SAT 30 APRIL

A nice sunny morning, light NW wind and a flat calm sea .A very quiet end to the month .

Joined by Arthur, Graham & Martin Daw and Doug this morning .

Offshore a raft Of MANX SHEARWATER difficult to accurately count because of the distance was estimated to be at least 250 .Also

25 GANNET, 2 FULMAR, 2 SANDWICH TERN, 2 COMMON TERN ,

2 WHIMBREL.

Walking over to South Huish Marsh at least 3 WHITETHROAT,

1m BLACKCAP.

Around the marsh - 43 WHIMBREL ( some in the fields and others flying up the valley ), 14 SHELDUCK, 2 TEAL, 2 WHEATEAR,

1 WHITE WAGTAIL, 2 WATER PIPIT , SEDGE WARBLER, 2 BLACKCAP,

2 CHIFFY, WHITETHROAT.

No sign of the PURPLE HERON today although they have been very elusive

FRI 29 APRIL

A cloudy morning with a few showers and a F6 NW wind.

No sightings of the .PURPLE HERONS today.A 2hr seawatch this morning produced - 37 GANNET, 5 FULMAR, 25 AUKS , 1 GUILLEMOT ( on sea )

75 MANX SHEARWATER, 1 SANDWICH TERN, 1 GREAT N DIVER ( flew west at 10.05 ), 22 WHIMBREL and a very nice sp TURNSTONE plus 1 other on the rocks

On South Huish Marsh - 2 TEAL, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 30 + HOUSE MARTIN, 30+ SWALLOW

Arthur had over his garden - 1 CURLEW, 5 WHIMBREL

At nearby Aveton Gifford Eric reports -8 SWLIFT , 22 WHIMBREL

THURS 28 APRIL

A sunny morning with an increasing WNW wind , late afternoon heavy showers .

Unfortunately the PURPLE HERONS did not appear until 14.00 when Vic & Sylvia had brief views of 1 . Pity as there were around 20 visitors with high expectations . I made another visit 17.00-18.00 without any sightings .

On South Huish marsh today - 40 WHIMBREL, 1 sp BAR TAILED GODWIT, 21 DUNLIN, 1 SANDERLING, 3 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 3 TEAL.

In the copse a m BLACKCAP, 1 WHITETHROAT, 2 CHIFFY and in the reeds 2 SEDGE WARBLER

Steady passage of SWALLOW , a few SAND MARTIN and total of 30 + HOUSE MARTIN

Heavy showers around 17.30 dropped 20 + PIED and 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL in

WED 27 APR

A bright sunny if cold morning, a hail shower at 12.30 dropped the temp to 5 degrees , that must be the coldest April day .

The 2 PURPLE HERON gave really good flight views for around 10 mins at 10.05- at last I have seen the 2 together. They are certainly a pair probably 2cy birds . The habitat here is not ideal breeding grounds.

Also on the marsh - 20 WHIMBREL, 1 DUNLIN, 5 TEAL, 10 SHELDUCK , a mix of Hirundines. In the copse a SONG THRUSH and a LONG T TIT

This afternoon a report of a m YELLOW WAGTAIL and a m BLUE HEADED WAGTAIL.

PURPLE HERON - Some more photos from Alan Doidge

TUES 26 APRIL

Whist a sunny morning with a F5/6 NNW wind this must go down as the coldest end of April day for years . Virtually no evidence of migration.

Offshore 4 GANNET, 3 AUKS , 4 WHIMBREL.

At South Huish Marsh no sightings of the PURPLE HERON until Nick rang to say both had been showing well aound 18.15-18.30. Waders etc today - 4 RINGED PLOVER, 1 DUNLIN, 5 WHIMBREL, CURLEW ( heard ) , 3 TEAL, 9 SHELDUCK.A few mixed Hirundines.

Under the footbridge a COMMON SANDPIPER

MON 25 APRIL

A cloudy morning with a light shower and a F5/6 NW wind - cold for the end of April .

Another day spent mostly looking for the PURPLE HERONS . Good views of 1 around 10.20-1040 in the ditch. This afternoon Eric had 2 in flight going into the copse at the far end of the marsh .

Never underestimate the ability to find birds by lady birdwatchers - yesterday morning there were at least 10 scopes scanning the marsh when Steph Murphy found one PURPLE HERON in the ditch, she also said she thought there were 2, a few hours later she was proved correct . Congratulations Steph always back your instincts !.

