River Plym Curlew Sandpiper

Sunday 30th October was meant to be a day of chores but with the news coming through of a Curlew Sandpiper in amongst the waders on the high tide roost at Blaxton Meadow I headed out for a quick look.

It was another mild but breezy day with occasional sunny spells and the odd shower and with the clocks having gone back overnight it was surprisingly relatively people free at 10:30 when I arrived on site.

Local Birders Pete and Martin were both present at the viewing platform and I quickly found the bird amongst the assorted waders all huddled up out of the wind along the river wall. It showed well at times as it busily fed amongst the grass but was often obscured amongst the roosting Redshank and Dunlin until it finally went to sleep with its head tucked under its wing - my first River Plym Curlew Sandpiper! And very nice that it didn't give me the run around like some birds on the Plym have done this year! 

Other highlights seen on my hour long visit before I had to head home to continue chores were a Common Sandpiper, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Grebe (1 on the Plym, 1 bizarrely on Blaxton Meadow), a redhead Goosander, 12 Grey Heron, a 1st winter Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Kingfisher and 10 Greenshank.

My 2 night shifts starting on Monday 31st October were wet and windy affairs with Storm Claudio rattling through and as a result there were Cory's Shearwaters and Leach's Storm Petrels seen off Berry Head while I was sleeping in bed! Never mind, my work shifts really haven't worked out very well with the best sea watching weather this autumn.

Thursday 3rd November was sunny and calmer and so I took a walk around Plymouth Hoe to see if any Grey Phalarope or Leach's Storm Petrel had been blown in but there was no sign of either as expected. A lone Turnstone was seen on the rocks below the Pier One Cafe and in Sutton Harbour 2 Little Egret and 8 Canada Geese were seen along with 21 Mute Swan.

Turnstone

Friday 4th November was calm and sunny but with the first proper feel of winter in the air. I headed out to Wembury for a walk but didn't arrive there until after 10am due to an accident holding up the traffic on Laira Bridge.

Birds were on the move in the calm and sunny conditions with 100+ Woodpigeon noted over in small flocks (with a lone Stock Dove) along with 50+ Skylark and 450+ Starling (3 large flocks and 2 small). A surprise were 8 Golden Plover high overhead moving west before appearing to head off out to sea.

Offshore was quiet with a couple of Gannet and a few Mediterranean Gulls noted while along the beach a Grey Wagtail, 3 Little Egret, a Grey Heron, a Curlew, a Turnstone, Oystercatchers and a male Mallard were seen.

A Firecrest in the gardens by the road leading down to the beach showed very well along with 2 Goldcrest and the Cetti's Warbler was still present in the bushes by the stream, vocal at times with a brief view finally obtained.

A Red Admiral flitted past and 2 Painted Lady showed well as they basked in the warmth of the sunshine.

Painted Lady

The usual Stonechat, Cirl Bunting, Meadow Pipit and Linnet were also seen with Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard all noted overhead. 

Stonechat

With a Cetti's Warbler having been found at Blagdon's Meadow on the River Plym at the beginning of the week I decided to have a look for it on the way home from Wembury. Needless to say there was no sight or sound of it after an hour of staking out the large expanse of bushes where it has been seen but there is always another day.