Took my dad up to see the Long Tailed Shrike this afternoon on the Gloucestershire/Oxfordshire border and after a bit of a wait it showed so well- nice little English tick for me as well !
Jersey Tiger Moth yesterday and another today in my garden in Torquay
Caspian Tern (red ringed) River Clyst from viewing platform 8.49pm - only the 6th record for Devon
One of the local Green Woodpecker calling away on the telegraph pole outside my house in Torquay late pm
Long Tailed Shrike this morning near Crail showed really well the entire time we were there with @seatonbirder.bsky.social and Clive M- also plenty of Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrow
Western Reef Heron this evening showing well at Foryd Bay, North Wales - didn’t think that would happen after sea watching at Berry Head all morning!
Berry Head - 555am-11am personal totals Sooty Shear. 12 Puffins, 35 Storm Petrels , 40 Balearic Shears, 3 Common Terns, Sandwich Tern, 9 Gadwall, c2500 Manx Shears, 2 GND, Harbour Porpoise
Back from a non birding holiday to Rhodes-birding highlights Lallysos- Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, Bee Eater, Sard Warbler- Rhodes Town- Crag Martin, Scopolis Shearwater- Lindos Alpine Swifts, Lesser Kestrels-also saw Flying Fish, Starred Agama & Northern White Breasted Hedgehog
What a start to the day-an excited phone call from @robmurphy.bsky.social saying he had just found a Wryneck at Labrador Bay south of Shaldon, near the car park and it was still showing when I arrived - what a bird - the first one I’ve seen in the month of May- still showing c9am at least
Exciting tracking a Little Tern down the Devon coast today-in the estuary at Dawlish Warren at c830-then flew out to sea with 3 Sandwich Tern(Lee C) .Then seen off Hopes Nose at c930am with 2 Sandwich Tern(i must have missed one)! & then Finally off Berry Head at c1025am with 3 Sand T again (Mike L)
An exciting sea watch at Hopes Nose 650-1040am-little tern at 930(only the third time I’ve seen one here-1986 and 1991)- 5 Puffin(2 at 706am, 2 at 754am & 910am), 1+ad LP Pom Skua at 726am & 740am, 3 GND, 5 Eider(3m2f) 720am, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Turnstone, 350 Manxies, 4 Common scoter
3 Swift low over upper Cockington Valley this evening - wonderful to hear them calling - depressingly only the second time this spring of seeing a Torbay Swift
A lovely relaxed time at Exminster Marsh today - highlights - 2 Spoonbill including the ringed bird from the Netherlands, c30 Swifts, c20 House Martins, 6 Greenshank , 2 Ringed Plover, c12 Whimbrel, male Wigeon, male Teal
At least 6 Painted Lady around Armada Park, Chelston , Torquay at lunchtime today
My first Swifts of the year - 2 at 1224pm over Armada Park, Chelston, Torquay
A nice dog walk after work at South Milton Sands - on South Huish Marsh - 1-2 Yellow Wagtails, Cattle Egret, Whimbrel, 7 Bar-Tailed Godwits in off and continued up valley , Ringed Plover and c50 Swallows/House Martins
I always struggle with seeing Treecreeper and this year it took me 100 days 😂- but finally one showed well late morning in these trees at Ideford Common
Hopes Nose -645-935am- c200 Manx Shearwaters lingering offshore - 3 Purple Sands on rocks at Sandy Point, GND on sea off point and 2 Whitethroats
Exminster this am-a Ruff showing well by the viewing platform for second day - only the second reported bird in Devon this year! Also the Continental Black Tailed Godwit still, Spoonbill, c20 Cattle Egrets, Red Kite north at 933am, plenty of Reed &Sedge Warblers, c400Sand Martins
Dawlish Warren- 2 Eider - adult male and female off the seawall still c145pm found earlier by Lee C- the first ones reported in Devon this year! Also c6 Sandwich Terns, 3 GCGrebes (dreadful pics taken with phone hand held to scope)!
Continental Black Tailed Godwit - Exminster for its 6th day-on pools in front of Lagoon with Black Tailed Godwit flock on and off from 930am -expertly found by @jamesrdiamond.bsky.social - the first confirmed record for Devon ! Also Spoonbill, Russian White Fronted Goose, Whimbrel, Swallows,Sedge W
Bonapartes Gull - Blaxton Meadow - possibly the first one actually seen on Blaxton Meadow - great find by @stuart17.bsky.social and 38 years ago to the month that Dick Filby found Devon’s first modern day bird alongside the Ross’s Gull
Bonapartes Gull still Blaxton Meadow 930am and showing well from Viewing area by hide
Bonapartes Gull still 905am Blaxton Meadow on the River Plym - (flew in 845am)- my first in Plymouth for 30 years- in the late 80’s/early 90’s Richard White, Mush, @westcoastbirds.bsky.social @debalmer.bsky.social use to find these for fun!
c25 Sand Martins at Bowling Green Marsh at c1pm low over the water in front of the hide - my earliest Sand Martins ever !
Took 2 attempts but the Ross’s Gull showed brilliantly flying around the harbour at Newlyn for c10 mins at 315pm-I believe the longest staying one in Cornwall by a day so glad it hung on today-my 8th Ross’s & 3rd in Cornwall- also now makes up for missing the 89 bird at Newlyn-happy days
Drake Scaup still on Long Rock Pool, Marazion this morning
Lesser Yellowlegs still c11am Truro on river behind Tesco - near junction of rivers by Blewetts Wharf and showing well