On the marsh today - 1 COMMON SANDPIPER, 1 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 1 DUNLIN, 3 WHIMBREL,2m TEAL, 12 SHELDUCK. 1 SWIFT,

40 + HOUSE MARTIN, 30 + SWALLOW, 2 SAND MARTIN,

1 WHITETHROAT , 1 REED WARBLER

Along Mallards Lane Arthur had 2 BLACKCAP, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER .

This afternoon along the lane near Huxton Cross 2m 1f YELLOWHAMMER

Arthur had 2 WATER PIPIT and in the copse a SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF.

Also in the hedges Steve Hopper had a LESSER WHITETHROAT ( 157 )

PURPLE HERONS at South Huish Marsh

2 photos from Alan Doidge taken 24 April 2016

Confirmation there are 2 PURPLE HERONS 24 April 2016

PURPLE HERON 24 APRIL 2016

SUN 24 APRIL

A fine morning with sunny spells and a light N wind .

The surprise of the morning was realising the were in fact 2 PURPLE HERON . Both in the ditch at the left hand side of the marsh. Only viewing point is from the table at the side of the National Trust cabin.

I cannot find any reference in Devon Birds of more than 1 bird in the County before .

With so much time spent concentrating on the Herons no seawatching today . Other birds on the marsh - 1 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER, 1 RINGED PLOVER, 3 WHIMBREL, 9 TEAL, now 4 COOT, 4 WHEATEAR and 3 SWIFT over

SAT 23 APRIL

A fantastic day on the patch with almost all the action between 12-15.00.

Early morning through the garden 1m BLACKCAP, 1WILLOW WARBLER, 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 5 LINNET.

Offshore movement of WHIMBREL toatalled 55, 2 SANDWICH TERN

On South Huish Marsh - 22 SHELDUCK, 8 TEAL, 2 GADWALL, 2 COOT

5 DUNLIN, 2 WHEATEAR. The 3hour purple patch started at 12.00 when I watched a PURPLE HERON(154 ) fly in off the sea and land 30 yards from me ( I was at the copse gate ). This is only the 2nd patch record after the first in 2014 and is the first adult .Traditionally secretive it was only seen by Pete Aley and 3 other visitors . Next surprise was a sp

WOOD SANDPIPER (155) showing very well on the front pool, only the second spring record in 8 years.Whilst looking for the Heron a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER found at the back of the marsh . In the bushes a m & f REDSTART (156) picked up ( another scarse spring visitor ) Other highlights - 3 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 1 WHITETHROAT , 1 WATER PIPIT, 1 SPARROWHAWK and at 15.30 18 WHIMBREL landed on the marsh .

FRI 22 APRIL

A really miserable day , low cloud , rain all morning and still a cold ENE F4/5 wind.

Very little offshore - 25 WHIMBREL, 4 SANDWICH TERN, 15 GANNET,

1 DUNLIN .

At South Huish Marsh joined by Terry at 11.00- 100+ SWALLOW,

10 HOUSE MARTIN ., 2 SAND MARTIN. At 11,15 a noticable influx of WAGTAIL which included 7m & 2 f YELLOW WAGTAIL,4 WHITE WAGTAIL, 2 WHEATEAR and at 11.30 a vey nice Male WHINCHAT (153)

Waders on the marsh - 3 RINGED PLOVER, 2 DUNLIN,

1 COMMON SANDPIPER, 4 WHIMBREL, also 17 SHELDUCK and 8 TEAL

THURS 21 APRIL

A cloudy day , still aF7/8 ENE wind .Bay watched from 09.00-12.45 with Arthur and myself , this afternoon Doug Stannard from 15.30, I joined him at 16.30 until 18.30

This mornings records - 95 WHIMBREL, 50 BAR TAILED GODWIT,

1 CURLEW, 9 DUNLIN, 1 GUILLEMOT, 50 GANNET, 1 FULMAR,

3 SANDWICH TERN. Passage of Hirundunes with 125 + HOUSE MARTIN , 30 SWALLOW and 2 SWIFT (151).

On South Huish Marsh 3 DUNLIN, 3 RINGED PLOVER 2 WHEATEAR,

12 SHELDUCK, 8 TEAL. This afternnon a report received of 2 YELLOW WAGTAIL ( 152 ).Another WHEATEAR on the rocks .

This afternoon - 3 SANDWICH TERN, 2 ARCTIC SKUA , 15 GANNET,

53 WHIMBREL, 9 DUNLIN,

4 KITTIWAKE, 67 MANX SHEARWATER, 2 COMMON SCOTER ,

10 SWALLOW, 25 HOUSE MARTIN and 16 SAND MARTIN

WED 20 APRIL

A mostly cloudy day with a cold E F7/8 wind - offshore seas were rough .

