Devon Birding (3 Viewers)

[da2m]

lovely views of the female scaup on the exe canal this morning.

 

[Ppedro]

Brent Geese

81 Brent Geese on the Kingsbridge Estuary this afternoon included a couple of pale-bellied.

 

[Jon Turner]

Saw a couple of Dippers early this afternoon between the Tarka trail and Velator weir. Hope the male Sparrowhawk I saw neaarby wasn't as interested in them as I was!

Jon

 

[digitalbirdy]

From the hide - 100's of Lapwing and Canada geese at Topsham today, plus many various duck types including a few busy pin tailed. Also saw a lone godwit nearby with the ducks. Plus a lone egret very near the viewing platform.

 

[JRE]

2 Woodlark in the stubble fields off Matford Lane behind Exminster this morning. Also present were 2 Reed Buntings and good numbers of winter thrushes.

Exminster Marshes held 150 Teal, 517 Wigeon and 81 Shoveler.

The Surf Scoter was still off the seawall at Dawlish Warren, along with a Slavonian and a Great Crested Grebe.

Happy New Year.
Joe

 

[devon.birder]

Drake Mandarin still on the Grand Western Canal this afternoon about 100 yards south of Crownhill Bridge, SS 998.126. Roger

 

[Ppedro]

Slapton Ley

With the east winds predominating at the moment went to Slapton Ley and walked down the line in the hope there would be good numbers of gulls around. Sadly numbers on the ley, beach and sea were very dissapointing, best was a single adult Med Gull. Usual female Marsh Harrier showing in the higher Ley.

 

[Ppedro]

Kingsbridge Esuary

Walked around the estuary from Geese Quarries to Curlew Drive this afternoon. Highlights were few but saw 87 Brent Geese, sadly no pale bellied, young birds or any sign of last years Black Brant. Also 10 Little Grebes, 9 Pintail 3 Rock Pipits and an adult Med Gull. Did not stay long in Charleton Marsh hide, big shoot there today meant it felt and sounded more like the OK Coral but from where i was watching it looked like no one could hit a barn door from 3 yards let alone a flying half tame Mallard. Either they'd all been on the razz for a week or should really take up another interest :-O:-O
Water Rail heard and 2 Kingfishers seen on the marsh.

 

[Jon Turner]

Took a short walk from Velator harbour down to the Toll House and back this afternoon, then along to the pond at Wrafton. Despite recent shooting, there were lots of Teal at Sherpa Marsh, and a lone Tufted Duck. Dipper still between the weir and the Tarka trail, and 6 Shoveler on Wrafton pond (2 drakes). Also watched a very active Chiffchaff catching midges from a willow tree. Late afternoon saw a male Blackcap in the garden still taking Lycesteria berries.

Jon

 

[Ppedro]

Kingsbridge Estuary

Did Geese Quarries to the marsh today. Similar to yesterday but a Great Northern Diver around the Saltstone and 7 Chiffs in the sewage works. 100+ Redwing and 20+ Fieldfare in a corner of the big stubble field between West Charleton village and the Beacon.
Happy new year one and all,B B B B B B B .

 

[chris w]

Merlin perched nicely on Exminster Marshes at lunchtime and Mergansers well up the river on high tide. Bowling Green Marsh largely frozen over but Brambling, Siskin and 7 Goosanders on Dart at Staverton.

 

[Terry Smith]

Red-necked Grebe and Black Redstart, Shelly Beach, Exmouth, again this afternoon. The Red-necked Grebe favours the channel off the beach at LOW tide, and the Black Redstart gets between the Exe Sailing club and the yellow appartment block called Windward Court. Blackcaps at Cedar Close and Gorse Lane this morning. Greenshank and static Kingfisher at Mudbank Lane.

 

[JRE]

Probable female American Wigeon reported today at Bowling Green Marsh viewable from the hide at 10.30am. Does anyone have any more information on this?

 

[Jon Turner]

Early year is time to check out the long stayers before they move on, so Baggy Point early morning, before the crowds arrive, and again found the Black Redstart, on the cliffs near the point. Only saw one Stonechat - 4 there last weekend. In the afternoon, went over to Bishops Tawton, where the Whooper Swan is still in a field by the railway line north of newbridge with Mute Swans. 2 Little Egrets with them, and a slightly out-of-place Black Swan. On to Isley Marsh where 6 Spoonbills were seen this morning on the falling tide. By the time I got there I could only find two, roosting in a gulley. Very little else to see here, so moved on to Fremington Creek. A Greenshank was flying high calling loudly, which made sure that the female Sparrowhawk was seen by all the Redshank. On the north side of the estuary, I stopped in at Bradiford reserve, where a few teal and scores of mostly subadult Herring Gulls were loafing on the mud, and surrounding fields. Looking out over the main river from the Tarka trail, a few Dunlin scurried about, but hundreds more mostly Herring Gulls were on the sandbanks. At Velator weir, a Grey Wagtail and a Chiffchaff or two were catching insects by the river. The main pond at Sherpa Maarsh was frozen over, so not much to see, although a Water Rail squealed from the reedbed. At Wrafton pond, also mostly frozen, about 13 or 14 Shoveler (4 drakes) were involved in a strange feeding swirl. 3 Little Grebes. In the gathering dusk I also drove out over the great field and had a brief view of a Barn Owl. 62 species seen. Hope it warms up sometime soon!

Jon

 

[JRE]

Broadsands with Josh this morning, brisk (and very cold!) easterly wind stirring up the surface didn't help. c15 Common Scoters, Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser and several Great Crested Grebes were all out there, no doubt there was more, but viewing conditions were a nightmare.

 

[Terry Smith]

Red-necked Grebe at Shelly Beach, Exmouth again this morning. Black Redstart on seafront at Morton Crescent (presumably the Shelly bird?). Spotted Redshank at Mudbank Lane, 1120hrs.

 

[Ppedro]

Kingsbridge Estuary

Quick passing through look from the Embankment Road Pumping Station this morning on the high tide. 44 Brent Geese included the 2 first winter pale-bellied birds. Amongst the dark-bellied were the first 3 youngsters i've seen this winter. Also 143 Redshank.

 

[Andrew]

Grand Western Canal from Halberton to Tiverton : Mandarin (drake at SS997125), male Blackcap, Stonechat, two Woodcock, one Green Woodpecker and twenty six Lapwings.

Ninety five percent of the canal was frozen over, not often that happens. As expected, no Kingfishers as a result.

 

[Ppedro]

Cattle Egrets

This morning went to look for the 4 Cattle Egrets found by Soareyes near Kingsbridge yesterday and overnight they had doubled to 8. Also 4 Little Egrets they are with cattle in a kale field. The best place to see them is from a gateway at approx SX 728426. Looks like we might start getting shedloads.

 

[Ppedro]

Kingsbridge Estuary

Did from Charleton Marsh to Geese Quarries today and the highlights were 88 Brent Geese, 50 Pintail, 12 Shoveler, 12 Little Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebe. 6 Chiffchaffs in Charleton Sewage Works.