Thurlestone Bay is a bird rich area of the South Hams (part of Devon). Although not having an estuary the patch has several sites which produce a wide diversity of species.

Any comments you wish to make can be entered in the guestbook.

Those of you who are keen eyed will have noticed we have a new header- Glossy Ibis on South Huish Marsh in September .If you look closely you can see a fly through raptor ! Photo from Alan Doidge

Have also had a training course in transferring photos - first two are Purple Sandpiper and Little Gull, hopefully this will add more interest to the site

Have also added 3 more direct links to other sites that I follow

 The NOVEMBER monthly review has been posted  and also transferred the NOVEMBER sightings to the archive 2014 section. Details of ringing teams activities included in the text .,

2014

THURS 4 DEC

A cold cloudy day with a light NNE wind .

On T'stone Marsh- 2 MUTE SWAN over west, 30 TEAL, 25 SNIPE, 1 LITTLE GREBE, CETTIS WARBLER.

Only excitement offshore concerned 2 small grebes feeding close to the rocks , they turned out to be LITTLE GREBE - first time I have recorded them on the sea during the last 11 years.., also a RAZORBILL on the sea.

On South Huish Mrash - 30 TEAL, 15 WIGEON, 2 SHOVELER, the RUDDY SHELDUCK still , 13 LAPWING plus a further23 over,. At 11.00 6 BRENT GOOSE flew in to feed for 30mins, also a single bird flew east at 12.00. A male BULLFINCH in a local garden,

1 RINGED PLOVER on the rocks

Good murmurations this evening from the STARLING roost - my guestimate was around 30,000. Paul B picked out a leucistic bird

WED 3 DEC

First really cold day with a biting NE wind, clear skies all day .

Before the STARLING roost broke 120 CANADA GOOSE flew out, they must have come in late yesterday. At 08.15 picked up 3 BRENT GOOSE flying around the Bay - nice addition to the garden list. Later they flew up the valley ( around 09.30 )

Very little offshore , only 1 TURNSTONE on the rocks , also a KINGFISHER.

On  South Huish Marsh - 25 TEAL, 15 WIGEON, 2 GADWALL, 1 m SHOVELER, 1 RUDDY SHELDUCK, , 8 LAPWING, 6 SNIPE, . A flock of 30 HOUSE SPARROW by the toilet block. Late afternoon Bob  reports 9 BRENT GOOSE - DB on the Marsh.

Late morning visit to Buckland Valley produced - 3 JAY, 4 CHIFFCHAFF,

2 COAL TIT, 5 LONG T TIT, GOLDCREST, KESTREL, SPARROW HAWK and a bird which has become very elusive on the patch - a GREEN WOODPECKER.

At South Milton Ley  Bob repots - 12 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFFand a MISTLE THRUSH .

The STARLING roost tonight reached 22,500, MERLIN in attendance . 5 LITTLE EGRET on the Marsh highest total for some weeks.

TUES 2 DEC

Watching  what turned out to be a very poor STARLING roost - only 17,500 tonight all of which went straight into the reeds, was compensated for by my first December  SWALLOW - flew up the marsh at 16.15.

Earlier Eric had seen a Ringtail HEN HARRIER ( 192 ) flying over the fields by Elston Farm .

On T'stone Marsh this am - 15 TEAL, 1 LITTLE GREBE.

Offshore some Duck flew through ( probably came of South H Marsh ),

8 WIGEON, 3 GADWALL, 1 f PINTAIL, 20 MALLARD. 2 SHELDUCK flew in from the east., 2 KITTIWAKE, 80 + GANNET, 1 COMMON GULL, Both GREAT N DIVER and a MUTE SWAN on the sea., 2 GUILLEMOT and a few AUKS flew east.

On South Huish Marsh -  25 TEAL, 8 WIGEON, 2 GADWALL, 2 MUTE SWAN, the RUDDY SHELDUCK still, 10 LAPWING, a few SNIPE, 335 CANADA GOOSE, 19 STOCK DOVE whilst a f PEREGRINE caused some commotion, a KESTREL back on site.

Bob was trying to catch a SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF at South M Ley.

News rec'd this morning of 2 more species seen yesterday- GADWALL & KESTREL. This takes the daily total to 80. This is the highest first day of a month total in the last 4 years. Also compares very well with the 81 species recorded on the Bird Race day - then there were 10  observers out for 12 hours then..

MON 1 DEC

Wow- What a start to the month , a total of 78 species recorded today and included 2 patch year ticks .

An early morning garden watch from 07.35 - o8,30 started off with 31 species inc- 1 NUTHATCH, 1 JAY, 2 SHOVELER, 2 WATER RAIL

Iwas only able to join Graham Daw until 09.50 , later he was joined by Bob whilst Arthur was over by the Rock flats .

