December 2008

Exmouth - Red-necked Grebe off Shelley Beach at 16.00 with 2 Goldeneye (Thanks T. Smith)

Clennon Valley, Paignton - Probable Siberian Chiffchaff (ssp. tristis) in willows by western pond by causeway. Firecrest also present.

Exmouth - Black Redstart female again on garden walls of apartments adjacent to Shelly Beach at 15.10. (Thanks T. Smith)

Exminster - 4 Woodlark (Thanks L. McGechie)

Bursdon Moor - 2 Hen Harriers (both ringtails) over moor at 16.20.

Colyford Common - 2 Water Pipits at 10.00 with 8 Rock Pipits including one showing features of 'Scandinavian' ssp. littoralis.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter female still off the seawall along with a Slavonian Grebe.

Exminster - 2 Woodlark in stubble field off Matford Lane at 09.30.

Halberton - Mandarin drake still on the Grand Western Canal early afternoon 100 yards south of Crownhill Bridge at SS.998.126

Halberton - Mandarin drake on Grand Western Canal, 200 yards south of Crown Hill Bridge SS.998.126 at 16.00.

Seaton - Black Redstart at the Axe Yacht Club.

Beer - Black Redstart still on the beach.

Isley Marsh - 6 Spoonbills still at approx. SS.490.328.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still off the seawall.

Warren House - Jack Snipe flushed from Challacombe path below Soussons plantation at mid-day.

Sidmouth - Black Redstart on the seafront flew towards the town. 6 Purple Sandpipers on Chit Rocks in afternoon (Thanks T. Smith)

Isley Marsh - 6 Spoonbills still on marsh at 8.30am, also 27 Pintail.

Baggy Point - Black Redstart on cliffs near the point.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter female still offshore.

Seaton - Black Redstart still in gardens along Trevelyan Road.

Merry Christmas from here at Devon Birding!

Holcombe, Teignmouth - Sabine's Gull reported in valley by Smugglers Inn.

Beer - Firecrest in Jubilee Gardens. Black Redstart by the beach huts.

Exmouth - Swallow between Lympstone and Exmouth mid afternoon.

Exmouth - Black Redstart again on roof of Windward Court. Black-throated Diver off the seafront with a Slavonian Grebe at 15.00, viewable from the Pavilion. (Thanks T. Smith)

Mudbank Lane - Spotted Redshank on tideline late afternoon.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still off Langstone Rock with a Great Northern Diver and 2 Slavonian Grebes.

Mudbank Lane - Spotted Redshank and Greenshank on tideline at 14.10 (Thanks T. Smith)

Exmouth - Black Redstart again on Shelley Beach, on rooftop of Windward Court at 14.45. (T Smith)

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still present.

Exmouth - Black Redstart behind the Exe sailing club around the dinghies on Shelley Beach at 12.20 (Thanks T. Smith)

Broadsands - Velvet Scoter offshore with a Great Northern Diver. 6 Cirl Buntings around car park.

Preston - Long-tailed Duck still offshore.

Thurlestone - 2 Back Redstarts on Leasefoot Beach.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still offshore.

Broadsands - 4 Black-necked Grebe, Velvet Scoter, 11 Common Scoter and an Eider offshore (Thanks J. Marshall)

Preston - Long-tailed Duck still offshore with a Black-necked Grebe. (J. Marshall)

Goodrington - 2 Black-necked Grebes.

Dawlish Warren - Adult female Surf Scoter still offshore along with a Black-throated Diver.

Preston - Long-tailed Duck still offshore with 2 Black-necked Grebes and a Great Northern Diver. (Thanks J. Marshall)

Goodrington - Eider and 2 Black-necked Grebes offshore. (J.Marshall)

Beer - 2 Firecrests in Jubilee Gardens at 09.30.

Exmouth - Black Redstart again at Exe Sailing Club, by dinghies on Shelley Beach. (Thanks T. Smith)

Countess Wear - Female Scaup still on canal at Riverside CP by path to viewing platforms.

  Scaup, Countess Wear, © Dave Stone

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still. Also 2 Slavonian Grebe, Common Scoter, 3 Red-throated Diver and 5 Red-breasted Merganser.

New Bridge - Adult Whooper Swan still in field by the river Taw with Mute Swans at 08.00.

Seaton - 3 Great Northern Divers flew west this morning.

Northam Burrowes - 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese with c.150 Dark-bellied Brents at c.SS.455.310 this morning.

Countess Wear - Female Scaup on canal 400m north of swing bridge at 15.00.

Exmouth - 2 Black Redstarts around the marina early afternoon: one by Exe Sailing Club and the other on rooftops in Victoria Way adjacent to the marina basin (Thanks T. Smith)

Otter Estuary - Mediterranean Gull with Herring Gulls opposite the hide.

Preston - Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck and Great Northern Diver offshore.

  Long-tailed Duck, Preston, © Phil Stidwill

Seaton - 2 Black Redstarts at the Axe Yacht Club.

Beesands Ley - 3 Scaup.

Goodrington - 4 Black-necked Grebes and 3 Great Northern Divers.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still.

Thurlestone - Black Redstart on beach. 

Barnstaple - 2+ Water Pipits still in fields opposite post 4 of Tarka Trail SS.545.328.

Isley Marsh - 4 Spoonbills still early afternoon.

Ilfracombe - 4 Purple Sandpipers still present below Capstone Parade at 10.35. Black Redstart in gardens above museum at 10.00.

