2013 Ringing Report

In addition to recording and reporting sightings of birds and wildlife, one of the aims of the recording group is to maintain a database of ringing recoveries. These have been recorded for many years but a recent concerted effort has considerably increased the number of field recoveries. These were published in an edited report in Devon Birds in April. The full version of that report is now available on the website and can be downloaded here.

 

Sunday 29th June

Smaller numbers of gulls today offshore today with just three Mediterranean Gull present, also offshore 36 Common Scoter, 15 Kittiwake, eight Manx Shearwater, 10 Sandwich and a Common Tern. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with nine Redshank, two Dunlin and a Turnstone.

Saturday 28th June

The small gull flock continues to feed along the beach with 330+ Black-headed, at least eight Mediterranean and a Little Gull present. Two colour-ringed Mediterranean Gull have come from Belguim and Poland with details awaited on a couple more. Counts from the estuary included 329 Curlew, 14 Redshank, nine Whimbrel, two Dunlin and a Ringed Plover with 30 Sandwich and two Common Tern in front of the hide. Elsewhere five Manx Shearwater and a Great-crested Grebe were offshore with seven Stock Dove in the saltmarsh.

Sandwich Tern - Dave Jewell

Friday 27th June

Gull numbers are beginning to build at the south end of the estuary with 502 Black-headed Gull feeding offshore or along the beach, with them at least seven Mediterranean and a Little Gull. Elsewhere two Arctic Skua, 33 Sandwich Tern and eight Manx Shearwater were offshore with the Slavonian Grebe, 320 Curlew, 303 Oystercatcher, five Shelduck, three Whimbrel and single Dunlin, Sanderling, Grey and Ringed Plover in the estuary.

Wednesday 25th June

The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary off Cockwood but not other news was received.

Sunday 22nd June

The first two returning Redshank of the autumn were in the estuary with 234 Curlew, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Dunlin and a Shelduck. Offshore there were six Common Tern, c30 Common Scoter and two Mediterranean Gull.

Saturday 21st June

The longest day and it felt like that in the field with very few birds around a low high tide with no small waders and 120 Curlew, 40 Black-headed Gull and four Shelduck in the estuary. Elsewhere 20 Sandwich and three Common Tern were offshore with 32 Common Scoter and a Great-crested Grebe.

Wednesday 18th June

The day's highlight was offsite a Red Kite seen distantly over Powderham Park. It was quiet on site with seven Stock Dove in Wryneck Plain the most notable sighting. Elsewhere at least five Mediterranean (3 ss & 2 fs) and a first summer Little Gull were present along with 25 Sandwich and three Common Tern whilst wader counts included 155 Oystercatcher and 146 Curlew.

Tuesday 17th June

A first summer Bonaparte's Gull was again in the estuary this morning, but a different individual to Sunday's bird. Also with the 80+ Black-headed Gull on site were three Mediterranean and a Little Gull. Other records from the estuary included 15 Sandwich Tern, the Slavonian Grebe and following yesterday's unseasonal wildfowl, a drake Wigeon in Shutterton Creek.

a record shot of the Bonaparte's Gull

 

Wildlife News: The Common and Grey Seal were together on Bull Hill.

Monday 16th June

A smart adult Spoonbill roosted on Finger Point over the high tide before heading up river to Bowling Green. Also in the estuary the Slavonian Grebe, 323 Oystercatcher, 134 Curlew, six Ringed Plover, four Mediterranean (three fs & ss) and three first summer Little Gull. Elsewhere six Gadwall flew in off the sea and up the estuary, 25 Common Scoter were offshore and a Stock Dove was in front of the hide - only the second record of the year.

Spoonbill - Dave Cawthraw

Sunday 15th June

A first summer Bonaparte's Gull was in the estuary early morning with 250+ Black-headed Gull, before heading offshore. The fifth record for the recording area and one of the birds seen recently at Bowling Green Marsh. Also with the gull flocks during the day 10 Mediterranean (7 ad & 3 fs) and three first summer Little Gull. Offshore there were four Balearic and three Manx Shearwater, an Arctic Skua, 33 Sandwich and two Common Tern, a Great Northern Diver and nine Common Scoter. In the estuary the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood, a drake Teal was in the Bight and wader counts included 87 Curlew, five Sanderling and a Ringed Plover.

