Monday 23rd November

Hopes for more Wood Pigeon migration were dashed despite seemingly ideal conditions with light winds, clear skies and the first ground frost of the winter. Despite the large numbers still moving further east fewer than 150 were overhead this morning, also overhead a couple of Stock Dove and a handful of Chaffinch and Goldfinch. Elsewhere at least one Chiffchaff remained in the entrance bushes, a pair of Gadwall and six Great-crested Grebe were offshore and the Bonaparte's Gull was reported.

Sunday 22nd November

In clear and calmer conditions, overhead movement was again heavy this morning with 23,170 Woodpigeon and 21 Stock Dove heading WSW with many Starling and single Redwing, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush.  Waders and wildfowl were on the move all morning with birds in off and passing at sea with highlights of a Goldeneye, pair Gadwall, 20 Shoveler, 3 Pintail, seven Tufted Duck, four Pale-bellied Brent and a sw Little Gull. Also at sea, two Red-throated Diver, four Great Northern Diver, three Great Crested Grebe, two Goldeneye and over fifty Common Scoter.

A/the late Swallow flew along the beach, a Cirl Bunting sang from the Buffer Zone (two present) and also among bushes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay, four Goldcrest, two Chiffchaff, pair Stonechat, c.30 Goldfinch and a pair Bullfinch.

On the rising tide in the estuary, The Bight and as rafts at sea, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 342 Wigeon, 172 Teal, 22 Shelduck, 270 Brent Goose; also 12 Grey Plover, 114 Curlew, 16 Knot, c.450 Dunlin,  13 Sanderling, four Bar-tailed Godwit, 93 Redshank, six Greenshank and 28 Turnstone.  Four Rock Pipit and c.60 Linnet were on the Bight shoreline.

Wildlife News: a late Migrant Hawker on the Main Pond and a presumed Red Admiral heading south at sea.

Saturday 21st November

In clear skies and a strong northerly, the much anticipated migration spectacle did not disappoint with a total of 58,870 Woodpigeon streaming through all morning heading SW/ W, breaking the site record set just over a year ago; 42+ Stock Dove and 3 racing pigeon were noted among the clouds of birds.  Also on the move 3 Little Egret, two Buzzard, a Peregrine, two Lapwing, a Swallow, 15 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 27 Redwing, 12 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, 160 Starling, two Chaffinch and a Reed Bunting.

 

At sea, a Great Northern Diver, a Red-throated Diver, two Great Crested Grebe, six Common Scoter, a pair of Gadwall landed inshore, only c.10 Gannet, a sw Mediterranean Gull and a trickle of Dunlin in off all morning. The adult Bonaparte's Gull flew over the spit and into the estuary early afternoon.

 

In the estuary and on the high tide, 249 Brent Goose, 30 Shelduck, 1466 Oystercatcher, 15+ Grey Plover, a Ringed Plover, two Knot, 10 Sanderling, 110 Curlew and an unseasonal Whimbrel, 20+ Turnstone.  In the Bight, 40+ Linnet and the regular Water Pipit with Rock Pipits.

 

Sheltered sides of the bushes supported little interest, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, four Stonechat, a Chiffchaff and a Bullfinch.  An immature Black Redstart on the seawall was different to yesterday's bird.

Whimbrel - David Boult

 

Friday 20th November

Offshore a Black-throated Diver flew south early morning with four Great Northern Diver, four Great-crested Grebe and just a single Common Scoter. Elsewhere a Black Redstart was a new arrival on the seawall, a flock of 400 Wood Pigeon flew west, a Kingfisher was in Shutterton Creek and the Slavonian  Grebe was also in the estuary. 

Wednesday 18th November

Seawatching before 9am produced 100+ Gannet and 80+ Kittiwake south with only a single Razorbill to break the monopoly. The same conditions reduced overhead passage with just 400 Wood Pigeon heading northwest after the large numbers along the south coast the previous day. Elsewhere two Great Northern Diver were close in front of the hide where the Water Pipit was seeking shelter  Counts included 378 Wigeon, 285 Dunlin, 238 Brent Geese, 30 Grey Plover, 11 Sanderling and six Shelduck with the Slavonian Grebe still present.

Skylark - Dave Jewell

Tuesday 17th November

The Great Northern Diver was present in the Bight at high tide but the only other news received was of two female Pintail with Wigeon in Shutterton Creek.

Great Northern Diver - Lee Collins

Monday 16th November

Another day of pigeon migration; in two hours from 8.15am a minimum of 11,700 Wood Pigeon flew west, but again few other species were involved. The only other news received was on the continued presence of the first winter Great Northern Diver in the estuary.

Sunday 15th November

The strong winds didn't deliver the hoped for influx of seabirds but watches from the seawall did produce seven Great Northern Diver and 130+ Gannet but just single figures of Razorbill and Kittiwake. Another Great Northern Diver remained in the estuary with the Slavonian Grebe and two Mediterranean Gull. Counts included 1070 Oystercatcher, 668 Dunlin, 199 Curlew, 166 Brent Geese, 156 Teal, 50+ Shag, 37 Turnstone, 27 Ringed Plover, 12 Sanderling, two Greenshank and two Pintail. Elsewhere a late Wheatear was on the seawall, a Jay was in the Railway Saltmarsh and six Chiffchaff were on site and at least three Cirl Bunting were in the Buffer Zone.

Wildlife News: A Small Tortoiseshell flew west across the estuary late morning.

Saturday 14th November

The wintering adult Bonaparte's Gull made one of its increasingly random appearances today, showing well off the seawall for around five minutes early morning before heading south into Dawlish Bay. Also offshore a male Velvet Scoter with a small group of Common Scoter and a Great Northern Diver. Counts from the estuary included 700+ Dunlin, 424 Wigeon, 259 Teal, 50 Bar and a Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Knot, eight Sanderling and a Greenshank with a second year Yellow-legged Gull on Bull Hill and the Great Northern Diver and Slavonian Grebe still present. Elsewhere a Short-eared Owl and Cirl Bunting were in Greenland Lake, the Water Pipit was in the Bight, two Redpoll were in Dead Dolphin Wood and a Shoveler was on the Main Pond.

Friday 13th November

A total of at least 8550 Wood Pigeon flew west across a broad front this morning with many of the largest flocks offshore. Other movement overhead was either minimal or too high to notice but amongst the few Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Skylark were at least four Fieldfare.