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 .
Friday, 29 November 2013
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
Also seen today was an adult winter Mediterranean Gull , 7 Common Gull , 4 Snipe , a Kingfisher & a few Reed Bunting
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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.
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 .
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 .
In the Exe Estuary the Black Brant was in with a flock of Brent Geese & 4 Red-Breasted Merganser were also seen .
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 .
A look at Bowling Green Marsh on the way home got me the female Long-Tailed Duck , 200+ Avocet & 2 Spotted Redshank .
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Just a quick visit !!
A quick visit to the Northbrook Golf Course & the Ludwell Valley Country Park on the outskirts of Exeter got me 12 Long-Tailed Tit , 5 Wren , 2 Song Thrush , a Dipper , a Kingfisher & 3 Grey Squirrel .
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 .
Later in the afternoon a look around the Topsham Cemetery got me 14 Collared Dove , 3 Skylark , a Nuthatch & this Great Spotted Woodpecker .
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!
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!
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 .
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 .
