THURS 29 SEPT

After a night of strong W winds and a period of heavy rain, clearer skies arrived around 09.00 wind varied between F4-6 but still W .

On South Huish marsh - 41 MALLARD, 26 TEAL, 2 WIGEON,  1 LITTLE GREBE, at 12.20 3 juv PINTAIL flew in .

2 SNIPE, 31 SWALLOW , 4 HOUSE MARTIN, 24 MIPIT all flew through. 

Managed a 2hr seawatch which produced the bird of the year for me , my second patch record of a GREAT SHEARWATER (181)- picked up flying east about 200yards off at 11.55, gave good views , also a BONXIE flew east at 10.35. 5 GUILLEMOT / RAZORBILL flew east ( first auks for this month ) 2 WHITE WAGTAIL on the seaweed ..A steady passage of GANNET most flying east totalled 240 in the 2hrs.

WED 28 SEPT

After a W/end away  watching RED KITE, back on the patch this morning, no reports rec'd of anything worth a special mention .

An overcast morning with a brisk F4 W wind.Offshore 15 GANNET,

waders on the beaches / rocks  and flying over - 11 DUNLIN, 2 RINGED PLOVER, 1 WHIMBREL, at 10.45 picked up a flock of waders flying east  

surprised to find they were 35 GOLDEN PLOVER. Movement of MIPIT  totalled 110 ., also 8 SKYLARK, 17 SWALLOW and 7 HOUSE MARTIN .

On South Huish Marsh - 38 TEAL, 2 WIGEON, 1 LITTLE GREBE , 4 SNIPE, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 1 GREY WAGTAIL

At South Efford Marsh Eric reports - 4 BAR T GODWIT, 3 GREENSHANK, 2 GREEN SANDPIPER, 8 COMMON SANDPIPER, 25+ CURLEW, 150+ TEAL

SAT 24 SEPT

A mild but overcast morning with a brisk S wind. Yet another superb day for South Efford Marsh and Eric , just shows how local patch birding can bring results .

At 09.10 Eric rang to say he had found  a juv WOODCHAT SHRIKE (180 )

The bird showed well on the footpath towards the hide , moved around to various posts before flying off towards the north marsh at 11.30 , despite further searches this afternoon could not be relocated .

Also on the marsh - the PEC SAND again, 6 GREENSHANK, 1 RUFF,

3 DUNLIN, 1 RINGED PLOVER, 4 BLACK T GODWIT, 2 COMMON SANDPIPER, 20 CURLEW, 85+ TEAL, 2 GRET SP WOODY flew over,

1 CHIFFY, 1 PEREGRINE .

FRI 23 SEPT

News rec'd today from Bob - at South Milton Ley - 1 SONG THRUSH

( surprisingly the first patch sighting this month ) , 8 BUZZARD and

9 RAVEN over, 3 SISKIN flew north ( first autumn sighting ),

1 WHEATEAR

At South Efford Marsh Eric reports  - 1 CURLEW SANDPIPER, 1 LITTLE STINT, 6 DUNLIN, 5 RINGED PLOVER, 2 GREEN SANDPIPER, 2 RUFF, GREENSHANK . On Wed evening the LITTLE EGRET roost near Bantham was 57 ( Rod Bone ) .

In my garden this evening 5 CHIFFY and a GREEN WOODY .

WED 21 SEPT

An overcast morning with a mist early .After a still start a light SE breeze .

An hours garden watch from 07.35 main highlihts being - 4 PIED WAGTAIL -N , 4 CHIFFY and from 08.15  205 SWALLOW flew south .

First walk  around the back of the Golf Course confirmed some Viz Mig - 120 SWALLOW, 10 HOUSE MARTIN , 4 PIED WATAIL,

10 STONECHAT, 5 WHEATEAR, 35 MIPIT, 30 LINNET, 3 SKYLARK, 1 GREEN WOODY, 1 GOLDCREST, 0n the course a RED L PARTRIDGE . In the Avon Est 32  OYSTERCATCHER.

