FRI 31 May 2013

Bob B reported 2 BLACK TAILED GODWIT on South Huish Marsh, offshore 5 KITTIWAKE

WED 29 MAY 2013

Heavy o/night rain eventually gave way to some sunny spells with a brisk NNW wind.

Early visit to the beach at 08.15 only produced 11 SANDERLING, 6 DUNLIN, 2 RINGED PLOVER.

For the rest of the morning I did a survey of the West Buckland Valley- 34 species recorded, 14 BLACKBIRD , 1 SONG THRUSH, 1 MISTLE THRUSH, 11 CHIFFCHAFF,

5 BLACKCAP, 14 ROBIN, 2 COAL TIT, 5 GREAT TIT, 5 BLIE TIT, 5 LONG TAILED TIT ,

6 WREN, 6 GOLDFINCH, 4 GREENFINCH, 2 GOLDCREST.

A very active ROOKERY with at least 30 nests, 1 C CROW's nest with 2 young, Only 2 HOUSE MATINS nests and only 8 SWALLOW. 2 GREAT Sp WOODPECKER

Numbers do seem to be down on this time last year.

 

This is the lst post until 10 June as Anne & I are being joined by Graham & Daphne Daw on a visit to La Brenne in France . Hope to improve on last years visit as we will be 3 weeks earlier. Will post a full report on our return

TUES 28 MAY 2013

Sunny periods and squally showers this morning ,still feeling cold for the time of the year.

Late May is the time for SANDERLING passage, this morning produced the largest total of the year with 32, also on the beaches were 10 DUNLIN and 2 RINGED PLOVER,. On the rocks still 14 WHIMBREL.

Near the Cafe a late female WHEATEAR , offshore limited to 2 SANDWICH TERN

7 GANNET and a feeding KITTIWAKE.

First thing over T'stone Marsh - 30 SWIFT.

First fledged STONECHAT on the wire fence

MON 27 MAY 2013

Back to normality today , cloud , increasing SW wind and finally from 16.00 heavy rain.

A walk around the Golf Course this morning I picked up GOLDCREST, COAL TIT, GREEN WOODPECKER. On the beach 8 WHIMBREL.

Offshore - 40 GANNET, 6 MANX S'WATER, 2 FULMAR, 1 KITTIWAKE .

SUN 26 MAY 2013

At last a day of sunshine even if that did mean an increase in the visitors . Joined by Graham D and Chris for our usual Sunsay saunter around the patch - Still 14 WHIMBREL and 3 DUINLIN on Yarmer beach. On South Huish Marsh 12 DUNLIN.

Offshore a few GANNET , 2 SANDWICH TERN and then at 12.45 a flock of

120+ COMMON SCOTER flew east, Graham rang later to confirm another  50 had flown east. These are by some way the highest count of the year

SAT 25 MAY 2013

First late news from Nick T on South Huish marsh on Fri evening the DUNLIN increased to 38 ( largest count this year )

Early start this morning as we were out for most of the day - On Yarmer beach - 13 WHIMBREL, 4 SANDERLING, 2 DUNLIN.

On T'stone beach - 6 SANDERLING, 6 DUNLIN, 1 WHIMBREL.  2 COOT on South Miton Ley.

FRI 24 MAY 2013

You can tell it was a quiet day when both Bob B and I ring each other to confirm the sighting of a COOT ! Mine on T'stone Marsh at 08.15 his on South Huish Marsh this afternnon - it was the first for some weeks .

Waders on the beach this morning -9 SANDERLING, 1 WHIMBREL. Tonight on South Huish Marsh 25 DUNLIN.

THURS 23 MAY 2013

Couldn't get out until 16.00 then had the best 2hrs for a while. A strong 6/7 NNW wind made it feel more like early March

Last night the SWALLOW roost was 70+ , this morning 30+ SWIFT on T'stone Marsh.

