MON 30 SEPT 2013
Here we go - another month comes to an end with a year total of 185 - can we yet make the magical 200 having been so close in the last 2 years .
Today was all about viz mig on the go until 12.00. Totals were-
MIPIT 250 + , SKYLARK 15 , SWALLOW 305+ , HOUSE MARTIN 35, GOLDFINCH 25, GREENFINCH 9, LINNET 4, REED BUNTING 4, STONECHAT 7, WHINCHAT 2 , YELLOWHAMMER 1, CHIFFCHAFF 9 , , WHEATEAR 9, YELLOW WAGTAIL 7,
2 WHINCHAT , ALBA WAGTAIL 25 +, and surprisingly 21 RAVEN
AJL had a juv BLACK REDSTART at Warren Pt ( first of the autumn )
On South Huish marsh - 55 TEAL, 6 DUNLIN, 2 SNIPE, 1 WATER RAIL, HOBBY ,
2 WIGEON.
Offshore 4 SANDWICH TERN and 6 MED GULL. 1 BRENT GOOSE, On the rocks a RINGED PLOVER.
At South Milton Ley Bob B had -1 SEDGE WARBLER, 12 CHIFFCHAFF, 5 BLACKCAP, 2 GOLDEN PLOVER.
At 12.15 at Huxton Cross in a stubble field ( looks good for the next week ) 40+ SKYLARK, 70+ LINNET, 30 GOLDFINCH, 1 WHINCHAT
SUN 29 SEPT 2013
Another cloudy day , rain passed through by 9.00, E wind only F3/4. With recent conditions continuing expectations were not achieved.
Continuous movement of Hirundines this morning , no large flocks - SWALLOW 200+, HOUSE MARTIN 30+. ,also 70+ MIPIT and a GREY WAGTAIL, ALBA WAGS totalled 25+
On South Huish marsh - 50 TEAL, 1 WIGEON , 2 SHOVELER , 1 SNIPE 1 BLACK TAILED GODWIT and a KNOT. In the fields 8 WHEATEAR. 2 DUNLIN in off the sea and up the valley.HOBBY and 2 YELLOW WAGTAIL
Only 1 flock of duck - 14 WIGEON and a PINTAIL flew east
At South Milton Ley Bob B had 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 GOLDCREST 1 REED WARBLER, 1 BLACKCAP .Late pm over T'stone village 3 GOLDEN PLOVER
SAT 28 SEPT 2013
A really miserable ady , heavy rain until 15.00 and a strong E wind - which combined to provide a good days birding !.
At 08.00 on T'stone marsh - 16 TEAL, 4 WIGEON.
Using the car tailback as a hide activity over the Bay from 09.25 - 12.30 -
2 SANDWICH TERN, 10 DUNLIN, 1 CURLEW SANDPIPER, 1 GREY PLOVER, 3 BAR TAILED GODWIT, 1 BRENT GOOSE ( east- first this autumn ) 23 Wigeon, 1 PINTAIL, 17 TEAL , 2 MED GULL,
On South Huish Marsh - 35 TEAL, 2 WIGEON, 3 SNIPE, 1 LITTLE STINT.
Returned at 16.15 - 17.45, still on the Marsh 75 TEAL, 2 WIGEON, 4 DUNLIN, LITTLE STINT , HOBBY and 4 WHEATEAR. Flying over 1 BAR TAILED GODWIT and a year tick - SPOTTED REDSHANK ( 185 ).
On the sea a small group of duck were 8 PINTAIL , 1 WIGEON .
With a day total of 9 Pintail and 75 Teal along with a good mixture of waders made it a really good day
FRI 27 SEPT 2013
An E wind increasing from F4 am to F6 (gusting 7 ) this pm .
First noticeable duck movement and some new waders.
On T'stone Marsh this am 30 TEAL and 2 SHOVELER
Late morning a flock of Duck found on the sea which then flew onto South Huish marsh - 19 WIGEON, 3 PINTAIL, 4 TEAL. Late afternoon 2 more PINTAIL flew in and TEAL now 35. 1 WATER RAIL. 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 2 WHEATEAR, WHITE/ PIED WAGTAIL' HOBBY still.
Waders on the beach / rocks/ marsh - 2 SANDERLING, 4 RINGED PLOVER, 22 DUNLIN, 1 LITTLE STINT, 2 KNOT ( 184 )
Offshore 3 SANDWICH TERN early and 4 at 17.45
At South Milton Ley - 4 SISKIN ( over )6 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 SPOTTED FLY.
