Add THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS OCTOBER 2020 A decidedly wet month with at least significant rain on 14 days although a relatively mild month (no overnight frosts). Gale force winds on 6 days
with a continuous period from 27th to the months end. Only 121 species recorded (c/f 2019-131, 2018 - 138) the lowest for some years with 4 new species for the year - GREY PARTRIDGE, LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, CROSSBILL taking the total to 190 (c/f 2-019 - 196, 2018 - 201) Highlights GOOSE, DUCKS and GREBES CANADA GEESE - Peaked at 700 on 18th flying to South Huish Marsh.
BRENT GOOSE - 1 Ad on the sea by the rocks on 16th and 17th. SHELDUCK - 2 at South Efford Marsh on 15th WIGEON - Max at South Huish Marsh 25 on 19th. Also a flock of 25+ on the lower reaches of
the Avon Estuary mid month. GADWALL - 2 M on South Huish Marsh on 17th. TEAL - Max on 20th of 95 on South Huish Marsh and 100 on South Efford Marsh. PINTAIL - A flock of 10 flew across the Bay on
2nd. COMMON SCOTER - Only recorded on 4 days with a max of 24 on 3rd. RED THROATED DIVER - 1 on 12th and 2 on 29th. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER - 1 on 28th. LITTLE GREBE - 1 on South Huish Marsh on 14th and
18th with 3 on River Avon on 14th. GANNET, EGRETS and HERON GANNET - Highest counts were 530 on 12th and 615 on 20th. CORMORANT - Max were 31 on 17th. LITTLE EGRET - Up to 4 on South Huish Marsh with
11 on South Efford Marsh. CATTLE EGRET - 1 at South Efford Marsh on 14th with 3 on 17th. GREAT WHITE EGRET - 1 flew in off the sea into Hope Cove on 17th being mobbed by HERRING GULLS. HERON - 3
regularly on South Huish. Marsh with 6 on South Efford Marsh. RAPTORS MERLIN - 1 near Bolt Tail on 25th. WADERS - 15 species recorded OYSTERCATCHER - Good counts of 44 on 2nd and 37 on 19th and 20th.
RINGED PLOVER -Max on the rocks of 8 on 18th. GREY PLOVER -Singles on the beaches on 6th and 20th. LAPWING - 1 on Marsh 11th and 18th, 2 at South Efford Marsh on 15th and 18th. DUNLIN - Max on the
beach of 10 on 19th. SNIPE - On South Huish Marsh - 9 on 5th and 1 on 12th. BLACK TAILED GODWIT - Present throughout the month with a max of 4 on both Marshes on 17th and 19th. CURLEW - Flock
of around 25 at South Efford Marsh throughout. COMMON SANDPIPER - 1 on River Avon on 14th. GREEN SANDPIPER - 1 on South Efford Marsh on 20th. LESSER YELLOWLEGS - A 1w found on South Efford Marsh on
14th and remained there for the rest of the month. Second consecutive year that this rare wader from North America has visited - both were 1st winter birds. GREENSHANK - A max of 7 on 13th on
South Efford Marsh. REDSHANK - A. Max of 15 on 20th on South Efford Marsh. TURNSTONE - Max of 10 on the rocks on 22nd. GREY PHALAROPE - 1 reported in the Bay on 29th. SKUAS, GULLS and TERNS Poor
Autumn for SKUAS on 2 records this month. ARCTIC SKUA - 1 on 1st and GREAT SKUA - 1 on 20th. KITTIWAKE - Good passage counts of 37 on 25th and 35 on 26th. BLACK HEADED GULL - Regularly up to 400 on
South Huish Marsh. MEDITERRANEAN GULL - A max 9 on South Huish Marsh on 23rd - 2Ad, 2- 2W, 5-1W. COMMON GULL - Max of 3 on South Huish Marsh on 5th. YELLOW LEGGED GULL - 1 Ad on River Avon 13th.
SANDWICH TERN - Last was a single in the Bay on 12th COMMIC TERN - 1 flew NW on 3rd. HIRUNDINES SWALLOW. - Max was 24 on 2nd with the last 10 near Aveton Gifford on 29th. HOUSE MARTIN - Last was a
single on 9th. SAND MARTIN - Last were 4 on South Huish Marsh on 4th. WARBLERS and CHATS CETTIS WARBLER - 3 ringed at South Milton Ley on 9th. BLACKCAP - Singles ringed on 9th and 16th, 2 at Aveton
Gifford on 2nd. WILLOW WARBLER. - 1 at South Huish Marsh on 1st. CHIFFCHAFF - 30 ringed at South Milton Ley on 16th. YELLOW BROWED WARBLER -1in a private garden in Thurlestone on 15th . GOLDCREST - 6
at Aveton Gifford on 4th. FIRECREST - Singles at Aveton Gifford on 4th and 20th. THRUSHES and WHEATEAR REDWING - 6 at South Milton Ley on 16th. FIELDFARE - 1over Thurlestone Church on 16th and
2 at South Efford Marsh on 28th. WHEATEAR - Last was a single on the Golf Course on 11th. REDSTART - 1 at Aveton Gifford on 11th. STONECHAT - A max of 11 around the Golf Course on 11th. PIPITS,
BUNTINGS and FINCHES TREE PIPIT - 1 over South Huish Marsh on 5th. WATER PIPIT - 1 at South Efford Marsh on 15th and 1 on South Huish Marsh on 20th. CROSSBILL - 2 flew over the Golf Course on 9th.
CIRL BUNTING - 1 at Aveton Gifford on 28th. BULLFINCH - 4 at South Milton Ley on 16th. LESSER REDPOLL - 8 flew south on 15th, 2 on 19th and 1 ringed on 16th. REED BUNTING - 1F at South Huish Marsh on
13th and 2 at Aveton Gifford on 16th. VISIBLE MIGRATION Because of the wet and windy weather only able to carry out seven visible migration watches situated at the highest local point behind the Golf
Course. Individual daily totals were:- Species dates
7th 9th 11th 14th 15th 18th 23rd SKYLARK
152 242 85 52 112 122 34 MEADOW PIPIT
120 125 170 86 50 12 131 PIED WAGTAIL 12
6 55 2 11 GOLDFINCH
10 68 9 32 5 67 42
LINNET 32 9 71 SISKIN 28
35 CHAFFINCH 1 5 10 3 8
21 BLACKBIRD 4 11
5 SONG THRUSH 2 1 MISTLE THRUSH
1 REDWING 1
3 GREENFINCH 3 12 STONECHAT
6 11 4 7 1 WHEATEAR
4 1 1 CHIFFCHAFF 3 3
1 1 1 GREEN WOODPECKER 1 GREAT SPOTTED
WOODPECKER 2 STARLING
29 2 SWALLOW 7 8 2
LAPWING 1 Only 2 more months of the year remaining, hopefully despite a second lockdown there will be some
interesting Winter species to find. Mike Passman thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk
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