and 4750 on 31^st.with a further 1315 from a viz mig watch.

RINGING TEAM

Very little ringing undertaken.    Two very interesting controls to report.

1.  SEDGE WARBLER – D643595 ringed at South Milton Ley on 12^th August 2013 controlled at PLOMODIERM, FINISTERE, FRANCE on 20^th August 2013 covering a

distance of 235Km in 8 days.

2. SEDGE WARBLER – D433010 ringed at South Milton Ley on 28^th April 2013 controlled on 12^th July 2014 at LAGUNAS DE ATAPUERCA, BURGOS, SPAIN (in the San Sabastian region) a distance of 879 KM.

Not many of the SEDGE WARBLERS ringed at our two sites have been controlled in Spain.