ON South Huish Marsh late aft. 15 DUNLIN, plus the BARNACLE GOOSE. On the beaches - 15 SANDERLING, 16 WHIMBREL, 1 TURNSTONE, 1 DUNLIN, 2 RINGED PLOVER

Offshore up to 18.00 - 25 GANNET, 22 MANX S'WATER, 2 ARCTIC TERN, 1 dp ARCTIC SKUA, 1 COMMON SCOTER

WED 22 MAY 2013

Another quiet morning on the patch-Waders - 3 DUNLIN, 2 SANDERLING . In the Bay 2 SANDWICH TERN and a few GANNET.

 

Just rec'd info about the SPOONBILL -V4 ( picture above )- It was ringed as a nestling in Holland on 4/6/06, 0n 10/10/06 sighted at Barnstable on River Taw where it spent 4 days , . Spent most of 2007 in Holland before flying to Portugal on 4/12/07. Appears to spend most of the summers in Holland and winters in Portugal. Last sighting in  2012 was 6/08 in Holland . Spent 25/03/13- 02/04/13 on Thurlestone / South Huish marsh, turned up late afternoon of 2/4 at Lodmoor in Dorset left there on 5/4 and latest sighting 2/5 back in Holland

Thanks to Otto Overdijk for the life history

MON/ TUES 20/21 MAY 2013

A very quiet 2 days- Around South Huish marsh and the Bay the best that Bob B and I could manage were - 1 WHIMBREL, 2 GREY PLOVER, the BARNACLE GOOSE, 1m TEAL and a few GANNET

Started my West Buckland Valley walk today - managedto log over 30 species the highlights of which were -

2prs of MISTLE THRUSH ( both carrying food ) Moorhen ( with 2 day old chicks )3 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 m BLACKCAP, 2 BULLFINCH, GREEN & GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 

Not so many GREAT & BLUE TIT as last year.

SUN 19 MAY 2013

Away for the day on SAT, however Bob B and a visiting birder came up with 

3 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (159 ), 1 WHINCHAT, 1 SAND MARTIN, and 6 SANDERLING.

Today started out cloudy with light rain by lunchtime.. On South Huish Marsh the surprise of the month was a BARNACLE GOOSE ( 160 ) must have arrived with a new group of 6 Canada Goose. 2 GREY PLOVER ( 1 partial s/pl and a late winter pl.),

1 DUNLIN, 1 m TEAL , 1 WHITE WAGTAIL.

On the rocks / beaches- 14 WHIBREL, 7 SANDERLING, 1 RINGED PLOVER.

Offshore- a GREAT SKUA, 2 COMMON SCOTER, 2 SANDWICH TERN

 

Just rec'd news from Harry & June Huggins that they had a GREENSHANK (161 )in one of the fields overlooking T'stone Marsh on 8 May . June also reports 5 cygnets out on the Marsh this afternoon with both parents

FRI 17 MAY 2013

Felt more like the start of summer providing you could find sheler from a cool brisk E wind.

This morning on Yarmer Beach - 2 SANDERLING, 1 RINGED PLOVER, 1 DUNLIN,

1 TURNSTONE, 11 WHIMBREL

On the rocks the GREY PLOVER stll around .

Early evening Bob B had on South Huish marsh - 1 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and a female YELLOW WAGTAIL

THURS 16 MAY 2013

A very nice sunny day with only a light breeze .

Around South Huish Marsh the GREY PLOVER still there, 3 WHIMBREL, 6 SHELDUCK, 2 WHINCHAT, 2 WHEATEAR, 2 YELLOW WAGTAIL

AJL had on Yarmer beach - 33 WHIMBREL, ,1 DUNLIN, 1f YELLOW WAGTAIL

 Nothing offshore

Early evening - Bob B has found a male BLUE HEADED WAGTAIL on South Huish Marsh and still a female YELLOW WAGTAILl

WED 15 MAY 2013

A day away from the patch with Graham D , Alan D and Eric W. Started off at Yarner Wood where we had - 10 PIED FLYCATCHER, 3 WOOD WARBLER, 1 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER, 1 TREE CREEPER, 3 MARSH TIT.

Moved on to Challacombe Farm where we found WHINCHAT, WHEATEAR, 2 REDSTART , surprisingly no Cuckoo.