Nothing offshore at all - Around South Huish marsh - 5 RINGED PLOVER , 6 DUNLIN, 1 LITTLE STINT flew through ( with a DUNLIN ) at 10 .45 , 2 SNIPE, 50 TEAL, 2 WIGEON, 2 WHEATEAR, 1 SPARROWHAWK, 1 2w MED GULL, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL,

1 CHIFFY

Waders on the beach -  22 RINGED PLOVER, 2 DUNLIN,

18 OYSTERCATCHER, 1 PEREGRINE flew over

At South Efford Marsh Eric reports no change from yesterday . He did hear the PEC SANDPIPER last night but no sighting today

Tues 20 SEPT

An overcast morning with only a light N breeze.

Spent the morning at South Efford Marsh , good selection of waders -

8 DUNLIN, 1 CURLEW SANDPIPER, 4 RUFF, 6 GREENSHANK,

2 REDSHANK, 3 COMMON SANDPIPER, 2 GREEN SANDPIPER, 3 RINGED PLOVER, 3 BAR T GODWIT, 32 CURLEW . Teal numbers are increasing - 115+ today, also 3 WIGEON. 1 KINGFISHER, .A flock of 20 LONG T TIT by the hide , 4 CHIFFY and a GREAT SP WOODY.

Bob reported - by the footbridge -a WATER RAIL ( first returning bird ). At South Huish Marsh - 2 YELLOW WAG, 40 TEAL, 1 WIGEON, 1 LITTLE GREBE and a SAND MARTIN .On the beach 13 RINGED PLOVER

MON 19 SEPT

An  overcast morning, still quite warm very light breeze resulting in a calm sea .

An hours garden watch from 07.20 only produced 26 species -

50 MALLARD (in the subble field) 200 + HERRING GULL ( same field )

40+ BLACK H GULL flew down the valley, 2 CHIFFCHAFF,

50 + SWALLOW, 1 GREEN WOODY.

Offshore - 2juv MUTE SWAN ( on the sea ), 3 COMMON SCOTER,

10 GANNET .

Waders on the beaches/ rocks - 28 OYSTERCATCHER, 17 RINGED PLOVER, 2 DUNLIN, 3 SANDERLING

By the footbridge - 4 CHIFFY, 1 BLACKCAP, 2 STONECHAT .

On South Huish Marsh - 40 TEAL, 3 WIGEON, 1 LITTLE GREBE,

1 BLACK T GODWIT, 4 DUNLIN, 8 STOCK DOVE, 1 WHINCHAT,

1 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 2 CHIFFY, ! BLACKCAP, 15 MIPIT, 3 STONECHAT.

This afternoon went over to Plymouth - Mountbatten to see the

LESSER GREY SHRIKE that Vic Tucker found this morning , nic life tick - thanks Vic a cracking find 

No sign of the PEC SANDPIPER this morning if there is any late news will update later .

 SUN 18 SEPT

A warm morning , clear sunny skies and a very light breeze.

Very little again on South Huish Marsh - 4 DUNLIN, 1 f WIGEON,

2 SNIPE, 1 WHEATEAR and a SAND MARTIN

Most of the morning spent with Eric , Graham, Bob and Chris at South Efford Marsh - at last managed to see the PEC SANDPIPER also, 75 TEAL, 8 WIGEON, 5 RUFF, 5 GREENSHANK, 5 RINGED PLOVER, 2 SNIPE.,

4 + COMMON SANDPIPER, 25 CURLEW, 2 BAR T GODWIT, 7 DUNLIN,

2 GREEN SANDPIPER, 1 KINGFISHER, 1 HOBBY .

Have agreed with Eric to extend the local patch boundry  to include the Avon Est. this will include the records for South Efford Marsh as this site is only going to improve , many of the birds we previosly recorded on the beaches and marshes have moved to this site . Anything listed on the 2016 year list recored on the Avon Est will have the abbreviation Av Est  shown .