Broadsands - Velvet Scoter offshore with 15 Common Scoter, 7 Black-necked Grebes and 2 Great Northern Diver but no sign of the Red-necked Grebe. Little Egret on beach and Siberian Chiffchaff reported in car park.

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter female still today; also Slavonian Grebe and a possible Siberian Chiffchaff.

Barnstaple - Whooper Swan with Mute Swans near the Iron Bridge. 3+ Water Pipits in fields opposite Dripping Well at SS.545.328 mid afternoon.

Sidmouth - Male Black Redstart on beach and on buildings 100m from Jacobs Ladder early afternoon.

Clennon Valley - Firecrest along path between lakes and caravan site at 14.00.

Countess Wear - Siberian Chiffchaff still at the old settling beds today.

Broadsands - Red-necked Grebe and Velvet Scoter offshore. 8 Cirl Buntings in the car park.

Preston - Long-tailed Duck still offshore with 8 Black-necked Grebes and a Great Northern Diver.

Kingsbridge - Firecrest in private garden.

Exmouth - Black Redstart still by the yellow building near the marina basin briefly mid-morning. (Thanks T. Smith)

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still today, also Slavonian Grebe and Great Northern Diver.

New Bridge - Whooper Swan still with Mute Swans.

New Bridge - Whooper Swan with Mute Swans.

Dawlish Warren - Slavonian Grebe still in estuary.

Brixham - 10 Purple Sandpipers on the breakwater at 09.30.

Sidmouth - 8 Purple Sandpipers on Chit Rocks at 12.15.

Beer - Firecrest still in Jubilee Gardens.

Prawle Point - Short-eared Owl north of the point late afternoon.

Molland Common - Male Hen Harrier over at 13.15

Exmouth - Black Redstart on new apartment block near the marina basin. (Thanks T. Smith)

Shelly Beach, Exmouth - Pale-bellied Brent Goose on beach.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still offshore.

Torbay - 13 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Great Northern Diver, 7 Eider, Velvet Scoter and 11 Common Scoters.

Dawlish Warren - No sign of female Surf Scoter.

Exmouth - Black Redstart around the marina basin. (Thanks T. Smith)

Mudbank Lane - Spotted Redshank

Colyford Common - 11 Water Pipits still.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still, also Slavonian Grebe and Dartford Warbler.

South Huish Marsh - 2 Black Redstarts

Thurlestone - 2 Black Redstarts on marsh and 1 on the beach.

Broadsands - 8 Black-necked Grebes, Slavonian Grebe, Velvet Scoter and 2 Great Northern Diver offshore.

Exmouth - Black Redstart by the Exe sailing club and another near the marina basin. (Thanks T. Smith)

Colyford Common - 10+ Water Pipits present.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still offshore today. Also 5 Red-throated Diver, 3 Eider, Slavonian Grebe and probable Siberian Chiffchaff.

Preston - Long-tailed Duck still offshore with 5 Black-necked Grebes and 2 Great Northern Diver.

Goodrington - 6 Black-necked Grebes.

Broadsands - 3 Black-necked Grebes on north side of beach.

Thurlestone - 2 Black Redstarts and a Water Pipit on Thurlestone Marsh.

Beer - Firecrest still in Jubilee Gardens.

Isley Marsh  7 Spoonbills still, also Spotted Redshank and Red-throated Diver.

Broadsands - Siberian Chiffchaff in trees by car park. 6 Black-necked Grebes, Slavonian Grebe, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver and Velvet Scoter offshore.

Preston - Long-tailed Duck and Black-necked Grebe offshore.

Berry Head - 2 Black Redstarts.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still.

Northam Burrowes - Slavonian Grebe off the north end of the Skern again at high tide late morning. 

Ilfracombe - 2 Purple Sandpipers on rocks below Capstone Parade at high tide late morning.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still off the seawall. Probable Siberian Chiffchaff by the 1st pond.

Kingsbridge Estuary - Spotted Redshank

Thurlestone - 2 Water Pipits and a Black Redstart still on marsh. Black Redstart on Yarmer Beach.

Exminster Marshes - 1st winter Mediterranean Gull

Countess Wear - Siberian Chiffchaff still with 4 Chiffchaffs.

Thurlestone - 2 Water Pipits and a Black Redstart at Thurlestone Marsh.

Countess Wear - Siberian Chiffchaff still at the old settling beds with 5 Chiffchaffs. Female Scaup on canal north of the swing bridge, and Water Rail on pools nearby. 3 Goldeneye on river adjacent to sewage works. (Thanks T. Smith)

Torquay - 4 Black-necked Grebes off Preston seafront.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter still offshore late afternoon with a Velvet Scoter.

Beer - 2 Firecrests in Jubilee Gardens.

Broadsands - Velvet Scoter

Dawlish Warren - Surf Scoter still offshore with a Slavonian Grebe.

Goodrington - 2 Black-necked Grebes, Slavonian Grebe and Great Northern Diver offshore.

Dawlish Warren - Female Surf Scoter again offshore.

Salcombe -  Yellow-browed Warbler still behind Winking Prawn restaurant at Hangar Creek reedbed NR in sallows between pay and display car park and tennis court.

Countess Wear - Siberian Chiffchaff and Firecrest still at the sewage works.

Tiverton - Firecrest in hedgerow to the rear left of Morrisons supermarket.

Fremington Pill - Spotted Redshank feeding in shallows at the Pill.

Isley Marsh - 6 Spoonbills still, in deep gully near the shoreline.