THURS 31 JULY
A cloudy morning with a brisk WNW f4/5 wind .
Very little to report for the end of the month. 2 DUNLIN on the beach, 9 GANNET offshore.A TEAL on the Marsh
By the footbridge- REED and SEDGE WARBLER and 6 GREY WAGTAIL
WED 30 JULY
One of the quietest mornings of the year -highlights were - 1 COMMON SANDPIPER on the beach, South Huish Marsh - 2 SNIPE, 1 f TEAL,
22 SWIFT ( single flock ).
Footbridge -1 GREY WAGTAIL, REED and SEDGE WARBLER.
T'stone Marsh - LITTLE GREBE .
I am not known for early morning starts , having seen some movement through my garden this week decided to carry out a 1 hour survey
( which I hope to carry out on a regular basis this autumn) .So at 06.40 the first survey of the 'autumn' period took place.
Total species recorded 29 , highlights -10 WILLOW WARBLER,
6 CHIFFCHAFF, 5 BLACKCAP, 1 REED WARBLER, 1 REED BUNTING,
1 GREAT SPOTTED WOODY, 4 LITTLE EGRET, 4 HERON, 60 SWALLOW, 5 HOUSE MARTIN. A nice mixture of birds , well worth the effort.
TUES 29 JULY
Back to sunshine , warm conditions and a light NW breeze.
Before the beach filled up 11 SANDERLING on the beach with a WHIMBREL on the rocks .
South Huish Marsh only 2 DUNLIN, with 30 SWALLOW, 15 HOUSE MARTIN, 2 SAND MARTIN and 3 SWIFT over.
Best area this morniong was by the footbridge with 4 GREY WAGTAIL,
8 REED WARBLER, 3 SEDGE WARBLER.
Some movement through the garden around 08.00 - 3 WILLOW WARBLER, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WHITETHROAT. this afternoon a HOBBY over
MON 28 JULY
Sunny periods followed by some heavy showers. An incresing NW breeze.
On South Huish Marsh - GREEN SANDPIPER, 5 DUNLIN.,1 RINGED PLOVER, 2 SNIPE, 5 LITTLE EGRET.
On the beaches a WHIMBREL and 23 OYSTERCATCHER.
By the footbridge 5 WHITETHROAT, 2 REED and a SEDGE WARBLER.
Offshore around 50 GANNET.
On T'stone Marsh a LITTLE GREBE
Went down late afternoon after the heavy showers but nothing new had dropped in .
Looks as though the WOOD SANDPIPER has moved on as had the 2 BLACK T GOWITS.
SUN 27 JULY
A more overcast morning with an increasing NW breeze.
08.00 on T'stone marsh 7 LITTLE EGRET ( AKL later had 11 which is a site record ), 4 HERON, STOCK DOVE, 2 SWIFT, AJL also had a LITTLE GREBE and a TEAL.
Roger Helen & Pete were ringing this morning at South Milton Ley and had a good selection of just over 60 birds by 10.30 - 10 CHIFFCHAFF, 20 WILLOW WARBLER, 20 SEDGE , 8 REED WARBLER, 3 BLACKCAP,
2 WHITETHROAT, 1 GARDEN WARBLER, they also heard a GROPPA. Clouded Yellow by the sewage works
By the footbridge 3 REED and a SEDGE WARBLER.
On South Huish Marsh - Both WOOD & GREEN SANDPIPER, 2 DUNLIN and 2 BLACK T GODWIT.
Another DUNLIN on the rocks
Nothing at all offshore.
SAT 26 JULY
The good summer weather just continues on .
2 records to catch up with from Thurs- Vic T confirmed a family party of BULLFINCH at South Milton Ley. At 22.15 a GREEN SANDPIPER calling over my garden
This morning by the footbridge 6 REED WARBLER, and a CETTIS WARBLER.
On South Huish Marsh - both GREEN and WOOD SANDPIPER showed well, also a DUNLIN, and the first BLACK TAILED GODWIT for some time, now 2 SNIPE, 2 GREY WAGTAIL flew over.
In the Bay 3 juv COMMON GULL were unexpected, 1 SANDWICH TERN, and a WHIMBREL on the rocks
FRI 25 JULY
Another fine sunny and warm day. Unable to go down to the marsh ,I was paying final respects to an old friend. Thankfully Paul Bouldon did visit at 06.00 and was rewarded with the first WOOD SANDPIPER ( 162 ),
1 GREEN SANDPIPER, 4 DUNLIN, 1 SNIPE. On the beach 5 SANDERLING, 1 RINGED PLOVER and a 1st w MED GULL
THURS 24 JULY
A change in the weather between 09.00-11.30 with frequent heavy showers with thunder and lightning .