FRI 16 SEPT

A brisk NW F5wind with overcast conditions -

A visit to South Huish Marsh only produced 22 TEAL, 2 WHEATEAR and

3 DUNLIN. Waders on the rocks - 15 RINGED PLOVER, 2 SANDERLING,

2 DUNLIN.

A late afternoon visit to South Efford Marsh produced 11 species of Waders - this is fast becoming the premier site  in the area -

5 RUFF , 5 GREENSHANK, 4 GREEN SANDPIPER, 6 SNIPE, 3 DUNLIN,

2 RINGED PLOVER, singles of BAR T GODWIT , BLACK T GODWIT , and CURLEW SANDPIPER, usual flock of CURLEW , earlier Eric had 8 COMMON SANDPIPER, unfortunately the PEC SANDPIPER could not be relocated.

Around the 2 Sites 14 species of wader reported today - fantastic   

THURS 15 SEPT

An overcast but muggy morning with very light breeze from  N .

An early start at the viz mig sight at the back of the Golf Course - another interesting watch from 07.20-08.50

650 SWALLOW, 65 HOUSE MARTIN, 15 SAND MARTIN, 68 MIPIT,

6 SKYLARK, 12 CHAFFINCH, 7 GOLDFINCH, 2 GREY WAGTAIL,

3 PIED WAGTAIL,  1 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 2 STARLING, 2 HERON ,

9 RAVEN ,2 WHEATEAR, bird of the morning was a GOLDEN PLOVER which flew north at 08.25

Dave Pake went to Yarmer Beach and found 21 SANDERLING,

1 BAR T GODWIT ( on the beach ) , 6 WHEATEAR.

A couple of hours at South Huish Marsh from 10.00 produced - 26 TEAL, 6 WHEATEAR, 1 WHINCHAT, 1 WHITETHROAT, 3 CHIFFY, 1 BLACK T GODWIT , 9 DUNLIN ( flew over )1 LITTLE GREBE. 350 HOUSE MARTIN at the Rock Flats .

Waders on the rocks - 2 TURNSTONE, 8 RINGED PLOVER, 1 DUNLIN,

1 COMMON SANDPIPER, 

In the Bay a m COMMON SCOTER flew east, 1 f WIGEON on the sea then flew west ( first of the autumn )

WED 14 SEPT

A fine  sunny and warm morning with a light SSE breeze . After yesterdays storms some noticable Viz Mig -

Over my garden in 10 mins at 08.10 -175 SWALLOW, 100+ HOUSE MARTIN , 20 SAND MARTIN

Change of circuit this morning - walked around the back of the church and the golf course, in previous autumns this has been a good viz mig site - did not disappoint today -

Hirundine pssage from 09.00-10.15 - 280 SWALLOW , 190 HOUSE MARTIN 10 SAND MARTIN . Along the hedgerow - 2 WHINCHAT,

1 WHITETHROAT, 1 juv CIRL BUNTING, , 25 GOLDFINCH, flying over -  

27 MIPIT, 14 SKYLARK, 1m CHAFFINCH. On the Golf Course

20 WHEATEAR ( highest day count of the year )

Waders on Yarmer Beach/ rocks - 32  RINGED PLOVER, 13 SANDERLING, 4 DUNLIN, 1 CURLEW SANDPIPER. 2 BAR T GODWIT flew east at 10.55

Dave Pake at South Huish Marsh reported 3 WHEATEAR, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL, both RINGED PLOVER and DUNLIN on the rocks .

Eric also had some good birds around the fields at Aveton Gifford -

15 CHIFFY, 2f BLACKCAP, 3 SPOT FLY, 1f REDSTART and 50 MIPIT over .

Best record was on South Efford Marsh good but brief views of a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, another search party has gone out this evening to try and relocate . A patch tick for him .More news later.

TUES 13 SEPT

An early morning of heavy rain with distant thunder , rain cleared at 10.30 which produced the largest Hirundine passage of the autumn -

1990+ HOUSE MARTIN logged with flocks of - 2x350, 2x 300, 1x 150,

2x 100 .

1605 SWALLOW logged - flocks of -1x 450, 1x 250, 5x 100

All the birds either flying west offshore or coming into the Marsh off the sea .

