A trip up to Somerset today with my mate Ken Montandon with our first stop at the Greylake NR to look for a reported Green-Winged Teal but alas no was no sign of it today and not a lot else to report either with the best birds seen being a female Merlin and a Little Ringed Plover .
So we then made our way to the Ham Wall Reserve where we saw a Great White Egret , 2 Western Marsh Harrier , numerous Cetti`s Warbler and 2 booming Great Bittern , we then went across the road to Shapwick Heath and saw 6 more Western Marsh Harrier with a male and female talon gripping in flight , great to see and the first time that I have seen this ! we then headed back to the car and had another Great Bittern booming .
Monday, 30 March 2015
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Penduline Tits
Hi everyone I have just heard news that the 2 Penduine Tit still on show at Darts Farm in Topsham are 2nd year Male and Female and not 2 females as we had thought ...wow
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Tuesday, 24 March 2015
The Masked Intruder
I had a look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham this morning but it was dead !! and all I saw was 3 male and a female Northern Pintail , a male and female Tufted Duck and the normal waders for this time of year with 200+ Black-Tailed Godwit , 20+ Bar-Tailed Godwit , 50+ Dunlin , 10 Red Knot and 2 Common Greenshank , I then heard that the Penduline Tit were still showing over at Darts Farm so I went across and was treated to great views of these smart little birds , these birds have now been in the area since last December ...amazing ! and on the way back out a Stock Dove was on the grass but it only stayed for a short while .
Sunday, 22 March 2015
Spotted Redshank
Not a lot to report today but a look at Goosemoor got me a Eurasian Nuthatch a first for the site for me , and a Common Raven , then a look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary turned up 3 pair of Red-Breasted Merganser , the 2 winter plumaged Spotted Redshank , 3 Common Greenshank , a Common Kingfisher and a nice surprise a European Green Woodpecker ...but the best thing seen today was United beating the Scousers...revenge for last year yessssssssss !!
Saturday, 21 March 2015
Egyptian Goose
A look at Goosemoor in Topsham this morning got me a pair of Egyptian Geese and a Common Raven , I then walked down to the viewing platform on Bowling Green Marsh and had a look at the Clyst Estuary but there was not a lot to be seen with only 5 Little Egret . numerous Dunlin , 6 Grey Plover , 2 Spotted Redshank , 1 Common Greenshank and a Common Chiffchaff .
Friday, 20 March 2015
Little Ringed Plover
A look at the Clyst Estuary from the viewing platform in Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me a female Goosander , 3 Common Greenshank , 2 Spotted Redshank , 1 Pied Avocet , 1 Grey Plover and a Common Kingfisher .
I then went down the Otter Estuary NR to look for a reported Little Ringed Plover and on arrival the bird was very distant but patience paid off as after about half an hour the flew over and landed a lot closer....1st for the year...very nice !
I then went down the Otter Estuary NR to look for a reported Little Ringed Plover and on arrival the bird was very distant but patience paid off as after about half an hour the flew over and landed a lot closer....1st for the year...very nice !
Thursday, 19 March 2015
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
This morning I went out to some woodlands in the Teign Valley and was lucky enough to see two Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and as you can see the one in the photo is a nice male but I couldn't get enough on the other bird to sex it ! also seen was a European Green Woodpecker , 5 Eurasian Nuthatch , 3 Grey Wagtail and 3 Goldcrest , later in the day I had a look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham and saw a male Garganey ! I expect it is the same bird that I saw the other day but this time of year you can never be sure .
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Bonaparte`s Gull
The lure of a 1st winter Bonaparte`s Gull that was showing well at Radipoll Lake in Dorset had myself & two mates Ken & Andy making the trip there in hope of seeing it ! there was no problem there as the bird a 1st winter was showing very well constantly feeding , there was also 5 Cetti`s Warbler and 6 Common Chiffchaff at the site .
We then went across to Portland Bill where my first Little Owl of the year was added to my list , also seen were 3 Northern Wheatear , a Firecrest and a Common Raven , we then headed for home and on the way 2 Brown Hare were showing very well in a field close to the road near the village of Swyre , a great end to a good day .
We then went across to Portland Bill where my first Little Owl of the year was added to my list , also seen were 3 Northern Wheatear , a Firecrest and a Common Raven , we then headed for home and on the way 2 Brown Hare were showing very well in a field close to the road near the village of Swyre , a great end to a good day .
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Garganey
An hour spent at Goosemoor in Topsham got me my first Garganey of the year a nice male ( Thanks Keith ) sorry about the quality of the photo but I only had the chance to fire of this shot just before it flew off with some Common Teal , also seen were 5 Common Greenshank , 2 Spotted Redshank and my first singing Chiffchaff of the year .
Saturday, 14 March 2015
Spring Migrants
An early morning look at the Exminster Marshes got me my first spring migrants of the year ! with 5 Common Sand Martin hawking over the ponds and 3 male and a female Northern Wheatear seen in the field by the Lions Rest , there was not a lot else to be seen but 3 Goldcrest , a Common Chiffchaff and a Mistle Thrush were nice for the day .
Tuesday, 10 March 2015
Bowling Green Marsh
A look at the marsh this morning got me 3 male and 3 female Northern Pintale , 3 male Common Pochard , 6 Bar-Tailed Godwit , 1 single Avocet with no sign of any others on the Exe Estuary either , 1 Common Snipe , 1 Common Raven and 2 Red Fox , I then walked down to the viewing platform that looks out onto the Clyst Estuary where I saw 2 Common Kingfisher , a Common Greenshank and a Common Gull .
Sunday, 8 March 2015
Snow Bunting
Out again this morning and today I spent an hour or so with the over wintering Snow Bunting that frequents the sea wall on the Exe Estuary just up from Powderham Corner , I know that I have seen it a few times already but you do not get the chance very often to soak up the beauty of these stunning little birds !! the bird is quite tame and if walkers get to close to it , it just flies a bit further along the wall .. so grab the chance to see this smart little bird before it decides the time has come to leave us !!
Saturday, 7 March 2015
Out again !!!
I was feeling a bit better today so I popped out for a quick look around my local spots with my first stop at Darts Farm where 2 Penduline Tit were showing very well , also seen were 2 Common Buzzard . a male Eurasian Sparrowhawk and a male Reed Bunting , I then had a look at Bowling Green Marsh but it was low tide so not a lot of birds on the marsh with the best being a male and female Northern Pintail and 3 male Common Pochard , I finished my stint off with a look at the Clyst Estuary where I got my first Mediterranean Gull in Devon this year !
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Gambia Revisited
Not been feeling to well so not much birding being done so I thought that I would post some more birds of the Gambia .....Hope you enjoy them !
Monday, 2 March 2015
Some African Hornbills
Here are a few shots of Hornbills seen in the Gambia last November !! I will still be adding the odd photo`s now and then .... hope that you enjoy them .