At 07.45 a GREENSHANK over T'stone Marsh.
Had to use the car as shelter so spent most of the morning overlooking South Huish Marsh - waders included, 4 DUNLIN, 1 GREEN SANDPIPER and the SNIPE, a f TEAL flew in . Overhead large hiundine flock contained - 200 SWALLOW, 20 SAND MARTIN and 5 HOUSE MARTIN . On the beach 2 SANDERLING and a RINGED PLOVER. Still only 10 BLACK H GULL
WED 23 JULY
The fantastic summer weather just continues, even a ESE breeze did not change the range of birds on the patch -
On the rocks this morning- 2ad 1 jv SANDWICH TERN ( our first juv )
2 DUNLIN and only 10 BLACK H GULL
The SNIPE was still on South H Marsh whilst a large Hirundine flock built up 200+ SWALLOW , 50 SAND MARTIN, 5 HOUSE MARTIN, 1 SWIFT
This afternonn first returnig WATER RAIL on T'stone Marsh , 5 LITTLE EGRET and 2 HERON
At 20.30 whilst eating in the garden 2 GREEN SANDPIPER ( 161 ) flying over the marsh. At 21.15 the SWALLOW roost only 5000 birds
TUES 22 JULY
Another very sunny and warm day, breeze picked up during the morning to F3 WNW.
Some sign of juv's passing along the side of T'stone Marsh this morning - 1 BLACKCAP, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, Blue Tit and Robin .. On the Marsh 5 LITTLE EGRET, 2 HERON , MOORHEN + 3 juv
Spent 2.5 hrs at Warren Pt which produced - 10 MANX S'WATER,
14 GANNET, 1 COMMON SCOTER,1 jv MED GULL , 1 WHIMBREL,
1 TURNSTONE ( first returning bird ). at 11.00 picked up 3 large birds high in the sky coming into the Bay from the Eddystone l/house direction , eventually flew over Burgh Island - 3 GREY HERON.
At 21.15 the SWALLOW roost was in excess of 8,000 also 20 SWIFT
News from Nick T on Mon evening 4 SPOTTED FLY's in his garden , obviosly a family party which bred somewhere locally to South Milton
MON 21 JULY
The SWALLOW roost last night built up steadily ,particularly after 20.00, by 21.15 there were over 5000 flying over the Marsh.
This morning another sunny warm day, light wind at first then up to F4 WNW by lunchtime ., little evidence of any passage again.
In the Bay 1 m COMMON SCOTER , 21 MANX SHEARWATER , 15 GANNET , 7 WHIMBREL all flew east. on the rocks a COMMON SANDPIPER.
On South H Marsh - 3 DUNLIN, 1 SNIPE , 3jv STONECHAT, 2 REED WARBLER ( 1 collecting nest material ) and a playful Stoat. Light passage of Hirundines
SUN 20 JULY
Back on the patch this morning after a week in Mallorca.Because of the heat -37 degrees- only made 2 trips - Albufera Marsh and through the mountains to Soller. Nothing out of the ordinary at all. Highlight was taking 11 hours to get back, managed my shortest flight ever - Bristol to Exeter.
This morning off shore - 4 MANX SHEARWATER, 1 dp ARCTIC SKUA.
In the Bay - 30 BLACK H GULL (2 juv ), 1 WHIMBREL flew east.
On South Huish Marsh - 4 DUNLIN, 1 SNIPE, Small movement of -
100 SWALLOW, 25 HOUSE MARTIN, 7 SAND MARTIN .
On T'stone Marsh - 6 LITTLE EGRET, 4 HERON, REED WARBLER, REED BUNTING, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 HOBBY. In 2 hrs late afternoon 400+ SWALLOW flew over. Could be a good roost count tonight.
FRI 11 JULY
Last walk around the patch for a week. Even quieter than Thurs.
5 DUNLIN on the Marsh, 20 SAND MARTIN 35 SWALLOW , 2 HOUSE MARTIN and a single SWIFT
Offshore main interest was a pod of 10 Dolphin. Amongst 20 BLACK H GULL was a juv.
In the copse a juv GREAT Sp WOODPECKER and a SONG THRUSH, also another sighting of a Stoat
Next report 20 July
THURS 10 JULY
A fine sunny morning with an increasing cloud cover.Light W wind
Some indication of birds on the move today -paticularly Hirundines.
Offshore only a few GANNET . In the Bay 32 BLACK H GULL, amongst a group of 35 HERRING GULL on the beach a juv YELLOW L GULL. A GREY WAGTAIL flew west ( this is the first coastal migrant bird).
Underneath the footbridge a COMMON SANDPIPER
On South Huish Marsh - 6 DUNLIN, 1 SNIPE, 20 LINNET, 35 STARLING .