Finished up at Topsham where we had very good views at the Recreation Ground of the BONAPARTS GULL - this has been my Devon bogey bird , gald I waited to pick it up in summer plumage

 

Whilst we were away Nick T had a partial s/pl GREY PLOVER on South Huish marsh and Bob B had 2 DUNLIN over

TUES 14 May 2013

A day of completely different contrasts . 2 seawatching visits 07.30-9.00 7 GANNET, 6 GUILLEMOT, 1 FULMAR and 1 WHIMBREL  then the rain set in returned at 17.00- 18.30 just as the front cleared - it was just as though someone opened a door first 5 mins very little ,then whoosh , final totals are just estimates as the birds were flying through continuously , a F8 S wind also helped - 410 GANNET, 440 MANX SHEARWATER,

21 KITTIWAKE,

11 FULMAR , 1 ARCTIC SKUA, 1 GREAT SKUA,  26 COMMON TERN, 2 ARCTIC TERN, 4 COMMON SCOTER, 10 AUKS, 7 WHIMBREL, 9 SWIFT - all moving east

Over T'stone Marsh - 25 SWIFT, 25 SWALLOW., 10 HOUSE MARTIN and a HOBBY

MON 13 MAY 2013

A sunny morning with a 5/6 W wind- spent 3hrs seawatching from Warren Pt with some success

65 GANNET, 20 KITTIWAKE, 4 FULMAR, 2 COMMON TERN, 1 1st s LITTLE GULL

( feeding off the point ), 1 dp ARCTIC SKUA ( sat on the sea for 15 mins  before flying off west ) 13 MANX SHEARWATER, at 10.28 the first BALEARIC SHEARWATER ( 157 ) flew west .On the sea atotal of 33 GUILLEMOT and 2 RAZORBILL.

On the beach 8 WHIMBREL , 3 TURNSTONE.

Hirundines over T'stone Marsh - 25 SWALLOW, 10 HOUSE MARTIN, also 30 SWIFT

SUN 12 MAY 2013

One of the quietest Sundays so far this year - In the Bay 3 SANDWICH TERN,

5 GANNET, 3 FULMAR, 1 KITTIWAKE..On the rocks 60 WHIMBREL.

Over South Huish Marsh - 50+ SWALLOW, 20 HOUSE MARTIN, 7 SWIFT .

 Over T'stone marsh - 20 SWIFT, 30 SWALLOW, 15 HOUSE MARTIn, 2 SAND MARTIN

SAT 11 MAY 2013

Back on the patch after a week in Corfu- looks as though I missed summer as the weather was back to normal- dark cloud , showers and a F6/7 W wind.

Will post what has been picked up whilst I was away when I meet Bob B  on Sunday.

This morning produced the first reasonable Skua  passage of the year - 3dp and 1 lp ARCTIC SKUA and later 5 POMARINE SKUA ( 156 ) .  60 GANNET , 2 COMMON SCOTER, 2 FULMAR ,

1 SANDWICH TERN , a total of 77 WHIMBREL (27 flew east - rest on the marsh/rocks ).

On South Huish Marsh - 5 SHELDUCK, 2 TEAL, 1 DUNLIN, 1 CURLEW, 25 SWALLOW,

5 HOUSE MARTIN .

Over T'stone Marsh this afternoon- 4 SWIFT, 20+ SWALLOW, 5 HOUSE MARTIN,. SEDGE WARBLER, REED WARBLER and WHITETHROAT all singing

WED 8 MAY 2013

Highlights on South Huish Marsh - 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 3 TEAL. On the rocks -6 RINGED PLOVER

TUES 7 MAY 2013

In the Bay - 16 COMMON TERN, 3 SANDWICH TERN, 30 COMMON SCOTER,  3 BLACK H GULL ( first this month ).

Waders on the rocks 5 BAR T GODWIT, 1 COMMON SANDPIPER, WHIMBREL not counted .

