THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS

JANUARY 2015

A relatively mild month, only days with a frosty morning were 19^th and 23^rd.   Rainfall appeared lower than normal certainly when compared with 2014.   Gale force winds recorded on 6 days – particularly 12^th – 15^th with gusts on the latter reaching F.11+ direction was almost all between SSW and NW.

Noticeably lack of numbers (and species) of DUCK and DIVERS also a very quiet month for garden birds.   Still managed to achieve a total of 101 species (c/f 2014 98) with a couple of outstanding records – sites second RINGED BILLED GULL and first January record for KNOT in the last 12 years.  Both RUDDY SHELDUCK and GLOSSY IBIS remained from December.   A GREAT SKUA January record only the 2^nd in recent years.

Significant sightings for the marsh –

SWANS AND GEESE

MUTE SWAN – Pairs took up residence on both Marshes making sure any new arrivals soon went on their way.

BRENT GOOSE – a flock of 15 flew East early on 12^th (largest January record in last 12 years).

CANADA GOOSE – Flocks flying in from roosting on both Marshes max around 200.

DUCKS

SHELDUCK – Started returning from 8^th with a max of 6 on 26^th and 27^th.

RUDDY SHELDUCK – On South Huish Marsh until at least the 19^th

WIGEON – With a site max of 80 on 19^th considerably below recent years numbers.   Almost no records for Thurlestone Marsh.

TEAL – 3 figure totals on only 4 days with a max of 145 on 9^th.

SHOVELER – A female on 1^st and then 3 on 23^rd – 26^th all on South Huish Marsh.  In previous years totals of 20+.

COMMON SCOTER – only a single record of 2 east on 7^th.          

DIVERS GREBES – COOT AND MOORHEN

Very few Divers this year – Single GREAT NORTHERN on 26^th single BLACK THROATED on 8^th and single RED THROATED on 19^th and 26^th.

COOT – Single on 8^th increased to 2 from 13^th.

MOORHEN – 15 on South Huish Marsh most of the month.

LITTLE GREBE – 1 regularly seen on Thurlestone Marsh.

GANNET EGRETS AND IBIS

GANNET – Max 62 on 7^th.   Towards to the end of the month numbers reduced to less than 10 some days.

LITTLE EGRET -  Appear to have a resident 5 which move between the marshes and rocks.

HERON –Up to 6 around the marshes.

GLOSSY IBIS –Although elusive at times seen most days on South Huish Marsh, last recorded on 10^th.

RAPTORS AND OWLS

MERLIN – 1 flew through South Huish marsh on 23^rd.

PEREGRINE – Several records throughout the month.

BUZZARD – Up to 8 around the patch.

KESTREL – 2 sites where regular.

SPARROWHAWK – Must be 3 or 4 birds covering the patch.

BARN OWL – 1 flushed from a tree at South Milton Ley ON 4^TH.

TAWNY OWL – Calling birds at 3 locations.

WATER RAIL – Regularly heard screaming at the 3 main sites could be up to 6 birds.

WADERS – A good total for a January of 11 species.

OYSTERCATCHER – Max 22 on 26^th.

LAPWING – Max 55 on 26^th on South Huish marsh.

RINGED PLOVER – 5 on rocks on 23^rd.

SANDERLING – 1 with the PLOVERS from 23^rd.

SNIPE – Max 145 total from both marshes on 19^th.

PURPLE SANDPIPER – Singles on the rocks on 8^th and 27^th.

KNOT – 1 flew across the Bay and landed on South Huish marsh on 19^th – a first January site record in last 12 years.

GREY PLOVER – Alan D found 1 on South Huish Marsh on 25^th.

CURLEW – Single bird again at South Huish marsh on 23^rd.

WOODCOCK – Robert the farmer flushed 2 at the back of South Huish marsh on 25^th/26^th.

TURNSTONE – Max 9 on the rocks on 8^th.

GULLS AND SKUA

RING BILLED GULL – An adult amongst a large flock of GULLS on South Huish Marsh on 3^rd, only the second site record –Watched for 15 mins before the flock spooked by a RAPTOR  and could not be located.

My 240^th species for the period since 2002.

BLACK HEADED GULL – Max was 400 on the Marsh on21st along with 700+ HERRING GULL, 4 COMMON GULL and some LESSER BLACK BACKED and 2 Ad MEDITERRANEAN GULL.

All these had come onto the Marsh from surrounding fields which had been sprayed with liquid manure.

KITTIWAKE – Very few this month – a max of 11 on 26^th.

GREAT SKUA – One close in shore at 15.15 on 1^st was a great start to the year.   Only my second January record in the last 12 years.

AUKS – Only noticeable movement was 50+ on 7^th – all flying east.

KINGFISHER – 1 by the footbridge from 23^rd.

WOODPECKERS AND JAY

GREEN WOODPECKER – 1 in Buckland Valley on 23^rd.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER – Recorded at 3 sites around the patch.

JAY – Recorded at South Milton Ley, Buckland Valley and surprisingly 4 in my garden on 21^st.

WARBLERS

CETTIS WARBLER – only one heard at South Milton ley

CHIFFCHAFF – whilst recorded at four sites, still the largest count at the Pumping Station with a max of 30.

SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF – Up to 3 around the Pumping Station 2 of which were ringed there.

BLACKCAP – Only 2 records both in Village Gardens – female on 18^th and 21^st.

TITS AND CRESTS

A movement through my garden on 21^st produced totals of BLUE 20+, GREAT 15+, LONG TEAILED 4.

GOLDCREST – 4 in Buckland Valley on 23^rd, also in Mallards Lane and South Milton Ley.

REDSTARTS AND CHATS

BLACK REDSTART – Only recorded around Village Gardens with at least 1 Ad male and a female recorded regularly.

STONECHAT – At least 6 birds wintering around the patch.

THRUSHES

BLACKBIRD – Noticeable increase on 18^th when a total 18 recorded.

SONG THRUSH – A max of 4 on 23^rd.

MISTLE THRUSH – A record total of 13 on 23^rd including a group of 10 in one field.

REDWING – Scarce this winter with a max of 20 on 23^rd at Uptons Cross.

FINCHES BUNTINGS and PIPITS

No large winter flocks so far – Numbers of GOLDFINCH 25+.

GREENFINCH 20+, YELLOWHAMMER 2 on 4^th, SISKIN 8 (Buckland Valley)

CIRL BUNTING – Recorded in Village Gardens with 4 on 3^rd and 2 m, 1 f on 21^st.

REED BUNTING – Up to 6 visiting feeders and around 25 at South Milton Ley

MEADOW PIPIT – Good numbers up to 50 at both South Milton Ley and South Huish marsh.

ROCK PIPIT – Up to 15/20 on the beach.

WATER PIPIT – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 13^th.

A good start for 2015 – only need 99 species to reach that quest of 200 in a year.

Mike Passman

thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk