Prawle Point

Seawatch 07.00 - 11.00

38 Balearic Shearwaters, 4 Manx Shearwaters, 720 Gannets, 2 Great Skuas,
5 Common Scoter, 4 Sandwich Terns, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Knot. (Also 12-15 Botle-nosed Dolphin at 08.00, presumably same as past Start Point).

(Identical time to Start Point seawatch - interesting to see the differences!)

Exmouth and Budleigh

The Wryneck was still showing well at 09:40 this morning at Mudbank Lane, favouring the ash trees described by Mark here. It remains very elusive when feeding by the railway line however.

At Budleigh Salterton the 20 juv Glossy Ibises were feeding on the cricket pitch at 11:00 along with a Black-tailed Godwit. 5 Balearic Shearwaters reported off the seafront at 13:05.

Kingsbridge Estuary

on the rising tide late afternoon:
Red Knot 5, Bar-wit 2, Black-wit 1, Sandwich Tern 7, Arctic Tern, Med Gull 4 (2 2cy, 2adW) one of ad birds with Red ring r/leg - Polish I believe

Froward Point

Seawatch 06.30-09.30, moderate clearing to good visibility;
20 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 17 Sandwich Tern, 6 'Commic' Tern, 2 Black Tern, 5 Common Scoter, 2 Whimbrel (all southwest).

Also at Froward, Redstart and Grasshopper Warbler 09.45-14.20

Start Point

Seawatch 07:00-11:00: Sooty Shearwater (08:41), 30 Balearic Shearwaters, 9 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Black Terns, Arctic Tern, 31 Common Terns, 15 Sandwich Terns, Arctic Skua, 527 Gannets, 7 Common Scoter, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrel. Also c.15 Bottlenose Dolphins (the usual group) heading SW at 07:17.

Interesting looking at Balearic:Manx ratio
Start Pt 3.3:1
Prawle 9.5:1
Gwennap 3.4:1

Seawatching Seaton seafront

Seawatch between 6.40am-8am Produced 2 Bonxies,24 Common scoter 3 Sandwich terns and 1 Whimbrel (all west)

Sea Watching Berry Head, Brixham

06.30 to 08.30 in clearing conditions, 6 Balearic Shearwater, 3 Arctic Skua, 1 Bonxie, 11 Sandwich Tern, 13 Common Tern, 1 Black Tern, 3 Common Scoter, 2 Heron and 2 Harbour Porpoise.

Exmouth

Two Mediterranean Gulls on Exmouth beach this morning, one with a green colour ring which would have read but for the call about the Wryneck nearby!

Wryneck, Mudbank Lane-Exmouth

The Wryneck still showing very well this evening at Mudbank Lane. It is feeding largely unseen at the side of the railway line, 100 yards up the path from the end of the road, (at the first point where the hedge is low enough to see the railway line) and then only shows when a passing train makes it fly up over the path and into the line of Ash trees in the corner of the field behind the hedge the other side of the path. It then flys back down to feed by the railway line. Note- It doesn't fly up every time a train goes by..

Start Point

Seawatch 09:30-15:30 (Mark D & Mike L):
56 Balearic Shearwaters (including at least two very pale birds), 9 Manx Shearwaters, 21 Common Scoter, 10 Sandwich Terns, 18 'Commic' Terns, 262 Gannets. c.15 Bottlenose Dolphins heading north 13:50
Also fly-by Little Ringed Plover

Kingsbridge Estuary

Charleton Marsh / Bay (14:30-17:00 ; rising tide ).

2 Egyptian Geese, Osprey ( fishing off Lincombe for 40 minutes ), Peregrine, 2 Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern.

wryneck at mudbank lane exmouth

Skern, Northam Burrows. 10/09/2010 06:45-09:00

Little Stint 1
Dunlin 23
Ringed Plover 10
Turnstone 1
Bar-tailed Godwit 2
Common Gull 1

Start Point

06:00-11:00 (Lighthouse/Start Farm/Down Valley/Mattiscombe Valley).

100% cloud cover, fresh south-west wind. Little shelter for passerines except the lighthouse road.

Spotted Redshank ( unexpected - flew through top fields calling ), Sparrowhawk ( lighthouse early am ), 10 Stock Dove, Swift, 280 Swallow, 13 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, 9 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap, Whitethroat, 8 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest.

Axe Estuary

Lots of flood water in the valley again this morning over high tide. Totals for the Estuary and Black Hole and Colyford Marshes include: 9 Wigeon, 132 Teal, 1 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 6 Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 14 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit.

Exe'n'Otter

The cliffs between Otterton sewage works and the Otter this morning held 15 Wheatear, 4 White Wagtails and a Clouded Yellow, as well as 20 Glossy Ibis at least a mile away!
Bowling Green this evening held 25 Curlew Sands and a Ruff , as well as many Wigeon new in.

