After 18 months in Devon, it is time to find a new patch to go birding.

My favourite find at Dartmouth Castle/Little Dartmouth will definitely be the 2 Hoopoe earlier this year.

Other notable highlights are Whinchat, Ring Ouzel, Sand Martin, Siskin, Black throated Diver, Hobby and Cirl Bunting.

Dartmouth Castle/Little Dartmouth this evening:

Bullfinch, Firecrest, Stock Dove, Guillemot, Cirl Bunting and Grey Wagtail.

Slapton Ley 0930-1130:

58 species, including: Goldeneye, Water Rail, Great Northern Diver, Kingfisher, Peregrine, Firecrest, Blackcap, Grey Wagtail, Bullfinch, Siskin, Reed Bunting.

Dartmouth Castle/Little Dartmouth:

Cirl Bunting, Firecrest, Sand Martin, Hobby and Stock Dove.

First Arctic Skua offshore chasing gulls.

Short trip over to Cornwall today to see the Grey Phalarope and Bairds Sandpiper at Siblyback reservoir. Then across to see the 3 Buff breasted Sandpiper at Colliford reservoir. Other notable highlights were Peregrine and Wheatear.

East Soar/Bolt Head 0830-1230:

Fulmar, Stock Dove, Spotted Flycatcher, Cirl Bunting and Yellowhammer.

Lots of young Whitethroat and Greenfinches around the village.

Slapton Ley 0930-1100:

3 Red crested Pochard, Sandwich Tern, CommonTern, Hobby, Sand Martin, Barnacle Goose, Dunlin, Mediterranean Gull and Sparrowhawk.

Dartmouth Castle area:

The best of a few hours on the river were 4 Adult Mediterranean Gulls flying down river.

Razorbill, Guillemot and Manx Shearwater at sea.

Cirl Bunting, Stock Dove and Yellowhammer still around.

Little Dartmouth this evening:

First Manx Shearwaters of the year, with 20 passing through.

Cirl Bunting, Firecrest, Yellowhammer, Swift, Peregrime and Stock Dove also in the area.

6 days in Estonia produced over 170 species 🇪🇪

Highlights included Blyth’s Reed, Marsh, Booted, River, Savi’s and Icterine Warblers, Red Breasted Flycatcher, Marsh Sandpiper, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Middle Spotted and White Backed Woodpeckers, Thrush Nightingale and Citrine Wagtail.

Slapton:

Cirl Bunting, Firecrest, Peregrine, Swift, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Tawny Owl.

Summer plumage Great Northern Diver on the sea by the monument.

Dartmouth Castle/Little Dartmouth:

Cirl Bunting, Yellowhammer, Firecrest, Little Egret, Shelduck and Whitethroat.

21 Stock Dove in ploughed fields at Little Dartmouth, beating my previous high of 5…

10 hours produced 60 species today in South Devon, with the only highlight being a Spotted Flycatcher at Hallsands.

Cirl Buntings at all 6 sites visited.

New Hythe (0745-0930):

18+ Nightingale, 17+ Blackcap, 14+ Chiffchaff, 11+ Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Kingfisher, Cuckoo, Lapwing and Stock Dove.

2 Egyptian Geese over country park.

Dartmouth Castle/Little Dartmouth:

2 Hoopoe (first for site), 4 Wheatear (2M/2F), Stock Dove, Yellowhammer, Peregrine, Firecrest, Swallow.

First Whitethroat of the year singing by compass cove.

12+ Cirl Bunting around the circuit.

2 Hoopoe at farm by Little Dartmouth

Slapton bridge 1545-1955:

Purple Heron, Black Crowned Night Heron, Kingfisher, Raven, Blackcap, Snipe, Sand Martin, Yellowhammer.

15+ Cattle Egret came to roost on higher ley at 1953.

Dartmouth Castle/Little Dartmouth:

My first Swallows and Sand Martin of the year.

Cirl Bunting, 15+ Chiffchaff, 9+ Firecrest, Shelduck and Peregrine displaying.

Dartmouth Castle/Little Dartmouth 1500-1730:

6+ Firecrest, 12+ Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Yellowhammer and 4 singing Cirl Bunting.

Surprise of all was a Red Legged Partridge (First for the site).

West Charleton Marsh:

Cattle Egret, Pintail, Wigeon, Peregrine, Water Rail, Stock Dove and Cirl Bunting.

South Huish Marsh 0930-1400:

5+ Blue headed Wagtail, White Wagtail, Water Rail, Rock Pipit, Black Redstart, Bullfinch, Blackcap, Cattle Egret, Snipe and Ringed Plover.

My first Swift of the year above Hope Cove around 1230.

AJ standing on sea wall with the Sheppey Crossing in the background

Sunset over reed bed at Chetney Marshes

Lovely still evening at Chetney Marshes with @ajcollinssmith.bsky.social. 58 species including 5+ Short-eared and 2 Barn Owl, 10+ Marsh Harrier, c2300 Starling into roost #kentbirding

Only highlights from a few days on Dartmoor were Woodcock, Dipper, Raven and Firecrest.

Lots of Chaffinches, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits singing.

Exminster marshes 0900-1130:

Long billed Dowitcher, Water Rail, Kingfisher, Bullfinch, Rock Pipit.

Dartmoor (various sites):

Redpoll, Goshawk (1 Male), Marsh Tit, Dipper, Treecreeper, Raven, Firecrest.

Titchfield Haven this afternoon:

Glossy Ibis, Nuthatch, Water Rail and lots of Pintail in the flooded fields.

Dartmouth Castle/Little Dartmouth:

Redwing, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Firecrest, Guillemot, Razorbill, Raven and 55 Skylark this afternoon.

Slapton (0830-1030 and 1230-1330):

Red necked grebe, Goldeneye, Water rail, Firecrest and Razorbill.

2 Otter swimming in Slapton Ley at 0900 🦦

Beesands Ley (1030-1230):

Ring necked duck, Razorbill, Guillemot, Brent goose, Greenfinch and a flock of c70 Yellowhammer/Cirl Bunting.

Isle of Sheppey today with @ajcollinssmith.bsky.social. Water Pipits and 13 White-fronted Geese at Shellness this morning, followed by Barn Owl and female Hen Harrier at Harty at dusk

Highlights from ski trip in Europe:

Bad Hindelang🇩🇪
Ruddy Shelduck
Crossbill
Black Woodpecker
Tree Sparrow

Pitztal Glacier🇦🇹
White winged Snowfinch
Alpine Chough
Spotted Nutcracker
Willow Tit