130 SAND MARTIN , 30 HOUSE MARTIN, 225 SWALLOW.
Last night at 21.30 the SWALLOW roost reached the highest so far with at least 5000 birds, also around 200 STARLING
WED 9 JULY
Another very quiet day with settled conditions even though a NW 5/6 wind
Offshore 25 GANNET and a FULMAR.
On / over South Huish Marsh - 2 DUNLIN, 60 + SAND MARTIN, 1 HOBBY
11 SWIFT
Last night at 21.30 ( just as Germany scored their 5th goal ) the SWALLOW roost reached 2200 .
MON 7 JULY
Highlights this morning - Amongst 19 BLACK H GULL was our first juv., 7 MANX SHEARWATER, 8 AUK's, 25 GANNET.
At South Huish Marsh - a SNIPE was a very early returning bird, 1 TEAL, 100 SWALLOW, 20 HOUSE MARTIN, 5 SAND MARTIN, 30 SWIFT
SUN 6 JULY
Another very quiet w/end on the patch. Today was clear and sunny with a brisk W wind ( up to F5 )
Offshore around 25 GANNET, 1 ad MED GULL, , 16 BLACK H GULL. AJL had FULMAR and a SPARROWHAWK over. 2 SAND MARTIN flew through
An interesting site this morning was mother MALLARD and 5 ducklings cross the Bay ( they only looked a day old )
At South Milton Ley Bob had a GREY WAGTAIL
Information rec'd of a TUFTED DUCK and 8 young on a small private pool just outside Newton Ferres.
FRI 4 JULY
Cloudy morning with a few showers and an increasing F4/5 SSW wind.
All activity was offshore , 2hr seawatch from the car park and a further half hour from Rock Flats produced -
165 GANNET, 3 FULMAR, 1 SANDWICH TERN, 5 MANX SHEARWATER, single BALEARIC SHEARWATER at 10.07 & 11.55, 8 BLACK H GULL. All birds flying east apart from 20 of the GANNET.
At 21.30 Thurs the SWALLOW roost built up to c 1750 birds
THURS 3 JULY
A morning of sunny periods with a light SW wind. Only GANNET offshore. Over South Huish Marsh between 09.30 - 10.30 a very interesting movement of Hirundine .
SAND MARTIN were the first to appear with a total of 170 moving through.
only 30 SWALLOW and around 20 HOUSE MARTIN. A flock of 30 SWIFT flew west , then looking over towards HOPE COVE a large feeding flock of SWIFT which totalled over 180. This is my largest day total recorded on the patch . ( I would be surprised if there were no more than 40 birds in the local area)
Just found SPURN's report of 3100 moving south this morning !
Along Buckland valley - BULLFINCH, GREEN WOODY ( ad ) GREAT Sp WOODY, COAL TIT , YELLOWHAMMER, WHITETHROAT, and best of all
2 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER
WED 2 JULY
Glorious summer day even with a light E breeze. Limited time available this am so went round South Milton Ley- up to 30 CHIFFCHAFF ( many juv's ) 5 BLACKCAP, SEDGE AND REED WARBLER GREAT Sp WOODY, many juv WREN
Eric W reports from South Efford Marsh first returning GREEN SANDPIPER -2 this am, also 2 CURLEW, 1 ad YELLOW LEG GULL, 25 LESSER B B GULL and ajuv MED GULL
Also off the patch a breeding record from Bob B - GREAT B B GULL with 2 yng on the roof of a unit in Station Yard Kingsbridge - is this a first inland breeding record ?
TUES 1 JULY
A cloudy morning to start the new month, An E 4/5 wind which increased later in the day .Seawatching from the flats produced - 65 GANNET, 15 MANX SHEARWATER, an AUK, 115 COMMON SCOTER - east in 4 flocks all within 30 mins , 6 DUNLIN , 5 BLACK H GULL.
over a period of 3hrs 43 SWIFT flew in off the sea - just where had these come from -France ? , mostly in groups of 2/4 also with an 8 and 12.
South Huish Marsh still had 2 TEAL and a juv SHELDUCK. On the slopes towards Hope Cove silage was being cut - this produced a mixed flock of Corvid totalling 700 + .
At Huxton Cross - Another 13 SWIFT flew up the valley, still SKYLARK singing and several WHITETHROAT in the hedges .
At West Buckland 2 MISTLE THRUSH, and ajuv GREEN WOODPECKER
( not seen on the patch for 2 months - presumably bred further up the valley )
At T'stone Marsh 21.30- SWALLOW roost 1500 + , STARLING 100,
4 CURLEW flew over. Also another 8 SWIFT making a total of 68 for the day
A Total of 60 species recorded