Bill Coulson

Caspian Gull yesterday and today in Brixham Harbour.
Shot 3 shows Casp standing tall amongst a throng of other gulls, picked out by Mike Langman as it was getting dark.
Great Northern Diver stretching its wings this morning.

Breathed a sigh of relief just to see our first Lesser Spotted Woodpecker surviving winter in Yarner Wood. It was up near the highest entrance gate from Trendlebeare.
Also saw several Marsh Tits, always a delight.

On a Stuart Line Cruise yesterday on the Exe Estuary ably led by Derek Carter. Red-breasted Mergansers and a Goldeneye were some of the highlights.

Little Gulls, first winter ones, finding food from the rough sea just north of the pier at Teignmouth this morning.
Difficult to count as they were flying up and down from the pier but at least three birds.
Underside of Little Gull in pic 3 has a pinkish hue?

Black-throated Diver in the harbour Brixham this morning. Nice clean white throat & white rear "wheel arches".
Caspian Gull on its favourite perch on the wavebreak.
On the beach a 4yr female Grey Seal named Wild Grey. She's been there 3 days already to moult. Red Tag visible from a previous rescue.

Marsh Harrier on the Southdown side of the valley at Mansands today. It put up about 10 snipe which flew around in a panic.

Gannets diving for baitfish today in Brixham harbour.
It was very wet and windy this afternoon and several Kittiwakes assembled on the breakwater wall. They were either full of little fish or just knackered from flying in this gale.

Things beginning to crumble?

Yes indeed, a cracker.

Thanks Paul. Yes I was pleased with that but afraid that the slo-mo was a result of me forgetting to turn it off!

You found it again on the pontoon today Judah?

Caspian Gull, a very hungry one, finding ways to feed itself in Brixham harbour today.

Caspian Gull on the Brixham wavebreak again today and giving closer views. On the water, in the last pic, it sometimes assumed a rather hunched position with its bill raised up as if begging to be fed. This part of the inner harbour is teeming with baitfish. Video next post shows fishing attempt.

Caspian Gull (1st winter) found on the wave break in Brixham harbour by Ali King yesterday.

There are now several Harbour Seals in the River Dart Steve and they can be found regularly on one of the pontoons just above Dittisham mixed in with some Greys.

It seems that this is actually a Harbour Seal. It is probably a rare sighting here and probably driven in by the storm.

Thanks Tim, Yes I was taken in by the nostrils not actually meeting at the bottom. They are not parallel at all as on a grey seal.

Thanks Steve. Yes I was taken in by the nostrils not actually meeting at the bottom.

A fairly small but bold Grey Seal hauled out on the slipway in the harbour at Brixham this afternoon. Fortunately it was left in peace by passers by and dogs.

Unusual to see a Great Crested Grebe in Brixham Harbour but this morning this one took shelter from the gales and wasted no time in getting some shut-eye.
A few Kittiwakes were dropping onto the inner harbour attempting to catch the small silvery baitfish which were present.

Mansands this morning a male Cirl Bunting staying out of the wind and Oystercatchers trying, in vain, to fly towards the sea into the teeth of a south easterly gale.

Black-necked Grebe

Black-necked Grebe

Cormorant subspecies sinensis Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis

Black-necked Grebe on the Mill Pool, Stoke Gabriel this morning. Found yesterday by Jake Wood.
"Continental" Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis, subspecies of carbo. Slenderer than common Cormorant, with a different shape patch at base of bill. White Head in spring. Thanks Mike L for ID'ing.

Red-throated Diver off Marine Drive, Paignton this evening.

Great Northern Diver in Brixham Harbour in calmer conditions. Its eyes, not so red in winter, brighten in summer as an aid to sexual selection in the breeding season. The red pigment also helps vision when fishing in dark or murky conditions.
One of the Purple Sandpipers out on the breakwater.

Lovely set Tony

Common Dolphins, Berry Head this morning giving us multiple examples of this behaviour - coming out of the water sometimes almost vertically and then falling back onto the sea, either gently, or splashing down hard.
Maybe looking out for seabirds indicating fish or other communication?

Common Dolphins still feeding this morning along the tideline coming out of Torbay past Berry Head. I caught this one breaching ahead of a small pod.

The past cople of days have been great for watching the Common Dolphins off Berry Head. Its very difficult to count them accurately but I estimate that the main pod was about 30 individuals.

Common Dolphins actively feeding off Berry Head this morning.
Debate going on among anglers present as to whether they might be feeding on Sprats, Anchovies or something else.
Terrific breach at the end.

Firecrest

Great White Egret

Firecrests, at least four of them, feeding along the nature trail at Slapton Ley NNR. This one about to eat some kind of Aphid.
A Great White Egret, one of two seen over the upper Ley.