26th October
A visit to Saltram cut short by the rain. Curlew, black-headed gulls, 2 lesser black-backed gulls were settled in front of the hide. Little egrets, redshank and greenshank moved around the edges.
Making my way through the woods I thought I heard a crest or two. On searching the trees I found a firecrest. That brightened up the morning.

25th October
East Soar. I don't think I have ever seen it this quiet during autumn. One redwing, a single ring ouzel and cirl bunting is all I could manage. Close encounters with peregrine, merlin and sparrowhawk made the morning. Several hundred larks were still moving around the fields. All in all a very quiet morning.

19th October

East Soar today was very quiet apart from the odd chiffchaff, 3 ring ouzel. 

18th October
I headed for Dartmoor today, Fernworthy to be precise. It was a calm start to the day. When I arrived the trees were buzzing with redwing. They must have exceeded 500 birds. Later in the morning over 200 fieldfare were also flying around.
6 crossbills flew in the tall firs along with 40 siskin. A peregrine patrolled the area, chasing just about everything that flew.

10th October
Very little in the way of migrants. So I made the effort to get up early and visit Rame for a seawatch. I wasn't expecting anything but it was better than walking around seeing nothing.
Phil and I arrived at 7.30am. The light was good enough to watch as we sat down to get ourselves comfortable. We could see this wasn't going to be a long session even gannets were few and far between. After 10 minutes we saw an Arctic skua then a few minutes later another. The sun was up now and blinding on the sea. We stayed for an hour or more and in that time saw a Balearic shearwater, common scoter and several auks. A peregrine flew close veering off at the last minute as he caught sight of us. 
Returning to the car we saw 2 wheatear, a few chiffchaffs and yellowhammer.

2nd October
A still calm morning at Wembury today very few dog walkers so little disturbance on the beach. The bar-tailed godwit were still there joined by another two, six in all. 8 curlew sat on the rocks with several oystercatchers and a lone little egret. 
Cirl buntings were feeding in the fields and all along the hedges stonechats sat watching. A kestrel floated by . Two grey wagtail flitted around the rocks on the beach along with rock and meadow pipits. 
Small birds flitted among the trees, blue, great and long-tailed tits. Also wren, 2 blackcaps, greenfinch, chaffinch and chiffchaffs.

24th September
Called in at Wembury again for the rose coloured starling but 'dipped' yet again. I went to Bolberry to see the Dotterel this was a first for Devon for me. Luckily enough it was still in the there and still in the same part of the field I was told. It was not very active and sat most of the time. The weather was warm but not too sunny. Also in the area was a redstart and chiffchaffs. Called in at Wembury on the way back but the starling was still nowhere to be seen!

20th September
Wembury today the weather was warm and calm much like yesterday morning. The tide was in and the waders and gulls were feeding on the beach. 
Three bar-tailed godwit fed among the gulls. Also on the beach were dunlin, ringed plover, oystercatcher, turnstone and curlew. 
Several pied wagtails along with meadow and rock pipit fed among the seaweed. A peregrine sat in the trees at a distance probably waiting his chance!

19th September
East Soar proved a good choice. It was a warm and calm day. There were redstarts, spotted flycatcher and blackcaps around the farm. Further down the path toward the marshy area was a whinchat and cirl bunting.
6 wheatear were in the top field by the car park. 
More than 20 chiffchaff were seen in the area. 
The smudges on the photo are 'gnats' not a dirty lens!

10th September
Osprey still on the Plym. Waited a long time before it came close e

9th September
Went looking for the osprey again. I missed it early morning and lunchtime but caught up with it albeit very briefly in the evening.

7th September
Passing the Plym I thought I would spend some time looking for the osprey that had been seen recently. I had to wait an hour but it passed quickly as waders and egrets passed by. I was in luck the osprey appeared at about 11am fished, albeit on the other side of the river, for about 15 minutes caught a fish then flew back the way it came.

6th September
The Baird's sandpiper had been at Davidstow for a week so I thought it about time I went to see it. I arrived early and there was no-one around. The bird was not hard to find. It was amongst a small flock of dunlin and ringed plover on the airfield. I was able to get some photographs without being disturbed.

