Tardy Seawatch

An hour long seawatch off the Yacht club in Teignmouth would have been more rewarding if it had started before 11.30am, however despite the late start totals heading south included c130 Kittiwake, 35 Gannet, 30+ Razorbill and a Great Northern Diver. Further out in the bay many more birds were passing/feeding in the murky conditions whilst on the sea there were at least eight Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver.

WeBS

Totals from around the estuary this morning included 445 Oystercatchers, 97 Curlew, 40 Redshanks, 12 Turnstones, six Lapwings, five Ringed Plovers, two Common Sandpipers, 35 Teal, 38 Mallards, 11 Shelducks, seven Little Grebes, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Kingfisher.

Yesterday afternoon two Cattle Egrets were still at Teigngrace, just outside the patch boundary in a muddy field next to some solar panels. A brief look at Decoy Lake yielded just three Tufted Ducks and the Shoveler.

Black Reds on my roof

On the way out of the house (Wolborough Hill, Newton Abbot) today I noticed two female-type Black Redstarts on my roof. I've never seen them here before so seeing two was a bit unexpected.

Cattle Egrets remain

A Chiffchaff spent a couple of days singing in a tree outside my house last week; it could be forgiven for thinking it's late spring given the recent mild temperatures. There have however been signs of winter including good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares moving overhead on several mornings.

The three Cattle Egrets were still on the floods at Teigngrace this afternoon alongside 20 Little Egrets.

Black Redstart

An adult male Black Redstart was on one of the burnt out factory buildings near the car park at Baker's Park in Newton Abbot this afternoon, just within the patch boundary.

Now 3 Cattle Egrets

The Teigngrace 'flock' of Cattle Egrets has increased to three birds, present in the field west of the level crossing to 4pm at least.

A couple of other bits and pieces from my notebook over the past week:

31 Oct - Male Shoveler still at Decoy Lake but no sign of the Scaup or any Tufted Ducks.

29 Oct - Red-throated Diver, adult Mediterranean Gull, Common Scoter and 4 Red-breasted Mergansers south past Teignmouth yacht club between 07:20 and 08:50.

28 Oct - Firecrest still with c15 Goldcrests in The Ness, Shaldon.