Lyme Bay

From a fishing boat, Dartmouth to approx. 15 miles off Seaton. Pretty quiet: 2 Storm Petrels, 2 Arctic Skuas, 3 Great Skuas, 10 Common Terns and a Balearic Shearwater.

Beer Cemetery Fields

6.15 - 7.30am - A pre work look around produced 3 Redstarts, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Garden Warbler, and 2 each of Blackcap & Whitethroat, also a Jay.

Blackhole Marsh

7 Little Stints at Blackhole Marsh tonight also 2 Curlew sands,knot,4 Dunlin and 2 Ringed plover.
93 Teal at Coly common,7 Wigeon,12 Black tailed Godwits and a Ruff.
Im not sure what the Sparrowhawk got Little stint i think

North Devon

River Taw off Pottington Ind Est 09/09/2010.

Knot 15

Greenshank 4

Teal 4 in Bradiford Reserve.

Buzzard 1 Very light phase on Ashford Sewage Works fence.

Slapton Ley

Driving along Torcross line this morning and saw a Hobby flying over Slapton Ley.

Lone Glossy Ibis

and following on from Steve's post...probably started on the Teign and travelled up the coast, overflying the flock on the Otter...Need to find out the timings of sightings

Seaton, Colyford and Black Hole Marshes

Totals for these three sites this morning: 9 Wigeon, 91 Teal, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 6 Little Stints, 1 Knot, 3 Greenshank, 5 Green Sandpipers, 1 Ruff, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 10 Wheatear and 1 Whinchat.

Report in Seaton Marshes logbook of a Glossy Ibis on Tuesday 7th (mid morning) on the Estuary. The observer left his details so I will get in touch.

My theory (after hearing there was always only 20 on the Otter) is that one bird could be responsible for the Axe, Burton Bradstock (that evening) and Lodmoor (the next morning) sightings. That's if the Axe sighting turns out to be gen of course....

East Devon

Budleigh Salterton 10:10am : 20 Glossy Ibises and a Kingfisher during a brief visit.

Axe Cliff 12:30pm : The Dotterel still present in ploughed field. Also 3 Kestrel, Whitethroat, Yellowhammer and 6 Wheatears.

Bowling Green Marsh 18:00pm : A few Curlew Sandpiper, some Greenshanks and a Green Sandpiper during a half hearted look. No Osprey for me though.

Black Hole Marsh this evening

6 Little Stints, 3 Curlew Sands, 1 Knot, 3 Green Sands, 1 Greenshank, 6 Black-tailed Godwits. Not many Dunlin or Ringed Plovers - combined total of less than 10 probably.

Also a Hobby over, a Barn Owl briefly, and 2 Wheatears on the islands.

Dotterel still at Axe Cliff

Still present in same field this morning.

[from Roger Treeby]

For directions see here.

Taw Estuary

Fremington Pill/Quay 9:00 - 10:00 falling tide. 100 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Liitle Egret, 2 Curlew, 6 Oystercatcher.

Isley Marsh 10:30,  2 Spoonbill.

Bowling Green Marsh

An impressive high tide roost this evening included a minimum of 22 Curlew Sandpipers, all juvs., as well as 2 Garganey, about 5 juv.Knot, 5 Avocet, a Spotted Redshank, a dozen Greenshank, 2 Green Sands,a juv. Bar-tailed Godwit, a nice assortment of Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Whimbrel, and all the usual suspects.
The Osprey on its perch above the Clyst, eating a fish, with another in the sky behind it.

Blackhole Marsh

5 Little Stints at blackhole marsh tonight also 2 Curlew sands,21 Dunlin,7 Ringed plover.
1 Ruff Coly common from the hide.
Barn owl Seaton marshes also 7 Wheatear and 3 Whinchat

Glossy Ibis

The 20 Glossy Ibis showing well by the River Otter this morning, which appears to be the 2nd largest flock seen in the UK, after the flock of 25 briefly in West Wales last year. Very impressive !

Spoonbill on Axe Estuary

Still present at 3.00pm.

Spoonbill at Seaton Marshes

One showing intermittently from the hide at 12:00.

[from Mike Lock]

Update: showing on the estuary at 14:20

Beer Head & Budleigh

This morning's Beer Head tally: 7 Chiffs, 3 Willow Warblers, 41 Wheatears, 20 Yellow Wags, 2 Grey Wags, 2 Yellowhammers, 2 Tree Pipits, 2 Whitehroats, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 4 Blackcap...

...swiftly followed by a dash to Budleigh, where the Glossy Ibis were showing superbly in the field just N of the cricket pitch.

