Friday 29 November 2013

Yellow-Browed Warber

A look around the recreation ground in Topsham this morning got me 100+ Brent Geese , a Water Rail that I got quick views of  dashing back into the reeds , in with the masses of Black-Headed Gull`s were around 15 Common Gull`s , an adult winter Mediterranean Gull & an adult Great Black-Backed Gull , a Bearded Tit was also seen as it flew from one reed bed to another & a Sparrowhawk flew over a couple of times putting everything up !
I then went with my mate Charlie Fleming down to the Clennon Valley Nr Goodrington in South Devon to look for a Yellow-Browed Warbler that has been there for a few days & we were lucky enough to get views of the bird that was also very vocal but no chance of getting a shot of it ( This is my 4th different one this year.... not bad going lol ) also seen were some nice Shoveler & Tufted Duck , 2 Little Grebe & this nice male Mandarin Duck .

Great Black-Backed Gull ( Larus marinus ) . The Recreation Ground . Topsham . Devon


Mandarin Duck ( Aix galericulata ) . Clennon Valley . Nr Goodrington . Devon


Thursday 28 November 2013

Water Pipit

An early morning look at the Recreation Ground in Topsham turned out to be a good move as I managed to get my best ever shots of Water Pipit , the bird was on show for most of the morning even landing in the main field three times , when I first saw the bird  a week or so back the bird was quite nervous but it now seems to be getting a little bit more approachable , I also got a quick view of a very smart male Bearded Tit that was across the river in the main reed bed but it didn`t stay on show for long before dropping down into the reed bed .
Also seen today was an adult winter Mediterranean Gull , 7 Common Gull , 4 Snipe , a Kingfisher & a few Reed Bunting

Water Pipit ( Anthus spinoletta ) . The Recreation Ground . Topsham . Devon



Wednesday 27 November 2013

Bearded Tit

It was a good day for seeing birds today but not much go photo wise ! as a walk around the Recreation Ground in Topsham got me a nice surprise with a female Bearded Tit !! she was on the near side in the last reed bed going towards the moterway bridge but she flew across the river to the main reed bed & was lost from sight , the Water Pipit also showed very well today & I was just about to get a shot of it but a bloody dog walker put it up grrrrrrrrr .
There was not a lot else to see but in with the Black-Headed Gull`s were a few Common Gull , & on the mud were 8 Dunlin , 6 Redshank & a Curlew .

Common Gull ( Larus canus ) . The Recreation Ground . Topsham . Devon


Thursday 21 November 2013

Bowling Green Marsh

An afternoon visit to the hide at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me the wintering Long-Tailed Duck , 2 male Pintail , a male Tufted Duck & numerous Teal & Wigeon ... in with the Wigeon was a possible Eurasian / American Wigeon hybrid !! it had a nice green stripe going back from the eye but the crown was a buff colour and not white like it should be & other features on the bird just didn`t seem right !! I hope other people see this bird & correct me if I am wrong .

Long-Tailed Duck ( Clangula hyemalis ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon


Eurasian Wigeon ( Anus penelope ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon


Wednesday 20 November 2013

Water Pipit

An afternoon stroll around the Recreation Ground in Topsham today only got me half a dozen Common Gull & the very illusive Water Pipit , every time I get near to it off it flies .. ughhhhhh

Monday 18 November 2013

Thrushes

There was a flock of thrushes in the Topsham Cemetery this morning , the majority were Redwing & Fieldfare but in with them were a few Mistle Thruush , also seen were a few Goldcrest & a Nuthatch .

Mistle Thrush ( Turdus viscivorus ) . Topsham Cemetery . Devon


Suppression

Is Devon full of Suppressing Bastards or just the chosen few !!!!!!!!

Friday 15 November 2013

Yellow-Legged Gull

This adult Yellow-Legged Gull was in the Exe Estuary off of the Topsham Recreation Ground this morning but as usual with these birds it didn`t hang around to long , sorry about the picture but I have had to return to my old lens !!as for the last few weeks I have been using a Sigma 150-500 that was lent to me to try out by my mate Charlie Fleming & as you can see the results have been outstanding ... Cheers Charlie ! the only other bird of any note was a Water Pipit that I only got quick views of as it is very flighty .

