THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS

DECEMBER 2013

A stormy end to the year.   Only one day (1^st) did a frost occur.

Mostly a cloudy and as the month progressed very wet and windy. Whilst the winds were mainly SSW – W they resulted in some of the most severe gales (up to Force 11 gusts).   With some heavy and lengthy periods of rain the marshes soon started to fill up.

Impact of the drainage work at Thurlestone Marsh still being felt as the numbers of wildfowl well down on previous years.

As in the previous two years the additions to the year list were only 2 – GREAT WHITE EGRET and ICELAND GULL resulting in a year end total of 196 (c/f 2012 – 198, 2011 – 198) although the number of species recorded was high at 104 (c/f 2012 – 101, 2011 – 100)

A synopsis of the months sightings:-

BRENT GOOSE – 5 DB flew into the Bay and landed on the sea on 17^th.

DUCK

WIGEON – Very few on Thurlestone Marsh – Numbers built up from 90 on 19^th to a maxof 130+ on 27^th.

GADWALL – 2 on South Huish Marsh and 2 on the sea on 2^nd (scarce compared with 2012)

TEAL – Lowest daily total was 50 on 8^th, from 132 on 16^th built up to a max of 195 on 30^th.

PINTAIL – A male on South Huish Marsh on 19^th.

SHOVELER – Much lower numbers than 2012 – single figures only until 30^th when 11.

TUFTED DUCK – The female seen in November present from 12^th – 27^th.

COMMON SCOTER – A female in the Bay up to 14^th when 5 present.   Passage flock of 30 on 27^th.

DIVERS – A good month with all 3 of the expected species recorded.

RED THROATED DIVER –Recorded on 3 dates with a max of 2 on 7^th.

BLACK THROATED DIVER – One in the Bay on 3^rd.

GREAT NORTHERN DIVER – Recorded on 9 dates.   Singles other than 2 on 1^st, 3^rd and 19^th with 4 on 2^nd.   One came very close to the shore on several days to provide some exceptional views.

SHEARWATERS, GANNETS and EGRETS

FULMAR – First returning bird flew east on 20^th.

BALEARIC SHEARWATER – Rare winter records of 1 flying east on 3^rd and 18^th.

GANNET – Present throughout the month – rarely more than 50 per day.

GREAT WHITE EGRET – On the morning of 11^th AJL flushed it from one of the ringing rides at South Milton Ley.   Flew around and then landed in an adjoining field next to a Heron before flying off south.   Second patch record – first in May 2012.

LITTLE EGRET – Present all month – max 4.

GREBES

LITTLE GREBE seen intermittently on Thurlestone Marsh

GREAT CRESTED GREBE – Only record of the winter 3 together on the sea on 1^st (Chris Bond and Bob B.)

SLAVONIAN GREBE – Present on the sea 19^th/20^th giving very good close views – found feeding amongst the shallow channels around the rocks as well as in the Bay.

RAPTORS

HEN HARRIER – A ringtail over Thurlestone Marsh on 1^st.

KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK and PEREGRINE regularly recorded.

WADERS

OYSTERCATCHER – Strong winds and high tide resulted in 60 roosting on the beach on 18^th (Nick T)

RINGED PLOVER – Max 6 on 2^nd.

GOLDEN PLOVER – A flock of 30 over Huxton Cross on 27^th (Bob B)

LAPWING – Huxton Cross wintering flock reached a max of 135 on 10^th. During the morning of 22^nd – five flocks flew over Thurlestone Marsh heading N.E totalling 230 (these numbers usually associated with cold weather movements)

SANDERLING – 2 on the rocks on several dates..

PURPLE SANDPIPER – On the rocks off Warren Point 1 on 6^th with 3 on 7^th (AFD)

DUNLIN – Only a single record of 1 on the rocks on 2^nd.

JACK SNIPE – One flushed on South Huish Marsh on 2^nd.

SNIPE – Small numbers on both marshes with a max of 100 on South Huish Marsh on 2^nd.

WOODCOCK – One flushed by a local farmer when moving cattle at the back of South Huish Marsh.

TURNSTONE – Counts above 10 were 12 on 2^nd and 18 on 16^th.

GULLS

KITTIWAKE – Recorded on several dates with a max of 50 moving east on 9^th.

LITTLE GULL – A 1^st w in the Bay on 14^th (AFD and Bob B)

ICELAND GULL – On morning of 10^th a 2nd w flew across the Bay, very close inshore watched until went into Hope Cove.

BLACK HEADED GULL – Normally winter totals are less than 75. On 12^th and 13^th liquid manure was being pumped into local fields with birds coming into the Bay to clean themselves – 600+ on 12^th was followed by the years max of 1450 on 13^th.

GREAT B. B. GULL – A total of 38 flew east on 11^th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL – a single on 11^th and 15^th with 2 on 14^th.

THRUSHES

REDWING – Max 10 by the Hotel on 7^th.

MISTLE THRUSH – 2 at West Buckland on 3^rd also 2 at South Milton Ley.

FIELDFARE – Scarce – small numbers near Huxton Cross.

RAILS

WATER RAIL – Max 6 on South Milton Ley on 1^st.

FINCHES

CHAFFINCH – Flock near Huxton Cross reached 300+ on 2^nd before dispersing.

GREENFINCH – flock around South Huish Marsh reached 70 on 7^th.

GOLD FINCH – Max 20 in with GREENFINCH.

SISKIN – A single at South Milton Ley on 7^th.

BUNTINGS

CIRL BUNTINGS – A male in the Copse 1^st and 3 in a local garden on 29^th.

REED BUNTING – Numbers lower than expected, max on my feeders 8.

YELLOWHAMMER – 4 around South Milton Ley on 1^st.

MISC

BLACK REDSTART – Only 3 records all on the rocks by the flats a male on 4^th and a female on 6^th and 11^th.

CHIFFCHAFF – max at the Sewage Works 8 on 6^th.

BLACKCAP – A female in a local garden on 3^rd.

WATER PIPIT – Between 2^nd and 8^th one gave good views by the footbridge.

I am writing this having got over the excess of the festive period and a lousy cold.   2014 has had a stormy and very wet start, with almost continuous gale force winds most of the smaller birds have gone elsewhere, whilst offshore very little moving through. The patch year total on the 6^th is only 65 compared with 88 in 2013.

A Happy and Contented Birding Year to everyone.