Monday, 29 October 2012
Exminster Marsh
The male & female Red-Crested Pochard that were on Bowling Green Marsh on Saturday have relocated to the Exminster Marshes providing me with a marsh tick ! they were on the main reservoir along with some Gadwall , Shoveler , Tufted Duck & a Little Grebe , also seen were Stonechat , Chiffchaff , Goldcrest & a Red Fox , out on the Exe Estuary there was a flock of over 100+ Golden Plover quite a large flock fot the Exe Estuary !
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Devon Tick
Off today to Mid Soar Farm for a long awaited Devon tick a Siberian Stonechat the bird was found yesterday but I couldn`t get to there ! but this morning four of us went down for it & got great views of it but the light wasn`t to good for getting shots of it .
On the way back home I went for a look at the Exminster Marshes again but didn`t get the luck like the other day lol & all I could see were 20+ Snipe , a Kestrel & a Jay .
On the way back home I went for a look at the Exminster Marshes again but didn`t get the luck like the other day lol & all I could see were 20+ Snipe , a Kestrel & a Jay .
Saturday, 27 October 2012
Not a Bad Day
Early this morning I had 4 Raven over St Thomas in Exeter , later in the morning a look at the River Dart from the road bridge at Buckfastleigh got me 1 male & 5 female Goosanders but no sign of any Mandarins !
In the afternoon I had a call telling me that there was a male & female Red-Crested Pochard on Bowling Green Marsh so I headed for there & the birds were showing very well for most of the afternoon , also seen were 10 Common Pochard , 2 Gadwall , 8 Knot , 5 Barwits & a Grey Plover & the waders were being put up by Peregrine & Sparrowhawk quite often !
In the afternoon I had a call telling me that there was a male & female Red-Crested Pochard on Bowling Green Marsh so I headed for there & the birds were showing very well for most of the afternoon , also seen were 10 Common Pochard , 2 Gadwall , 8 Knot , 5 Barwits & a Grey Plover & the waders were being put up by Peregrine & Sparrowhawk quite often !
Thursday, 25 October 2012
Bonaparte`s Gull
This morning I went down to Dawlish Warren to look for the Bonaparte`s Gull again as I had dipped it yesterday but today after around a two hour wait I picked the bird up flying in from Langstone Rock & it flew right over mine & the other birders heads but headed off up estuary , there was not a lot else to see with only 4 late Swallows heading out to sea & a Grey Wagtail .
On the way back home I dropped into the Exminster Marshes for a quick look & was told that there was a Great White Egret on the marshes , from the middle car park you could just about see the bird but it was way off by the railway lines ! so I went over to look for it but there was no sign of it at all , so I started to walk back to the car when I heard a call from a couple of Canadian birders & as I turned around they were pointing at the bird flying right over me , I fired off a few shots but this was the best I could get !!! still a good bird to see on the marshes .
On the way back home I dropped into the Exminster Marshes for a quick look & was told that there was a Great White Egret on the marshes , from the middle car park you could just about see the bird but it was way off by the railway lines ! so I went over to look for it but there was no sign of it at all , so I started to walk back to the car when I heard a call from a couple of Canadian birders & as I turned around they were pointing at the bird flying right over me , I fired off a few shots but this was the best I could get !!! still a good bird to see on the marshes .
Thursday, 11 October 2012
Richard`s Pipit
Today Brian Heasman & myself braved the weather & went to the top fields of the Otter Ledge to look for a reported Richard`s Pipit & it payed off as we got some nice flight views of the bird but once it had dropped back into the long grass it was very hard to see it ! this sighting is only my second sighting of this species in Devon !!! with the first back in 1995 on the Exminster Marshes , also seen were 2 Wheatear & 2 Chiffchaff .
A look at Bowling Green Marsh on the way home only got me 50+ Avocet & this exotic Black Swan .
A look at Bowling Green Marsh on the way home only got me 50+ Avocet & this exotic Black Swan .
Saturday, 6 October 2012
Whooper Swan
News of a Whooper Swan on Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham saw getting to there as fast as I could as it is a first for the marsh & I managed to get these shots of it before having to dash of again !!
Thanks for the calls
Thanks for the calls
Friday, 5 October 2012
Bowling Green Marsh
A quick look at my local patch Bowling Green Marsh this morning didn`t turn up much at all with only 3 Snipe , a Spotted Redshank , a Knot , a Curlew Sandpiper & this Bar-Headed Goose that has been seen around the Exe Estuary for a while now !
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Davidstow Airport . Cornwall
A look at Davidstow Airport in Cornwall with my mate Brian Heasman got us this very nice Buff-Breasted Sandpiper that showed very well along with 11 Dunlin & 2 Ringed Plover , also seen were 6 Lesser Black-Backed Gull`s , a White Wagtail & a single Raven , but alas no sign of the reported Curlew Sandpiper .
