THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS

APRIL 2015

 

The dry weather from the previous month continued, also quite sunny and warm.   Winds were mainly ENE with 10 consecutive days from 10^th.   Towards the end of the month sea fog and low cloud produced several days of poor visibility.

 

Sea passage was poor in relation to recent years with some passerine species late arriving.  Even so the month produced a species count of 133 (c/f 2014 – 134, 2013 – 132)  which is the second highest monthly total over the last 5 years.   The year total was increased by 33 species to 153 (c/f 2014 – 153, 2013 – 153) – Interesting statistic 2011 was also 153 only 2012 being different at 156.

 

Amongst the additions for this year – GREAT WHITE EGRET, RED KITE, MARSH HARRIER, HOBBY, GREEN SANDPIPER, CUCKOO, LITTLE TERN, EIDER, PIED FLYCATCHER, NUTHATCH.

 

Significant sightings for the month.

 

SWANS AND GEESE

Pair of MUTE SWAN at South Huish Marsh sitting on eggs, unfortunately because of the low water level the pair at Thurlestone Marsh have left

 

DUCKS

SHELDUCK = Significant increase on numbers moving between both Marshes and the cliffs – max of 27 on 12^th

RUDDY SHELDUCK – Present on South Huish Marsh until the 26^th.

GADWALL – A pair on the sea on 8^th.

TEAL – Numbers fluctuated throughout the month, max 30 on 22^nd had reduced to 2 on 30^th.

MALLARD – Several small broods of duckling unfortunately all predated – some fat HERONS and GBB GULLS around.

WIGEON -  A male arrived on South Huish Marsh on 21^st, still present on 30^th.

PINTAIL – Early evening of 25^th a male flew up the Valley.

EIDER – A female amongst a flock of COMMON SCOTER on 19^th.

SHOVELER – A pair on 6^th on South Huish Marsh.

GARGANEY – A pair watched flying in off the sea early on 7^th later seen on South Huish marsh.

COMMON SCOTER – Poor spring passage, only recorded on 9 days with a max of 80 on 19^th.

 

DIVERS

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER – Recorded on 8 days, all singles apart from 3 on 9^th.

RED THROATED DIVER – singles only on 4^th and 23^rd.

BLACK THROATED DIVER – Singles only on 7^th, 10^th and 14^th.

 

GANNETS, FULMAR AND SHEARWATERS

Whilst GANNETS recorded almost daily no significant passage apart from 92 on 9^th, 110 on 19^th and 150+ on 23^rd.

FULMAR – A max of 4 on 21^st.

MANX SHEARWATER – Another poor spring passage – first were 2 on 6^th, only recorded on 5 days thereafter with a max of 42 on 25^th.

 

EGRETS AND HERON

GREAT WHITE EGRET – Paul Boulden found one very early on 9^th on South Huish Marsh, whilst not seen to fly off it could not be relocated.

 

RAPTORS

RED KITE – Whilst ringing at South Milton Ley on 17^th Alan Pomroy had 2 different birds fly up the Valley.  (lot more records for Devon this Spring)

MARSH HARRIER – Alan Doidge photographed a female over his garden on evening of 21^st.

MERLIN – single seen on 25^th.

HOBBY – first of the year flew  through Thurlestone Marsh on 20^th.

 

WADERS – Poor Spring passage this year with 16 species recorded.

OYSTERCATCHER – Max 21 on 22^nd.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER – 2 records both on South Huish marsh – singles on 10^th and 28^th.

RINGED PLOVER -  A max of 5 on 19^th speaks for itself.

GREY PLOVER – One flew in with WHIMBREL on 23^rd.

LAPWING – With no previous April records in the last 5 years – singles on 1^st, 4^th and8thand again on 17^th.

SANDERLING – Only 2 records – 2 on 23^rd and 9 on 27^th.

DUNLIN  - Recorded on 9 days with a max of 7 on 25^th and 27^th.

RUFF – A female on South Huish marsh on 22^nd and 23^rd.

SNIPE – Recorded on 3 days, 2 on 10^th and 24^th and a single on 25^th.

BLACK TAILED GODWIT – One bird on South Huish Marsh from 4^th to 9^th and another on 19^th.

BARTAILED GODWIT – Only recorded on 4 days – singles on 7^th, 23^rd and 25^th with a max of 4 on 20^th.

WHIMBREL – First were 2 on 5^th, recorded almost daily thereafter with totals of 65 on 20^th, 61 on 23^rd, 54 on 25^th and 41 on 27^th.

CURLEW – 4 flew east on 6^th.

COMMON SANDPIPER – Singles on 20^th and 25^th.

GREEN SANDPIPER – Rare spring recorded 1 on Thurlestone Marsh on 11^th.

GREENSHANK – 1 flew over the bay calling on 16^th.

Interestingly for the first April in recent years no TURNSTONE records.