" SKYLARK, 60 MIPIT, 100+ SWALLOW and 80 HOUSE MARTIN flew through this morning
WED 25 SEPT 2013
A Cloudy morning with a light E breeze.
On T'stone Marsh -25 TEAL, 2 LITTLE GREBE, 1 SHOVELER, 1 BLACK TAILED GODWIT .
Over at South Huish Marsh at 08.30- 30 TEAL, 130 BLACK HEADED GULL, 1 SNIPE,
11 RINGED PLOVER ( over ) , 5 WHEATEAR, 4 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 16 SKYLARK and 130 MIPIT ( east ) 300 SWALLOW , 10 HOUSE MARTIn ( east ). HOBBY still .
Late pm 2 SANDWICH TERN
Bob B at South Milton Ley - 4 SISKIN, 4 CHIFFCHAFF, 2 REED WARBLER and 2 SEDGE WARBLER .
Driving down the lanes near Huxton Cross the first MERLIN of the autumn
TUES 24 SEPT 2013
Unfortunately for the many visitors to the patch today the Glossy Ibis 's had departed - so far at 18.00 they don't appear to have been relocated anywhere .
A nice sunny and warm day with just a gentle breeze - turned cloudy late afternoon .
On T'stone Marsh - 1 LITTLE GREBE, 14 TEAL, 1 SHOVELER, 1 WIGEON , 5 SNIPE
On the beach at 07.30 2 GREY PLOVER until they got disturbed, other waders only singles of DUNLIN & RINGED PLOVER . The HOBBY still showing well and in the field a WHEATEAR,. 100+ SWALLOW moved south.
Offshore a few GANNET and 2 MANX SHEARWATER flew east.
Bob B at South Milton Ley had - 2 SAND MARTIN, 2 SKYLARK, 6 SEDGE & 2 REED WARBLER, 2 SISKIN, 6 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 WHINCHAT, 2 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 2 WATER RAIL, 50 + MIPIT
MON 23 SEPT 2013 - Now Known as GLOSSY IBIS Day
What a day for the patch .Started at 09.15 with 2 SOOTY SHEARWATER flying east across the Bay also 2 MANX S'WATER ,4 AUKS , 2 GREY WAGTAIL , 2 SANDWICH TERN, 1 ad MED GULL
Arrived at South Huish Marsh with Graham & Martin Daw , Chris Bond and Bob B. to find a juv GLOSSY IBIS ( 183 ) feeding on the back pool, lots of back slapping congratulations ensued on finding the third record for the patch. Met a visitor from Derby who quietly mentioned to us she had seen 8 flying into the Marsh at 19.15 Sunday evening -agh ! Then came confirmation from Alan Searle at Torcross he had a flock of 11 at 07.30 and 2hrs later a flock of 8. Well at least we had a patch year tick.
Then at 13.15 news that a flock of 9 had flown onto the Marsh! meanwhile Rod Bone had found 1 on South Efford Marsh . Later at 18.00 there were 7 still on South Huish Marsh .
This has got to go down as one of the best years in the history of the patch - the number of Devon rarities recorded is beyond everyones expectations - and it is only the first day of expected SE winds for the rest of the week
Around the Marsh - 21 TEAL, 10 YELLOW WAGTAIL 1 SNIPE ( + 3 in off the sea )
a WHEATEAR and the HOBBY .
On the beach 6 RINGED PLOVER, at 18.30 4 more along with 13 DUNLIN flew in off and up the valley
SUN 22 SEPT 2013
Thankfully the poor weather lifted to provide a warm partly sunny day .
Over T'stone Marsh large numbers of Hiundines feeding and flying south - total in excess of 2000 evenly split SWALLOW and HOUSE MARTIN with just a few SAND MARTIN .On the Marsh - 2 LITTLE GREBE, 1 SHOVELER, 15 TEAL, 1 DUNLIN, 1 COOT, . A CETTIS WARBLER ( juv ) was the first since the Spring .
Viz mig this am - 1 SISKIN, 8 SKYLARK ( both first of the autumn ) 100 + MIPIT.
At South Huish Marsh - 25 TEAL, 2 YELLOW WAG. and a HOBBY.
On the rocks a SANDWICH TERN whilst offshore 20 COMMON SCOTER flew east .
The next week with SE winds could turn up some good birds.
Bob B managed to ring 5 SEDGE and 1 REED WARBLER
SAT 21 SEPT 2013
Had to spend the day in the car and a meeting room in Solihull, got back at 22.30 to be told the mist and drizzle never lifted and very little birds- best news came from Bob B who ringed 2 SEDGE WARBLER with one of them a British control - recently fitted ring no L 739386.
