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JUNE 2015

TUES 30 JUNE

A warm sunny morning with a F5 SE wind, a 1.5 hr seawatch produced -20 GANNET, 38 MANX SHEARWATER, 4 FULMAR, 1 KITTIWAKE,

18 COMMON SCOTER -E, 9 SWIFT - SE, 4 SAND MARTIN -SE

The pair of SHELDUCK were on the sea with 2 young, the other 3were on their own on South Milton Ley along with 2 F MALLARD and 16 young .

Around Buckland Valley- 1 JAY, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 BLACKCAP, 2 COAL TIT , 1 GREAT Sp WOODY

An ordinary end to the month of June

MON 29 JUNE

Late news for Sunday evening - Alan Doidge found a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER on South Huish Marsh. An unusual bird for June .Also over T'stone Marsh at 19.00 3 ad MUTE SWAN flew SE

Nice warm day with sunny periods and a light S breeze, hazy offshore . Met up with Graham & Arthur .

Offshore 18 GANNET, 6 MANX SHEARWATER, 39 COMMON SCOTER

( 2 flocks - E ), Also 2 ad SHELDUCK with 5 day old ducklings swimming accross the Bay and 5 BLACK H GULL on the beach

On South Huish Marsh - 8 SWIFT, 4 RAVEN, 1 BLACK H GULL 2 SAND MARTIN, 1 BLACKCAP, 1 CHIFFCHAFF

Arthur had a HOBBY over T'stone Marsh

SUN 28 JUNE

Nothing to report on SAT as we were at a wedding, the same goes for today - early morning produced rain and sea mist ,nothing on South Huish Marsh .

In Mallards lane 2 COAL TIT and a GREAT Sp WOODY

Some evidence of post breeding dispersal of GULLS around 200 HERRING and 35 GREAT BLACKBACKED in fields around T'stone Marsh

FRI 26 JUNE

Overnight showers and low cloud brought some evidence of birds starting to move through

On South Huish Marsh - 3 sp BLACK TAILED GODWIT ( flew off east at 11.45 ) the first returning GREEN SANDPIPER feeding at 11.50 . Also 4 juy STONECHAT , 1 SEDGE WARBLER, 1 BLACK H GULL, 1 SAND MARTIN , 15 SWIFT ( flew east )

In the Bay 15 GANNET, 1 KITTIWAKE, 1 ad MED GULL and at 12.22 the first BALEARIC SHEARWATER (165 ) of the year flew east

21-24 JUNE- Welsh Trip

Returned from a short holiday in Snowdonia- 2 objectives find a few ticks for the year and see some of the Little Trains of Wales

Highlight of the trip was finding the Glaslyn Osprey site, we arrived at 15.00 on Tues , the first egg had hatched at 14.15 to a raptuous welcome from the site volunteers . Great to watch the chick receive its first feed from the mother. The Welsh Highland Railway is by the site so 2 birds with one visit .

Other highlights were PUFFIN ( and 1,00's of RAZORBILL , a few GUillEMOT ) at South Stacks on Anglesy. GOSHAWK and RED KITE in the area, 5 CHOUGH on Great Orme headland .

Whist we were away the reports are scant- A SANDWICH TERN, HOBBY,and TAWNY OWL sum up how quiet it is .

This morning my log consisted of 1 GANNET and 2 SAND MARTIN

Withe the dry weather both the front and the back pool of T'stone Marsh have dried out - need some heavy thunderstorms soon

TUES 16 JUNE

Very quiet this morning - first evidence of breeding WHITETHROAT - adult with 4 young by the footbridge.

On South Huish Marsh - 2 young STONECHAT and the male WIGEON ( in amongst the MALLARD on the grass by the second pool ), 2 REED WARBLER and a SAND MARTIN

MON 15 JUNE

A fine sunny morning with a fresh E breeze. Yesterday's star attraction - WOOD SANDPIPER - had departed overnight much to the disappointment of a couple of visitors . Joined by Eric and Graham today.

Offshore around 25 GANNET , a flock of 22 COMMON SCOTER flew east and in the Bay a COMMON GULL.

On South Huish Marsh very liittle activity until 12.00 when a HOBBY gave some very good close flight views, it also disturbed the hybrid BLUE HEADED / IBERIAN Flava WAGTAIL, only for around a minute then it was lost toview and could not be relocated. .It has now been onsite for 8 days and has shown itself for less than 15 mins - very frustrating. Whilst searching for it a Humming Bird Hawkmoth and 2 Painted Lady were seen.

Ringing team at South Milton Ley had 2 controls a REED WARBLER ( of Slapton origin ) and a BLACKCAP

SUN 14 JUNE

South Huish Marsh is looking good for the returning waders, however nobody expected the first specie to be recorded would be a

WOOD SANDPIPER ( 164 ) Found by Eric and Tony at 08.30 this morning the bird showed well most of the day. This is our 2nd June record , last were 2 on 17 June 2010.