Wildlife News: Two Pyramidal Orchid were found today, the third in a fortnight after just two in the previous 60 years! The first Meadow Brown of the year were on the wing. Dragonflies included an early Common Darter, Broad-bodied Chaser, Blue-tailed and Azure Damselfly. Elsewhere five Bottle-nosed Dolphin and a Grey Seal were offshore.

Pyramidal Orchid - Lee Collins

Saturday 14th June

Good numbers of Black-headed Gull are now feeding at the south end of the estuary and with them were three first summer Little Gull and at least seven Mediterranean Gull (five first summer, a second summer and an adult). Elsewhere 15 Sanderling and two Dunlin were on the beach with a Bar-tailed Godwit in front of the hide.

Wildlife News: Another first for the recording area was found with the rare migrant pyrale moth Diasemiopsis ramburialis discovered in the Back Meadow.

Diasemiopsis ramburialis - Guy Freeman

Friday 13th June

Over high tide 278 Oystercatcher were in front of the hide with a single Bar-tailed Godwit. The Oystercatcher were close enough to enable two metal rings to be read, both first summer birds, originating from Scotland and Holland respectively.

Wildlife News: Late news from yesterday of the first Red Sword-grass moth for the recording area, a caterpillar found feeding on the remaining Yellow Flag in Greenland Lake.

 

Red Sword-grass - Guy Freeman

Wednesday 11th June

Some surprising signs of migration today with post breeding dispersal starting early this year. A Nuthatch and two juvenile Coal Tit were briefly in the Sycamore on the Dune Ridge. The Nuthatch is only the 19th for the recording area.  Elsewhere 28 Sanderling, three Dunlin and a Ringed Plover were in the Bight with 20 Curlew on the Railway Saltmarsh.

 

Reed Bunting - Dave Jewell

Tuesday 10th June

A Roseate Tern offshore with 19+ Sandwich and a Little Tern was unseasonal. Elsewhere an adult summer Mediterranean Gull was in the Bight, the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary and waders were limited to 74 Oystercatcher, 10 Curlew and a Whimbrel.

Wildlife News: A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was at Cockwood, the Grey Seal was off the seawall and Field Madder was rediscovered in the Buffer Zone.

Monday 9th June

The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with 22 Common Scoter and 10 Sandwich Tern offshore. The summer birding doldrums have arrived early, unless of course you are at the north end of the estuary...

Sunday 8th June

A Red-throated Diver was offshore with 15 Sandwich Tern and 15 Common Scoter. Elsewhere 87 Oystercatcher, 22 Sanderling and two Curlew were in the estuary.

Saturday 7th June

A couple of  arrivals offshore were the highlight with a first summer Black-throated Diver and a drake Eider alongside the first summer Great Northern Diver, 80+ Common Scoter and a good late count of 56 Sandwich Tern. The Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary, waders included 19 Sanderling, 12 Curlew and two Dunlin, with 72 Carrion Crow on the mudflats or harrassing Oystercatcher.

Wednesday 4th June

The two Great Northern Diver remain off the seawall with 23 Common Scoter and seven Sandwich Tern. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary.

Wildlife News: The Grey Seal was showing well close in off the seawall.

Tuesday 3rd June

The Slavonian Grebe remains off Cockwood and the Greylag Goose again roosted with Canada Geese but no other news was received.

Wildlife News: The Grey Seal was in the estuary.

Monday 2nd June

Two Great Northern Diver, including one in full summer plumage, were close in off the seawall this evening with c30 Common Scoter, eight Sandwich Tern and three Manx Shearwater. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary off Cockwood, 59 Carrion Crow were hassling Oystercatcher on the mudflats and there is one less Long-tailed Tit on site as it fell prey to the Sparrowhawk nesting offsite at Langstone Cliff.

Sunday 1st June

A return to more routine fare with counts of 122 Sanderling, 16 Shelduck, 12 Dunlin, seven Whimbrel, four Curlew and three Ringed Plover in the estuary along with the Slavonian Grebe and a summer plumaged Knot. Offshore there were 50+ Common Scoter and the Great Northern Diver which also did a few high circuits of the lower estuary, using it's feet as very effective rudders. Elsewhere 135 Starling, mostly juveniles, were feeding on site and a Chaffinch overhead was the first for a month wth single figures of Swift, House Martin, Rook and Jackdaw also passing through.

Wildlife News: The Common and Grey Seal were both in the estuary, whilst Barrel Jellyfish continue to come ashore.