FRI 20 SEPT 2013
Another cloudy morning with little wind and a flat sea with only a few GANNET offshore
Influx of TEAL in the last 24 hrs - T'stone Marsh now 21 and 42 On South Huish Marsh The reeds by the footbridge, 5 CHIFFCHAFF, 4 SEDGE AND 1 REED WARBLER. Around the Ley 6 REED BUNTING. Phil Bentley visiting from Exmouth had a KINGFISHER , also a GREEN SANDPIPER over .
On the Marsh 3 DUNLIN, 3 RINGED PLOVER, 1 SNIPE, 1 WATER RAIL, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL .,3 GREY WAGTAIL
MIPIT movement north - 100+ , also 75 + SWALLOW and 10 HOUSE MARTIN .
THURS 19 SEPT 2013
A morning of showers , then heavy rain before turning into a warm sunny afternoon. Brisk W wind up to F6/7 this morning .
Another very interesting day - not quantity but most definately quality !
On the beach 2 RINGED PLOVER and a DUNLIN. 3 RINGED PLOVER flew in off the sea straight up the valley.
Standing by the flats at T'stone Sands- Alan D had just left and Barry Rankin ( + 2 friends ) had gone to look at South Milton Ley , at 10.35 picked up an Auk flying east , came from behind the T'stone Rock and did an arc sweep across the Bay c 200 yds off. Immediately noticed the grey head and neck and a mottled grey/ black back and wings , underneath grey / off white - a 1st winter BLACK GUILLEMOT ( 182 ) a patch life tick for me and according to Bob B probably the first for the site-.
Spent an hour and a half thi safternoon looking over the Bay - at 17.15 picked up a LITTLE TERN flying into the Bay which spent the next 30 mins feeding off the beach as well as landing on it . Because of the number of people around it did not spend too long on the ground - only the 2nd record this year and my first autumn record on the patch .
My motto of - expect the unexpected - certainly was true today
WED 18 SEPT 2013
A cloudy morning turned into pleasant sunshine by 10.15. A brisk NNW/ NW wind with very good viz,.
Unfortunately for me and quit a few visitors the Grey Phal could not be relocated.
Most interesting was a very steady passage of Mipits and Hirundines - all flying north , from 09.00-12.45 totals were minima of - 235 MIPIT, 385 SWALLOW and 500 HOUSE MARTIN, only 1 SAND MARTIN ..
Around South Huish Marsh - 9 TEAL, 4 STONECHAT, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL. On the beach/ rocks - 2ad & 1 1st w MED GULL.
Offshore only GANNETS c 120 moved through .
On T'stone Marsh 2 LITTLE GREBE , 9 TEAL, 1 DUNLIN and the autumns first SHOVELER -female
TUES 17 SEPT 2013
With almost storm foce winds , rain and poor viz - I had one of those days to forget!
Could only get out from 14.00-15.30 and managed to see 4 GANNET.
Had to go to a meeting in South Brent for 17.00 and returned home at 19.30 to a message from Bob B he had found a GREY PHALAROPE ( 181) on Leasefoot beach and a juv ARCTIC TERN. Went down with a torch at 19.45 but both birds had gone. The last Grey Phal was 2 years ago and is not usually seen until Oct ( if at all ) Interesting one was seen passing Prawle Point earlier in the day .
Cracking photo's by Alan D on Devon Bird News blog
MON 16 SEPT 2013
Sunny morning with only a short shower, gusty NW wind F6/7. Good viz .
Offshore another disappointing day - 40 GANNET, 5 KITTIWAKE, 4 RAZORMOT.
Around South Huish Marsh - 4 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 1 WHITE and 15 + PIED WAGTAIL
3 WHEATEAR, 25+ MIPIT ,100+ STARLING ( flew north in 4 flocks ) 4 STONECHAT, 1 WATER RAIL, 11 TEAL, 2 BLACK TAILED GODWIT.
Waders on the beach -2 SANDERLING.
On T'stone Marsh - 1 LITTLE GREBE, 2 TEAL, 1 DUNLIN.
Winds of F 8/9 Tues Afternoon , we may get better results on Wed am
SUN 15 SEPT 2013
Given the conditions a most disappointing day- a visit to the Bay at 16.00 did not even produce a gannet in 45 mins !