On the rocks - 27 RINGED PLOVER, 2 DUNLIN, 1 COMMON SANDPIPER,

1 WHITE WAGTAIL, 8 GREY WAGTAIL flew north

On the Marsh - 14 TEAL, 2 YELLOW WAGTAIL

MON 12 SEPT

An overcast morning with a S F5 wind

Offshore again only GANNET moving through , although amongst the 70 BLACK H GULL on the rocks was a SANDWICH TERN ( first this month )

Waders on the rocks - 18 RINGED PLOVER, 14 OYSTERCATCHER,

1 COMMON SANDPIPER, also a KINGFISHER..

On South Huish Marsh - 1 BLACK T GODWIT joined at 12.00 by a BAR T GODWIT , 3 DUNLIN, 3 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 7 WHEATEAR,

1 LITTLE GREBE, 10 MIPIT., 2 CHIFFY. 40+ SWALLOW ( flying south )

This afternoon in my garden a juv m CIRL BUNTING

SUN 11 SEPT

A morning of sunny periods with a F4 S wind .

Waders on the beach - 7 DUNLIN, 6 SANDERLING, 20 RINGED PLOVER, 2 WHEATEAR. Offshore just a few GANNET .

By the footbridge - 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 2  GREY WAGTAIL, , 1 KINGFISHER

( later seen over the Marsh ), 15 SWALLOW and 53 HOUSE MARTIN flew south .

On the Marsh - 13 TEAL, 1 LITTLE GREBE, 2 SNIPE, 1 BLACK T GODWIT 2 WHEATEAR, 2 YELLOW WAGTAIL. 2 CHIFFCHAFF

At South Efford Marsh Eric reports -  2 GREEN SANDPIPER, 3 GREENSHANK, 11 SNIPE , 8 COMMON SANDPIPER, 25 TEAL, 6 CHIFFCHAFF

SAT 10 SEPT

Nothing worth reporting on Thurs and away allday Fri.

Quick visit this morning to South Huish Marsh - 1 LITTLE GREBE 5 TEAL , 2 WHEATEAR, and singles of 2w MED GULL, REED WARBLER,

SEDGE WARBLER, and WHITETHROAT

Movement of birds through my garden late morning -33 species logged inc - 3 BLACKCAP, 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, GREEN WOODY, GREAT SP WOODY, 4 RAVEN 2juv CIRL BUNTING, 1 REED BUNTING

5 CANADA GOOSE ( over ), SPARROWHAWK., 1 GREY WAGTAIL,

5 STOCK DOVE .

Going down to the marsh this pm , NAT TRUSt holding their Big Beach party night ..Marsh watched from 15.45 to 17.45 - 15 TEAL, 1 SNIPE,

1 BLACK T GODWIT, 1 DUNLIN, 4 WHEATEAR

WED 7 SEPT

A day of contrasts weather wise - cloud and mist /sea fog am and sunny and warm pm'

An hours garden watch produced 31species , highlights - 4 MUTE SWAN over west ( first since the attempted breeding pair left in july ) , 6 LONG T TIT, 1 SAND MARTIN, 20+ SWALLOW, 8 HOUSE MARTIN

Offshore an ad MED GULL. At South Huish Marsh 11 DUNLIN flew up the valley also 2 RINGED PLOVER. CURLEW still , 75+ MALLARD, 6 TEAL, 3 WHEATEAR, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL.

Over at South Efford Marsh  Eric has got double vision !, just rang to say he has 2 WRYNECK together near the hide ,. Osprey over north marsh at 16.00 . Only 8 DUNLIN this pm

TUES 6 SEPT

A cloudy but very humid morning with no wind and a flat calm sea .

Walked round the back of the Golf Course - 4 WHEATEAR,

35+ SWALLOW. Then round the coast path to Warren Pt - 7 STONECHAT,

50 OYSTERCATCHERS . At 10.20 picked up 4 BRENT GOOSE( 174 )- pale bellied

on the sea drifting west - this is the earliest record of this specie I have recorded, end of last week there were 2 reports from Exmouth and Seaton . Normally the PB sub specie is only recorded in early Spring.

At South Huish Marsh still only 60 MALLARD, 7 TEAL,  1 CURLEW ( has a damaged foot ) and the BLACK T GODWIT.

