Thanks to all viewers of my blog from near and far & hope that you have enjoyed looking at it this year , I am getting a better lens for my camera so lets hope next year is even better !!!
Happy New Year To Everyone
Dave
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Monday, 30 December 2013
WOW What a Day !!!!
This morning Charlie Fleming , Dave Land & myself went down to Brixham Harbour again to see if we could get shots of the White-Billed Diver only the 3rd one ever for Devon , Charlie had fixed us up to go out in one of his mates boat & as you can see the results were just amazing & at one point the bird came up so close to us that I could have reached out and touched it !!!!
Also seen were half a dozen Great Northern Diver`s , 3 Black-Throated Diver`s , a superb Black Guillemot that was also right beside the boat , 1 Razorbill , 1 Common Guillemot & numerous Shag , we were just about to get in the car to go home when we were told that an Iceland Gull was showing on the other side of the Harbour so off we went to see if it was still on show & as you can see it was showing very well .
On the way home Charlie dropped Dave off at his house & we made our way back to his and just above Ide we had a Brown Hare running down the road in front of the car a very nice end to a great day .... Thanks Charlie .
Also seen were half a dozen Great Northern Diver`s , 3 Black-Throated Diver`s , a superb Black Guillemot that was also right beside the boat , 1 Razorbill , 1 Common Guillemot & numerous Shag , we were just about to get in the car to go home when we were told that an Iceland Gull was showing on the other side of the Harbour so off we went to see if it was still on show & as you can see it was showing very well .
On the way home Charlie dropped Dave off at his house & we made our way back to his and just above Ide we had a Brown Hare running down the road in front of the car a very nice end to a great day .... Thanks Charlie .
Sunday, 29 December 2013
White-Billed Diver
While I was away up North !!! news got to me that a White-Billed Diver had been found in Brixham Harbour , the bird was a new bird for me & nearly everybody else but the difference was that I was hundreds of miles away from it so it meant that I spent most of the time in hope that it would still be there when I got back !! well the good news was that it was still there so today I managed to get the bird ok but it was always a bit distant to get a good shot of it Buttttttttttttt tomorrow I am going down again so lets hope that I have better luck lol
Also seen today were 2 Great Northern Diver , 3 Black-Throated Diver , a Black Guillemot & 14 Purple Sandpiper .
Also seen today were 2 Great Northern Diver , 3 Black-Throated Diver , a Black Guillemot & 14 Purple Sandpiper .
Thursday 26th December . 2013
The morning walk was a bit quieter this morning but I did see numerous Blackbird they were everywhere today & Goldcrest , 1 Mistle Thrush , 1 Fieldfare , 1 male Yellowhammer , 1 Treecreeper , 3 Female Bullfinch & 2 Brown Hare & today was the very first time that I have managed to get a shot of this species .
Wednesday 25th December . 2013
Happy Christmas To Everyone !!!
Todays walk was later in the day & was very good as I found a pair of Barn Owl & managed to get these shots of them , I think its the best shot that I have ever got of one of these birds ! also seen numerous Goldcrest , 2 Mistle Thrush , 1 Fieldfare & 2 Coal Tit , also seen were 5 Brown Hare & a Roe Deer .
Todays walk was later in the day & was very good as I found a pair of Barn Owl & managed to get these shots of them , I think its the best shot that I have ever got of one of these birds ! also seen numerous Goldcrest , 2 Mistle Thrush , 1 Fieldfare & 2 Coal Tit , also seen were 5 Brown Hare & a Roe Deer .
Tuesday 24th December . 2013
I went for a walk this morning with my sister along the seafront at Scarborough but didn`t see a lot , there was a couple of Kittiwake sat on the sea , and a look in the Harbour got me 5 Great Black-Backed Gull , 1 Shag , 1 Guillemot , 1 Redshank & 4 Turnstone .
Sunday 22nd December . 2013
Hi I went away for the Christmas up to my sisters in East Yorkshire & the following few posts are of what I saw when I was up there !!
There is a small area where she lives that is beside the golf course & I birded around this area whenever I could , today my walk turned up 20+ Fieldfare , 15 Redwing , 1 Mistle Thrush , 2 Goldcrest and a Kingfisher , but the best thing happened on my walk back home when all of a sudden a Stoat dashed in front of me chasing a Rabbit well it was no contest and it soon caught up with it & it was all soon over , it was a bit sad but an amazing spectacle to see !!
There is a small area where she lives that is beside the golf course & I birded around this area whenever I could , today my walk turned up 20+ Fieldfare , 15 Redwing , 1 Mistle Thrush , 2 Goldcrest and a Kingfisher , but the best thing happened on my walk back home when all of a sudden a Stoat dashed in front of me chasing a Rabbit well it was no contest and it soon caught up with it & it was all soon over , it was a bit sad but an amazing spectacle to see !!
Friday, 20 December 2013
Long-Tailed Duck
A look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham this morning got me the 1st winter male Long-Tail Duck half way down the channel to the left of the hide , also seen today were 3 Greylag Goose , 2 male Pintail , 2 male Tufted Duck , 150+ Bar-Tailed Godwit , 100+ Avocet , 3 Jay & a Chiffchaff .
I then looked at the Clyst Estuary & saw 2 adult winter Spotted Redshank , a Little Grebe & a late Whimbrel was heard on call but I couldn't locate it .