  
   
31st August/1st September
A trip to the river with the intention of seeing an osprey. I was in luck Phil E had already found one and although it had gone missing for a while we soon spotted it again.
I was up early the following morning as the tide was just right. I saw one fishing in the Tamar. It then flew up the Tavy and circled the river with another for several minutes before disappearing from view.

22nd/23rd/26th August
Another quiet week locally as far as migrants were concerned. I visited Penlee on the 22nd where there were a few whitethroats and chiffchaffs but very little else.
As it was quiet I decided on a seawatch at Rame the next day, might as well watch the sea and find nothing as traipse around finding nothing!
23rd - Joined by Phil E we had little time to set up as the first of the sea birds passed by. Two sooty shearwaters glided west and 6 dolphins passed underneath us heading east.
We made ourselves comfortable those earlier sightings may be the only birds we see this morning. Gannets were passing through in small numbers. After an hour and getting our 'eye' in we saw several Manx another sooty and a single Balearic shearwater. A common seal drifted lazily by.
We stayed for a couple more hours and it seemed as if the wind had changed and the gannet numbers dwindled.
We decided to call it a day and made our way home calling in at Torpoint where there were 18 Mediterranean gulls sat together on the shore.
26th - forecast was another wet and windy day. The weather men got it right!  The sea was rough 'white horses' and a swell, the horizon just visible. 
Gannets were passing through all the morning though not in large numbers. Manx shearwaters made their way west, singles at a time. 10 o'clock and I could see rain on the horizon heading my way. Just as I thought of giving up 2 great skua came gliding close by, another one 10 minutes later. I would give it a few more minutes now the rain had reached me. I am glad I did 2 Arctic skuas struggled in the wind close to the headland. The rain was now getting very heavy with little or no shelter I decided to make my way home. 
Other birds passing through were 14 common scoter, 2 sandwich tern, several kittiwakes and fulmars. A good morning.

16th August
A quiet calm morning. I stayed local. Red legged partridges were everywhere running along in front of me. Grey herons spent their time grunting at each other. Just one little egret near the dam. Two kingfishers were flying around but not settling in one place long. 3 cormorants roosted in the trees. Grey wagtails flew past calling all the time.
An unexpected goshawk flew out of the woods briefly and back again just as quick. A noisy flock of Canada geese flew in disturbing the tranquility.

8th August
The day was perfect for a motorcycle ride so I kitted up and made my way to Thurlestone There was very little traffic so early in the morning. When I arrived at Thurlestone it was very quiet. Not many holidaymakers up yet. Plenty of time to find something.
The usual dog walkers were out in force so I had little hope of finding something settled on the beach. Passing through South Milton Ley several reed and sedge warblers were in evidence.
Whitethroats were on top of the brambles along the path and a lone stonechat. Two snipe were the only waders I saw at South Huish Marsh. Fishing off shore were two sandwich terns an adult and juvenile.

6th August
Very quiet this last few weeks nothing to write about. I was hoping to find something of interest at Kingsmill Lake today. The tide was coming in although still a few hours from high tide.
Several redshank made there way up river along with a spotted redshank. The highest count of greenshank was 14. One by one little egrets trickled in to the lake until there was seven. A common sandpiper flew around several times not settling for any length of time. 10 mute swan sailed majestically past us. Other birds included 2 dunlin and 2 whimbrel.

July
July seems to be a quiet month for migrants but a good time to see returning terns especially at Dawlish.
Stopping at Haldon on the way to look for the turtle doves, no luck! Although a little owl was there.  I stopped at Powderham for the osprey and at Cockwood for the long staying Slavonian grebe.
Arriving at Dawlish Warren it started  to rain, with no wet weather gear, it was July after all, I was rather wet when I reached the hide. A roseate terns was sat on a pole in front of the hide along with sandwich terns. Several common terns were flying around briefly perching on the posts before flying off again. Locally Blaxton held a pair of spotted flycatcher

June
In June I always try to visit the Rumps to see puffins. This year was no exception. Corn bunting is an added bonus although every year the numbers seem to get less.  The puffins were already settled on the water, eleven in all. Not our highest count over the years but more may have been hidden from view. 
Several hundred Manx shearwater were passing along the coast. I believe these birds are feeding parties from the Welsh islands. Kittiwakes were feeding below us on the water as were guillemots and razorbills. Some of the gannets flew by very close.
Another visit to Blaxton Marsh produced reed warblers. Other birds in the area were red-legged partridge, common pheasant, blue tit, little egret, blackcap and garden warbler.