First star bird of the morning was our first SLAVONIAN GREBE ( 189 ), came in very close. A BLACK THROATED DIVER on the sea, RED BREASTED MERGANSER flew west  ,10 WIGEON ( on sea ), RAZORBILL

( on sea ), 21 COMMON SCOTER - east, 1 KITTIWAKE, late am Bob had a GREAT N DIVER ( on sea ), 2 TURNSTONE on the rocks .BLACK REDSTART on the Links Flats

Second star bird found by Arthur near Rock Flats - a fem/imm SNOW BUNTING ( 190 )- first record for 3 years and only 4th in last 11 years. Despite a comprehensive search the bird could not be relocated. He also had 2 PURPLE SANDPIPER and 4 TURNSTONE and 7 RINGED PLOVER on the rocks by Warren Pt.

On South Huish Marsh - RUDDY SHELDUCK still, 6 SHOVELER,

2 DUNLIN.50+ SNIPE

, 2 REED BUNTING, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 BULLFINCH, 100+ PIED and 1 WHITE WAGTAIL ( Bob's first Dec record for White ) and CETTIS WARBLER

Earlier Bob had at Piers Cottage - NUTHATCH,  .(a scarce bird for the patch- 2 in 1 day .)YELLOWHAMMER, REDWING

South Milton Ley didn't lose out - GREY WAGTAIL, GREAT Sp WOODY, in the undergrowth Bob had a JAPANESE QUAIL ( 191 ) -this is an escape from a nearby farm around 2 years ago

On Nick's small pond are 14 MOORHEN with at least 6 on S H Marsh, 4 on T'stone Marsh looks like a patch min of 24.

Finally the best murmerations tonight between 16.10- 16.30 the final count ( both Arthur and myself agree ) was 50.000. the flight pattern was interrupted by both a SPARROWHAWK and a MERLIN

SUN 30 NOV

The month bowed out with another fine mild and calm day, with even a few interesting birds as well. Undoubtedly  the highlight is the STARLING roost - this evening 16.00- 16.20 was probably the best yet - my final total was 20,000  with some superb mumerations. The continued fine weather for the next week should make for some good roost encounters.

Whist waiting for them to arrive picked up a SWALLOW over the far side of the Marsh - Hope it is around Monday - a December record would be a first. At 16.25  after the STARLING had gone in a GREAT WHITE EGRET  flew accross the Marsh- 3rd patch record this year!

On South Huish marsh this morning - 40 TEAL, 10 WIGEON, 6 SHOVELER, 2 GADWALL, RUDDY SHELDUCK still, 11 SNIPE, 10 LAPWING, 2 DUNLIN, 2 MUTE SWAN, 300+ BLACK H GULL  1 SPARROWHAWK, a BLACK REDSTART on the garage roof.

Report from Robert the Farmer of 4 WOODCOCK  at the back of the Marsh.

Bob Had a 1w MED GULL and the KINGFISHER was by the Footbridge

Roger and Helen were ringing this morning details to follow, 10 FIELDFARE and 6 REDWING near Huxton Cross

SAT 29 NOV

A very mild day, long sunny periods and light winds . I was only able to cover T'stone Marsh from my balcony both early morning and late afternoon.

They say 1 SWALLOW doesn't make a summer so I just wonder what 3 on the 29 NOV makes . The Starling roost broke around 07.40 with some birds not leaving until 07.50. Just after the last birds left I picked up a SWALLOW flying over the marsh moving off SE . Also this morning a total of 31 species- 1 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 GOLDCREST, 4 LONG T TIT., 1 LAPWING

The STARLING roost this evening was watched by at least 7 people, I missed most of it- Bob reported many thousands - . at 16.30 I picked up 2 SWALLOW again flying up the valley possibly to roost at South Milton Ley. These are my latest for the patch .

The RUDDY SHELDUCK is still on South H Marsh . At South Milton Ley Bob and Alan Pomroy ringed 5 REED BUNTING, 4 CHIFFCHAFF ( 25 for the week )and 2 GOLDCREST,. Also had 20 LAPWING over and a singing CIRL BUNTING on a nearby farm .

Report rec'd of 2 BLACK REDSTART in a garden near to me

FRI 28 NOV

A totally cloudy early morning gradually improving with some bright spells. A F 6/7 E wind produced some rough seas outside of the Bay .

On South H Marsh - 20 GREENFINCH, 5 GOLDFINCH, 40 TEAL,

14 WIGEON, 2 SHOVELER, 13 LAPWING, RUDDY SHELDUCK back with the CANADA GOOSE flock. 150+ BLACK H GULL

Seawatch from the flats from 09.30- 12.00- 110 GANNET, 10 KITTIWAKE, 13 AUKS, 3 COMMON SCOTER, 8 BRENT GOOSE -db flew east and at 11.00 6 flew in and sat on the sea very close in . at 10.00 2 BLACK T DIVER flew round the Bay gained height and then flew SE over land.