The anticipated wader movement did not arrive this morning but certainly did this evening

Bay watched from Bob's car park 08.55- 12.45 and 16.55- 18.40 .

Morning - 25 WHIMBREL ,at least 2 CURLEW in with them,

1 BAR TAILED GODWIT, 2 GREY PLOVER (150) on the rocks , later 1 on South Huish marsh, 35 GANNET, 8 FULMAR., 2 MANX S'WATER, 1 COMMON SCOTER, 8 SHOVELER ( on sea )

22 SANDWICH TERN

This evening - Nick had a flock of 40 WHIMBREL flying up the valley , i only had 3 in off the sea. BAR TAILED GODWIT flying in and up the valley in flocks of , 30, 60, 55, 35,45 total - 225 - largest day count for a few years .A single flock of 12 GREY PLOVER flew in at 17.30 _ this makes a day total of 15 - a patch record for me , also 5 SANDWICH TERN, 15 GANNET and 2 FULMAR , 2 COMMON SCOTER flew east

Many of the Barwits were in summer plumage -nice

E winds cotinue tomorrow .

TUES 19 APRIL

A very nice spring day - unbroken sunshine , light E wind this morning .

A few warblers through the garden early - 2m BLACKCAP,

4 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, both SEDGE and REED WARBLERS singing in the marsh

On the rocks - 30 WHIMBREL, 4 BAR TAILED GODWIT ( 2 in sp )

4 COMMON SANDPIPER (148 ) , 17 OYSTERCATCHER. 7 SHELDUCK on the sea .1 SANDWICH TERN

Around South Huish Marsh - 8 SHELDUCK, 10 TEAL, now 2 COOT,

2 WHEATEAR , 1f BLACKCAP, 1 f REED BUNTING. 20 + SWALLOW,

4 SAND MARTIN , 1 HOUSE MARTIN , 1 SEDGE WARBLER,.

Roger and Helen ringing this morning awaiting details will post later.Helen had a fly through CUCKOO ( 149 )

MON 18 APRIL

Back to more normal fare today,. Cloud cover 100% by 10.00 and a cold NW f 3/4 wind

Offshore - 8 SANDWICH TERN, 8 COMMON SCOTER -east, 4 GANNET,

2 WHIMBREL

South Huish Marsh - 1 COOT., 9 TEAL, 6 SHELDUCK, 1 m WHEATEAR,

30 SWALLOW, 12 HOUSE MARTIN, 2 SAND MARTIN .

In the copse 1 BLACKCAP, 1f REED BUNTING

At South Milton Ley 2 reeling GROPPA,Today Alan ringed - 6 BLACKCAP, 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 4 WILLOW WBLR, 1 REED BUNTING, 1 BULLFINCH.,

1 SONG THRUSH

Have posted under Sundays report 2 photos of the HOOPOE taken by Alan

SUN 17 APRIL

A fine and partly sunny morning, joined by Graham and Chris, with Roger and Helen ringing . A very good morning with 5 patch year ticks !

Offshore - 4 SANDWICH TERN, 7 COMMON SCOTER, 6 WHIMBREL (145 ) flew into Bigbury Bay , later on the rocks , then at 12.50 a flock of 75 flew into the Bay and went east up the valley . By the footbridge a WHITETHROAT .

At South Huish Marsh - a nice male BLUE HEADED WAGTAIL (146 ) at 11.00 also WHITE AND PIED, 12 SHELDUCK, 9 TEAL, 1 COOT, 75 + SWALLOW, 15 SAND MARTIN , 20 HOUSE MARTIN.

A very productive mornings ringing produced -

1 LESSER REDPOLL (143 ), 1 REED WARBLER ( 144 ), 1 GROPPA

( 147 ) 1 WHITETHROAT, 3 WILLOW WARBLER, 11 CHIFFCHAFF (+ 8 retraps ) 4 SEDGE WARBLER, 28 BLACKCAP ( + 3 retraps ), 1 BULLFINCH, 1 REED BUNTING. SPARROWHAWK over .