May
In May I visit Dartmoor often. There is always something of interest with breeding birds such as redstarts, whinchats, tree pipits, willow warblers, chiffchaffs, garden warbler, cuckoo and reed bunting you may be lucky to find redpoll. One of My favourite areas is Soussons. this year 2 male red-backed shrikes roamed the area in search of a female.
I had visit the family in Suffolk, so I put Lakenheath on my route. We were in luck as a golden oriole was found on a nest. Other birds at the reserve included sedge and reed warblers, red kite, hobby, marsh harriers and a bittern.
The collared flycatcher stayed around long enough for me to catch up with it. (a cracking little bird)! Little terns were seen at Ferrybridges.
Ford Park Cemetery held a woodchat shrike. 

April
A small influx of migrants was noted early in the month at Ernesettle, chiffchaff, willow warbler and blackcap. An osprey and little gull at Bowling Green Marsh, house martins flew across the reserve with swallows. Also from the hide 4 avocets, 2 wigeon, little egret, tufted duck, shoveler, redshank, bar and black-tailed godwits, blackcap and great spotted woodpecker.
A woodlark was seen at Exminster along with cirl bunting.  5 green sandpiper, 4 snipe, green sandpiper and gadwall were at Matford pools. Not a bad morning.

March
Early migrants this month were sandwich terns in the Sound and a Wheatear at Thurlestone. 
The long staying penduline tit was still at Paignton. I made several visits to view the bird. It was not always easy to get good views. 
Locally goshawks were showing well. A great grey shrike wintered in  Bellever forest although elusive at times.

February
Lesser spotted woodpecker was a target in February. We were lucky getting great views of two males at Steps Bridge. Locally an obliging water rail spent the winter at Saltram. 

January
We started the year with a trip to Cornwall. At Zennor there was a snowy owl so this is where we started the day. A hen harrier was a bonus as it drifted through the valley.
Our next stop Penzance. 14 purple sandpiper were at Jubilee Pool and a wintering swallow at the heliport where a peregrine was seen flying over. 
On to Helston where there was not one but two ring-billed gulls  on the boating lake. At the sewage works were several chiffchaffs among them at least 3 Siberian chiffchaffs. Also two firecrests in the area. At Loe pool we found little grebes, goldeneye and a long-tailed duck. 
Our second outing was a trip to Dorset. After a false  start we met some local birders who put us on the right track for whooper swans. It was on the fleet at Rodden Hive. We clocked up a good number of ducks. Gadwall, shoveler, shelduck, goldeneye, wigeon, pintail and red breasted merganser. Also two woodpeckers and fieldfare and redwing.
From here we visited Wyke Regis. A helpful local birdwatcher put us on to a short-eared owl. On this part of the Fleet we found dark and pale-bellied brent geese and two black brant. We stopped for lunch mid afternoon at Radipole RSPB reserve. 8 spoonbill put in surprise  visit flying over the reserve briefly. Although another single visited later in the day. We saw the ‘plastic’ duck hooded merganser which despite its dubious status was a nice looking duck. Arriving at the north hide a bittern showed itself also water rail. What an end to a great day.
A surf scoter wintered at Dawlish also in the bay were 6 red throated divers two Slavonian grebes and several common scoter. Two cattle egret with 20 little egret at Powderham was worthy of a visit. The hawfinch was in his usual bush at Ide.
At Bellever the elusive great grey shrike put in a brief appearance. Also flushed a  woodcock in the woods.
After overnight winds and rain I went to Mount Batten three adult little gulls and a 1st winter little gull and another 4 adult little gulls, fulmar, gannets and great crested grebes were in the Sound. 
At Broadsands black throated and great northern diver, common and velvet scoter, gannets, fulmar, eider and red-breasted merganser were all in evidence.
The penduline tit was at Clennon Valley, the weather was pretty poor but I did manage to see it.
A local run mid month produced tawny owl, sparrowhawk, fieldfare, redwing, red-legged partridge, shoveler, teal, wigeon and 65 avocet, dunlin, curlew, 18 great crested grebe, grey heron and shelduck. black-tailed godwits, greenshank, 3 spotted redshank and more interestingly two spoonbill one of which was ringed.