1 RED T DIVER east at 10.45

Waders on the rocks - 7 TURNSTONE, 3 RINGED PLOVER

On T'stone Marsh - 30 TEAL, 1f SHOVELER . STARLING roost now building up - birds start arriving around 15.45, by 16.15 the count was over 15,000

with some good murmerations. The PIED WAGTAIL roost was over 150 birds , again numbers increasing 

Report from Eric at South Efford Marsh - 30 LAPWING (over ),

2 GADWALL, 9 WIGEON , 2 WATER PIPIT, 1 FIRECREST, 5 CHIFFCHAFF

THURS 27 NOV

A really pleasnt day with little wind and some sunny periods .

In the Bay a GREAT N DIVER,  12 GANNET, 11 KITTIWAKE .

Waders on the rocks - 8 RINGED PLOVER, 6 TURNSTONE.also a GREY WAGTAIL

On South H Marsh- 60 TEAL, 11 WIGEON, 5 SHOVELER, 2 GADWALL,

2 SHELDUCK 1 MUTE SWAN, 200 + BLACK H GULL

7 LAPWING, 6 SNIPE. 2 MED GULL.

In the Copse - 1 male CIRL BUNTING , 1 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 GREAT SP WOODY .3 CHAFFINCH

At South M Ley - KINGFISHER,  Today Bob ringed 7 CHIFFCHAFF , this makes a total of 21 this week which he says is a Nov record.

On T'stone Marsh - 1 DUNLIN, 1 LITTLE GREBE, 20 TEAL. Tonight Bob flushed at least 60 SNIPE, STARLING roost was several 1,000's

This morning Bob was at Beesands where he had - 1 very bright YELLOW BROWED WARBLER, 1 FIRECREST and a SIB CHIFFCHAFF .

Just had a call from Eric - on South Efford - 3 WATER PIPIT, 1 FIRECREST, 4 CHIFFCHAFF.

WED 26 NOV

Nothing of special interest off my balcony this morning- 3000 STARLING from roost. 1 LAPWING, 2 CETTIS WARBLER. late morning 20 TEAL

 With lots of cloud , no wind  and a flat calm sea I was not expecting what occured at 10.25- a year tick - A female LONG TAILED DUCK (188 ) on the sea , flew off  towards Hope Cove, came back 10 mins later and flew very close to the shore before landing off Leasfoot Beach ( still there at 15.00 )this is only my 5th in the last 11 years. At the same time a 1w male PINTAIL flew in and also landed on the sea .

On Soth Milton Ley - KINGFISHER, 16 SKYLARK ( over ), Bob  had 10 CHIFFCHAFF and caught and ringed 4 .

South H Marsh had 20 TEAL, , 9 WIGEON, 4 SHOVELER, 1 SNIPE

4 LAPWING and a 1stw COMMON GULL. The RUDDY SHELDUCK seems to have moved on., not seen yesterday or today . On the rocks a TURNSTONE.

At 16.00 some nice STARLING murmurations - around 6000 in to roost , also 70+ PIED WAGTAIL at T'stone Marsh

When Bob went down at 15.00 to look at the LTD he also had a GREAT N DIVER on the sea

TUES 25 NOV

Early morning cloudy with rain setting in at 10.30, a cold N/NE F4 wind, not a day for walking around the marshes .From the shelter of the car boot a 2 hour sea watch produced -  380 GANNET ( steady passage east )

3 KITTIWAKE, 1ad MED GULL, 7 WIGEON -east with a total of 6 MALLARD .5 AUKS, 1 RED T DIVER ( east at 09.35 )

On the rocks 1 RINGED PLOVER.

On South Huish Marsh -45 TEAL, 8 WIGEON, 5 SHOVELER, 2 LAPWING, 35 GREENFINCH., 10 GOLDFINCH.

At 13.00 on T'stone Marsh - 10 SNIPE, 32 TEAL, 1 f SHOVELER

MON 24 NOV -

An hours garden watch from 07.40 - crisp clear sky with a hard frost at dawn produced 40 species - highlights , 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 6 REDWING, 1 SONG THRUSH,  1 WATER RAIL, 20 TEAL, 1 JAY,

1 GOLDCREST, 24 STOCK DOVE, 360 WOOD PIGEON, 235 STARLING .

Still involved with Builders so todays reports are from Graham & Martin Daw and Bob B-

Bay - 35 GANNET, 3 KITTIWAKE, 3 AUKS, 1 BLACK REDSTART ( Links Flats ) 1 WIGEON ( on sea )

South H Marsh -  55 TEAL, 9 WIGEON, 3 SHOVELER, 1 RUDDY SHELDUCK, 4 LAPWING, 1 MED GULL, 1 GREY WAGTAIL, 1 CHIFFCHAFF.

