Thurlestone Bay Birds
June 2019
A mixed bag of weather - rain up to mid month. E gales F8/9 On 27th and 28th did not produce any sea passage. Warm spell at the end of the month.
No new species added to the year list which remains at 168 (c/f 2018 - 175, 2017 - 185).
104 species recorded this month (c/f 2018 -107, 2017 - 107).
Highlights for the month
SWANS and DUCK
MUTE SWAN - The pair on South Huish Marsh produced 1 cygnet -first seen on 5th.
SHELDUCK - On River Avon on 21st , 8 ads plus a crèche of 18 ducklings.
TEAL - 2 Male on South Huish Marsh on 25th.
COMMON SCOTER - Only 2 records - 3 on 16th and 2 on 30th.
GANNET and SHEARWATERS
GANNET - Max Only 71 on 30th.
FULMAR - Max of 15 on 8th.
MANX SHEARWATER - A feeding flock of 300+ offshore on 21st. Max passage was 162 on 18th.
BALEARIC SHEARWATER - Recorded On 3 days - 2 on 5th and Singles on 18th and 25th.
RAPTORS
MARSH HARRIER - A Male flew in off the sea at 07.30 on 23rd.
HOBBY -Singles Reported On 16th and 19th.
OSPREY - A visiting bird reported one over South Huish Marsh on 4th also I Reported over the Bay the next day.
WADERS - Only 3 species recorded.
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER - An adult on South Huish Marsh evening of 30th.
RINGED PLOVER - 2 on South Efford Marsh mid month.
GREY PLOVER - 1 on South Huish Marsh on 2nd.
OYSTERCATCHER - Normally up to 10 on the rocks so a count of 39 on 23rd was exceptional .
SANDERLING - on the beach on 1st.
DUNLIN - On South Huish Marsh 3 on 2nd and 26th with 4 on 27th.
CURLEW - One flew NW on 18th.
GREEN SANDPIPER - 1 on South Efford Marsh on 26th.
SKUA, GULLS, TERNS and AUKS
ARCTIC SKUA - A dark phase flew SE on 2nd.
MEDITERRANEAN GULL - first returning birds were 4 on 30th.
SANDWICH TERN -Max were 27 (flocks of 16, 15 and 4) on 28th.
COMMON TERN - 2 flew through on 5th.
PUFFIN - A single flew SE on 8th.
HIRUNDINES
SWIFT - A total of 78 flew SE on 27th (highest count of the year).
SAND MARTIN - 4 at South Huish Marsh on 4th, 21 Along the banks of the River Avon on 21st.
SWALLOW - Not the number of birds at known nesting sites compared with previous years.
HOUSE MARTIN - More Birds this year - at least 20 around South Huish Marsh - Also Present At 4 other breeding sites.
WARBLERS and FLYCATCHER
CETTIS WARBLER - Singing males at 2 sites.
CHIFFCHAFF - Present At most sites throughout the patch
GARDEN WARBLER - One Present At Aveton Gifford on 23rd.
WHITETHROAT - At least 6 pairs around the patch.
REED WARBLER - South Milton Ley and South Huish Marsh still hold many pairs.
SEDGE WARBLER - Up to 20 pairs at South Milton Ley.
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - 1 pair feeding young at Hatch Bridge, a few pairs still around Aveton Gifford parish.
BLACKCAP - Probably the commonest Warbler on the patch - lots of males in full song.
STONECHAT, WAGTAILS, BUNTING and MISCELLANEOUS
STONECHAT - At least 8 Juv’s s around the coast path and South Huish Marsh.
YELLOW WAGTAIL - 2 at South Huish Marsh on 3rd.
PIED WAGTAIL - Up to 20 Juv At South Huish Marsh.
GREY WAGTAIL - 1 pair feeding young along the tidal road.
CIRL BUNTING - Reported from 4 sites with 1 pair watched feeding young.
REED BUNTING - 2 pairs at South MIlton Ley and 1 at Thurlestone Marsh.
YELLOWHAMMER - Several males Along the country lanes.
With return wader passage starting in July and possibility with the right conditions for some large SHEARWATERS this next month is always interesting.
thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk
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