THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS

FEBRUARY 2016

A mixed bag of weather, some mild temperatures, frost on 4 days. Winds predominately from West, withforce 10/11 on 8^th, as winds turned East towards the end of the month provided a flat sea on 25^th and 29^th.

The good start to the year in January continued this month with a total of 104 species recorded (c/f 2015 – 98, 2014 – 93).  9 new species for the year included a very early MANX SHEARWATER, GOLDENEYE, JACK SNIPE and SHORT EARED OWL, taking the years total to 119 (c/f2015 -110, 2014 – 104)

Highlights this month:-

GEESE

BRENT GOOSE – 2 pairs of DB in the Bay on 11^th and 15^th also 1 flew west on 18^th.

DUCK

MALLARD –Up to 50 on both marshes, still predominance of males.

SHELDUCK – Max 7 on 15^th.

RUDDY SHELDUCK – Present with the CANADA flock throughout the month.

WIGEON – Max 65 on 10^th reducing to 16 on 29^th.

TEAL – Max 115 on 28^th.

PINTAIL – First of the year a F on 24^th.

GADWALL – First of the year a F on 7^th, also a M on 24^th.

SHOVELER – A F throughout the month with 2 on 28^th.

TUFTED DUCK – A M from 10^th – 15^th.

COMMON SCOTER – Still sparse only recorded on 5 days max 5 on 25^th/26^th.

GOLDENEYE – 3 male briefly on the sea on 28^th before flying off east.   Only the second recording of a male in 14 years and first record of more than a single bird.   Last recorded in January 2013.

DIVERS – GANNET, FULMAR AND SHEARWATER

Singles of all 3 Divers recorded but still infrequently

RED THROATED – Singles on 4 dates.

BLACK THROATED – Single in the Bay on 22 (when all 3 species recorded)

GREAT NORTHERN – Singles on 4 dates.

GANNET – Very low numbers this month, quite a few days when not recorded, max 16 on 22^nd and 35 on 26^th.

FULMAR – Singles throughout the month, max 9 on 28^th.

MANX SHEARWATER – A very early record, a single bird picked up flying W in calm conditions on 25^th when it landed on the sea.

EGRET, HERON, GREBE and RAILS.

LITTLE EGRET – Up to 6 seen regularly on both marshes.

HERON – Up to 4 on both marshes /rocks

WATER RAIL – Appear to have moved from Thurlestone Marsh but  2 at South Milton Ley on 10^th.

LITTLE GREBE – Pair on South Huish Marsh throughout.

GREAT CRESTED GREBE – First for the year 26^th with 3 on 29^th.

RAPTORS AND OWLS

MARSH HARRIER – the imm female over South Huish Marsh on 7^th and 14^th

BUZZARD, KESTREL, SPARROWHAWK and PEREGRINE all recorded.

BARN OWL – 1 near Horswell House wood on 21^st.

TAWNY OWL – Recorded from 4 sites.

SHORT EARED OWL – 1 picked up flying in off the sea on 28^th.

WADERS – 9 species recorded.

OYSTERCATCHER – Up to30 birds feeding on South Huish Marsh monthly max was 40 on 15^th.

RINGED PLOVER – Wintering flock of 7 on the rocks throughout.

LAPWING – Present throughout but only a max of 5 (very low numbers this winter)

PURPLE SANDPIPER – 3 on the rocks on 24^th.

DUNLIN – Recorded on 4 days with 2 on South Huish Marsh on28th

SNIPE – Present throughout the month with a max of 60 on 16^th.   20 flushed from reed at South Milton Ley on 29^th.

JACK SNIPE – 1 flushed by a BUZZARD at South Huish Marsh on 15^th.

CURLEW – Singles on 10^th and 23^rd.

TURNSTONE – Wintering flock of up to 8 on the rocks throughout.

GULLS

KITTIWAKE – Max 8 on 5^th.

COMMON GULL – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 15^th.

BLACK HEADED GULL – Max 300 on the marsh on 11^th.

MEDITERRANEAN GULL – Amongst the BLACK HEADED flocks max 5 on 15^th.

LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL – Max of 40 on 2^nd.

HERRING GULL – Max of 1200 on South Huish Marsh on 11^th.

KINGFISHER – Single recorded on 1^st and 11^th.

WOODPECKERS, JAY, CREST AND TITS.

GREEN WOODPECKER – Still only recorded in Buckland Valley.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER – Recorded from 4 sites.

JAY – Recorded at 2 sites.

GOLDCREST – Small numbers at 4 sites.

FIRECREST – Singles in gardens at South Huish marsh on 11^th and 24^th.

COAL TIT – Present at 3 sites, unusually 3 together on 16 in a Thurlestone Garden.

WARBLERS ETC

CETTIS WARBLER – Still only reported from South Milton Ley.

CHIFFCHAFF – Present at 5 sites, mainstay still South Milton Ley with up to 10.

SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF – A 3^rd bird ringed at South Milton Ley on 24^th.

BLACKCAP – Still only site is a Thurlestone Garden where a pair feed regularly.

NUTHATCH – Recorded at 3 sites.

STARLING AND THRUSHES

STARLING – In previous years the wintering flocks have been very numerous, this month only 2 records with a max of 5 at South Huish Marsh on 12^th. (where have they gone)

FIELDFARE – Up to 10 with REDWING on 6^th in South Milton Village.

REDWING – Largest flock of the year 150+ at South Milton Ley on 29^th when a number were singing.

MISTLE THRUSH – Reported from 3 sites.

SONG THRUSH – Reported from 4 sites.

PIPITS, FINCHES, BUNTINGS,LARKS and CHATS.

WATER PIPIT – Up to 3 on South Huish Marsh throughout.

MEADOW PIPIT – A flock of 60+ flying up the Valley over Thurlestone Marsh on 13^th, otherwise up to 40 at South Huish Marsh.

STONECHAT            - Max 6 on 18^th.

CHAFFINCH – No large flocks reported, max 35 on 9^th.