On the rocks - 1 TURNSTONE and 1 RINGED PLOVER, 76 WOOD PIGEON

( feeding in a field )

At South M Ley - 15 CHIFFCHAFF (10 ringed )1 SISKIN ( feeding in Alders )

At Huxton Cross- 2 MISTLE THRUSH, 250 WOOD PIGEON -se

SAT /SUN 22/23 NOV

SAT - Brief look over T'stone marsh before I had to leave for the day -6 WIGEON, 2 SHOVELER, 30 TEAL, 1 JACK SNIPE, a real hard territorial battle between the resident cob MUTE SWAN and a pair that landed at 09.00.

Info rec'd from Bob B - 1 BLACK REDSTART ( Links Flats ) RUDDY SHELDUCK still on S H Marsh .

SUN - Report from Bob B - 5 BRENT GOOSE ( in the Bay ), RUDDY SHELDUCK ( on S H Marsh ) , 1 BLACK REDSTART ( Rock Flats )

At South Milton Ley 8 CHIFFCHAFF,  3 TAWNY OWL ( also 2 at Huxton Cross and 2 calling at T'stone Marsh - at least 7 on the patch ) 3 REED BUNTING -ringed , inc a male with a wing length of 85 mm indicative of a Northern / Scaninavian bird .

Also confirmation the QUAIL is a JAPANESE  bird - escape.

FRI 21 NOV

A really drab day , the only good part was finding that the culvert had been unblocked so no more flooding ( for the moment) Rained all day and only light SE winds .

Offshore this morning - 130 GANNET, 1ad MED GULL, 1 1st w COMMON GULL, 2 KITTIWAKE,

On South Huish Marsh - the RUDDY SHELDUCK, 20 TEAL, 4 WIGEON, 1 LAPWING, 1 1stw MED GULL

On T'stone marsh - 50 TEAL,55 MALLARD, 8 WIGEON, 3 SHOVELER, 1 LITTLE GREBE. A flyover BUZZARD makes you realise how many SNIPE are on the Marsh. my count would have been 4 when at least 50 took flight

Have just rec'd my copy of the 2013 Report of The Birds of South Gloucestershire- at £5.00 including postage itis great value - photo's on almost every page, more details on their website -

THURS 20 NOV

Confined to the house today with builders on site- managed to pick up on the Marsh - 30 TEAL, 5 WIGEON, 3 SHOVELER, 1 f GADWALL, 1 COOT,

4 SNIPE

Rest of the news comes from Bob who decided to get to Start Pt lighthouse at 05.00, rewarded with sightings around the light of -

60+ REDWING, several BLACBIRD and SONG THRUSH, 3 DUNLIN,

1 GREY PLOVER, 1f BLACKCAP, 1 dead SNIPE.

At South Milton Ley - 1 YELLOWHAMMER, , KINGFISHER, 10 SNIPE .

In South Milton village 12 REDWING .

The RUDDY SHELDUCK has now moved over to South Huish Marsh , also 1 LAPWING

WED 19 NOV

A cloudy morning with rain setting in from 10.30 for the rest of the day. Winds E f4/5, sea calm in the Bay rough outside . As usual with E winds some offshore passage .

On T'stone marsh from 08.00  The RUDDY SHELDUCK was on the back pool before moving to the front pool around 09.00. Also - 40 TEAL, 1m5f WIGEON, 50 + MALLARD, 4 SNIPE and the MUTE SWAN. The whole Marsh is now very flooded beware Thurs as the road is likely to be under water, most of the Golf Club car park is also flooded.

A seawatch from the car park from 09.10- 11.00 produced-  92 GANNET, 50 KITTIWAKE, 83 G B B GULL ( all east ), 33 Black H Gull - east, 1 CURLEW in off and up the valley, 3 COMMON SCOTER, 18 AUKS . At 09.35 a BLACK THROATED DIVER flew around the Bay then continued east, 1 DUNLIN .

Moving round to South Huish Marsh - 30 TEAL, 2 SHOVELER, 10 LESSER B B GULL.

Waders on the rocks - 10 TURNSTONE and 6 RINGED PLOVER,   also

1 GREY WAGTAIL

At South Milton Ley Bob had 6 REDWING .- Yesterday he had a most interesting bird calling just by the sewage works - a QUAIL ( 188 ) .This is probably one of the few left from a local farmers attempt to breed them. However, this was more than 2 years ago.

TUES 18 NOV

Spent most of the morning overlooking T'stone Marsh with some interesting sightings- At 07,45 looked out to find a 1st w LITTLE GULL fluttering the edge of the marsh only 20 yds from me.,later in the morning the group of CANADA GOOSE flew to the back pool and brought the RUDDY DUCK to sit on an island again only 25/30 yds from the garden , . A nice addition to the garden list .Other sightings - 1m 6f WIGEON, 1m 2f SHOVELER, 30 TEAL, 1 LITTLE GREBE, 1800 + WOOD PIGEON, 1 REDWING, 1 SONG THRUSH, 1 MUTE SWAN , 1 LAPWING, 5 SNIPE

Late morning managed a quick visit to South Huish Marsh where I met up with Graham Daw & Bob- 60 GANNET, 4 KITTIWAKE, 3 AUKS, WIGEON-

8 west and 4 on the marsh, 2 SHOVELER, 40 TEAL, 1ad MED GULL, 5 LAPWING, 3 CURLEW flew over. . At 10.59 8 BRENT GOOSE flew in , landed on the sea before fling on to the Marsh. 3ad & 5 juv. Earlier Bob had 8 REDWING

MON 17 NOV

Another new specie added to the patch list today, found on T'stone Marsh at 09.30 on the front pool - RUDDY SHELDUCK ( 187 ). Looking at photos and as it was associating with CANADA GOOSE looks very much like the bird last seen on the R Plym on 2 Oct 2014- wonder where it has been since ?

Also on the Marsh today - 9 LAPWING ( over ) , 20 TEAL, 2f SHOVELER,

1 f WIGEON, 3 LITTLE GREBE , 3 SNIPE, 2 STONECHAT, 3 REED BUNTING, SPARROWHAWK

On South Huish Marsh - 40 TEAL, 4 WIGEON, 2 SHOVELER, 4 DUNLIN

( flew up the valley )

Over at South Milton Ley Bob recorded- 25 + REED BUNTING ( ringed 4, 2 retraps and a British control )30 REDWING, 10 FIELDFARE, 2 SONG THRUSH.

On the roof of his flat in Kinsbridge a BLACK REDSTART at lunchtime

SUN 16 NOV

T'stone Marsh is in full flood  water is up to the road and on the back pool is level with my house . Today  1 MUTE SWAN, 30 TEAL, 1 f WIGEON,

1f SHOVELER, 1 SNIPE

On South Huish Marsh - 5 SHELDUCK, 20 TEAL, 4 WIGEON, 2 SHOVELER, 1 LAPWING, 70 GREENFINCH/ GOLDFINCH,  1 SNIPE, 1 KINGFISHER .

Early pm Bob had 3 MED GULL ( 12w, 2ad ) one with a white ring on the lower left leg , thought the initials were DH.

Earlier at South Milton Ley bob had 1200 WOOD PIGEON, 6 REDWING, 2 REED BUNTING ( ringed )

SAT 15 NOV

Bob B reports from Huxton Cross / South Milton Ley this am -160 REDWING, 67 FIELDFARE, 650 WOOD PIGEON, 1 YELLOWHAMMER,

1  COAL TIT. Late pm 4 CHIFFCHAFF ringed, 12 REED BUNTING on site

 This afternoon on South Huish Marsh - 12 db BRENT GOOSE feeding on the marsh -largest flock on the marsh for a few years . 4 WIGEON,

2 SHOVELER,

On the beach - 7 RINGED PLOVER, 2 TURNSTONE

Roger and Helen had a ringing visit - they ringed a total of 75 birds , highlights - 10 REDWING, 10 REED BUNTING, 1 BULLFINCH, 1 STONECHAT, 4 GOLDCREST, 2 SONG THRUSH

FRI 14 NOV

A fine sunny morning with clear skies and a S f3 wind . Spent all day around the house as the builders arrived to start repairs to our leaking balcony . during the day I logged 41 species . Highlights were - First WATER PIPIT of the autumn, 2 CHIFFCHAFF and a garden first  a SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF, 1m BLACKCAP, 2 CETTIS WARNLER, 2 MISTLE THRUSH, 1 JAY . A MUTE SWAN on the marsh until 10.30 when flew off east, 12 TEAL, 2 f SHOVELER, 3 LITTLE EGRET, 2 RAVEN , 12 SKYLARK -south

Away Sat so next update on Sunday

This morning at South Milton Ley/ South Milton Village , Bob had - 5 REDWING, 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 1 YELLOWHAMMER

THURS 13 NOV

What a storm ! mid morning SSE gust of at least F10, with some very heavy showers. Full of expectation I was in the car park for just after 08.00 using the boot as a hide, by 10.30  the car was rocking so much it was impossible to keep the scope steady. During the rain showers viz poor, seas in the Bay relatively calm , offshore at least a 3metre swell.

Very few birds around ,28 Gannet, 3 AUKS, 42 G B B GULL ,

1 PEREGRINE and  a struggling GREY PLOVER trying to make land .

Bob B spent the morning at Torcross  watching the waves going over the cottages, he also saw a LONG T SKUA, 2 POM SKUA, 300 + KITTIWAKE . At the Torcross end of Slapton Ley a BLACK NECKED GREBE showing well.

This evening Bob caught and ringed 17 REED BUNTING at South Milton Ley

WED 12 NOV

Awoke to the sound of heavy rain when I was expecting some clear skies, however the clear horizon arrived by 09.00 and with a F6/7 SW wind produced one of the best seawatch mornings with 2 year ticks .

A 45 min Garden watch at 07.45  produced 32 species with no new arrivals and no viz mig .

A walk around South Huish Marsh produced 40 TEAL, 2 WIGEON ,

2 SHOVELER , 6 LITTLE EGRET, 1 ad MED GULL and a  BLACK TAILED GODWIT .

From 10.15 - 12.30 a seawatch from the Rock Flats was the highlight of the day - At 11.45 picked up very small Auk about 250 yds off, flying east - very rapid wingbeats , my second record of LITTLE AUK ( 184 ) on the patch .Then at 12.15 a group of 15 waders flew onto the rocks , in flight I was certain there was a PURPLE SANDPIPER ( 185 ) among them . Managed to pick them up on the rocks to find 2 PURPLE SANDPIPER,

12 TURNSTONE and a RINGED PLOVER

Whilst PURPLE SANDPIPER are annual we did not have any sightinsgs last winter , this is an early date for the patch .

At 10,45 found a GREAT N DIVER feeding about 70 yds off, also 2 RED T DIVER flew through at 10.35 and 11.07. 2 db BRENT GOOSE flew east at10.25. other sightings were 65 GANNET, 34 KITTIWAKE, 1ad MED GULL, 21 AUKS east, 1 COMMON SCOTER and a KINGFISHER again feeding in the rock pools 

At South M Ley this morning Bob had - 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 MISTLE THRUSH, 1 REDWING, 50 MIPIT

Just rec'd news that Roger Short whilst ringing on Sun morning had a LITTLE OWL ( 186 ) near the ruined cottage . This is the first patch record for a few years

TUES 11 NOV

Another 100% cloudy morning, strong S/SSE wind , at least the expected rain was only a couple of showers

Garden watch 07.45- 08.30 produced 35 species - nothing out of the ordinary apart from a JACK SNIPE which flew in at 08.10, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 3 SHOVELER . First morning no viz mig .

Seawatch from the Flats  , 09.30- 11.30 confirmed that all the autumn passage is missing the Bay, meagre totals were - 50 GANNET,

2f COMMON SCOTER, 3 AUKS, 40 GREAT B B GULL, 4 db BRENT GOOSE flew east at 10.20. Waders on the rocks only 3 TURNSTONE

On South Huish Marsh - 50 TEAL, 1m 1f WIGEON, 1 f SHOVELER,

5 DUNLIN, 4 SNIPE.

Bob went to Start Point for an hour from 09.00 - 7 juv POMARINE SKUA, 4 BONXIE, 1 ARCTIC SKUA, 2 GREAT N DIVER, 100+ AUKS and 200 + KITTIWAKE .

MON 10 NOV

News broke late Sun evening of a site Mega found by visiting birders Helena & Adam Davison . A well described OLIVE BACKED PIPIT (182 ) on a footpath at the back of East Buckland . At least 6 birders spent part of this morning trying to relocate it Nice find guys

The expected heavy rain did not arrive until early evening, so we managed a full morning - an increasing S wind

An hours Garden watch from 07.30  produced 21 TEAL, 2 WATER RAIL,

5 LITTLE EGRET, 2 LITTLE GREBE, 3 SHOVELER, 1 CETTIS WARBLER.

Viz MIg rather poor - 315 STARLING, 21 GOLDFINCH,  11 CHAFFINCH,

5 BLACKBIRD, 1 SONG THRUSH, 1 REED BUNTING, 1 JAY,

1 SPARROWHAWK, 130 WOOD PIGEON.

This afternoon a 1st w MED GULL and AJL had a KINGFISHER

At South Milton Ley Bob had 12 FIELDFARE ( 183 ) - yes they were the first this year . Later another 5 near Huxton Cross.

Whilst the concentrated walk around Buckland Valley did not produce the Mega we did have - 3 MISTLE THRUSH, singles  of GOLDCREST, GREY WAGTAIL, BULLFINCH, KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK, 50 WOOD PIGEON

On South Huish marsh and the rocks / offshore were-

7 TURNSTONE, 6 RINGED PLOVER, 21 GANNET, 3 KITTIWAKE, 30 WOOD PIGEON, 15 TEAL, 1f WIGEON, 1 2w MED GULL and a MERLIN

On Sunday Nick watched a SPARROWHAWK flush 50 SNIPE at South Huish Marsh,late news tonight a flock of 40 SISKIN flew through his garden

SUN 9 NOV

A few heavy showers up to 09.00, thereafter a nice sunny morning with no wind ( and no birds offshore )

A hours Garden watch from 07.50 interrupted twice by heavy rain still produced 39 species.

