THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS JANUARY 2020 A very mild month with a max temp of 13C, only 2 mornings with a light frost.   Several days with heavy rain, low cloud and murky offshore winds mainly from W/SW. A total of 113 species recorded (c/f 2019 - 116, 2018 - 117). Noticeable lack of sea duck compared with previous years. Highlights SWAN, DUCKS, DIVERS and GREBES BLACK SWAN - 1 with a flock of MUTE SWAN at the far end of North Marsh. SHELDUCK - Only single birds recorded. WIGEON - Max on South Huish Marsh 160 on 30th, on South Efford Marsh max 120 on 13th. TEAL - Max on South Huish Marsh 55 on 12th and 14th.  At South Efford Marsh 50+ most of the month. GADWALL - A pair on South Huish Marsh on 19th. PINTAIL - A female on South Huish Marsh on 9th. SHOVELER - A male flew up South Huish Valley on 26th. COMMON SCOTER - Only recorded on 3 days with a max of 5 on 6th. GOOSANDER - A pair on River Avon by the bridge on 10th. RED THROATED DIVER - A total of 24 birds logged over 6 days with 9 on 22nd (day patch record) and 7 on 23rd. BLACK THROATED DIVER - Singles on 3 days with 2 on 22nd. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER - Only recorded on 3days - singles on 3rd and 21st with 3 on 19th. GREAT CRESTED GREBE - 1 in the Bay on 22nd. LITTLE GREBE - 1 on South Huish Marsh all month, 4 on River Avon on 2nd. COOT - 1 on South Huish Marsh from 20th (around a month earlier than normal) GANNET, FULMAR and EGRETS GANNET - 80 on 6th and 105 on 27th were the only large numbers logged. FULMAR - A max of 3 on 3rd and 5 on 26th. LITTLE EGRET - 5 around South Huish Marsh on 12th with 10 at South Efford Marsh on 13th. WATER RAIL - Max of 4 on South Milton Ley on 10th. WADERS - 15 Species recorded. OYSTERCATCHER - A Max of 24 recorded on 27th. RINGED PLOVER - Up to 11 on South Huish Marsh all month. LAPWING - A flock of 40 on South Efford Marsh on 25th otherwise only records at South Huish Marsh were 2 on 21st and 1 on 28th. SANDERLING - 1 on the beach at high tide on 17th. DUNLIN - Only record of 1 on South Huish Marsh on 30th. JACK SNIPE - Singles recorded at South Milton Ley on 1st and South Huish Marsh on 19th. SNIPE - On South Huish Marsh max of 33 on 21st and 31 on 22nd. WOODCOCK - 1 flushed from a regular site at South Milton Ley on 28th. BLACK TAILED GODWIT - Up to 4 on South Huish Marsh all month. CURLEW - Max count of 27 at South Efford Marsh on 10th. COMMON SANDPIPER - Only 1 bird wintering on the River Avon this year. GREEN SANDPIPER - 1 recorded on several dates at the far end of North Marsh near Hatch Bridge. GREENSHANK - Max of 8 on South Efford Marsh on 11th. REDSHANK - Max of 9 on South Efford Marsh on 10th. TURNSTONE - Max of 14 on the rocks on 6th. GULLS and AUKS KITTIWAKE - Max of 10 flew SE on 6th. BLACK HEADED GULL - Max flock on South Huish Marsh of 250+ on 23rd. MEDITERRANEAN GULL - Max of 3 on the Marsh on 24th. COMMON GULL - 10 adults in the Gull flock on 23rd was a  high patch record. LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL - A total of 28 amongst the large Gulls on the Marsh on 28th. HERRING GULL - A max of 300 on the Marsh on 23rd. YELLOW LEGGED GULL - A 1st Winter on the Marsh on 14th. RAZORBILL - Totals on the sea or flying SE were 22 on 21st and 90 on 23rd. GUILLEMOT - Only 2 identified on the sea on 23rd. AUKS - Highest passage SE was 140 on 6th. KINGFISHER, CRESTS and WARBLERS KINGFISHER - Single birds recorded at South Milton Ley and South Efford Marsh on several dates. GOLDCREST - 5 at South Milton Ley on 21st, Up to 4 at Aveton Gifford all month. FIRECREST - Probably the outstanding bird on the patch - record numbers recorded from 4 sites - South Milton Ley  5 ringed on 10th and 6 on 21st (5 of these were retraps)  Up to4 at Aveton Gifford Pumping Station on 10th and 28th.  Also single birds recorded at 2 other sites. CETTIS WARBLER - Single bird recorded at South Milton Ley on several dates. CHIFFCHAFF -6 ringed at South Milton Ley on 10th and 24 on 21st, 8 was the max at Aveton Gifford Pumping Station on 10th, singles recorded at 3 other sites. SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF - 1 at South Milton Ley on 5th. BLACKCAP - A pair visiting gardens at Aveton Gifford all month. NUTHATCH and TREE CREEPER - Recorded in Woodland areas around Aveton Gifford.  THRUSHES, CHATS, PIPITS, FINCHES and BUNTINGS FIELDFARE - A flock of 10 near Huxton Cross on 18th and 20th, also 11 in a South Milton Garden on 30th. REDWING - Very few records this Winter - 8 at South Milton Ley on 28th and 5 at Aveton Gifford on 11th. SONG THRUSH - 3 in a Thurlestone Village Garden on1st otherwise just single birds at 4 sites. MISTLE THRUSH - 3 at South Milton Ley on 10th. BLACK REDSTART -A female at Aveton Gifford on 8th and 11th was the only record this month. STONECHAT - At least 4 around South Huish Marsh all month. WATER PIPIT -1 at South Huish Marsh on several dates with 2 at North Marsh on 10th. BULLFINCH - Only recorded in low numbers at 3 sites. YELLOWHAMMER - 2 on 1st and 3 on 4th with the CHAFFINCH Flock of 100+ near Huxton Cross. CIRL BUNTING - A family party of 7 at South Efford Marsh on 10th was the only record. REED BUNTING - A male in a Thurlestone Garden on 1st with 3 birds visiting feeders in an Aveton Gifford garden throughout the month. LINNET - No Winter flocks - Around South Huish marsh 4 on 10th and 2 on 20th were the only records. STARLING - Where have they gone?  Not many years ago the roost would total 200,000 plus - this year a max of 25 at South Huish Marsh on 3rd. Hopefully at some time in February we will get a cold weather blast from the East - if not our Winter Visitors will continue to be sparse. Thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk