May 2009

Presumed Western Sandpiper, Dawlish Warren, © Dave Stone

Bowling Green Marsh - Gull-billed Tern on mudflats with Black-headed Gulls from viewing platform between 15.00 and 15.30 on ebbing tide then flew south down estuary. (Thanks GE. and LA. Carr)

Teign Estuary - Second summer Spoonbill still at west end off Passage House Inn.

Dawlish Warren - No sign of presumed Western Sandpiper all day.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still off Passage House Inn at 13.00 (Thanks T. Leaman)

Cockwood - Summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe still on Exe Estuary this morning.

Dawlish Warren - Presumed Western Sandpiper still viewable from hide at 20.15 then flew off with Dunlin flock. (Thanks T. Marchese)

Exe Estuary - Slavonian Grebe still off Cockwood.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still at west end of estuary viewable from Passage House Inn at 14.00.

Lundy - Male Red-breasted Flycatcher in Millcombe Valley this evening.

Dawlish Warren - Probable Western Sandpiper still on beach this evening in front of the hide along with a Little Stint.

Brixham - Probable Red Kite between Prouts Garage and Hillhead today (Thanks T. Leaman)

Bowling Green Marsh - First summer Little Gull still.

Exe Estuary - Summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe still off Cockwood.

Berry Head - 1137 Manx Shearwaters, 31 Storm Petrels, 23 Common Terns, 8 Puffins, 4 Sandwich Terns, 3 Great Skuas and a Harbour Porpoise past between 06.00 and 16.00. (Thanks J. Marshall and M. Darlaston)

Orcombe Point -  150+ Manx Shearwater, 2 Balearic Shearwater and a Roseate Tern past this morning (Thanks D. Stone). 41 Manx Shearwater past early afternoon (Thanks T. Smith)

Exminster Marshes - First summer Little Gull present today (Thanks P. Johnson)

Beer - Pomarine Skua west at 08.25 and a Balearic Shearwater past at 10.00.

Budleigh Salterton - Storm Petrel off seafront this evening.

Dawlish Warren - Probable Western Sandpiper still on The Bight this evening along with a summer plumage Little Stint.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still off Passage House Inn this morning.

Cockwood - Slavonian Grebe still on Exe Estuary.

Haldon - 2 Red Kites over between 13.15 and 13.25 (Thanks L. Collins)

Exminster Marshes - 4 Red Kites over (R. Khan per M. Darlaston)

Newton Abbot - Red Kite over Highweek this afternoon (J. Wright per M. Darlaston)

Paignton - Red Kite flew north over King's Ash Road at 13.50.

Slapton - Red Kite over late morning.

Dawlish Warren - Probable Western Sandpiper still on beach over high tide along with a Little Stint.

Exe Estuary - Slavonian Grebe still on estuary between Cockwood and Starcross early evening.

Dawlish Warren - Black Guillemot off the windmill mid morning though distant. 4 Red Kites over, and probable Western Sandpiper still on beach at high tide.

Beer - Probable Short-toed Lark on Beer Head this morning but not seen again (Thanks G. Haig)

Haldon - Red Kite over (R. Khan per M. Darlaston)

Bowling Green Marsh - Yellow-legged Gull and Mediterranean Gull on marsh, and Red Kite over this evening. (Thanks D. Stone)

  Mediterranean Gull, Bowling Green Marsh, © Dave Stone

Seaton - Red Kite flew over town this morning (I. McLean per G. Haig) 

  Tawny Owl chick, South Hams, © Terry Lakeman

Dawlish Warren - Probable Western Sandpiper present again over high tide at 07.00 and again on Warren Point at 20.50.

Seaton - 2 Red-crested Pochards (first site record) on Black Hole Marsh but no further sign by late morning. (Thanks G. Haig)

Haldon - Red Kite over (Thanks M. Darlaston)

Topsham - No sign of Gull-billed Tern this morning, but first summer Little Gull and first summer Mediterranean Gull on Bowling Green Marsh.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still present this afternoon.

Topsham - Gull-billed Tern showing well over reedbed early evening then flew south down the estuary at 17.55.

Dawlish Warren - Probable Western Sandpiper again on the beach over high tide early evening.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still at the west end of the estuary off Passage House Inn this morning.

Buckfastleigh - 2 Red Kites today (Thanks M. Darlaston)

Kingsbridge - Red Kite over Torr Quarry at 15.45.

Budleigh Salterton - Pomarine Skua off the seafront late afternoon.

Prawle Point - 3 Spotted Flycatchers this morning.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still present.

Dawlish Warren - Again no sign of probable Western Sandpiper at high tide.

Orcombe Point - 7 Sanderling and a Puffin west at 13.40. (Thanks T. Smith)

Dawlish Warren - No sign of probable Western Sandpiper over high tide today.

