Highlights
The big news from the region was undoubtedly the continual presence of the Northern Mockingbird in selected gardens in Exmouth, Devon. As lockdown restrictions eased, many of the UK’s keenest listers made their way to Devon to pay homage to this very rare American visitor.
(1st), three Red-breasted Mergansers (2nd), two Common Sandpipers, six Greenshanks, four Goosanders, three Red-breasted Mergansers, 15 Mandarins, 20-plus Redwings and Raven (5th), 15 Common Gulls and four Ring-necked Parakeets (7th), five Cattle Egrets, three Common Sandpipers and six Greenshanks (22nd), six Crossbills and 46 Common Gulls (23rd), Black Redstart, Tawny Owl, Bar-tailed Godwit, two Chiffchaffs and Common Sandpiper (24th), two Bar-tailed Godwits, five Greenshanks and 77 Redshanks (26th), two Black-tailed Godwits and two Bar-tailed Godwits (28th), and Med Gull (31st).
A female Long-tailed Duck was at Exeter (1st), followed by five Sand Martins (3rd), Dipper, 25 Little Egrets, seven Cetti’s Warblers, eight Chiffchaffs, Knot, a few Grey Plovers, Med Gull and Water Rail (15th), Green Sandpiper, and six Cetti’s Warblers (22nd). Plympton had Black Redstart (2nd), 19 Siskins and a Chiffchaff (5th). Exminster Marshes had four White-fronted Geese, Ruff, Siberian Chiffchaff with several Chiffchaffs and Kingfisher (2nd), four Sand Martins and four White-fronted Geese (3rd), Little Ringed Plover (5th), three Whooper Swans and a Red Kite (6th), two Pintails, three Willow Warblers and two Ringed Plovers (30th), and Short-eared Owl (31st).
Starcross had 20 Shovelers, 30-plus Redwings, eight Cetti’s Warblers and Water Rail (3rd), and 51 Cattle Egrets (31st). Plymouth had male Long-tailed Duck, two Great Northern Divers, three Red-breasted Mergansers, and a singing Chiffchaff (3rd), and Sandwich Tern (14th).
Torbay had a male Long-tailed Duck, 16 Common Scoters, two Red-throated Divers, three Great Northern Divers and three Med Gulls (3rd-4th), 11 Cirl Buntings (7th), male Long-tailed Duck, 13 Common Scoters, Great Northern Diver, two Med Gulls and 17 Common Gulls (10th), six Purple Sandpipers (18th), Red-throated Diver and nine Purple Sandpipers (25th), 21 Sandwich Terns (26th), and Great Northern Diver and Red-throated Diver (31st).
Hopes Nose had a Wheatear and two Black Redstarts (5th), Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, and up to four Purple Sandpipers (6th), four Great Northern Divers and five Purple Sandpipers (13th), five Great Northern Divers, seven Purple Sandpipers and Common Scoter (14th), Wheatear (16th), Black Redstart, Wheatear, four Purple Sandpipers and two Chiffchaffs (20th), and female Black Redstart, Wheatear, Great Northern Diver, two Purple Sandpipers, Firecrest and Chiffchaff (21st). Slapton had 37 Buzzards and three Ravens (5th), Wheatear, Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, three Cetti’s Warblers, four Chiffchaffs and a singing Blackcap (16th), and 10 Cetti’s Warblers, four Little Egrets, Swallow, Red-necked Grebe and Redwing (31st).
Wembury had Glaucous Gull, Med Gull, two Black Redstarts, Rock Pipit, Bar-tailed Godwit and six Cirl Buntings (5th), Cirl Bunting and Bar-tailed Godwit (6th), Wheatear (9th), seven Cirl Buntings, four Stonechats, Black Redstart and Bar-tailed Godwit (14th), Swallow (18th), and a Willow Warbler in song and six Cirl Buntings (21st).
Aylesbeare Common had eight Crossbills (6th). Woodbury Common had four Crossbills and two Dartford Warblers (6th). Kingston had 16 Cirl Buntings (8th). Powderham had 11 Cirl Buntings, and 120 Black-tailed Godwits (9th). Crownhill had Woodcock (12th), and Crownhill Downs five Stonechats, Buzzard and Snipe (17th), plus two Wheatears (27th).