Earlier on T'stone Marsh - 1 DUNLIN, 1 m WIGEON and a LITTLE GREBE
South Huish Marsh had 4 DUNLIN whist in the Bay 38 GANNET and 4 BALEARIC SHEARWATER flew east
SAT 14 SEPT 2013
At 08.00 on T'stone marsh - 2 LITTLE STINT and a DUNLIN still, also 1m WIGEON,
8 TEAL, 3 BLACKCAP and 4 CHIFFCHAFF
A morning walk around the golf course produced - 40 MIPIT, 2 GREY WAGTAIL, 2 WHINCHAT, 5 STONECHAT and 2 WHEATEAR .
At 17.00 at South Huish Marsh were 2 DUNLIN, 2 WHEATEAR. 2 SPOT FLY were at South Milton Ley
FRI 13 SEPT 2013
Was not able to get out until 12.00 ,then only a brief visit to Warren Pt. On the beach 3 RINGED PLOVER, 1 SANDERLING. In the bay 4 COMMON TERN and a SANDWICH TERN .
Started raining around 13.30 with very low cloud/ mist. These conditions brought 2 LITTLE STINT & a DUNLIN on to the back pool at T'stone Marsh, also 12 TEAL
Decided to drive over to South Huish Marsh - no waders on the mud but 14 TEAL and 5 YELLOW WAGTAIL. On the rocks 3 COMMON TERN , 3 TURNSTONE and causing some mayhem an ARCTIC SKUA
THURS 12 SEPT 2013
Another fairly quiet day with no new waders on the marshes . Around South Huish Marsh - 4 BLACK TAILED GODWIT, 2 DUNLIN, 12 TEAL, 1 WHINCHAT , 4 STONECHAT, 35 GOLDFINCH, 40 MIPIT.
Waders on the beach - 12 RINGED PLOVER, 3 DUNLIN. Offshore 3 FULMAR with 3 COMMON SCOTER on the sea .
Looks like a w/end with changing weather particularly Sunday, hopefully this will bring in some new birds .
A National Trust evening on Saturday starting at 16.30 by the Beachhouse cafe will include a guidedwalk around South Milton Ley . If you are in the area do come along .
WED 11 SEPT 2013
A sure sign Autumn has arrived - a JAY flew through my garden , first one for some months .
Again South Huish Marsh and the beaches provided the birds - 4 BLACK TAILED GODWIT, 42 RINGED PLOVER, 9 DUNLIN, 3 SANDERLING. 4 WHEATEAR,
16 STONECHAT ( at least 12 juv ), 5 WHINCHAT, 3 CHIFFCHAFF, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 1 TREE PIPIT (over), 45 MIPIT.
TUES 10 SEPT 2013
Late report rec'd for yesterday of a BAR TAILED GODWIT flying over the Bay calling.
Good sunny periods this am , brisk NNW 4/5 wind from 10.00 .
On T'stone Marsh / Garden this morning - 1 WIGEON, 8 TEAL, 2 WATER RAIL, 1 LITTLE GREBE , 3 BLACKCAP, 2 CHIFFCHAFF, 8 LONG T TIT
First noticable movement of MIPIT heading north - 140 logged, . Around South Huish Marsh - 3 WHEATEAR, 1 WHINCHAT, 1 SEDGE WARBLER, 2 WHITETHROAT . $ BLACK TAILED GODWIT and 12 TEAL on the Marsh.
Waders on the beach early were a mixed flock of 20 RINGED PLOVER/ DUNLIN. 6 Dunlin flew in also 1 Ringed Plover
MON 9 SEPT 2013
Heavy overnight rain , winds E f2 until 11.00 when changed to N f4. Good viz
Brief seawatch from the carpark produced 10 MANX SHEARWATER , 4 BALEARIC SHEARWATER, 5 FULMER and 60 + GANNET
All the activity was around South Huish Marsh - Waders - 4 BLACK TAILED GODWIT,
23 RINGED PLOVER, 8 DUNLIN, 2 SANDERLING, 1 WATER RAIL ( good views )
2 GREY WAGTAIL, 2 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 2 WHITE WAGTAIL, 4 WHEATEAR,
8 WHINCHAT ( a recent years record count ) 9 STONECHAT , 1 REED BUNTING,
30+ LINNET, 15 GOLDFINCH.
At 15.50 picked up a raptor soaring over T'stone Marsh - flew in over the Links Court flats , overhead views confirmed a light phase HONEY BUZZARD ( second patch record in a week ) Continued soaring and flew up the valley towards Churstow
Late news - Alan D and Bob B - this evening at South Huish Marsh a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER and 10 YELLOW WAGTAIL
SUN 8 SEPT 2013
A thunder and lightning storm at 05.00 gave some hope that some birds would be grounded- and they were .