Dawlish Warren - Adult Long-tailed Skua, 400+ Manx Shearwaters, 7 Arctic Skuas, 3 Pomarine Skuas, 2 Storm Petrels, 5 Puffins, 4 Great Northern Divers, Black-throated Diver and a Little Tern south by 10.50. (Thanks S. Geary)

Berry Head - 1182 Manx Shearwaters, 62 Puffins, 6 Great Northern Divers, Red-throated Diver and a Storm Petrel past. (Thanks M. Darlaston)

  Great Northern Diver, Berry Head, © Mark Darlaston

Seaton - 429 Manx Shearwaters, 69 Common Scoters, 7 Great Northern Divers, 3 diver sp., 2 Arctic Skuas, Pomarine Skua, 2 skua sp., 5 Whimbrel, Puffin, Storm Petrel and a Hobby. (Thanks G. Haig)

Exmouth - 20+ Common Scoters, 4 Storm Petrels, 2 Arctic Skuas, Pomarine Skua, Red-throated Diver and a Manx Shearwater off Orcombe Point early afternoon. (Thanks T. Smith)

East Prawle - Male Serin in conifer by Ash Lane just south of Ash House at SX.779.361 this morning.

Berry Head - 1064 Manx Shearwaters, 16 Storm Petrels, 12 Puffins, 3 Great Northern Divers, Black-throated Diver and a Whimbrel past. (Thanks M. Darlaston)

Exmouth - Storm Petrel, Arctic Skua, Great Skua and Manx Shearwater past in 40 minutes early afternoon.

Bowling Green Marsh - Immature Spoonbill still this morning.

Hope's Nose - 145 Manx Shearwaters, 8 Storm Petrels, 7 Great Northern Divers and 3 Arctic Skuas south.

Berry Head - 827 Manx Shearwaters, 10 Puffins and 9 Storm Petrels past. Also Black-throated Diver and 2 probable Cory's Shearwaters south (Thanks T. Bragg)

Dawlish Warren - Probable Western Sandpiper again from hide between 13.15 and 14.15, then on The Bight at 16.00. Pomarine Skua and 7 Arctic Skuas past.

  Probable Western Sandpiper, Dawlish Warren, © Ivan Lakin

Exe Estuary - Spoonbill today (Thanks D. Stone)

Bowling Green Marsh - Spoonbill on main pool (different to Exe Estuary bird) (D. Stone)

  Spoonbill, Bowling Green Marsh, © Dave Stone

Seaton - Cory's Shearwater flew west at 09.40, first site record. Seen again still going west off Budleigh Salterton mid morning, and Exmouth at 13.00.

Dawlish Warren - 830 Manx Shearwaters, Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 2 Great Northern Divers and a Storm Petrel past.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still at west end viewable from Passage House Inn at 09.00 (Thanks P. Johnson)

Prawle Point - 910 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Storm Petrels and 2 Arctic Skuas past.

Hope's Nose - Storm Petrel flew south at 15.00.

Dawlish Warren - No sign of female Kentish Plover, but 3 Little Terns present.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still off Passage House Inn.

Dawlish Warren - Female Kentish Plover still on The Bight this morning and 2 Red Kites flew north.

Honiton - Red Kite flew north east over Church Hill at 07.30 (Thanks S. Lyus)

Bowling Green Marsh - Wood Sandpiper on main pool viewable from hide at 13.30.

Exminster Marshes - Wood Sandpiper this morning (presumed same bird as above).

Teign Estuary - Adult Spoonbill still at west end of estuary off Passage House Inn.

Cockwood - Summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe on Exe Estuary off railway embankment at mid-day.

Torquay - Female Black Redstart.

Dawlish Warren - Female Kentish Plover on The Bight from late morning to 13.15 at least, then roosting on beach in evening. Also Roseate Tern and Black Tern offshore. (Thanks K. Rylands)

Colyford Common - Wood Sandpiper present.

Exmouth - 3 Black Terns, Great Northern Diver, 9 Manx Shearwater, 17 Whimbrel and 30 Common Dolphins past Orcombe Point this evening. (Thanks T. Smith)

Plympton - Red Kite over Tin Park Stables at Cornwood mid-afternoon.

Shaugh Prior - Red Kite between Shaugh Prior and Wotter mid-morning.

Teignmouth - Red Kite flew north over Coombe at 11.45.

Bishopsteignton - Red Kite flew north at 10.15.

Hope's Nose - 2 Arctic Skuas and 4 Manx Shearwaters past between 07.00 and 09.00 (Thanks T. Bragg)

Thurlestone - Drake Garganey on Thurlestone Marsh.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still off Passage House Inn.

Dawlish Warren - Again no sign of Western/Semipalmated Sandpiper this morning, but a Pomarine Skua reported.

West Charleton - Red Kite over at 07.00.

Wembury - Spoonbill on the Great Mew Stone.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still at west end of estuary, viewable from Passage House Inn at 18.55.

Dartmoor - 7 Red Kites over Rippon Tor at 16.20 (Thanks J. Marshall and M. Twiggs)

Dawlish Warren - No sign of Western/Semipalmated Sandpiper this morning but Pomarine Skua, 4 Great Northern Divers, Red-throated Diver, 9 Whimbrel and 7 Common Scoter present. (Thanks T. Marchese)

Exminster Marshes - Female Marsh Harrier flew north east at 11.45. (T. Marchese)

Ottery St. Mary - Red Kite flew north late afternoon (Thank N. Grahame)

Prawle Point - 170 Manx Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Long-tailed Duck, 4 Puffin, 15 Whimbrel, 19 Common Scoter, 12 Arctic Tern, Common Tern and a Black Tern past in 6 hours. (Thanks T. Bragg)

Beesands - Osprey flew north at 15.45.

