A late afternoon walk from Shipley Bridge to the Avon Dam, near South Brent gave a total of 25 species identified and a number of unidentified Warbler species which could have been Willow Warbler or Chiffchaff
Steady passage of small numbers of both Swallow and House Martin
Regular views of two Kestrels hunting along the northern ridge of the valley from the first gate up to the dam, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, a Green Woodpecker showing well in the valley beneath the dam, a flock of 23 Linnet and 40+ Goldfinch a smaller number of Meadow Pipits, a Cormorant on the reservoir, female Blackcap, reasonable numbers of Stonechat but not in the numbers seen recently and no sign of any of the Whinchat which have been showing well.
At home in South Brent this morning gave good views of two Sparrow hawks, Raven, Green Woodpecker calling, Nuthatch overhead, the visiting Hobby has been in on three occasions during the day and one sighting of an adult bird hunting over the Forder valley.
(Hobby photographed at 2.48pm & 6.10pm ~ the bird was in this morning from just after 7pm.)
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South Brent
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Exminster
Meadows between Lions Rest to Motorway Bridge 6.15pm to 7.00pm
Evening stroll over the meadows, 2 hunting Kestrel, 6 Stonechat, 1 Snipe, 2 Skylark and 50+ Linnet
Late post for same area on Friday 7.00 am- 2 Whinchat
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Thankyou
nothing new to claim, unless you count Egyptian geese at
Darts Farm, but I wanted just to say thank you to several friendly helpful faces at BGM today. Curlew sandpiper and a glorious spoonbill were a huge privilege and the assistance spotting and
identifying are hugely appreciated.
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Bowling Green Marsh
High ride this evening, a little less than morning. 600+ Blkwits, 340+ Curlew, 9 Whimbrel, 2 Barwits, 4 Greenshank, 3 Spotted Redshank, a Ruff, 5 Dunlin, Juv Curlew Sand, 29 Pintail, 90 Wigeon, 200+ Teal, 60 House Martin, 1 Sand Martin, a 'full' Ad Peregrine & 8 Yellow Wagtails.
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Velator
2 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail this afternoon at Velator.
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Horsey Island/River Caen pm
Decent list to be had this evening on high tide:
Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Dunlin, Curlew, Whimbrel, Greenshank, Little Grebe, Mallard, Teal, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Med Gull, BH Gull, Herring Gull, Cetti's Warbler, Swallow, Wheatear, alba Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail.
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Bowling Green Marsh (Late post for yesterday 12-9-2015)
At BGM the Spoonbill was showing really well mid-afternoon after it woke up and moved to the bay area of the main pool where it had a bath and spent some time preening with it's wings outstretched before flying out to the estuary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap6hdNB9ViU
From the viewing platform the Curlew Sandpiper eventually came much closer also showing really well mid-afternoon on the low tide with a Dunlin and some Redshank.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a93IE3RlN2A
A Kingfisher was around riversmeet house several times in the morning on the out-going tide and finally sat on the top of the new seawall as the Ospreys were fishing down botton end of the estuary.
Kingfisher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2AIESr4MTk
Osprey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhE6_2o9zQw
Spoonbill BGM 12-9-2015
Spoonbill BGM 12-9-2015
Kingfisher Viewing Platform 12-9-2015
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Exminster
Meadows between Lions Rest & Motorway Bridge 8.00 am to 9.00 am.
4 x family groups of Stonechats, 12 birds in total. 1 Snipe flying over the canal to Topsham Rec. 2 x Linnet, 10 x Little Egret, 4 G Heron, 1 x Skylark
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Osprey
09.15 Sunday 13th Sept. Osprey feeding on top of a post in the middle of the Exe estuary out from Turf. Could be seen from the Goat Walk in Topsham. Spoonbill also present in the BGM.
Pat Gubb
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Bowling Green Marsh and Exe Estuary
Early morning visit to Bowling Green Marsh, the Spoonbill towards the far side of the marsh directly in front of the hide and clearly in view remaining there for the period of my visit, large numbers of both Curlew and Black tailed Godwit, the Spotted Redshank was pointed out to me, Dunlin, Redshank, Greenshank (4) Little Grebe, Whimbrel, Ruff (3) Sedge Warbler, periodic movement of House Martins over the marsh
One Osprey sighting with the bird in flight from the BGM viewing platform, a long distant view down towards the coast, headed up towards Powderham and a short while later an Osprey perched eating a fish on a mid marker post on the Exe it remained in situe for most of the morning.
Not a great deal at Darts Farm a few Black Tailed Godwit, of note feeding on the ripe sunflowers were a large number of Greenfinch difficult to see clearly when feeding but they were constantly disturbed and well over 40 birds present as the flock circled and came back into feed.
Going across the Powderham side of the Exe did not get me any closer to the Osprey which was still sat on the marker post, it even ignored a small boat that made a circuit around it, on the dropping tide Dunlin, Ring Plover, Oyster Catcher, Common Tern and two small white bodied grey topped waders which I suspect were Sanderling (feeding with the Dunlin)
On the estuary wall a single Wheatear, in the fields Meadow Pipit, Kestrel
At home in South Brent this morning gave a good view of a hunting male Sparrow Hawk, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, the visiting Hobby was present just after 6.30am, a circling Buzzard and several seen from the A38 gave me a total of five Birds of Prey for the day out of a total 54 species for the day.
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Start Point
Cloudy start soon brightening, moderate SSE wind backing ESE by late morning. Enjoyable seawatch with Mark and Adell saw the following all headed south between 08:00 and 12 :50, 168 Balearic Shearwaters, 8 Manx Shearwaters, 12 Kittiwakes, 2 Common Tern, 3 Sandwich Tern and a Great Skua. Also a tight pod of around 20 feeding Common Dolphins. Elsewhere 4 Wheatears in the mast field and best of the vis mig from the lighthouse were 10 Grey Wagtails and 105 Siskins.
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Exminster Marsh
There has been a Grey Phalarope for most of the day today at Exminster Marsh, on the only pool on the right of the entrance track before the end car park . It did apparently fly off at least twice late morning/ early afternoon but returned fairly quickly. Still there showing well tiill at least 4.10pm
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Around the exe
Started at Bowling green marsh 08:45 till 10:15
The 3rd calendar Spoonbill was again showing well at times this morning from the hide, also 3 adult spotted redshanks , 4 juv ruff, 6+ dunlin and 1 possible juv curlew sandpiper hidden mostley ( later seen off the viewing platform), 3 juv knot 6+ greenshanks, 200+ redshank 5 whimbrel, 1 juv bar tailed godwit , 1 yellow wagtail over 400+ black tailed godwits.
Just as i got to the viewing platform news broke of the Grey Phalarope on exminster marsh so a quick dash over with Dave Hopkins (Thanks dave) and soon had the bird in view also on the marsh a juv Graganey been around a few days and along station road 2 whinchat, 3 wheatear
Another good day on the marshes
Grey Phalarope
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Lowell dam / River Tavy
1340-1615
Sunny spells this afternoon on the Tavy: 5 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Wagtail (m), 1 Kingfisher, 1 Chiffchaff, 40+ House Martin, several Swallows and 2 Buzzard overhead, before the rain started.
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Plym Estuary & Saltram
Low tide so no decent counts of waders but Whinchats now up to 12, also 2 Wheatears and a Siskin (heard).
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Scadson Woods - Paignton
Female Merlin seen twice today chasing small birds over Scadson Woods. Fascinating to watch aerial battle on the first occasion with the hunter being hunted by one of the local Sparrow Hawks !
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Slapton
Good views of a juvenile and adult Hobby hawking for insects over middle part of Lower Ley - on occasions they were both in the same binocular field of view. 2 Wheatear, 1 Reed Warbler seen. Mixed flock of 250+ Swallow/Sand Martin/House Martin in equal proportions flying low over Ireland Bay. Water Rail and 4 Cetti Warblers heard.
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Out and about
A rare opportunity for a days birding so started at Berry Head at 06.30. Bushes still quiet but Firecrest was new in, also 7 Goldcrest, 8 Chiffchaff, 27 Siskin and a Blackcap. 4 Grey Wagtails over. Sea watch from 08.00 produced 90 Balearic Shearwater (a further 23 seen prior to my arrival) 2 Arctic Skua, 1 poss 2 Great Skua, 2 Common Scoter and 3 Common Tern.
Grey Phalarope still showing well at Exminster at 15.45
Osprey sat on mud with a fish from Goat Walk, Topsham 16.45
Spoonbill from viewing platform at Bowling Green Marsh 17.15
finished the evening at The Passage House Inn where a Kingfisher showed well and 15 Little Egret roasted over the high tide.
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Velator
In the area:
Wrafton Pond is turning autumnal with a Tufted Duck and 5 Wigeon.
River Caen showed a Redshank and 2 Common Sandpipers and a few Meadow Pipits.
On Sherpa Marsh were 10 Swans, (no cygnets) 7 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpipers, a sprinkling of Swallows, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Curlew and one juv Grey Heron.
The small wet area by the barn had lots of Pied Wagtails a Green Sandpiper, and a Wood Sandpiper.
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Spoonbill & Grey Phalarope
Quick visit to Bowling Green Marsh this lunchtime and the Spoonbill was still viewable from the hide.
Then made a trip round to Exminster Marshes and the Grey Phalarope was still showing well on the pool near the end car park, feeding close to the reeds to stay sheltered from the wind and rain. Still there when I left at 1.45.
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