Devon Birding (1 Viewer)

[da2m]

got first swallow of the year yesterday. 1 sand martin over the willows in torquay

 

[Terry Smith]

Adult Yellow-legged Gull at Mudbank Lane, Exmouth late this afternoon, Sandwich Tern off Orcombe Point and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose with 33 dark-bellied in Sandy Bay.

 

[Terry Smith]

5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese with 15 Dark-bellied just below Orcombe Point, at the western end of Sandy Bay mid afternoon today, plus a Sandwich Tern sat on a red buoy, off the point. Only other migrant was a single Common Chiffchaff in the hedgerow on the eastern edge of the campsite field.

 

[JRE]

Rather a few possibles and probables around at the moment. I've just emailed Paul Boulden at Wildlife in Devon asking if he has any more details on the possible Iberian Chiffchaff at South Milton Ley near Thurlestone. Don't suppose anyone on here has any more information?

 

[The Kerreran]

Fraid not, Joe, but I do have another possible for you - a sinensis Cormorant off Hope's Nose, late this afternoon. It was fishing about 1/3 of the way between Sandy Point and the Ore Stone, being lightly annoyed by a geeb [ which is what caught my eye ]. It had more white 'frosting' than any Cormorant I've ever seen by a very large margin; on its head and all the way around its neck, right the way down, seemingly whitest on the crown and mid-lower throat and neck sides [ though that could have been the angle of view ]. I've heard something about sinensis being distinguished from older carbo by the angle of the edge of the gular patch, but can't find anything in the books about it, and while it had a gular patch and was 'different' to a clear carbo nearby, even with my ED50 it was too far away to measure angles with any certainty.
With more surety and brevity - 2 s/pl Razorbill off Meadfoot Beach with 3 Lesser Black-backs hanging around and a Rockit on the seawall, a singing Chiffchaff in Ilsham woods, and a lovely ad. male Peregrine over. The Peregrine also put in an appearence at Hope's Nose, being mobbed by very brave Herring Gulls when it moved too close to Thatcher Rock. As well as gulls and shags on the Rock were at least 5 nesting Cormorant, with some impressively large sticks being brought in. A male Wheatear was at Sandy Point, 3 Guillemot on the sea, 6+ Gannet fishing in close though catching very little.

 

[JRE]

I had a contender for a sinensis at Slimbridge in February, although I didn't follow it up and have done no research on it.

With regards to the Chiffchaff sp. I spoke to Paul about it, apparently it was reported by a local ringer who suspected it was an Iberian but the bird was not trapped. It's going to be hard to confirm without someone either trapping it or playing a recording.

 

[Terry Smith]

The head frosting on adult Cormorants is just due to the old age of the bird. It has nothing to do with sinensis, or otherwise. The only safe way of distinguishing sinensis is by the angle of the gular patch. Also, unlikely (but not impossible) that sinensis would be out on the open sea. They prefer inland lakes, rivers and ponds. Waits for barrage of comments..............:-O

 

[Gavin Haig]

I've heard something about sinensis being distinguished from older carbo by the angle of the edge of the gular patch, but can't find anything in the books about it...

There was a very helpful article in a 'Devon Birds' magazine not too long ago. I cannot lay my hands on it right this minute, but suspect it is the piece entitled 'Continents Apart' by Mike Langman, in vol 58 (1) pp.14-20 (2005). There is also a very handy comparative photo in the 2003 Devon Bird Report, showing a carbo and sinensis side by side - if memory serves, the angle formed by the rear edge of the gular patch needs to be comfortably in excess of 90 degrees before you can consider sinensis, and the photo clearly demonstrates that. On that basis alone your photo shows a carbo, Joe. There are other differences (slighter build, more slender bill, etc), but without the geometry any description is a non-starter...

Hope that helps.

EDIT - Correction! I've just found the article (which is excellent, and is in the 'Devon Birds' cited above), and the 'safe' gular patch angle is actually 80+ degrees, not 90+. Well worth acquiring this reference if you genuinely want to try to ID sinensis Cormorants, as long as you don't mind adding a protractor to your birding kit!

 

[Marshall-78]

Berry Head this morning - very quiet, not much around, too windy!
Galmpton creek - Curlew, Shelduck, Little Egret, Buzzard
Broadsands - 4 Cirl Bunting, 25+ Chaffinch
Anyone else had much today?

 

[The Kerreran]

Firstly, thanks to everyone for your help! :t:

Edit: A Silly Question I asked has been answered, so I've removed it to spare my blushes..

