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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Powerful northeasterly pushing up rough seas off Berry Head yesterday. It didn't stop the Gannets feeding but today, Xmas Day, gusts are going to be even stronger!

Merry Christmas from Brixham with an image of a Common Dolphin and her calf swimming past Berry Head.

In poor early morning light I was treated to a view of this Great Northern Diver flying south round Berry Head. In the strong south easterly several Fulmars were skimming the face of the cliff and missing the rock face by inches. In Torbay about 200 Gannets were diving for fish.

From wanderings this morning: Yellow-browed Warbler still at the back of the car park at Broadsands behind the stored beach huts. Berry Head and three Great Northern Divers like this one pushing into some big rolling waves.

Latest Painted Lady we've seen! This one on the coastal footpath near Froward Point. Buff-tailed/White-tailed Bumblebees busy in the lovely still-flowering borders at Coleton Fishacre NT this afternoon. At least one of them carrying some mites.

After all this bloody rain, a reminder of Spring, meet the Tapered Drone Fly Eristalis pertinax. Taken on a sunny day at the end of March this year in Slapton Ley NNR. Spring 2026 is just round the corner!😀

Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Broadsands this morning, flagged up by Mike Langman. I was nearby and watched it finish preening and set off into the bay. A P-b Brent was seen flying past Berry Head by Jake Wood a little later. Pic 3 is a dark-bellied Brent showing darker less contrasting underside.

Great Northern Diver still showing vestigial summer plumage and looking superb at Broadsands this morning. Yesterday this Razorbill in winter plumage was fishing close to the rocks.

Great Northern Diver coming down with a running bellyflop onto the waters of Broadsands Bay this morning. Its not elegant but it is effective. Job done.

Five Razorbills pushing their way past Berry Head this morning, diving as they went. The Great Black-backed Gull had been sitting on a rock until it spotted a small eel which it speedily took out of the water. The Kittiwake was one of a dozen or so around the breakwater at the weekend.

Red-throated Diver flying south from Torbay this morning, demonstrating its hump-backed appearance in flight. Seven Great Northern Divers seen between Berry Head and Brixham breakwater. Near Berry Head GNDs are more likely than not to bringing up fish rather than crabs.

From Turf Hotel on the River Exe: One of the many Avocets sifting the tidal mudbanks for food. A Kestrel working the fields looking for small mammals.

Lesser Crested Tern swooping over the River Exe yesterday. Photographed from the end of the spit at Dawlish Warren.

Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bangalensis off Dawlish Warren this morning. Was speedily succesful catching a good sized fish. Probably the rarest bird I will see in my lifetime. A probable vagrant from W/N.Africa and found in Indian Ocean as far east as Australia.

Redwings in good numbers, Parke NT this morning feasting on Holly and Mistletoe. Also seen and pictured: Song Thrush, Firecrest, Blackcap m. Seen around the Orchard: Mistle Thrushes (2), Nuthatches (2), Goldcrests, Green Woodpecker, Chaffinches. Unusually this time of year, not a single Fieldfare.

A Firecrest landed at my feet this morning and immediately started feeding in the leaf litter. This was by the stored beach huts in the unused car park at Broadsands.

Yellow-browed Warbler at Broadsands this morning. Hats off to @shiphaybirder.bsky.social who heard it, spotted it and followed it up through the Sallow to make life easier for the rest of us!

Curlews feeding in the soft soil of fields near Bowling Green Marsh yesterday. This one throwing back and swallowing a small earthworm. Out on the mudbanks in a receding tide at least 200 Avocets sweeping their bills left and right, picking up tiny shrimps and marine worms.

Red-throated Diver some way off Broadsands this afternoon. Distinctive slender up-turned bill. Not quite in full winter plumage yet. I took pic 2 at the end of Nov. last year and the bird was much closer. Its latin name Gavia stellata alluding to its white/star speckled back in winter plumage.

Snipe well hidden at Clennon Lakes, Paignton this morning.

Broadsands this morning, one Great Northern Diver and one Great Crested Grebe out in the bay. A Grey Heron landing close to the beach.

Headstarted Curlew C5 , released Peppering, W. Sussex 24/7/24. Next sighted 6/10/25 on the R. Dart and reported to Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. Bird seen on an Osprey Cruise @clennonvalley.bsky.social. Thanks Bleddyn Thomas of GWCT for info and link: www.birdguides.com/news/headsta...

Berry Head NNR nearly always comes up with something interesting even on a grey day: Goldcrest, one of several down in the quarry. A large pod of Common Dolphins passing the headland and moving south at speed. Pic 4 shows a mother and calf.

This young Sparrowhawk flew the length of the big quarry at Berry Head. Flying along the rockface it lunged at a little bird but failed to catch it. It flew up to a perch just 10 metres from where I stood and stayed some minutes looking for more ambush opportunities!

A Sycamore Aphid Drepanosiphum platanoides sheltered and comfortable under a Common Bonnet Mycena galericulata yesterday at Slapton Ley NNR. In the trees above are predators actively searching for aphids like this one. Firecrests, Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs etc She had best stay down where she is!

Firecrest, one of three at Slapton Ley NNR yesterday. All were feeding actively, as was this Chiffchaff in the willows finding insects under the leaves. On the beach - one of a pair of Sanderling down by the water's edge, and in the fenced area a very late-leaving Wheatear.

Two Grey Seals hauled out on rocks just below the road to the quarry at Berry Head. The pale seal looks as if it has had a neck wound, now healed. It also looks as if it may well be blind in one eye. The dark seal just looked relaxed.

Gannets diving for small fish in Torbay yesterday morning. Maybe a 1000 or more Gannets feeding. Sorry about the camera shake!

Common Dolphins feeding energetically off Berry Head yesterday afternoon. Torbay was full of fish and shots 1 + 2 show a dolphin lungeing at Garfish. This one was too fast!

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna right under the cliff at Berry Head this afternoon. I've never seen one so close-in. Doesn't come any more exciting than this.....

Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria at Slapton Ley NNR yesterday. A handsome chunky hoverfly in hornet colours, common enough. Its appearance is a bit late at the end of October but presumably brought out by the sun.