Arthur went up to Soar and was rewarded with fine views of a HOOPOE and a cracking male BLACK REDSTART. Hoopoe was in Hotel car park, later seen by Alan by the cottages

HOOPOE - SOAR 17 APR 2016

SAT 16 APRIL

A sunny but cold morning with a F3/4 N wind

A 30 min garden watch from 07.50 produced 5 m BLACKCAP, 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 9 CHAFFINCH, 10 SWALLOW, 1 SEDGE WARBLER ( singing )

At South Huish Marsh very little - still 8 TEAL, 9 SHELDUCK and a very unusual COMMON GULL ( black bill annd grey legs ) wigs and tail coverts still in 2w plumage , head completely white .

FRI 15 APRIL

Having been away for a couple of days went down to South Huish Marsh at 16.00- Best arrivals were 3m 1f WHEATEAR ( max this year ) ALBA WAGTAILS totalled 16 of which 4 were WHITE. 8 TEAL and 6 SHELDUCK on the water. 20 SWALLOW and a HOUSE MARTIN over

Out in the Bay - 12 MANX S'WATER, 4 SANDWICH TERN and a few GANNET

Earlier in the morning Arthur had a DUNLIN and a COMMON TERN with the SANDWICH TERNS

THURS 14 APRIL

Vic and Terry found a male GARGANEY and 2 WATER PIPIT ( 1in sp ) late morning on South Huish Marsh

THURS 14 APRIL- FARMOOR RES OXFORDSHIRE

As we were staying in Wallingford convinced Anne the best

fresh air would be a walk around this reserve.

Managed to spend 4 hours some good birds - typical that a number of species seen in the previous days had moved on .

Met Dai John a Farmoor local patch watcher - thanks for the background info Dai .

On the res - 70+ GREAT C GREBE, TUFTED DUCK, GADWALL, SHOVELER, COMMON SANDPIPER, OYSTERCATCHER, 12+ COMMON TERN,

1 ARCTIC TERN.

Plenty of Warblers - BLACKCAP, CHIFFCHAFF, WILLOW WARBLER, SEDGE, and a GARDEN WARBLER.

Plenty of Birders visiting , I was probably the only one captivated by the RED KITE picking up scraps only 25 feet away - magical .

WED 13 APRIL

Quick visit before we had to set off for Wallingford ( Oxon )

Offshore 5 SANDWICH TERN,

On South Huish marsh - 8 TEAL, 11 SHELDUCK, 42 SWALLOW, 3 HOUSE MARTIN, 10 SAND MARTIN . In the copse 2m BLACKCAP and 2 CHIFFCHAFF .

Noticeable absence of WHEATEAR this spring anyone else in the same situation ?

TUES 12 APRIL

Another fine spring day with only a light E breeze . Bay watched for an hour before moving on to the Marsh and Ley .Joined by Pete Vedstone today

Only 8 MANX SHEARWATER, 12 COMMON SCOTER, 9 SANDWICH TERN, 2 COMMON TERN, 8 RAZORBILL. With one small gruop of Terns a single

SANDERLING ( 142 ) flew around the Bay but not seen to land .

On the rocks 8 OYSTERCATCHER and 2 TURNSTONE. Interesting were 4 BUZZARD which came in very high off the sea .

On South Huish marsh - 8 TEAL, 8 SHELDUCK , in the copse

2 CHIFFCHAFF and 2 m BLACKCAP. Hirundines today were -

20 SWALLOW, 4 SAND MARTIN and a HOUSE MARTIN

At South Milton Ley Alan ringed - 8 CHIFFCHAFF , 10 WILLOW WARBLER, 4 BLACKCAP, 1 LINNET.

Best of the retraps - CHIFFCHAFF - 1- UK ring ( not local ) , 2- ringed SML in 2013, 3- ringed SML 2015 also 1 ringed here as a juv .

3 Retrap SEDGE WARBLERS- all ringed SML 2014

At least 3 pairs REED BUNTING on site and 1 WATER RAIL.

At Aveton Gifford Eric had a Red Kite over at 15.15

Next update will be on Sat 16 / 4

MON 11 APRIL

What a difference in the weather today - lots of sunshine, light E breeze and a flat calm sea -

After yesterdays passage was back in the car park for 08.05 and later joined by Arthur and Graham . Some passage still upto around 11.30

With a flat sea much easier to pick up the MANX SHEARWATER - total of 225 flew east . 45 GANNET, 73 COMMON SCOTER ( all east ),

8 KITTIWAKE , 19 SANDWICH TERN , 3 COMMON TERN, 2 FULMAR .

A GREAT N DIVER flew east at 09.10. Arthur picked up 2 BRENT GOOSE flying east at 09.28 , 2m 1f TUFTED DUCK east close in at 09.25 .Last passage bird was a BONXIE - east at 11.30

At South Huish Marsh - 11 SHELDUCK ( 9 on Warren Pt at 08.30 ) ,

9 TEAL, 1f SHOVELER, 1 CHIFFCHAFF, 1f WHEATEAR, 1 HOUSE MARTIN, 1 SAND MARTIN , 7 SWALLOW

ON South Milton Ley ( by footbridge ) Arthur found a COOT (141 ).