Bob thi s pm had a HOBBY over South Milton Ley

SAT 13 JUNE

Call rec'd at 09.15 from Eric - the 'WAGTAIL' again showing on South Huish Marsh . Despite several people searching it could not be relocated. This is the first time it has been seen on a morning .

Having looked at some photos and talked to several people a decision has been made about its identity .

Flava Wagtails when they are of an intermediate race can be difficult to safelt ID. This one will be recorded as a combination of BLUE HEADED and IBERIAN .

THURS 11 & FRI 12 JUNE

2 fairly quiet days , even with a strong ENE wind offshore totals for both days were only -

25 GANNET, 5 FULMAR, 7 MANX SHEARWATER, 8 OYSTERCATCHER,.

On South Huish Marsh - 3 TEAL, and the male WIGEON seen again this morning.

Late news rec'd of a RED KITE flying up South Milton Valley at around 11 am

WED 10 JUNE

Another sunny clear day with a F6 ENE wind.

An early garden watch from 07.05 produced 27 species , the most notable were 25 HOUSE MARTIN, 4 SWIFT and 3 GREAT Sp WOODPECKER.

By the footbridge feeding over the Ley were 25+ SWIFT, 20 HOUSE MARTIN and 5 SWALLOW.

Moving over to South Huish Marsh another flock of 30 SWIFT , 20 HOUSE MARTIN and 10 SWALLOW. Day totals are 59 SWIFT, 65 HOUSE MARTIN and 15 SWALLOW . Also on the Marsh the pair of TEAL again .

Offshore the most intertesting bird of the day was a male TUFTED DUCK flying close inshore going west ( only the 2nd patch record this year ) Flying in off the sea and going up the valley were 3 LESSER B B GULL, 2 BLACK H GULL and 2 1st s MED GULLs. Late morning a flock of 20 CANADA GOOSE were sat on the sea out in the BAY. Around 20 GANNET and 2 FULMAR made up the rest of the sightings.

TUES 9 JUNE

A short visit to South Huish Marsh this morning did not produce any sighting of the 'Spanish ' Wagtail. However the surprise was to find a pair of TEAL on the front pool . Last record was 4 May

Just rec'd a call from Nick to cofirm the 'SPANISH 'WAGTAIL at the corner of the Marsh . Over a period of 30 mins 3 /4 views obtained.

Looks as though it is roosting on the Marsh and comes in early to feed.

MON 8 JUNE

Late news from Sun - Bob had a CUCKOO calling in a copse at the back of South Huish Marsh, one starting the long journey back .

This morning at 07.45 Bob had a QUAIL (163 ) in a field near Upton Cross .

Despite several hours at South Huish Marsh no sign of yesterdaysWagtail - that is until 17.15. The bird showed very well at times on the front of the marsh. Still showing more charecteristics of IBERIAN. Alan has taken some photos which I will post when recreved

. This morning a female YELLOW WAGTAIL briefly, afternoon 2 GADWALL and on South Milton Ley a COOT.

Big movement of Red Kite in south Cornwall today ( 182 at Polgigga ), worth keeping one eye towards the sky over the next few days

One of the delights this morning was watching a pod of Dolphin of about 20 giving a great display jumping up to 10 feet out of the water including some fantastic back flips. Not seen this type of display before

SUN 7 JUNE

Very little about hence no posts. However this all changed at 17.45 when I received a call from Bob of a 'BLUE ' HEADED WAGTAIL on South Huish Marsh . Thankfully the bird -a male -was singing perched on the top of some dock leaves just infront of the main pool. The white eye stripe is all behind the eye short but broad , the call and song are different to any of the Blue Headed race that we usually see annualy on this site

My ID is this is a SPANISH WAGTAIL ( 162 )- a first for the patch.

Also on the Marsh a DUNLIN and the BLACK TAILED GODWIT

WED 3 JUNE and THURS 4 JUNE

Very quiet couple of days on the patch - highlights - a total of

10 STONECHAT ( included 5 juv ).

On South Huish marsh - 1 BLACK TAILED GODWIT ( both days )

1 Male WIGEON still , first juv STARLING ( 7 + 1ad ).

At Huxton Cross Wed 45 SWIFT feeding at 11.45 + 3 YELLOWHAMMER Buckland Valley - 2 GREAT Sp WOODY, 4 GOLDCREST, 4 BLACKCAP,

1 SPARROWHAWK

Offshore a few feeding GANNET, GUILLEMOT, 5 MANX SHEARWATER,

2 SANDERLING ( on the beach )

First juv PIED WAGTAIL today

1 BLACK H GULL on T'stone Marsh

Of greater interes birds just outside the patch - Eric had a RED KITE over Aveton Gifford and Alan watched an OSPREY off LINCOMBE boat yard - both TUES.