I then looked at the Clyst Estuary & saw 2 adult winter Spotted Redshank , a Little Grebe & a late Whimbrel was heard on call but I couldn't locate it .
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Topsham . Devon
I did a walk around Topsham this morning with the first stop at the small copse at the top of Bowling Green Lane where I saw 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker , 2 male Bullfinch , a Common Raven & 7 Redwing , then a look at Bowling Green Marsh got me the long staying male Long-Tailed Duck , 2 male Tufted Duck & quite a lot of Robin , a look then out at the Clyst Estuary from the viewing platform produced 400+ Avocet .
My pictures today are of our European Robin a nice looking bird for us and the bird of our Christmas cards & a common bird that we all take for granted !! but a rare bird for some of my viewers from around the world .
My pictures today are of our European Robin a nice looking bird for us and the bird of our Christmas cards & a common bird that we all take for granted !! but a rare bird for some of my viewers from around the world .
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Common Kingfisher
A look today for ( White-Throated ) Dipper was a complete waste of time as none were seen today , and that's very strange as I usually get them here in the Ludwell Valley C P , but I did see 3 Common Kingfisher , 2 Song Thrush , a flock of Long-Tailed Tit , 7 ( Winter ) Wren , 3 Goldcrest & a Nuthatch .
Sunday, 15 December 2013
False Widow
Nothing to report birdwise today , but I did find my first False Widow spider in my house today ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!
Wednesday, 11 December 2013
Topsham Recreation Ground
A look around the Recreation Ground in Topsham this morning got me a few Mallard & Teal , a male & female Red-Breasted Merganser that were doing very well catching fish , 10 Redshank , 6 Lapwing , 3 Curlew , 4 Rook , numerous Reed Bunting & an elusive Bearded Tit that was heard but not seen !! I did hear that the Water Pipit is still around but I couldn`t see it today .
Monday, 9 December 2013
Thick Fog !!!!!!
Not a lot seen today as I woke up to very thick fog that didn`t lift until around mid day ! I could hear Mistle Thrush & Redwing calling in the Topsham cemetery grounds but I had no chance of seeing them lol , In the afternoon with the fog now lifted it was a very nice day , so I went for a look around the Topsham recreation ground but all I could see was the Water Pipit , 2 Grey Wagtail , 2 Rook and 8 Reed Bunting .
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Red-Breasted Merganser
I started the day in the small copse at the top of Bowling Green Lane but all I got was 7 Redwing , a Bullfinch & a couple of Magpie , on then to Bowling Green Marsh where the highlight was a female Red-Breasted Merganser only my second ever on the marsh , there was also numerous Wigeon , 3 male & a female Tufted Duck , a few Shoveler , a female Pochard , 400+ Avocet , 17 Golden Plover & 2 Jay .
A look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary got me lots of Avocet that had now left the marsh as the tide had started to drop , 200+ Dunlin , 25 Grey Plover , 15 Bar-Tailed Godwit , a Spotted Redshank & a Kingfisher .
A look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary got me lots of Avocet that had now left the marsh as the tide had started to drop , 200+ Dunlin , 25 Grey Plover , 15 Bar-Tailed Godwit , a Spotted Redshank & a Kingfisher .
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham
I am without a car at the moment so all of my birding is being done at my local patches & today I had a look at Bowling Green Marsh where there was plenty of wildfowl on show with numerous Wigeon , 15 Teal , 2 male & a female Shoveler , 2 male Tufted Duck , a male Pochard & the long staying wintering male Long-Tailed Duck .
There was also good numbers of waders to be seen with numerous Black-Tailed Godwit , 300+ Avocet , 100+ Lapwing & 50+ Dunlin , other birds seen on the marsh today was a male Peregrine Falcon that kept on spooking everything , 50+ Starling , a Great Spotted Woodpecker & the vixen Fox was in her usual spot under the railway line .
There was also good numbers of waders to be seen with numerous Black-Tailed Godwit , 300+ Avocet , 100+ Lapwing & 50+ Dunlin , other birds seen on the marsh today was a male Peregrine Falcon that kept on spooking everything , 50+ Starling , a Great Spotted Woodpecker & the vixen Fox was in her usual spot under the railway line .
Wednesday 4th December . 2013
There was still a lot of thrushes in the cemetery this morning with the majority being Redwing & at one point a female Sparrowhawk flew in and caught an unfortunate bird , but it was an amazing sight to see !! in with the Redwing were a few Fieldfare & some very nice Mistle Thrush always a nice bird to get good views off , there was also a large flock of Greenfinch , 4 Goldcrest & a Coal Tit a very rare bird in the cemetery grounds .
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
Winter Thrushes
Nice to see the Thrushes back in the cemetery at Topsham with over 200 Redwing and a few Fieldfare in with them , another look at The Recreation Ground in Topsham got me 2 male Red-Breasted Merganser , the long staying Water Pipit , a Turnstone , an adult winter Mediterranean Gull & 2 Mistle Thrush
Monday, 2 December 2013
Yellow-Legged Gull
A look through the Gulls on the shingle in the middle of the Exe Estuary at the Topsham Recreation Ground got me 7 Common Gull & a 2nd winter Yellow-Legged Gull , also seen on a walk around , avoiding the dog crap !! were 3 Grey Wagtail , the wintering Water Pipit , a Common Kingfisher & 2 Reed Bunting .
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 .
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 .
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 .
