Bill Coulson

A Red-throated Diver passed Berry Head this morning heading due south.
Several Clouded Yellows seen in the quarry at Berry Head, also this morning.

River Dart cruise on African Queen. Guide Mike Langman. @clennonvalley.bsky.social
Yellow Flagged Curlew C5 over a red band on left leg. On right leg is an orange (?) ring. I'll do a bit of digging, it may be a headstarted bird.
2. Peregrine overhead.
3 + 4. Lots of Buzzards over the river.

Osprey and Mullet

Osprey and Mullet

Osprey and Mullet

Osprey, a juvenile, with a freshly caught Mullet seen over the River Dart yesterday on a great cruise on the African Queen from Kingswear/ Dartmouth.
Guide Mike Langman @clennonvalley.bsky.social

Hi John, Thanks for all the likes! A few years ago we walked from Interlaken to Thun along the lake, just wonderful, but we were so clapped out that we had to catch the train back. Lovely part of the world and birds to go with it.

Wigeon flying south as it passed Berry Head. Heading where?
An adult Mediterranean Gull looking pristine white as it also passed Berry Head this morning.

Can't wait for the next fine day Nick to try again.

Thanks Jon, the gars and the tuna performed pretty well yesterday. Was fun.

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna coming in close to our South Devon coasts. The reason is garfish, which can be seen in blind panic as these monsters chase in behind them. The unlucky one in pic 3 caught by its tail!

Thanks Malcolm

Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea

Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea

Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea

Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea

Southern Hawker Aeshna cyanea a territorial male checking us out over the pond at Bovey Heath. A mosaic of stunning colours, easily recognised with its distinctive forward facing "headlights" on the front of its thorax.

Spotted Flycatcher

Wheatears

Spotted Flycatcher, as flagged up by Bill Mac and Jake Wood this morning and still in the meadow at Berry Head this afternoon, still catching flies.
Down in the quarry two very handsome Wheatears.

These pelagic trips are great in September Mark with all sorts of seabirds being seen but this year the Great Shearwaters and Cory's Shearwaters stayed further west off Cornwall, but we have had loads of Balearic Shearwaters thankfully.

Cheers Mark. The fishing quota this year for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is 69 tonnes so although this sounds a lot it shouldn't make much impression on the shoals we are getting here now.

Seemingly an endless stream of Kittiwakes flying into Torbay late this afternoon. They were certainly in thousands, and were more towards the north of the bay at extreme camera range.

Peregrine Falcon cruising the coast of South Devon yesterday.

Juvenile Ringed Plover near Turf Lock on the Exe. This was one of a group of eight birds.
Also near Turf Lock was this Black-tailed Godwit, a late summer juvenile I think.

This Osprey across the River Dart from Stoke Gabriel Sailing Club is possibly improving his success rate - two dives one fish today! This fish was taken up into a dead tree above the river.

Mediterranean Gull

Mediterranean Gull

Mediterranean Gull

Mediterranean Gull and small fish

Mediterranean Gull on Brixham Breakwater waiting patiently and staring at the water looking for small fish. I saw three failed attempts until at the fourth it plunged in and found a meal.

Grey Phalarope

Sabine's Gull

Sooty Shearwater

European Storm Petrel

Brilliant pelagic trip yesterday led by @clennonvalley.bsky.social on Kelly's Hero out of Brixham.
Grey Phalarope
Sabine's Gull juvenile
Sooty Shearwater
European Storm Petrel

White-beaked Dolphin

White-beaked Dolphin

White-beaked Dolphin

Rare treat ! White-beaked Dolphins seen on a @clennonvalley.bsky.social pelagic trip on Kelly's Hero out of Brixham. These White-beaks were just off Berry Head. @Saunders

Selection from Berry Head this week:
Bold Rock Pipit at the seawatch.
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna from the seawatch.
Bee - Lasioglossum spec. These can fly into october.
Rose Bedeguar Gall brought about by Diplolepsis rosae the Rose Gall Wasp. Gall known as Robin's Pincushion.

Superb photo Tim! Yes I can see eyes are critical and also strong black band on thorax. I don't know how far into autumn bristletails can be found outside Berry Head caves but I'm keen to keep looking. Many thanks for your reply.

Hi John, Many thanks, I'm going to try for better photos before they hibernate if possible. I have a copy of Paul Brock's Wild Guides it's first class.

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna seen from Berry Head this morning. They were all chasing and sometimes catching, Garfish, which are a long thin fish with a pointed beak. They tend to swim close to the surface which is why we can catch sight of chasing Tuna.

Ten plus individuals seen - brilliant!

This little bristletail was on a section of sandstone rockface in the quarry at Berry Head. ObsID gives me 100% Western Sea Bristletail. Records around S. Devon are a bit sparse. Would be grateful if Western Sea Bristletail could be confirmed @johnwalterswildife.bsky.social

Wheatear

Grey Wagtail

Wheatear and Grey Wagtail down in the quarry at Berry Head this morning.

A Grey Heron on the banks of the River dart, Devon has caught and is eating an eel. It appears to be cleaning off some of the eel slime from its bill using its feet to do so.

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis, crossing the River Dart, Devon and flying up Bow Creek towards Tuckenhay.

Ivy Bee Colettes hederae

Ivy Bee Colettes hederae

Ivy Bee Colettes hederae

Ivy Bee Colettes hederae have emerged from burrows dug in fissures of decomposed sandstone present within the devonian age limestone of the quarry at Berry Head.
Flying coincides with the flowering of the increasing areas of Ivy growing on the quarry walls