Spring Starts To Show

On Saturday evening at 5:40pm as we were driving to Exeter, I couldn't help but notice that it wasn't pitch black.  The residual light from the day was still obvious it in the western sky, and reminded me that actually we are well on our way to spring.

Bird song is also reminding me this. Last year I enjoyed logging the dates of when I heard each species break into their spring song for the first time, so am doing that again for 2026.  

As usual I can't put a date besides Robin, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove and Mistle Thrush as they were singing all winter.  Great Tit is also a bird that I heard singing during nice weather before the start of the year so no date for that one too.  But I do have dates for...

Song Thrush - 3rd January (a very persitent and keen singing male audible from my back garden)

Skylark - 16th January

Blackbird - 23rd January (this was a lone singer, but by 1st Feb several males were at it)

Dunnock - 30th January

Chaffinch - 30th January

Cirl Bunting - 30th January

Goldcrest - 1st February 

Other bird news from me is a bit patchy...

A single flock of 32 Cattle Egrets on the Axe Estuary on Sunday evening was a new patch high count for me.  This winter has been our best ever for this species as I only broke the 20 barrier for the first time here in December 2025! 

An Axe mega-flock of Cattle Egrets

 

Although I missed the five Little Gulls Tim C had in Seaton Hole last Tuesday, I did see an adult on the same day fly south down the Estuary at dusk - an office tick for me so thanks for the message Mike! Still plenty of Med Gulls about too.   The Avocet flock has got bigger again, there's now nine birds on the Estuary.

From what I have read elsewhere the two Lesser Whitethroats are also still about, as is the Cirl Bunting flock in Beer which Kev is now providing some supplementary food for. 

And finally, at the end of last week I had wonderful views of a Firecrest at a place I saw one at the start of the winter, in a large holly tree in Seaton.  They really are doing well in Devon these days (and West Dorset from what I've heard).   

Thanks for reading, and hold in there - Spring is just around the corner!