A migrant Reed Bunting on Orcombe Point late this afternoon - hiding pretty effectively in hedgerow next to the dung heap. Also - a female Wheatear, 4+ Chiffchaffs, a male Stonechat and c10/15+ Meadow Pipits.
Off Mudbank - c90 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers.
Yesterday afternoon on Orcombe - a male Wheatear and a pair of Cirl Buntings. Seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese were off Mudbank.
On the 19th, Mudbank counts included 13 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, c100 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 Greenshank, 26 Shelducks and 10 Redshank. a flock of 32 Cattle Egrets flew from north of Starcross to somewhere in the Cockwood/Cofton area.
A pair of Cirl Buntings on Orcombe Point. Surely a good chance they'll breed up there this year?
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - Mudbank. One of seven yesterday. Two off there late this afternoon and 13 off there on Monday.
Male Wheatear on the dung heap yesterday. There was a female there this afternoon.
Fingers crossed for your Cirl Buntings to breed locally, Matt. Such lovely birds. I won't see one until I get to northern Greece at the end of next month.
ReplyDeleteGood numbers of singing Reed Buntings in Richmond Park yesterday- the only buntings I get to see locally. Saw my first couple of Wheatears there too, having missed a local one last week. Highlight though was a male Ring Ouzel I found.
I know Dark-bellied Brents are common down your way & the Essex coast near London, but we had quite a movement over London one day last week with 88 at Rainham & a few at other sites, but looking out of place was one that arrived on the canal near me & hung around for 4 days. Totally surreal.
Enjoy the migrants. Just seen a photo on FB of Sand Crocus at Dawlish Warren.
Hi Neil - good to hear from you. Nice one with the Ring Ouzel - fantastic to get a spring one! Brent numbers dropping by the day here and yes, I probably do take them for granted. Guess there's a possibility that some of your birds are birds that have wintered down this way. Good to hear the Sand Crocuses are out. Should be some great stuff in northern Greece. Would love to do a spring trip one day. Good for orchids I'd imagine? All the very best. Matt.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for those Cirls mate. Long over due.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. They could easily go undetected up there though, somewhere on private land. The fact we have regular winterers up there means they're somewhere nearby at least. Good to hear from you. Matt.
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