Viz mig totals - WOOD PIGEON 610, STARLING 275, CHAFFINCH 12, GREENFINCH 7, GOLDFINCH 30 ,   BLACKBIRD 9, SONG THRUSH 2,

PIED WAGTAIL 6, REED BUNTING 6, GREAT SP WOODY 1, BLACKCAP 1,

ON / around the Marsh - 1m 2f SHOVELER, 6 TEAL, 1 SNIPE, 1 GOLDCREST, 2 WATER RAIL.

 Around South Huish Marsh - 36 TEAL, 1 WATER RAIL, 7 STONECHAT and 8 BLACKBIRD .

Just had a call from Bob with his ( much better ) records from South Milton Ley this morning -

A male FIRECREST ( 181 ) first for the year , 150 REDWING, 2 MISTLE THRUSH, 1 REDPOLL, 4 BULLFINCH, 2 GREY WAGTAIL, 4 GOLDCREST.A large increase in BLACKBIRD. This evening 2 REED BUNTING ringed

SAT 8 NOV

A really awful early morning - driving heavy rain, low cloud a  strong/gale S wind. Went down to the car park for 09.00 until 10.30. Too windy to put a scope up so ended up using the car window as a rest..Good passage of birds east except for a juv POMARINE SKUA which flew west at 09.20.

Otherwise - 205 GANNET, 7 KITTIWAKE, 4 AUKS, 15 COMMON SCOTER. 200 + BLACK H. GULL ( highest total so far ) .

Arrived home to have a brief look at T'stone Marsh before leaving for the rest of the day - 17 TEAL, 1m 1f SHOVELER, 1 BLACK T GODWIT and 25 GOLDFINCH.

Clear skies in the morning will the WOOD PIGEON movement restart ?

FRI 7 NOV

After a stormy night on the balcony at 07.50 , only managed less than 30 mins , started raining and contiued for an hour .Only birds of note were 11 REDWING and 26 TEAL. No WOOD PIGEON movement at all even late morning

A 2hr seawatch from the flats from 09.30 produced -  145 BLACK HEADED GULL, 24 GREAT B B GULL, 65 KITTIWAKE ( east ) ,

2 1w COMMON GULL 37 GANNET, 5 AUKS, 1 PEREGRINE.

Waders on the rocks singles of RINGED PLOVER and TURNSTONE.

On South H Marsh a SHELDUCK and 5 TEAL

THURS 6 NOV

Because of space limitations I have ahd to transfer the October daily sightings to the Archive section ,. Have left the latter part of the month unaltered .

100% cloud and a F5/6 S wind this morning meant the viz mig hardly got going, An hours Garden watch from 07.30 produced 34 species- highlights -

25 TEAL, 4 SNIPE, 2 WATER RAIL, -viz mig counts -  2 CORMORANT,

2 GREY and 3 PIED WAGTAIL, 50 GOLDFINCH, 2 REDWING, 3 BLACKBIRD, 6 LITTLE EGRET, 5 BUZZARD, 7 CHAFFINCH, 4 GREENFINCH, 120 STARLING and 3 BLACK TAILED GODWIT.

With very low cloud only 2 flocks of WOOD PIGEON totalling 450 birds and a lone STOCK DOVE

Second part of the mornong was a seawtch from the flats - 13 AUKS,10 TEAL -east, 35 GANNET, 1 KITTIWAKE, 1ad MED GULL, 100 BLACK HEADED GULL, 10 COMMON SCOTER -east.

Waders on the rocks - 8 RINGED PLOVER, 3 TURNSTONE.

Pam - a flat resident e-mailed me to report a KINFISHER feeding on the rock pools 

WED 5 NOV

With clear skies forecast expectations for a good viz mig day were high - and they arrived.

My viz mig watch was from 07.15 -09.00 on my balcony and 09.45 - 12.00 from Bob's car park.

Garden watch produced 44 species . a male PINTAIL flying up the valley at 07.30 was the first of the autumn. A Cormorant flew in the opposite direction .

Main activity were WOOD PIGEON - 17650 -SE and 2170- NW. largest flocks were 2500 (x2 ), 1500 ( x2 )and 1000. Those flying SE were often above 1000ft and closely packed together , whereas those NW were rarely above 200ft and were often strung out. Whilst my toals were good  they were overshadowed by 55,000 at Dawlish Warren, 202,000 at Gwent and 23,500 at Painswick ( Gloucs ) Because of the height birds were flying I only managed to pick out 7 STOCK DOVE .

Another surprise was the movement of Corvids , we have a significant roost site in Thurlestone for ROOK and Jacdaw , this morning flocks were flying NW and did not stop to join the resident birds - totals were - ROOK 550 NW, JACKDAW 120 + NW. Also 8 RAVEN

Thrushes were - BLACKBIRD 12, SONG THRUSH 1 , MISTLE THRUSH 2 , REDWING 20 all NW and 190 STARLING.