NB - pay no attention to directions on BirdGuides that suggest the birds are E of the estuary, because they aren't - they are on the WEST side, around SY073824

All twenty, and all juvs

Six wore darvic rings. As far as I could tell, they read as follows: UN8, VU7, TX9, VTH, UO2 and R9T, but it would be nice if others who had a go at reading them could confirm (or correct!) please. Cheers. Here's VTH...

Teign Estuary

Received a report of one Glossy Ibis at Flow point - just below Jacks Patch this morning for 10 mins before flying off E (Robin Shute) also one Curlew sandpiper there.

20 glossy ibis at Budleigh Salterton

Axe Cliff

Dotterel still in same field late morning/early afternoon.

R. Plym, Plymouth 6/9/10

Little Stint on the Plym this evening. It was roosting with Ringed Plover and Dunlin on a large floating pontoon. Seen from the footpath between Laira Bridge and The Embankment.
(Roy McCarthy)

Black hole Marsh

6 Little Stints at Blackhole Marsh tonight also 2 Curlew Sands 20 Dunlin and 8 Ringed Plover.
5 Greenshank at Colyford Common also a Whinchat there.

Prawle area 5/9/10

Wryneck, seen again briefly mid-morning but extremely elusive.

Also 6+ Balearic Shearwater, Great Skua, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Ringed Plover, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatear, Whinchat, 2 Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, 12 Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 13 Chiffchaff,

Prawle area 4/9/10

Wryneck, late morning east of Prawle Point, along coastpath between bunkers and Fish-in-the-Well cove.

Quail, flushed from coastpath near Gammon Head.

Also 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Golden Plover, Whimbrel, 12 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 3 Grey Wagtails, 16 Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 40 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler.

Berry Head 6th Sep

The rain came in late, so very few birds. Seawatching 0645hrs-0845hrs:
Gannet 120, Kittiwake 42, Balearic Shearwater 11, Arctic Skua 2, Bonxie 1, Sandwich Tern 3, Common Tern 1, Common Scoter 1, Teal 3 and Grey Herons 5.

Dotterel, Axe Cliff - directions

Dotterel still present at 19:30, appeared to have settled down to roost. I met one birder who seemed to have been misled by directions he found elsewhere, and wound up in the wrong spot, so here is how to get there:

In Axmouth, head E along Chapel Street (the turning opposite the Ship Inn), then turn R up Stepps Lane after 2-300 metres. At top of hill park on gravelly area by farm gate (parking for 6+ cars) and head W along track (I think it's marked as a footpath). After 200m or so turn L down narrow footpath between 2 high hedges. Bird is in first ploughed field (on the right) you come to, upon emerging from the hedges. If golf course is visible over far side of field, you are in the right place.

The Dotterel was often on this exact spot - SY263899

Axe Cliff

Dotterel still showing well in ploughed field on Axe Cliff until 16:28 when it was flushed by a dog and flew towards the golf course. 2 Little Stints still with the Curlew Sand on Blackhole Marsh at 17:00, + Common Sand and Greenshank.

Sunday - R Tavy Warleigh Point

Over the Tavy at Warleigh Point this afternoon; two Ospreys and a female Marsh Harrier. The Harrier made its way across the Tavy to Kingsmill Lake, Saltash (Cornwall) where it hunted over cereal crop and marsh.

However all three birds were definitely over Devon airspace when we first saw them!

(Roy McCarthy)

SOAR - Saturday

In addition to Alan Doidge's sightings I managed 12 Yellow Wagtails, a female Pied Flycatcher and a Merlin
(Roy McCarthy)

Axe Area

The Dotterel still showing well mid afternoon in the corner of the ploughed field by Axe Cliff Golf Course. Access opposite The Ship Inn in Axmouth. Nearby, a Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Little Stints still on Blackhole Marsh, Seaton.

Soar/Bolt Head
Must echo Perry's post. Bolt Hd/Soar also very quiet. Wood Sand showing well late afternoon on Sth Huish Marsh with 2 BT Godwit, 2 Redshank, 38 Teal of note.

Buckfastleigh - pale Coal Tit

This strange looking Coal Tit visited the feeder this morning. Not only much paler on underbody, the white on the back of head and nape carries on down the back. So it looks 'white-backed' in flight!

A normal one for comparison.

Dotterel at Axmouth

Start Point

06:00-11:30, Lighthouse, Mattiscombe Valley, Start Farm, Down Valley.

Clear starry skies when i turned in at midnight, rain and 100% cloud cover by dawn with a light-moderate south-east wind. Apparent promising conditions for Start Point but something missing because in reality not a lot around.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Grey Wagtails, 250 Swallows, 5 House Martins, Sand Martin, 3 Whinchats, 3 Wheatears, 2 Sedge Warblers, 5 Blackcaps, 10 Whitethroats, 9 Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers, Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flycatcher.