Mark Bailey

@WiseBirding Brilliant ! And a great pic 👍

Chuffed to find a Bonaparte’s Gull on the patch last thing this evening. I’ve been looking hard the last few weeks, so finally paid off. 😊 #OtterEstuaryNR

Bonapartes Gull - Blaxton Meadow - possibly the first one actually seen on Blaxton Meadow - great find by Stuart G- and 38 years ago to the month that @DickFilby found Devon’s first modern day record alongside the Ross’s Gull !

Bonapartes Gull still Blaxton Meadow 930am and showing well from Viewing area by hide

Bonapartes Gull still 905am Blaxton Meadow on the River Plym - (flew in 845am)- my first in Plymouth for 30 years- in the late 80’s/early 90’s Mush, Richard White, Dave A and @DEBALMER use to find these for fun!

c25 Sand Martins at Bowling Green Marsh at c1pm low over the water in front of the hide - my earliest Sand Martins ever !

@DevonBirder Yep that was my first one and then of course it relocated to the Plym so win win

@markrabailey Were you at Poldhu Cove in March 1988 to see the first winter Ross's Gull? The pink adult Ross's at Cley in May 1984 was my first.

Took 2 attempts but the Ross’s Gull showed brilliantly flying around the harbour at Newlyn for c10 mins at 315pm-I believe the longest staying one in Cornwall by a day so glad it hung on today-my 8th Ross’s & 3rd in Cornwall- also now makes up for missing the 89 bird at Newlyn

Lesser Yellowlegs Truro on river behind Tesco 1125am

Lesser Yellowlegs still c11am Truro on river behind Tesco - near junction of rivers by Blewetts Wharf and showing well

Drake Scaup still on Long Rock Pool, Marazion this morning

As I was passing through Plymouth - stopped in at Saltram and the free flying - fully winged- Unringed - highly mobile female Red-Crested Pochard still on Cart Pond- now for its 10th year!

The female Brambling that was refound at Broadsands 4 days ago still this morning in fields behind beach at northern end with Chaffinch and Linnet flock but very elusive

35+ Mandarins (25+ males , 10+ females)- Queens Marsh Dartington this afternoon - the biggest flock I have ever seen in Devon - also a Green Sandpiper

Ad Med Gull Marine Parade Preston, Torbay 1245pm at least on rocks

Caspian Gull still 1220pm at least in Brixham Harbour and showing well on pontoons viewed from c100m along the breakwater - only the third one I’ve seen in Devon!

@tomcdevon Thanks for putting up with him 👍he got a bit bored at the end 😂

Had a birdwatching buddy today as I dipped the bittern at my local reserve. Devon list stays unmoved in 2026! @markrabailey Bonus doggo cuddles

Adult Little Gull Teignmouth sea front at north end off Teign Bean cafe showing well c830am-850am at least (2 GND)

@JohnSNadin54 Cheers John 👍

@markrabailey Well done.

Killdeer today! Having dipped 7 previously (Norfolk, Wales, Cornwall, 2 x Scilly, 2 x Devon) showed well but distantly 150-250pm at Ripley Farm Reservoir

@MVanstone33578 Yep that one was on the long list of dips

@markrabailey Good bird to go and see . I remember seeing one at Holyhead Anglesey 1994 many years ago .