Yellow-Legged Gull ( Larus michahellis ) . The Recreation Ground . Topsham . Devon


Wednesday 13 November 2013

http://www.pbase.com/dave_stone/taxonomic_list

Click on the link above to visit my galleries of birds of the world.

Dartford Warbler

Up to Colaton Raleigh Common again this morning & again got views of the Great Grey Shrike but it was only distant views today ! but the bonus today was getting superb views of a couple of Dartford Warbler`s that showed very well by the grenade range , there was also quite a lot of Meadow Pipit & Stonechat , a White Wagtail & a Reed Bunting .

Dartford Warbler ( Sylvia undata ) . Colaton Raleigh Common . Devon



Meadow Pipit ( Anthus pratensis ) . Colaton Raleigh Common . Devon


Tuesday 12 November 2013

Dawlish Warren

This morning I went down to Dawlish Warren to look for some Cirl Bunting`s a Warren tick for me & after looking for them for quite a while a male bird flew into Greenland Lake but it wasn`t there long before it flew off again , there was also quite a few Meadow Pipit & half a dozen Stonechat on show & the Bonaparte`s Gull was showing very well today flying up & down the beach .
In the Exe Estuary the Black Brant was in with a flock of Brent Geese & 4 Red-Breasted Merganser were also seen .

Bonaparte`s Gull ( Larus philadelphia ) . Dawlish Warren . Devon





Monday 11 November 2013

Great Grey Shrike

Today I finally caught up with the Great Grey Shrike that has been around a few days now on Colaton Raleigh Common , this superb looking bird showed very well by the grenade range for quite a while this morning , there was not a lot else to see with only flocks of Fieldfare & Redwing worth talking about !
A look at Bowling Green Marsh on the way home got me the female Long-Tailed Duck , 200+ Avocet & 2 Spotted Redshank .

Great Grey Shrike ( Lanius excubitor ) . Colaton Raleigh Common . Devon




Monday 4 November 2013

Another elusive Yellow-Browed Warbler

News of a Yellow-Browed Warbler on the Exminster Marshes had me making the journey over there to see if I could catch up with it , I arrived to find a few birders there already & was told that the bird had not been seen for a while ! but after around 20 minutes the bird was found again & I managed to get quick views of it just before it vanished again , this was a first on the marsh for me & was very welcome indeed , also seen were 4 Goldcrest , 2 Chiffchaff & 2 Redwing .
Later in the afternoon a look around the Topsham Cemetery got me 14 Collared Dove , 3 Skylark , a Nuthatch & this Great Spotted Woodpecker .

Great Spotted Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos major ) . Topsham Cemetery . Devon


Sunday 3 November 2013

Woodbury Common

A walk around Woodbury Common this morning got me 4 Dartford Warbler`s but I only got fleeting views of these diminutive birds , also seen was a single Crossbill & another one was heard only , 5 Stonechat & 2 Meadow Pipit`s were also seen .
On the way back home I stopped of  at Bowling Green Marsh to see if the female Long-Tailed Duck was still there & again got distant views of her , there was also numerous Wigeon & Teal and a few more Shoveler today than yesterday!

(Eurasian ) Wigeon (Anus penelope ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon


Saturday 2 November 2013

Long-Tailed Duck

An afternoon look at my local patch Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me the female Long-Tailed Duck that has been on the marsh for three days now , a bird that is not common in the south west but seen most years ! she is feeding most of the time & always quite distant but I just about managed these record shots of her .
Also seen were 2 male Pochard that were new in to the marsh for this autumn , numerous Wigeon & Teal , a male & female Shoveler , a single Shelduck , 1 Common Buzzard & a fly over Raven .

Long-Tailed Duck ( Clangula hyemalis ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon