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ajcollinssmith.bsky.social
@ajcollinssmith.bsky.social
Mainly birdwatching in Devon/Kent
Dartmouth Castle/Little Dartmouth:

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

First Arctic Skua offshore chasing gulls.
September 25, 2025 at 6:53 PM
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.
September 13, 2025 at 4:53 PM
East Soar/Bolt Head 0830-1230:

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

Lots of young Whitethroat and Greenfinches around the village.
August 10, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Slapton Ley 0930-1100:

3 Red crested Pochard, Sandwich Tern, CommonTern, Hobby, Sand Martin, Barnacle Goose, Dunlin, Mediterranean Gull and Sparrowhawk.
August 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
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.
June 19, 2025 at 7:59 PM
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.
June 17, 2025 at 9:03 PM
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.
May 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Slapton:

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

Summer plumage Great Northern Diver on the sea by the monument.
May 14, 2025 at 6:21 PM
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…
May 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
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.
May 10, 2025 at 5:07 PM
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.
April 18, 2025 at 8:42 AM
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.
April 11, 2025 at 6:23 PM
2 Hoopoe at farm by Little Dartmouth
April 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM
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.
April 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Dartmouth Castle/Little Dartmouth:

My first Swallows and Sand Martin of the year.

Cirl Bunting, 15+ Chiffchaff, 9+ Firecrest, Shelduck and Peregrine displaying.
April 4, 2025 at 3:57 PM
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).
March 24, 2025 at 5:51 PM
West Charleton Marsh:

Cattle Egret, Pintail, Wigeon, Peregrine, Water Rail, Stock Dove and Cirl Bunting.
March 22, 2025 at 6:15 PM
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.
March 22, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted
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
March 5, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Only highlights from a few days on Dartmoor were Woodcock, Dipper, Raven and Firecrest.

Lots of Chaffinches, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits singing.
March 12, 2025 at 8:26 PM
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.
February 22, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Titchfield Haven this afternoon:

Glossy Ibis, Nuthatch, Water Rail and lots of Pintail in the flooded fields.
January 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Dartmouth Castle/Little Dartmouth:

Redwing, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Firecrest, Guillemot, Razorbill, Raven and 55 Skylark this afternoon.
January 12, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Slapton (0830-1030 and 1230-1330):

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

2 Otter swimming in Slapton Ley at 0900 🦦
January 11, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Beesands Ley (1030-1230):

Ring necked duck, Razorbill, Guillemot, Brent goose, Greenfinch and a flock of c70 Yellowhammer/Cirl Bunting.
January 11, 2025 at 12:46 PM