Good flocks of SWALLOW- 100+ and HOUSE MARTIN -40 ,

5 STONECHAT, 20 MIPIT. At 12.30 an arrival in the field of 25 PIED WAGTAIL, 2 YELLOW WAGTAIL and a WHEATEAR. A flock of 310 HERRING GULL in a newly ploughed field .

At South Efford Marsh Eric reports - 5 RUFF, 3 GREENSHANK, 2 CURLEW SANDPIPER, 40+ DUNLIN, 35 + RINGED PLOVER, 6 SNIPE, 5 COMMON SANDPIPER, 15 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 40 TEAL

MON 5 SEPT

A cloudy morning with some drizzle and low cloud mist, light W wind .

Although water has returned to South Huish marsh the waders have not . This morning only 2 TEAL, 55 MALLARD. with 4 WHEATEAR and a YELLOW WAGTAIL in the field

Went over to South Efford Marsh to join Eric - the day totals of waders were - 40+ DUNLIN, 35 + RINGED PLOVER, 6 SNIPE,

3 CURLEW SANDPIPER, 2 COMMON SANDPIPER, 2 BLACK T GODWIT,

1 LITTLE STINT, 1 GREENSHANK, 1 RUFF,

The WRYNECK was seen early morning whilst this afternoon an OSPREY flew down the river and 6 YELLOW WAGS on the marsh

SUN 4 SEPT

An early morning visit to South Huish Marsh confirmed at long last water now on both the front and back pools , later in the morning Graham, Martin and Bob had - 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew, 1 BLACK T GODWIT,

1 SNIPE, 3 WHEATEAR, 3 YELLOW WAGTAIL , 1 WHINCHAT,

4 CHIFFY, 1 WILLOW WBLR, 1 SPARROWHAWK., 6 TEAL, 100+ MALLARD

Waders on the beach / rocks -27 OYSTERCATCHER, 2 SANDERLING, 1 TURNSTONE

Offshore 110 BLACK H GULL, 6 FULMAR,1 MANX S'WATER

At South Efford Marsh Eric had 1 RUFF, around 12.00 8 flew through, this afternoon - late 5 on the Marsh

SAT 3 SEPT

At South Efford Marsh - 5 KNOT, 2 BLACK T GODWIT, 2 GREENSHANK,

1 RUFF, 1 LITTLE STINT, 3 CURLEW SANDPIPER. On the path to the hide the WRYNECK showed well but was elusive

FRI 2 SEPT

Very poor weather this morning , poor viz and rain .Only

3 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 1 BLACK T GODWIT and 6 TEAL on South Huish marsh .

Late pm at South Efford marsh  Eric reports- 4 CURLEW SANDPIPER, , 3 GREENSHANK and a RUFF , otherwise same as yesterday. Another call at 18.40 to say he and Andy Smith have just had a WRYNECK along the path to the hide . A nice patch tick for him

THURS 1 SEPT

A fine sunny morning to start a new month , only light breezes .

An hours Garden Watch from 07.30 produced 31 species - highlights , 8 BLACKCAP, 7 CHIFFY, 1 WILLOW WARBLER,

1 WHITETHROAT, 1 GREY WAGTAIL, 1 MOORHEN ( first for some weeks ) , 6 LONG T TIT , 1 SPARROWHAWK

Waders on the beach / rocks - 14 RINGED PLOVER,

2 SANDERLING, 1 DUNLIN, 25 OYSTERCATCHER,

On South Huish Marsh - 1 BLACK T GODWIT, 1 CURLEW, 1 LITTLE R PLOVER,2 TEAL, 4 WHEATEAR, 18+ YELLOW WAGTAIL.1 GREAT SP WOODY, 3 CHIFFY.

In Buckland Valley - JAY, GOLDCREST , GREEN WOODY, 2 CHIFFY

At South Milton Ley Bob Had REED BUNTING, RAVEN, 3 SEDGE WARBLER, 2 REED WARBLER.

This afternoon Eric reported on South Efford Marsh - 4 CURLEW SANDPIPER, 2 LITTLE STINT, 9 SNIPE, 40 + DUNLIN, 50+ RINGED PLOVER, GREENSHANK, COMMON SANDPIPER, 1 WHEATEAR,

30 TEAL