Teignmouth had a Black-throated Diver (11th). Lower Tamar Lake had five Goosanders (13th), Green Sandpiper (21st), and 12 Sand Martins, three Willow Tits and four Marsh Tits (29th). Willand had eight Cattle Egrets and 17 Little Egrets (14th).
The Otter estuary had two Cattle Egrets, 11 Little Egrets, two White Wagtails, and a Black-tailed Godwit in summer plumage (15th), Grey Plover, two Goosanders, Dipper, two Cattle Egrets and 30-plus Linnets (24th), a pair of Swallows (25th), and Glaucous Gull and two Water Pipits (30th). A Green Sandpiper was at Buckfast (16th). Bowling Green Marsh RSPB had a Black Redstart (17th). Berry Head had a Wheatear (18th), 40-plus Common Scoters (21st), and six Purple Sandpipers and a Great Northern Diver (31st).
A Red Kite was over Chittlehampton (19th), with one over South Molton (23rd). The Exe Estuary had a White-tailed Eagle over (20th). Colebrook had a Black Redstart (21st). Exmouth had Swallow, three Sandwich Terns and seven Brent Geese (24th). Plymbridge had a Dipper at the nest (25th). Otterton had an Osprey (25th). Cadover Bridge had two Ravens and Wheatear (25th), six Sand Martins (29th), and 10 Wheatears (31st). Ringmoor had 500-plus Golden Plovers (26th). An Osprey fished at Burrator Reservoir (28th). Buckfastleigh had c.30 Sand Martins, Swallow and Dipper (28th). Torre Abbey Sands had a Red-throated Diver and Wheatear (28th).
A Tree Pipit was at Hembury Woods (29th). A Marsh Harrier went through Soar (30th). Three Swallows were at Dousland (30th). Brixham had 12 Sandwich Terns, eight Purple Sandpipers and three Peregrines (30th). Roadford Reservoir had a male Ring-necked Duck (31st).
THURLESTONE BAY: A Black Swan returned to join the Mutes on the Avon Estuary from 17th. There was a single dark-bellied Brent Goose (1st & 25th). Spring build-up of Shelducks was noticeable with five on South Huish Marsh (from 17th) and 15 on South Efford Marsh (21st). Twenty-five Wigeon on South Huish Marsh (1st) reduced to two (by 31st), and on South Efford Marsh there were 70 (6th) and 50 (21st). Teal on
South Huish Marsh peaked at 65 (9th) with 30 on South Efford Marsh (21st). Two Pintail were on the sea (3rd), there was a male (18th) and a female flew south-east (24th). Four male Garganey were on South Huish Marsh (1st), the earliest spring record. The male Mandarin was on the Avon Estuary (to 17th).
On South Huish Marsh there was a maximum on three Shovelers (3rd), with offshore records of two males (19th) and a pair (30th). A female Long-tailed Duck flew south-east with six Common Scoter (24th), the first record since January 2019. Common Scoter was recorded on eight days, with a maximum 49 (23rd). Single Great Crested Grebes were in the Bay (3rd, 17th & 31st). Red-throated Diver was recorded on 22 days, with 145 logged. A new daily record was 18 (8th), and there were double figure counts of 17 (25th), 16 (28th), 15 (7th) and 12 (24th).
Ten Black-throated Divers were logged on six days with a maximum of three (28th), and 14 Great Northern Divers were logged on six days with five (26th), four (28th) and two (29th). A total of 169 birds logged is by far a record monthly total. Highest daily Gannet totals were 274 (28th) and 354 (30th), there were five Fulmars (28th), the first Manx Shearwater of the year appeared (23rd) with 16 (24th) and 24 (28th). A Spoonbill was on South Huish Marsh (2nd) and one flew over Aveton Gifford (16th). There was a maximum of 15 Oystercatchers (16th), an Avocet was on South Efford Marsh (6th), two Ringed Plovers were on the rocks with a Grey Plover there (28th), 30 Lapwings were at South Efford Marsh (4th), and three Dunlin were on the beach/rocks (3rd). There was a maximum of 35 Snipe on South Huish Marsh (7th), and a Woodcock was flushed at South Milton Ley (2nd).