Helen & Roger ringing at S M Ley this morning - 5 BLACKCAP,

7 WILLOW WARBLER, 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 SEDGE WARBLER ( 140 ), one of these was a retrap from last year when it was ringed as a juv at this site

Roger also confirmed the ringed GOLDFINCH i found in my garden was ringed by him at S M Ley in AUG 2015 as a juv ..

SUN 10 APRIL

All the ingrediants for some interesting seawatching - S/SE gales , chance of showers and reasonable viz. - and it was !

Bay watched from Bobs car park from 09.00-13.00 and 15.00-17.00.One of the best seawatches in the last few years .

Morning Afternoon Total

GANNET 125 15 140

FULMAR 19 1 20

MANX S'WATER 1 1

PINTAIL 1 -male 1

COMMON SCOTER 315 70 385

TEAL 3 3

MED GULL 2-sp 2

ARCTIC SKUA 1-dp 1

ARCTIC TERN 1 29 30

COMMON TERN 1 8 9

SANDWICH TERN 11 8 19

LITTLE TERN 2 2

RAZORBILL 5 1 6

3 Year ticks - ARCTIC SKUA - 137, ARCTIC TERN -138, LITTLE TERN -139.

The SCOTER flocks were up to 20 in the morning , 50 settled on the sea in the afternoon

TERNS feeding close inshore .

On South Huish marsh - 13 SHELDUCK, 6 TEAL.

Eric at nearby Aveton Gifford had a flock of 30 BAR TAILED GODWIT fly high up the valley at 11.25 .

Still easterly winds for Monday scope to the fore again

FRI 8 APRIL

Overcast morning with only light var wind upto 10.30 then NW F3/4.

Spring passage has dried up -

On South Huish marsh - 16 SHELDUCK, 9 TEAL, 3 LITTLE EGRET, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 6 SWALLOW and 5 HOUSE MARTIN

With only 1 GANNET in almost an hours seawatching went over to Buckland Valley to find - 2 JAY, 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 COAL TIT, GOLDCREST, 1 GREAT SP WOODY.

Hopefully the seawatching might improve with SE up to F 6/ 7 on Sunday

THURS 7 APR

A morning of sunny periods with an increasing NW f4/5 wind

Offhore again dire - 10 GANNET, 2 AUKs

On South Huish Marsh - 14 SHELDUCK, 8 TEAL, 1 WATER PIPIT, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 10 GOLDFINCH, 6 SWALLOW, 2 HOSE MARTIN, 1 SAND MARTIN .

Decided to walk round South Milton Ley - good move , a flock of 60 LINNET moving through the stubble field , 16 CHIFFCHAFF,

6 GOLDFINCH, 2 BULLFINCH, 1 WILLOW WARBLER, SNIPE,

GREY WAGTAIL , 2 GREAT SP WOODY and singing in the bushes by the bottom gate the frist WHITETHROAT ( 136 )

WED 6 APRIL

A morning with F7/8 WNW wind and frequent heavy showers .

On South Huish marsh - 13 SHELDUCK, 1m WIGEON, 10 TEAL,

10 SWALLOW , 2 HOUSE MARTIN and 2 CHIFFCHAFF .

Offshore 14 GANNET . The morning was made worthwhile at 11.30 - drove back to the car park to have a final look over the Bay , picked up a white winged gull sheltering in Leasefoot Bay with 6 HERRING GULL , at times no more than 50yards off, a very nice 2w ICELAND GULL (135 )

. Last year only KUMLEINS GULL was seen so a nice record

TUES 5 APRIL

Once early cloud cleared a fine sunny moring with a light NW wind

Around South Huish marsh - 20 SHELDUCK, 1m WIGEON, 10 TEAL, 1 WHEATEAR, 2 REED BUNTING, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 1f CIRL BUNTING. A GREEN WOODPECKER heard calling in the top copse . Brief views obtained of a TREE PIPIT (134 ) in the copse . 10 SWALLOW flew through

Offshore nothing until 12 .20 when a BLACK THROATED DIVER picked up on the sea ( not many of these seen this year )

MON 4 APRIL

A cloudy morning with rain until 10.15 A SSE F4 wind .

