Vismig continued with Goldfinch again the main species to feature with 160+ heading east along with 12 Siskin, just six Chaffinch, two more Crossbill, a Redpoll and the first Fieldfare and Yellowhammer of the year. Eight Coal Tit also moved east but along the ridge rather than high overhead. Elsewhere a Short-eared Owl and a Dartford Warbler were on Warren Point, the Bonaparte's Gull flew in from the south around 9am and the Slavonian Grebe and eight Red-breasted Merganser were in the estuary.
Monday, 19 October 2015
Sunday, 18 October 2015
Sunday 18th October
A drop in the wind and some cloud cover saw some light visible migration overhead with 120+ Goldfinch, 41 Siskin, 30+ Chaffinch, 19 Redwing, eight Swallow, four Redpoll, four Bullfinch and a Mistle Thrush all heading east along with the first Crossbill and Brambling of the year. Elsewhere the Bonaparte's Gull reappeared offshore with perhaps the last two Sandwich Tern of the summer whilst the first five Red-breasted Merganser of the winter were in the estuary with 116 Brent Geese, 42 Dunlin, 26 Ringed and 19 Grey Plover.
Friday, 9 October 2015
Friday 9th October
A Red-throated Diver was again in the estuary visible from Cockwood along with the Slavonian Grebe. From the hide counts included c1500 Oystercatcher, c1200 Wigeon, c300 Curlew, c110 Brent Geese, c30 Dunlin, c30 Turnstone, 15 Ringed Plover, five Sandwich Tern and a Grey Plover.
Wildlife News: The Common Seal was again on Bull Hill.
Thursday, 8 October 2015
Thursday 8th October
The first Short-eared Owl of the year was on Warren Point but no other news was received.
Wednesday, 7 October 2015
Wednesday 7th October
An evening walk saw 30+ Gannet fishing offshore, hundreds of wildfowl whistling in the estuary and a Tawny Owl calling in the Entrance Bushes.
Tuesday 6th October
A Red-throated Diver was with the Slavonian Grebe in the estuary with two Little Grebe. Offsite the Bonaparte's Gull was feeding on the outfall at Dawlish so is still in the area.
Monday, 5 October 2015
Monday 5th October
Seawatching early morning was slow going despite the promising weather; two Red-throated Diver flew south with 40 Gannet, 17 Sandwich Tern, 10 Common Scoter and a Manx Shearwater. In the estuary 205+ Great Black-backed Gull were sheltering from the weather with 84 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 30 Dunlin, 22 Ringed and four Grey Plover in the Bight.
Sunday, 4 October 2015
Sunday 4th October
Little to report from seven hours of birding despite chilling fog suddenly giving way to clearer conditions in a warm southerly breeze late morning.
The Ridgway's Cackling Goose was scoped at distance from Warren Point loitering with Brent Geese over Cockle Sands, off Exmouth. The flock of Wigeon and Teal in the estuary corner on site numbered well into four-figures; one Pintail was noted. Also in the estuary around high tide, 18 Mute Swan, 37 Cormorant, 5 Little Egret, 5+ Ringed Plover, 34 Dunlin, 5 Greenshank, 21 Turnstone (including 8 seawall), 2 Mediterranean Gull, 70 Great Black-backed Gull, two Sandwich Tern; no counts today of the roosting flocks of Oystercatcher, Redshank or Curlew.
Such was the soporific feel of the bushes, species that typically receive less attention were counted and produced a site record of 25 Wren and the second-highest ever count of 57 Robin, the latter being a noticeable influx today; also a Treecreeper, 2 Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 29 Dunnock, 12 Blackbird, 6 Song Thrush (influx), 5 Stonechat, 25 Greenfinch, 66 Goldfinch, 41 Linnet and a Kingfisher flew over the Buffer Zone. A Stock Dove flushed from dunes at Warren Point was particularly unusual there.
Overhead, 29 Meadow Pipit, 17 Siskin, also only one or two each of Skylark, Swallow, Rook, Jackdaw, Lesser Redpoll and Chaffinch.
The sea was nearly birdless, just 8 Gannet and 5 Sandwich Tern. A Little Grebe had found the recently cleared Main Pond.