TUES 2 JUNE

After one of the stormiest June nights in recent memory daylight brought mist / low cloud and still heavy showers . Expectations were high for some wind blown arrivals , unfortunately not into Thurlestone Bay. A 2hr seawatch only produced - 20 GANNET, 2 FULMAR, 1 SANDWICH TERN . On the beach a small flock of 20 SANDERLING ( largest of the year ).

On South Huish Marsh the BLACK TAILED GODWIT still and a DUNLIN

MON 1 JUNE

A most unseasonal start to the month - wet, cold and windy, A total of 60 species recorded this morning.

A 30 min Garden Watch at 07.45 produced 26 species , male REED BUNTING on my feeders , otherwise just standard fare .

In Mallards Lane AJL had a MISTLE THRUSH

Offshore -65 GANNET, 1 KITTIWAKE, 5 FULMAR, 1 MANX SHEARWATER, 1 BONXIE at 12.40 ( landed on sea )

At South Milton Ley - 1 BLACK TAILED GODWIT, 1 SAND MARTIN,

30 HOUSE MARTIN, 10 SWALLOW 10 SWIFT, 3 WHITETHROAT ,

REED WARBLER , 3 RAVEN

Along the lanes Bob had a SONG THRUSH and a YELLOWHAMMER, STOCK DOVE.

Currently a WSW F 8/9 with heavy showers, due to last most of the night - wonder if anything will get blown in ?

Photos below of the BEE-EATERS at Aymer Cove 30 MAY taken by Alan Doidge

BIRD RACE DAY SAT 25 APR REPORT

After what seems several weeks of fine sunny days the weather started to break down on Friday, however forecasts for Saturday were for sunny periods up to 13.00 and a few light showers thereafter - which turned out to be completely incorrect.

Starting at 06.15 from my house with a 45 minute Garden Watch in cloudy conditions by 08.30 the sea fog rolled in with visibility at times down to less than 250 yards - great seawatching weather. Heavy showers from 13.00 to 16.00 meant everyone getting wet, a brief clear spell until 17.30 when the mist and rain returned.

A total of 11 observers took part with most staying until late afternoon.

Paul Bouldon did the early morning 06.15 visit to South Huish Marsh with the rest of the observers starting around 07.30.

By 8.30 the total had reached 65 and by 12.00 - 74.

Whilst we achieved by late evening a respectable total of 89 it was a case of what might have been with normal seawatching conditions.

Last September the total was 81 so at least we achieved a higher count.

Some of the highlights

A male WIGEON was a good late spring record. A mail PINTAIL flying up the valley at 19.45 was the first for some weeks and the last specie at no. 89. Our resident RUDDY SHELDUCK made the list.

A single GREAT NORTHERN DIVER in the Bay late afternoon.

Small flocks of MANX SHEARWATER flying east from 16.15 - 17.30 totalled 42.

RAPTORS included, BUZZARD, SPARROWHAWK, MERLIN, KESTREL and PEREGRINE.

WADERS comprised - OYSTERCATCHER, RINGED PLOVER, DUNLIN, SNIPE (1 late record), BAR TAILED GODWIT, WHIMBREL, COMMON SANDPIPER. 2 dark phase ARCTIC SKUA late afternoon. The surprise of the day was a site day record of 25 GREAT SKUA including a single flock on the sea of 15. All of them picked up close inshore due to the fog.

Only TERN recorded was SANDWICH and then only 9 in total.

Walking through the Buckland Valley a CUCKOO was a great patch record, also GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS, JAY, MISTLE THRUSH, STARLING, COAL TIT and GOLDCREST.

Only the second record this year of SWIFT and in the lanes a male YELLOWHAMMER.

WARBLERS recorded were - CETTIS, GRASSHOPPER, CHIFFCHAFF, WILLOW, WHITETHROAT, BLACKCAP, SEDGE and REED.

A single YELLOW WAGTAIL, 2 WHEATEAR, 1 BULLFINCH plus some REED BUNTING.

At least anothe 5 species would have been on everyones certainty list and guess what first bird on South Huish Marsh Sunday morning was a LAPWING.

Many thanks to everyone who took part, despite the weather a very enjoyable days birding - at least no one left to go to see the HUDSONIAN GODWIT in Somerset.

At the time of posting this report I have not received any information on how many species the other sites taking part achieved, BELVIDE RES, GRIMLEY GRAVEL PITS, MIDDLETON LAKES RSPB, SANDWELL VALLEY RSPB, UPTON WARREN - all inland reserves in the Midlands.

ROCK PIPIT - Littoralis South Huish Marsh 28 March2015