The rain brought the first reasoble passage of Hirundines over South Huish Marsh- 25 + SWALLOW, 7 SAND MARTIN , 3 HOUSE MARTIN also 3 WHITE WAGTAIL, 2 REED BUNTING, a partial sp WATER PIPIT .

14 SHELDUCK, 22 TEAL, 1m WIGEON and 5 MUTE SWAN

Offshore Graham picked up a MANX SHEARWATER flying west, 1 RED T DIVER , 12 GANNET, 2 SANDWICH TERN

Alan Pomroy at South Milton Ley ringed - 16 CHIFFCHAFF and 4 WILLOW WARBLER, also on site 2 WATER RAIL, 2 CETTIS WARBLER and a SIBERIAN CHIFFY

Nick had in his garden- JAY and 2 BLACKCAP

News rec'd from John Ward ( lives at Badgers on the road near S M Ley ) , yesterday evening both BARN & TAWNY OWL, JAY and at BUCKLAND Park Farm a pair of GREY PARTRIDGE.

SUN 3 APRIL

A bitterly cold morning, low cloud constant rain and a brisk SE wind .

On South Huish Marsh - 9 SHELDUCK, 20 TEAL, 1m WIGEON,

2 SWALLOW and a first HOUSE MARTIN (132 )

Offshore 7 GANNET and then at 11.45 3 COMMON TERN (133 ) flew east

This afternoon throgh my garden 2 CHIFFCHAFF and a WILLOW WARBLER

SAT 2 APRIL

An overcast morning with an increasing SE wind around F3

Rec'd a call from Roger and Helen at 08. 30 who were ringing at S M Ley - a TREE CREEPER in the net - this is a rare bird at this site ( only 3 records in last 10 years ) , also ringed 1 BULLFINCH ( 2 retraps ) ,

5 CHIFFCHAFF ( 4 retraps ) 5 WILLOW WARBLER. also on site CETTIS WARBLER, WATER RAIL, 2 STOCK DOVE .

Moved on to South Huish Marsh - offshore 6 COMMON SCOTER ( flew east ) + 4 ( on sea ) , 4 GANNET, 1 SANDWICH TERN, 4 GANNET,

1 FULMAR . On the rocks 4 TURNSTONE .

On / over the Marsh - 3 SWALLOW, 1 SAND MARTIN, 1m WHEATEAR, 12 SHELDUCK, 11 TEAL, 1m WIGEON

A first recovery in my garden - an Ad GOLDFINCH with ring Z831055, further details to follow

FRI 1 APRIL

Felt more like late Feb this morning - 100% cloud and a cold SF4/5 wind

CIFFCHAFF have arrived in force - after a good ringed count yeaterday , heard more than 10 scattered around the patch ( did not visit S M Ley ).

A garden watch produced 23 species inc 4 SHELDUCK, 4 CORMORANT ,

2 STARLING , 1 SWALLOW . A neighbour has a pair of RED L PARTRIDGE now resident in her garden,- could this be a first breeding attempt ?

Offshore - 3 FULMAR, 17 GANNET, 1 AUK, 3 BLACK H GULL. On the rocks 2 TURNSTONE .A sp GREAT N DIVER flew east at 10.45

On South Huish Marsh - 18 TEAL, 1m WIGEON, 8 SHELDUCK. A PEREGRINE sat on a post for 1 hour

Short visit to Buckland Valley, GREAT SP WOODY, COAL TIT and a year tick - FERAL PIGEON (131 ) They all count !

A total of 54 species recorded

Some stunning photos of SQUACCO HERON by Alan Doidge

SQUACCO HERONS.

Consensus of opinion is there is at least 2 birds in the South Hams area . Confirmed by simultaneous sights last night of birds at Beesands Ley and at Prawle Point . Still one bird on the Scillies. Until comparison of photos can be made the jury will have to be out on whether the South Milton bird on Wed was another one !

Record shot of male Red Backed Shrike South Huish Marsh 9 July

WILLOW WARBLER and ACREDULA WARBLER

Not often in Devon that an opportunity arises to compare these 2 species .

ACREDULA is a sub specie of WILLOW breeding mostly in Scandanavia usually above 63o North , studies have confirmed that they winter in different habitats in Africa

Have received these photos from Roger and Helen of a bird ringed on the 11 August at South Milton Ley, whilst I missed this, I was fortunate to see one that Bob ringed a few years ago . You really do need to see them in the hand to appreciate them.