Finches - GOLDFINCH -67, CHAFFINCH- 28, GREENFINCH 26, REED BUNTING 5 , PIED WAGTAIL 11, GREY WAGTAIL 1 , MIPIT 31,

SKYLARK 34, LINNET 20, and a GREAT SP WOODY 

The STARLING roost reached 2000 birds at 16.45

Anyone interested in the WOOD PIGEON movements should go to the

trektellen web site for repots submitted throught W Europe

TUES 4 NOV

At first light a clear morning with no wind - later NW F4/5 and some showers . Good viz .

Garden Watch from 07.20-08.40 produced 39 species . Only 150 WOOD PIGEON , although at 12.00 2 flocks totalling 350 flew NW.Other highlights - 1 MERLIN, 1 SHELDUCK, 10 BLACKBIRD, 11 REDWING, 4 SONG THRUSH, 4 STONECHAT, 2 REED BUNTING,21 SKYLARK, 4 SISKIN, 1 JAY, 6 RAVEN, 2 CHIFFCHAFF.

Offshore only 20 GANNET, a GREAT N DIVER drifted into the Bay and then flew east. 14 AUKs flew east .

At South M Ley Bob had 4 BULLFINCH and 1 CHIFFCHAFF

Waders on the rocks -  6 TURNSTONE, 5 RINGED PLOVER

MON 3 NOV

A cloudy morning with heavy showers followed by a spell of sunshine . A brisk W wind F5.

Offshore only GANNET - 36 logged. This pm Bob had 2 MED GULL feeding off the rocks . Waders this am - 6 TURNSTONE, 4 RINGED PLOVER, the KINGFISHER put in feeding display at 11.00.

A few TEAL on South Huish Marsh with 3 LAPWING in the field.

2 SWALLOW flew over

Tonight the STARLING roost only 200 .

Bob had another good morning at Start Pt - 2 SHORT EARED OWL, 1 POM SKUA, 4000 WOOD PIGEON, 300 CHAFFINCH, 200 GOLDFINCH, 40 GREENFINCH, 3 SISKIN, 2 BULLFINCH, 2 REED BUNTING, 1 BLACK REDSTART.

At Hallsands 2 BLACK REDSTART and a YELLOW BROWED WARBLER.

Clear skies in the morning which might bring some good viz mig .

SUN 2 NOV

Heavy o/night rain and a cloudy start this morning ,. Wind WSW 5/6.

A 45 min garden watch from 08.15 confirmed little viz mig today, 125 STARLING moved north. 2 CHIFFCHAFF moved through

Offshore from 10.00-11.30- 55 GANNET, , 1 GUILLEMOT , 1 RAZORBILL,

and 11 AUKs, 8 KITTIWAKE.

Waders on the rocks  -6 RINGED PLOVER, & 7  TURNSTONE,

1 SANDERLING, 17 OYSTERCATCHER, also a KINGFISHER ( fishing  in the rock pools )

At South Milton Ley Bob ringed a GOLDCREST and had a  control.

A CHIFFCHAFF also ringed. A YELLOWHAMMER over.

This afternoon Nick T ( & Bob ) had a SWALLOW and a BLACKCAP  in his garden , a juv BLACK REDSTART on my roof

SAT 1 NOV

A Clear morning that looked promising, a brisk SW F 5+ wind soon stopped any good viz mig  .

I was on my balcony from 07.15 for an hour  with Bob B around the Huxton Cross area .

Highlight of the morning found by Bob A YELLOW BROWED WARBLER

( 180 ) at 08.00 with a party of LONG TAILED TIT and GOLDCREST near Piers Cottage. Aso YELLOWHAMMER and STOCK DOVE , 1 flock of 300 WOOD PIGEON and 25 REDWING

I only had 1 flock of WOOD PIGEON at 07.45 -800 birds ,. no comparison with Perry's total of 21000+ at Start Point.My other totals were -

30 GOLDFINCH, 7 CHAFFINCH, 2 GREENFINCH, 1 REDPOLL,

170 STARLING

( missed the roost departure ) 3 JAY , 6 MIPIT, 2 SONG THRUSH,

3 REDWING

Around the Marsh - 1 LITTLE GREBE, 10 TEAL, 1 CETTIS WARBLER,

1 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 BLACK T GODWIT.

At South M Ley - Bob reported 2 REED BUNTING, 1 BULLFINCH, 1 CHIFFCHAFF and a GREAT Sp WOODY.

Offshore - 60+ GANNET, 5 BRENT GOOSE - east , 3 KITTIWAKE and

2 AUKS. On the rocks 4 RINGED PLOVER, 1 DUNLIN, 1 TURNSTONE.

On South H Marsh- 16 TEAL, 1juv BLACK REDSTART ( on roof of the last house along the lane ). Alan D had 2 ad MED GULL this pm.

Finally Eric reports the GOLDEN PLOVER flock at Elston Farm now 120 birds.

A total of 68 species recorded today