In other news; wandering between Prawle and Start produced 20+ Cirl Bunting and 3+ Yellowhammer [ with a few Chaffinch and an incredibly bold Dunnock ] concentrated around the stubble fields west of Maelcombe House, with very little else in the area apart from 4 singing Chiffchaff. On the sea, 7 very distant shearwater sp. moved rapidly west, along with about 50 Gannet an hour, and as at Hope's yesterday, there were a lot [ 15+ ] of breeding plumaged Cormorant about. Have I just been missing them in years past, or is it unusual to see so many on the coast? Oh yes, and the Harbetonford rookery is in full swing, as an unlucky Buzzard discovered as we were passing..

 

[Mark]

Cattle Egrets

Moved my Devon Cattle Egret year total on by two today with the 2 still showing very well by the roadbridge in Aveton Gifford opposite the garage. The Park Farm flock at Kingsbridge still present as well with several Little Egrets.

 

[Ppedro]

Had a drive out to Slapton Ley this morning and saw the 3 Scaup in Ireland Bay ( male and 2 fems. ). Surprised to see the Long-tailed Duck still in Start Bay now off the southern end of Torcross. 23 Common and 7 Velvet Scoter off Beesands.
Did the Curlew Drive to Charleton Marsh circuit on the Kingsbridge Estuary early afternoon. Still 3 Cattle Egrets across the estuary at Park Farm. Things noticeably quieter down on the estuary itself though 17 Great Crested Grebes is a good count here. Elsewhere 15 Mergansers and a lone Grey Plover. Brent Geese now down to 26 and no sign of the Brant which has been a star bird this winter.

 

[d.steeley]

Hi folks, I am visiting South Devon next week and hope to visit Charleton Reserve as we had a good day there this time last year, seeing Linnets, Snipe, Water Rail and a Marsh Harrier around the pool and reeds. How or where do I find the Charleton/Curlew Lane circuit? I remember seeing a road off to the right called Curlew Lane as I approached Charleton from Kingsbirdge. We parked in Charleton and walked down a track between some houses to reach the reserve and then the hide last year.

Thanks

Dave

 

[Ppedro]

Hi folks, I am visiting South Devon next week and hope to visit Charleton Reserve as we had a good day there this time last year, seeing Linnets, Snipe, Water Rail and a Marsh Harrier around the pool and reeds. How or where do I find the Charleton/Curlew Lane circuit? I remember seeing a road off to the right called Curlew Lane as I approached Charleton from Kingsbirdge. We parked in Charleton and walked down a track between some houses to reach the reserve and then the hide last year.

Thanks

Dave

Hello Dave,
to do the walk around to Curlew Drive you need to walk along the estuary wall below the hide at the bottom of the marsh and head westwards around the first point ( Charleton Point ) and keep heading in the Kingsbridge direction. Eventually you reach some houses ( Curlew Drive ) and a grass path that runs between the bottom two. Then walk back along main road into West Charleton where you will probably have parked. Not possible for around 3 hours either side of high tide. Hope you have a good time.
Perry

 

[d.steeley]

Thanks for the info Perry, I'll have a look at it next week.

Dave

 

[Roy C]

Cattle Egrets now with the Little Egrets at Fremington Pill.

 

[JRE]

Rather quiet at Bowling Green this afternoon. Waders were roosting half out of sight from the hide, so no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher though I'm sure it's still around. 15 or so Sand Martins passing through.

 

[Mark]

Another Cattle Egret

Another very confiding Cattle Egret alongside the main road between Newton Abbot and Stover/Trago in the large grassy sheep field on the right by the entrance to Blatchford Farm. Coming into a nice bit of summer plumage with extensive buff extending from the forehead all down the back of the neck. Also upto 14 Little Egrets coming and going.

 

[JRE]

Another very confiding Cattle Egret alongside the main road between Newton Abbot and Stover/Trago in the large grassy sheep field on the right just past the Teigngrace turn coming from Newton Abbot. Coming into a nice bit of summer plumage with extensive buff extending from the forehead all down the back of the neck. Also upto 14 Little Egrets coming and going.

I drove past the site today and was pretty sure I picked out a Cattle Egret from the car but wasn't 100%. Seems likely though :t:

 

[Tav94]

Beesands

Tufted -Red Crested Pochard Hybride a strange looking duck this one.

Chris Buckland



www.freewebs.com/tav94