At 08.30 on T'stone Marsh - 8 BLACK TAILED GODWIT, 8 TEAL, 1 DUNLIN
Waders on the beaches were - 25 RINGED PLOVER, 5 DUNLIN, 1 SANDERLING.
Around South Huish Marsh - 11 TEAL, 3 WHINCHAT, 2 WHEATEAR, 1 GREY WAGTAIL, 1 YELLOW WAGTAIL, 20 MIPIT, 2 SAND MARTIN
At 11.00 picked up a raptor flying over the sea heading south , as it gained height good views of the first OSPREY ( 180 ) of the year
SAT 7 SEPT 2013
First rain for a while although amounts in T'stone were small. Early morning on T'stone Marsh a BLACK TAILED GODWIT, 8 TEAL, 2 WIGEON ,a juv STONECHAT and a WHITETHROAT
A brief visit to the Bay produced 2 MED GULL, 50 + GANNET and a total of 52 SHAG
( normally around 20 would be normal )
FRI 6 SEPT 2013
The expected change in the weather did not arrive until late afternoon and even then the rain hardly wet the ground .
This am -waders on the beach/rocks 3 RINGED PLOVER, 1 SANDERLING, 7 DUNLIN,
1 COMMON SANDPIPER. A TEAL flew in off the sea
On T'stone Marsh this pm - 1 SNIPE , 2 WIGEON. 5 TEAL, 2 WATER RAIL
THis evening on South Huish Marsh - 18 TEAL, 1 RINGED PLOVER .
Late news for last night - Bob B had 1 HOBBY and a PEREGRINE attacking the SWALLOW roost of 2000 at S M LEY also 2 WATER RAIL and 5 YELLOW WAGTAIL
THURS 5 SEPT 2013
Another star find by Bob Burridge at 08.35 this morning - in the reeds/sedges by the footbridge at South Milton Ley an AQUATIC WARBLER ( 179 ). The bird was very elusive and showed only briefly over the next 3.5 hours - Even Alan Doidge could not get a record shot .
This specie has become inceasingly scarce in the UK with in recent years only 4/5 records annually. This particular site is acknowledged as one of the few that produces sightings .
Also in the reeds 3 + SEDGE and 1 REED WARBLER as well as a BLACKCAP.
4 GREY WAGTAIL flew through .
On South Hish marsh -4 DUNLIN and 2 RINGED PLOVER over.Offshore 2 SANDWICH TERN
WED 4 SEPT 2013
Yet another very quiet day , not surprising with the weather more akin to sitting on a beach than seawatching .
Only waders on the patch today were 30 OYSTERCATCHER, offshore 40+ GANNET , best bird of the day a dp ARCTIC SKUA flew east at 09.40. also 3 SANDWICH TERN
A small passage of Hirundines this am with 75+ SWALLOW , 15 HOUSE MARTIN and
2 SAND MARTIN all flying south.
3 GREY WAGTAIL, 2 YELLOW WAGTAIL , 1 WHITETHROAT , 2 WATER RAIL, 8 TEAL around South Huish Marsh .
Late yesterday evening a juv MED GULL over T'stone Marsh .
Late news form Vic Tucker - at South Milton Ley GREAT SPOTTED WOODY and a SPOTTED FLY.
Having coplained how quiet it had been , Alan Doidge livened things up with a garden tick at 18.55 with a HONEY BUZZARD ( 178 ) over his property at South Milton .
TUES 3 SEPT 2013
The balmy summer weather just goes on - very little wind, flat calm sea, and plenty of sun once the cloud had burnt off - result one of the quietest Sept days I can remember .
4 SANDWICH TERN in the Bay , 4 DUNLIN and 3 RINGED PLOVER briefly on the beach.
In the gardens only 2 WILLOW WARBLER and CHIFFCHAFF, a COAL TIT was unexpected.
On South Huish Marsh - TEAL and 2 YELLOW WAGTAIL
This morning Bob only caught 1 WILLOW WARBLER
SUN 1 AND MON 2 SEPT 2013
With calm sunny conditions reports rec'd were - 2 WATER RAIL, 2 DUNLIN, 1 RINGED PLOVER, 1 BLACK TAILED GODWIT, 3 WHEATEAR, 2 TREE PIPIT, 40 MIPIT, 2 YELLOW WAG, 2 WHITE WAG. 2 COMMON SCOTER, MANX S'WATER, GADWALL, 2 WHINCHAT
Reports rec'd - 1 GREENSHANK (over ) 20 WHIMBREL , 2 TREE PIPIT, 3 YELLOW WAG , 2 WHITE WAG , 1 WHEATEAR.
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