 

SKUAS and GULLS

ARCTIC SKUA – Single dp on 23^rd and 2 on 25^th

GREAT SKUA – Single flew east on 23^rd.   A new patch day record count on a very foggy 25^th.  A total of 25 flew east including a single flock of 15 found resting on the sea which immediately flew off as the fog temporarily lifted.

 

KITTIWAKE – Max 3 on 12^th.

BLACK HEADED GULL – Very few records max 30 on 7^th

MEDITERRANEAN GULL – Singles on 7^th, 9^th and 20^th.

COMMON GULL – Only recorded on 3 days.

KUMLIENS GULL – The bird from March recorded on 4 days between 3^rd and 8^th – usually with HERRING GULLS and feeding in recently ploughed field.

 

TERNS – Another species with a poor Spring passage.

LITTLE TERN – 3 flew into the bay on 18^th and moved on within 10 mins.

SANDWICH TERN – first were 4 on 4^th, thereafter recorded on 15 days with highest totals of 27 on 9^th, 50 on 12^th, 35 on 18^th (this compares with daily totals of up to 300+ in recent years).

COMMON TERN – first were 4 on 9^th thereafter only 2 on 11^th and 3 on 18^th.

ARCTIC TERN – Only record was 3 in the bay 22^nd.

 

 

HIRUNDINES AND SWIFT

SWALLOW – first was a single on 2^nd, no big passage highest count 125 on 8^th.   Roosts of 40 and 20 at Thurlestone Marsh late in the month.

SAND MARTIN – Regularly recorded, max 50+ on 16^th.

HOUSE MARTIN – First a single on 5^th, max 14 on 20^th.

SWIFT – Singles only on 23rd and 25^th

 

WARBLERS, FLYCATCHERS and  CUCKOO

CHIFFCHAFF – Recorded daily, plenty of territories being held judging by calls.

SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF – 1 caught and ringed at South Milton Ley on 17^th.

WILLOW WARBLER – few records with daily totals no more than 3.

GARDEN WARBLER – Singles on 21^st and 28^th.

BLACKCAP – In flux around the middle of month with 14 recorded on the patch on 14^th.

WHITETHROAT – first arrived on 16^th with 3 on 21^st.

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER – Singles heard calling on 13^th, 25^th and 27^th.

SEDGE WARBLER – first were 2 on 13^th increasing thereafter.

REED WARBLER – first a single on 14.

 

PIED FLYCATCHER – Nick Townsend had a female in his garden on 19^th, a rare spring record.

CUCKOO – 2 records 1 seen flying on 14^th, another heard in Buckland Valley on 25^th.

 

THRUSHES

REDWING – last were 2 at South Milton Ley on 5^th.

MISTLE THRUSH – Recorded at 3 different sites on the patch.

SONG THRUSH – Heard and seen at 4 locations.

 

CHATS AND WHEATEAR

STONECHAT – At least 4 pairs at their regular breeding sites.

WHINCHAT – First 1 on 19^th and then singles on 26^th and 27^th.

WHEATEAR – Another specie with very low  passage number highest total  only 6 on 19^th and 21^st.

 

WAGTAILS

PIED WAGTAIL – Roosts on Thurlestone Marsh were 30 on 18^th, 40 on 19^th and 35 on 21st.

WHITE WAGTAIL – Up to 3 at South Huish marsh on several dates.

YELLOW WAGTAIL – first was a male at South Huish Marsh on 10^th recorded on 8 days thereafter mostly singles.   Wagtail roost at Thurlestone Marsh included 3 on 18^th and 2 on 19^th.

 

PIPITS, LARKS AND BUNTING

TREE PIPIT – singles on 6^th and 24^th.

WATER PIPIT – Last record a single on 1^st.

BULL FINCH – Small numbers reported from South Milton ley and Village gardens.

CIRL BUNTING – Reported in local gardens on 2^nd and 15^th

YELLOWHAMMER – Reported from the lanes from 25^th

REED BUNTING – On both marshes and still coming to feeders.

CORN BUNTING – A very experienced visiting birder reported ,1 flying over the South Huish marsh of 4^th – first recorded for some years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BIRD RACE DAY – SATURDAY 25^TH APRIL.

 

High expectations leading up to the day with 11 observers taking part, unfortunately no ringing team.

A promising start from 06.30 unfortunately not maintained as sea fog rolled in from 08.00 and did not clear until mid afternoon – at times even Thurlestone Rock was out of view.

Despite the weather we achieved a total of 89 species which placed us 3^rd.  Totals from other sites in the Midlands which took part were:-

 

91 – BELVIDE

91 -  UPTON WARREN.

89 - THURLESTONE BAY

88 – GRIMLEY

83 – SANDWELL VALLEY

82 – MARSH LANE

76 – VENUS POOL

 

 

A very enjoyable day for all who took part.

Next occasion will be early September.

 

May usually turns up some surprises, I will be away until 9^th so hope the rarities arrive afterwards.

 

Mike Passman

Thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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