Saltram and The Plym

Thursday 25th November was a glorious day with clear blue skies and a very chilly start and I headed out on the 8:30am bus to Marsh Mills for a walk around Saltram and the River Plym with work friend Sue and her dog Daisy..

I was due to meet Sue at 9:30 but with it being the high tide I left a little earlier than necessary so I could check out Blaxton Meadow first before meeting up with her at Saltram House.

The tide was still flooding into Blaxton Meadow through the sluice gates when I arrived at the viewing platform and there was quite a congregation of birds roosting and feeding out on the flooded meadow, the most I have seen here for some time now. 

Out on the meadow were 8 Greenshank, 8 Oystercatcher, 24 Wigeon, a Black-tailed Godwit, 3 adult Common Gulls, a 3rd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Grey Heron and around 150 Dunlin along with the usual Mallard, Shelduck, Curlew, Gulls and Redshank. 

A Jay, a Grey Wagtail and a Ring-necked Parakeet flew over and a Goldcrest was feeding in the bushes behind the viewing platform with Blue Tits and Great Tits. Out on the River a Little Grebe and a male Goosander were seen. 

I then met up with Sue and we had an enjoyable walk around Saltram Estate putting the world to rights as we went and it was nice to have a catch up outside of work. 

Along the walk a Red Admiral flying by was a surprise in the cold conditions but even more surprising was a male Teal on the duck pond at Saltram House with the usual Mandarin Ducks and Moorhens, presumably a wild bird but very tame and approachable. 

Teal

Teal

Saturday 27th November was cold and windy with Storm Arwen blowing a hoolie from the North and so we headed out for a walk around Plymouth Hoe. It was very windy but the sun was shining brightly and the walk was quite invigorating. I had taken my travel binoculars out with me but unfortunately I had left my camera at home which was annoying as I found 2 Purple Sandpipers feeding on the rocks below the Pier One Cafe, possibly the 2 birds from last winter returning for this winter and very nice to see. I was also pleased to find a female type Black Redstart on the rocks below Rusty Anchor, they are often reported from here during the winter but I always struggle to find them myself. Hopefully the Black Redstart and the Purple Sandpipers will hang around for a while and I'll catch up with them again soon. 

Water Pipit at Wembury

As often happens at this time of year my Birding Mojo has somewhat waned and I'm happy just sitting on the settee checking out the bird news on the Internet without actually wanting to get out and about for myself (a long staying Little Auk in Weymouth Harbour did pique my interest but it's too far from home for me). 

I've been pottering about and catching up on chores and have been quite happy doing so as the "horrors" of Christmas rapidly approach but after 2 night shifts and a free day off I decided to visit Wembury for a walk on Wednesday 24th November, more for some fresh air and exercise after my night shifts than for a birding fix.

The mild weather has finally given way to a cold snap and it was a grey and chilly day as I headed off on the bus and I wore my winter coat for the first time this winter. The cold weather meant it was quieter at Wembury than usual although there was still quite a bit of the usual disturbance along the beach.

A Chiffchaff, a Goldcrest, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Song Thrush and 10 Long-tailed Tits were seen in the village gardens on the walk down to the main beach while at The Pines another Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 female Blackcap and 4 Song Thrushes were also noted.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wembury Village

Offshore a few Gannets were seen along with the usual Shag, Cormorant and Gulls including a winter plumaged Mediterranean Gull while along the beach 4 Curlew, a Little Egret, a Common Sandpiper, Oystercatchers and 30 Mallard were seen including the feral type male first seen last week.

Common Sandpiper

At least 3 male Cirl Buntings were singing in the brief sunny spells and a small flock of around 10 Cirl Buntings were feeding along the beach out of the wind along with a group of around 15 Linnet. Stonechats were showing well along the footpath and a male Kestrel and 2 Raven flew overhead. 

I checked out the birds feeding on the rotting seaweed mass along the beach and amongst the Pied Wagtails, Rock Pipits and Meadow Pipits I found a Grey Wagtail, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Wren, Robin and Blackbird but best of all was a very smart looking Water Pipit, my first of the year. 

Water Pipit 

Water Pipit

Water Pipit

It really stood out amongst the other Pipits present and was a pleasure to watch and while flighty and mobile it always returned to the same area which it defended by chasing off any Rock Pipits or Meadow Pipits that came near. Hopefully it will set up a territorial feeding area and stay for the winter. 

Water Pipit

November is often a good month to find Water Pipit at Wembury although last year's November bird was never seen again so hopefully this one will stay. 

Water Pipit

It was soon time to head back home with a Grey Squirrel in the village gardens on the walk up to the bus stop the only other sighting of note but I was glad to have gotten out birding with the Water Pipit getting my pulse racing a little bit and also a little bit of my Birding Mojo back.