Bonaparte's in flight

The Bonaparte's Gull was again showing well along the seaward side of The Point with 20+ Black-headed Gulls and eight Common Gulls, however there was no sign of the Iceland Gull.

Bonaparte's Gull - all shots digiscoped.

Iceland Gull

A second-winter Iceland Gull was loafing about on the sea just of The Point in Teignmouth this morning. Thanks to Mark Bailey for the find. The Bonaparte's Gull was also present throughout; at times, perching right next to the Iceland Gull - a nice pairing, and a rare sight together in Britain.

Eight Tufted Duck were on Decoy Lake along with a pair of courting Great Crested Grebes.

Iceland Gull (2W)

Iceland Gull (left), Bonaparte's Gull (right)

Iceland Gull (left), Herring Gull (right)

Whitewinger at last

Despite the regular sightings in Brixham and a couple of records from the Exe so far this winter has seen no hint of any Glaucous or Iceland Gull on the Teign. However the obligatory scan of Herring Gull pre-roost on the Salty this evening was rewarded by an Iceland Gull, probably third-winter, amongst the throng.

WeBS

A Mediterranean Gull and seven Avocets provided the highlights on a chilly but calm morning of counting. The Med Gull - an adult with a partially developed black hood - was loafing about at Passage House, where the Avocets flew to forage after roosting at Flow Point. Other totals as far as Salcombe Dip included 65 Shelducks, four Teal, three Wigeon, 27 Red-breasted Mergansers, two Great Crested Grebes, 15 Mute Swans, 278 Oystercatchers, 64 Curlew, 42 Redshanks, nine Dunlin, seven Greenshanks, seven Ringed Plovers, six Snipe and singles of Common Sandpiper and Lapwing.

Avocets

Mediterranean Gull (ad)

Sinensis Cormorant

Hawfinches

Despite the record influx into Devon and the UK, this species has been conspicuous by its absence on patch. So news of one visiting a feeder somewhere in Newton Abbot recently is welcome despite not being available for others to see or indeed knowing if it is within the patch boundary!

Today however news on Devon Birds reveals a Hawfinch was near the entrance to Jetty Marsh this morning, perhaps giving a second chance to fill in the gap on the patch list.

Elsewhere the Bonaparte's Gull was reported again off Teignmouth with at least six Great Northern Diver.

Water Pipit

A Water Pipit showed well at Flow Point this morning at high tide; I'd suspected there was one a few weeks ago but failed to get decent enough views. Also between there and Salcombe Dip were 387 Oystercatchers, 45 Shelducks, 31 Dunlin and seven Ringed Plovers. A further 14 Shelducks were at Passage House along with eight Greenshanks, six Little Grebes, 400 Black-headed Gulls, 30 Common Gulls and the lone male Wigeon.

Big Garden Birdwatch

A watch in Teignmouth produced no unexpected surprises but four Blackcap was the winter peak so far alongside a few Long-tailed Tit. Outside the garden the 'usual' species were visible on the Salty but still no white-wingers.

Elsewhere three Avocet were at Flow Point and two Common Sandpiper and a Wigeon were at Passage House.

Rarity returns

The Bonaparte's Gull made a brief return to the patch this morning feeding in the mouth of the estuary with other gulls. There was no sign later but it was refound mid-afternoon back on the Exe Estuary at Shelly beach, Exmouth. Also in Teignmouth at least five Great Northern Diver were offshore but still no sign of any white wingers in the 5-600 Herring Gull on the Salty.

Black-throated Diver & WeBS

A Black-throated Diver on the estuary between Flow Point and Coombe Cellars was a surprise during this morning's WeBS count. Foraging constantly, it was mobile under the water and only surfaced for a matter of seconds between dives but the glass-like surface allowed for good views. It's over a month since Kev saw one off Shaldon so this was quite possibly a different bird.

Elsewhere five Avocets at Passage House were the first of the year and there was a welcome increase in Red-breasted Mergansers to 29. Other totals included 38 Shelducks, 353 Oystercatchers, 91 Curlew, 50+ Redshanks, 42 Dunlin, 14+ Turnstones, eight Ringed Plovers, four Common Sandpipers, two Greenshanks and a Kingfisher.

Mute Swans, Passage House

Firecrest-fest

Three Firecrests put in appearances this weekend - two in the woods at Decoy Country Park this morning, and the Kingsteignton Homebase bird again yesterday afternoon (per Cilla Ingram). Now this species is breeding in Devon one assumes that sightings will continue to increase. Also at Decoy Stock Dove and Lesser Redpoll were new for the year with a couple of each around the fringes of Wolborough Fen, and early signs of spring included a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and a pair of Sparrowhawks in full display flight.

On Thursday three Cattle Egrets were reported in the solar panel field at Teigngrace although there was no sign of them yesterday or today.