There was a maximum of seven Black-tailed Godwits at South Huish Marsh (19th), with eight Curlew at South Efford Marsh (7th), and four passage birds at South Huish Marsh (25th). A Common Sandpiper was along the tidal road throughout. A Green Sandpiper was on North Marsh (17th) and one flew over Tidal Road (24th), where up to two Greenshanks were reported all month, and eight Redshanks were (1st). The Lesser Yellowlegs was there all month, and 21 Turnstones on the rocks (28th) is the highest count this year. There were early records of Great Skua with singles (13th & 28th), 18 Kittiwakes were in the Bay (28th), up to eight Little Gulls were there (23rd) and one (24th), there were eight Med Gulls (2nd) and others to 11th, six Common Gulls offshore (25th) was the highest count for some years, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was on South Huish Marsh (18th), an Iceland Gull flew south-east (25th), and a second-winter Glaucous Gull passed Hope (19th).
First Sandwich Terns were two (23rd) with 26 (30th). Sand Martins were late with three over North Marsh (22nd), and two Swallows over South Huish Marsh (29th) were the first. A Cetti’s Warbler was on South Huish Marsh (3rd) and up to three males were on South Milton Ley.
There were 10-plus Chiffchaffs at South Milton Ley, and at four other sites, first Willow Warbler was at South Milton Ley (29th), Blackcaps were at five sites, and there was the first patch Sedge Warbler record for March with singles at South Huish Marsh and North Marsh (31st). Single Firecrests were at Aveton Gifford (4th & 12th). A female Black Redstart was on the rocks (3rd) and a pair were in a local garden (25th). A Wryneck was a superb find on the Coast Path adjacent to the Golf Club (31st), a first spring record for the patch. Only two Wheatear records were singles on the beach (28th & 30th). Several Water Pipits at South Huish Marsh were starting to show signs of summer plumage, with six (23rd). Cirl Bunting was reported from three sites. Harvey Kendall, Mike Passman (mikepassman@ modbury.me.uk)
ISLES OF SCILLY
HIGHLIGHTS: The two long-staying Iceland Gulls remained, as did the four Cattle Egrets that commuted between Tresco and St Mary’s, and the Jackdaw on Tresco. A few Firecrests and Black Redstarts wintered on St Mary’s. Three Cetti’s Warbler were singing throughout. Two Eiders were between St Mary’s, Tresco and St Martins all month. Two Slavonian Grebes were on St Martin’s (to 7th). The Great Spotted Woodpeckers remained on Tresco and St Mary’s.
A Red-breasted Merganser was on St Martin’s. A pale-bellied Brent Goose was in St Mary’s Harbour (1st). The Mealy Redpoll remained in Lower Moors (to 2nd). A Brambling was at Longstone (3rd). An Osprey flew over Hugh Town (5th), when a Siberian Chiffchaff was at Longstone, and small flocks of White and Pied Wagtails were on St Mary’s. A Hoopoe was at Covean, St Agnes (5th-6th). Another Siberian Chiffchaff was on Kitty Down (6th).
A Glaucous Gull flew past Porth Hellick and a Wheatear was on St Martin’s (7th). A Hen Harrier was around the islands from mid-month. Sand Martins arrived (18th), with the first Swallow on St Martin’s (20th). A small flock of Shovelers commuted round St Mary’s from mid-month. A Sandwich Tern and Short-eared Owl were on Samson (20th). A Snow Bunting on Samson moved to Tresco (20th). A Glaucous Gull was off Morning Point and an Osprey over Hugh Town (21st).
Nine Black Redstarts were on St Martin’s (24th). A Black-throated Diver was between Tresco and St Mary’s mid-month, along with double figure counts of Great Northern Divers. A Hoopoe was on St Martins (from 29th). A Short-eared Owl flew in-off the sea on Bryher (29th) when two Firecrests were also noted. A Green Sandpiper flew over the Garrison (30th). There were a few Willow Warblers at the end of the month. Will Wagstaff
Arguably the star bird of the month in the South East was a drake Baikal Teal at Ripley Farm Reservoir, Ripley, Hampshire on 15th, which was also present the next day. But news also came (late) of Kent’s first ever Eyebrowed Thrush, present for a full 49 days!