Teign Estuary - Adult Spoonbill still at west end off Passage House Inn at 12.41.

  Spoonbill, Passage House Inn, © Mark Waldron

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still at west end of estuary viewable from Passage House Inn this mornng.

Dawlish Warren - Western or Semipalmated Sandpiper again on beach with Dunlin early morning then flew upriver at 09.05. Roseate Tern and Arctic Tern offshore, as well as 11 Great Northern Divers.

Prawle Point - 2,100 Manx Shearwaters, 8 Great Northern Divers, 8 Puffins, 3 Pomarine Skuas and a Balearic Shearwater past.

Topsham - First summer Little Gull on River Exe north of playing fields at 13.00 as well as a first summer Mediterranean Gull.

Powderham - Slavonian Grebe still just south of Powderham on Exe Estuary this evening.

Northam Burrowes - 6 Whimbrel and a Peregrine at The Skern early morning.

Dawlish Warren - Western or Semipalmated Sandpiper again on beach between 08.10 and 09.10 then flew off and no further sign by early evening. Puffin and 2 Great Northern Divers past this morning.

Exmouth - Honey Buzzard reported in off sea over Sandy Bay at 15.20.

Exe Estuary - Slavonian Grebe off the Turf Hotel south of Exminster this morning.

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill still viewable from Passage House Inn.

Exe Estuary - Western or Semipalmated Sandpiper again on mudflats south of Turf Hotel and north of Powderham between 16.30 and 17.10 then flew upriver.

  Western or Semipalmated Sandpiper, Exe Estuary, © Dave Stone

Teign Estuary - Spoonbill off Passage House Inn (Thanks K. Rylands)

Exe Estuary - Western or Semipalmated Sandpiper still late afternoon off the Turf Hotel then in The Bight at Dawlish Warren early evening on falling tide though very mobile with Dunlin flock.

Dawlish Warren - Roseate Tern offshore, also 60 Whimbrel and first summer Mediterranean Gull.

Prawle Point - 586 Manx Shearwater, 11 Great Northern Diver and a Puffin past.

Exe Estuary - Western or Semipalmated Sandpiper still 16.05 to 16.25 off The Goatwalk at Topsham, then showing well until 19.00 at least off the Turf Hotel one mile south east of Exminster. To view, park at Exminster Marshes RSPB and follow canal towpath south past sluice gate and past Turf Hotel, then view estuary channel on left. Best viewed here on rising tide with Dunlin flock.

Hope's Nose - 3 Whimbrel present though flighty.

Exe Estuary - Western or Semipalmated Sandpiper again viewable on and off until 19.15 at least one mile south east of Exminster at Turf Hotel on Exe Estuary with Dunlin flock though distant. Previously seen at Bowling Green Marsh between 14.30 and 15.30.

Dawlish Warren - Red-rumped Swallow present briefly this morning but no further sign in afternoon. Roseate Tern still offshore.

Teign Estuary - 2 Spoonbills off Pasage House Inn.

Lundy - Wryneck late afternoon.

Prawle Point - Red-rumped Swallow present briefly at 09.50 then flew towards the cliffs.

Dawlish Warren - Western or Semipalmated Sandpiper present on and off since 8th April at high tides with Dunlin flock. Last seen on 29th April, but no sign today. Previously noted at Bowling Green Marsh and Exminster Marshes. Roseate Tern still offshore with an Arctic Tern, Little Gull and 2 Great Northern Divers, also a record site count of 805 Whimbrel today.

Plymouth - Female Woodchat Shrike still near chapels in Ford Park Cemetry mid afternoon. Please view only from paths. SX.476.559. Gates locked at 18.30.

  Woodchat Shrike, Plymouth, © Mike Youdale

Cockwood - Summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe on Exe Estuary.

Braunton - Cattle Egret still in field with cattle at 15.00.

Dawlish Warren - 2 Roseate Terns and an Arctic Tern present.

Plymouth - Female Woodchat Shrike still in north east corner Ford Park Cemetry late afternoon, please view only from paths. SX.476.559. Gates locked at 18.30.

Seaton - Iceland Gull on the Axe Estuary.

Braunton - Cattle Egret still in cattle field west of toll road this morning.

Sherpa Marsh - Female Marsh Harrier again over Sherpa Marsh then flew over the Great Field at 18.00.

Dartmouth - 2 Egyptian Geese at Bayard's Cove.

  Egyptian Goose, Dartmouth, © Peter Berry

Plymouth - Female Woodchat Shrike still north of the chapels in Ford Park Cemetry late afternoon. cSX.476.559. Gates locked at 18.30.

Braunton - Cattle Egret in ditch by Aberdeen Angus cattle at cSS.476.353 at 12.00 for 4th day.