The Ridgway's Cackling Goose was scoped at distance from Warren Point loitering with Brent Geese over Cockle Sands, off Exmouth. The flock of Wigeon and Teal in the estuary corner on site numbered well into four-figures; one Pintail was noted. Also in the estuary around high tide, 18 Mute Swan, 37 Cormorant, 5 Little Egret, 5+ Ringed Plover, 34 Dunlin, 5 Greenshank, 21 Turnstone (including 8 seawall), 2 Mediterranean Gull, 70 Great Black-backed Gull, two Sandwich Tern; no counts today of the roosting flocks of Oystercatcher, Redshank or Curlew.
Such was the soporific feel of the bushes, species that typically receive less attention were counted and produced a site record of 25 Wren and the second-highest ever count of 57 Robin, the latter being a noticeable influx today; also a Treecreeper, 2 Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrest, 29 Dunnock, 12 Blackbird, 6 Song Thrush (influx), 5 Stonechat, 25 Greenfinch, 66 Goldfinch, 41 Linnet and a Kingfisher flew over the Buffer Zone. A Stock Dove flushed from dunes at Warren Point was particularly unusual there.
Overhead, 29 Meadow Pipit, 17 Siskin, also only one or two each of Skylark, Swallow, Rook, Jackdaw, Lesser Redpoll and Chaffinch.
The sea was nearly birdless, just 8 Gannet and 5 Sandwich Tern. A Little Grebe had found the recently cleared Main Pond.
Saturday, 3 October 2015
Saturday 3rd October
No news today other than the site reported by one observer as quiet with little interest.
Friday, 2 October 2015
Friday 2nd October
Bright sunshine, no rain and a keen north to east quarter wind for over a week now. Good coverage this morning. The Ridgway's Cackling Goose was again off Mudbank Lane, Exmouth today with Brent Geese, but not with the 115 Brent Geese within the recording area of the estuary, where also were 18 Mute Swan, 1086 Wigeon, 344 Teal, a Mallard, 2 Pintail, 49 Cormorant, 9 Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron, (no Oystercatcher count), 14 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, 307 Curlew, 8 Bar-tailed Godwit, a more expected count of 22 Turnstone (cf. Wednesday), a Knot, 35 Dunlin, 341 Redshank, 6 Greenshank, a Snipe, two Sandwich Tern, and two sw Mediterranean Gull among 228 Black-headed Gull.
A Pectoral Sandpiper flew low past the hide at 10:55 and continued NE, gained height towards Exmouth and unfortunately was not seen again. A Kingfisher flew across the estuary.
Light passage overhead, mostly NE included ten Meadow Pipit, single-figures of Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Skylark, Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin.
On the Main Pond, a squealing Water Rail and two Moorhen. The sea was too glary to observe.
In and over the bushes, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, six Stonechat, three Wheatear, 11 Blackcap, two Whitethroat, five Chiffchaff, five Goldcrest, 3 Reed Bunting, usual numbers of tits, except for at least nine Coal Tit, with a flock of five through; race uncertain. The brambles continue to attract, with 26 Greenfinch and c40 Goldfinch; c70 Linnet were mostly on Warren Point and near the hide
Wildlife News: Hot at times, on the wing were Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Small Copper, Common Darter and Migrant Hawker.
A Pectoral Sandpiper flew low past the hide at 10:55 and continued NE, gained height towards Exmouth and unfortunately was not seen again. A Kingfisher flew across the estuary.
Light passage overhead, mostly NE included ten Meadow Pipit, single-figures of Swallow, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Skylark, Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin.
On the Main Pond, a squealing Water Rail and two Moorhen. The sea was too glary to observe.
In and over the bushes, a Sparrowhawk, a Kestrel, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, six Stonechat, three Wheatear, 11 Blackcap, two Whitethroat, five Chiffchaff, five Goldcrest, 3 Reed Bunting, usual numbers of tits, except for at least nine Coal Tit, with a flock of five through; race uncertain. The brambles continue to attract, with 26 Greenfinch and c40 Goldfinch; c70 Linnet were mostly on Warren Point and near the hide
Wildlife News: Hot at times, on the wing were Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Small Copper, Common Darter and Migrant Hawker.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)