On South Huish Marsh  Vic T picked up a pair of GARGANEY (155 ) in the afternoon , also 100 + SWALLOW, 30 HOUSE MARTIN, , 60 LINNET, 3 TEAL 

MON 6 MAY 2013

 Another good day for the Bay - 80 COMMON TERN, 4 SANDWICH TERN, 120 WHIMBREL, 6 BAR T GODWIT,

ON South Huish Marsh - 500 + SWALLOW , 100 HOUSE MARTIN, 2 SAND MARTIN , 1 f YELLOW WAGTAIL

 News just rec'd from Vic T - his wife Sylvia had a WOODLARK ( 158 ) fly in off the sea at South Huish Marsh ( he left her in the car to seach for better things ! )

SUN 5 MAY 2013

Now referred to as ' COMMON TERN 'day- Usual group of Sunday observers ( apart from me ! ). Between 10.00-17.00 :-

700+ COMMON TERN, 3 ARCTIC TERN, 1 SANDWICH TERN - mant of the Common flying in off the sea and going up the valley. 1 GREAT N DIVER, 35 COMMON SCOTER,3 FULMAR, .

Waders on the beach/rocks - 70 WHIMBREL, 3 BAR TAILED GODWIT, 1 TURNSTONE.

Around South Huish Marsh-3 WHEATEAR, 5 SWIFT, 9 SHELDUCK

THURS 2 MAY 2013

A fine sunny quiet day , joined by Doug Stannard ( he lived in Thurlestone for almost a year before moving near to Smeathorpe )

Bob again started the day off well with our first LESSER REDPOLL (154) over South Milton Ley, also WILLOW WARBLER and BULLFINCH. 7 REED WARBLER singing this morning.

At South Huish marsh the WHIMBREL totalled 60 with a nice s/pl BAR T GODWIT. A male YELLOW WAGTAIL flew in, 8 SHELDUCK, 11 TEAL,  2 SHOVELER

On the rocks a COMMON SANDPIPER and in the Bay a GREAT N DIVER.

Still no Terns in the Bay or Shearwaters offshore

 

Next update will be Sat 11 May - off to the sun !

WED 1 MAY 2013

A fine sunny day to start off a new month , wind NE 3/4 gradually reducing during the day.

Bob B started the month off really well by ringing 2 male LESSER WHITETHROAT ( first site record of 2 ) and a REED WARBLER. At least 10 SEDGE WARBLER singing on the patch. GREEN WOODPECKER near Horswell House, at least 10 WHITETHROAT on the patch

After brief views of a Lesser W. I walked round to Warren Pt , on the rocks a partial s/pl PURPLE SANDPIPER ( only my 2nd May record ). On a flat calm sea were 2 RED T DIVER and 1 GREAT N DIVER, GUILLEMOT and RAZORBILL. Only a single GANNET .

On South Huish marsh - 10 TEAL, 2 SHOVELER, 6 SHELDUCK, 75 WHIMBREL, 1 CURLEW. At 17.15  acracking male YELLOW WAGTAIL and another BLUE HEADED WAGTAIL.

A drive back this morning via Huxton Wood produced a singing GARDEN WARBLER and in WEST BUCKLAND, 2 GREAT Sp WOODPECKER, 3 BLACKCAP.

A visiting birder repoerted a SWIFT this afternoon

Another sunny day but still a cool NE wind.

Early morning Bob B got the day off to a fine start with a LESSER WHITETHROAT (153)  and a TREE PIPT at S M LEY

Best my garden could offer was a JAY ( first one for some weeks )

At South Huish marsh - the WHIMBREL reached 90 with a single BAR T GODWIT and CURLEW amongst them. On the Marsh were 4 RINGED PLOVER, 2 DUNLIN, 2 SHOVELER, 10 TEAL, 6 SHELDUCK, 1f YELLOW WAGTAIL. 2 WHEATEAR in the fields . At 16.00 Bob B had a very bright tall GREENLAND WHEATEAR and at 15.00 Vic T had 4 LRP'sat the back of the marsh .

Whist April seems to have been a quiet month it has produced the highest monthly specie total at 132, ( previous record was 130 in Oct 2012 )  also compares with 125 for April 2012.

New month and new expectations only a few hours away - as I often say this is far better than working !

 

 

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