I spent this morning again at the warren view football pitch in hope of getting better shots of the juvenile male European Serin and in the end the long wait was worth it !! I wanted better shots as this is the first one that I have photographed in Britain so I`m quite pleased .
Also around the area was a 20+ flock of European Goldfinch , 3 European Greenfinch , 2 Common Linnet , 8 Meadow Pipit , 6 Redwing & 2 Song Thrush .
Saturday, 31 October 2015
Friday, 30 October 2015
European Serin
I had not gone out birding today due to the bad weather but by the late afternoon it had gotten a bit better , I was sat at home watching the television when I had a text from my mate Matt Knott telling me that he had a European Serin near his home in Exmouth ! the time was 3.10 so I shot out to car and tried to get there as fast as possible but sods law I got stuck in the traffic .
I arrived on site around 3.25 and around 10 minutes later Matt got me onto the bird ( Cheers Mate ) being a dull day the light was now dropping fast but I fired off a few shots more in hope really ! but I was quite pleased that they didn`t come out to bad in the end .
I arrived on site around 3.25 and around 10 minutes later Matt got me onto the bird ( Cheers Mate ) being a dull day the light was now dropping fast but I fired off a few shots more in hope really ! but I was quite pleased that they didn`t come out to bad in the end .
Thursday, 29 October 2015
Glossy Ibis
Today four of us made our way over to the Seaton area in East Devon with our first stop at Blackhole Marsh to look for a couple of elusive Glossy Ibis that have been around the area for a while now but have only been coming in to roost , but today news came out that they were on the marsh this morning so we went and got them a last !!! also seen were two Little Grebe and a Water Rail .
We then went to the Seaton Sewage Works to look for a Yellow-Browed Warbler that had been reported there and after a bit of a search we ended up getting good views of the bird , there was also a flock of Long-Tailed Tit and some Goldcrest , we then made our way back to the car when news came out of a couple of Cattle Egret showing in a field at Teigngrace so off we went look for them in hope that they would still be there ! and we were in luck and get one of them quite close and in the end we got to see the second bird but it was a bit distant .
We then went to the Seaton Sewage Works to look for a Yellow-Browed Warbler that had been reported there and after a bit of a search we ended up getting good views of the bird , there was also a flock of Long-Tailed Tit and some Goldcrest , we then made our way back to the car when news came out of a couple of Cattle Egret showing in a field at Teigngrace so off we went look for them in hope that they would still be there ! and we were in luck and get one of them quite close and in the end we got to see the second bird but it was a bit distant .
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Pallas`s Leaf Warbler
Today I didn`t think that I would be doing any birding as I was looking after my 5 year old grandson all day ! and had taken him to the museum in Exeter when my phone went off with the words Pallas`s Warbler at Gore Lane in Exmouth , so I made my way home as quick as I could by bus ughhhh ! I got home and we jumped into the car and headed for the Bristol Schools Camp at Gore Lane in Exmouth , on arrival the finder Dave Hopkins was still there with another birder Brian Heasman and they soon got me onto the bird but it was on the move all of the time but in the end I managed to get these shots of the bird that is only my second for Devon !
Also seen were quite a few Goldcrest , a Firecrest and a male Eurasian Bullfinch and in one of the top fields there was a male Peregrine Falcon not a bad days bit of birding considering the circumstances !!!
Also seen were quite a few Goldcrest , a Firecrest and a male Eurasian Bullfinch and in one of the top fields there was a male Peregrine Falcon not a bad days bit of birding considering the circumstances !!!
Monday, 26 October 2015
A good bird for Goosemoor
I was down on Bowling Green Marsh very early this morning as there was a report of the Yellow-Browed Warbler seen there again yesterday by Riversmeet House and as there has been no news on one for a while now perhaps it could be a new one , but who knows !
Anyway I went right along the road to the far end of the marsh checking the bushes and trees and came across a large tit flock consisting mostly of Long-Tailed Tit and Great Tit and a few Blue Tit were in with them but no sign of the warbler , I spent around two and a half hours around the last field beside Riversmeet House and saw a bit of a build up of Common Blackbird with 12 seen + 2 Redwing , 7 European Robin , 2 Eurasian Nuthatch , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Jay and 2 Common Raven , I was getting a bit cold now so I headed back to the car but before I headed for home I thought that I would have a look at Goosemoor , that is just the other side of the railway line from BGM and as I was looking out at the pool I heard some Long-Tailed Tits again so I went to have a look and found them in the row of trees beside the railway line and would you believe it in with them was the Yellow-Browed Warbler ! it looked to me like they were sheltering from the wind , I got nice views of the bird but it seems impossible to get a shot of this bird as it is always on the move , still I will keep on trying lol .
Anyway I went right along the road to the far end of the marsh checking the bushes and trees and came across a large tit flock consisting mostly of Long-Tailed Tit and Great Tit and a few Blue Tit were in with them but no sign of the warbler , I spent around two and a half hours around the last field beside Riversmeet House and saw a bit of a build up of Common Blackbird with 12 seen + 2 Redwing , 7 European Robin , 2 Eurasian Nuthatch , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Jay and 2 Common Raven , I was getting a bit cold now so I headed back to the car but before I headed for home I thought that I would have a look at Goosemoor , that is just the other side of the railway line from BGM and as I was looking out at the pool I heard some Long-Tailed Tits again so I went to have a look and found them in the row of trees beside the railway line and would you believe it in with them was the Yellow-Browed Warbler ! it looked to me like they were sheltering from the wind , I got nice views of the bird but it seems impossible to get a shot of this bird as it is always on the move , still I will keep on trying lol .
Saturday, 24 October 2015
Mistle Thrush
Not much birding done today , but I did have an afternoon stroll around the cemetery grounds in Topsham to look for any winter thrushes but all I saw was a single Mistle Thrush but I don't think it will be long before the others start turning up , there was also a 30+ flock of Western Jackdaw , 8 Goldcrest , also seen was a Grey Squirrel and this Garden Cross Spider .
Friday, 23 October 2015
Long-Billed Dowitcher
A trip up to Hampshire today with our first stop being at Blashford Lakes to look for a Ferruginous Duck but there was no sign of it today ( The 3rd one that I have dipped this year ) , the only birds seen were 6 Gadwall and 2 Common Kingfisher .
On then to the Pennington Marshes to look for an American wader a Long-Billed Dowitcher and this time we had better luck seeing the bird but it never came too close to us , also seen were 2 female Northern Pintail , 9 Common Snipe , a Grey Plover and a Cetti`s Warbler .
Also seen today 3 Sika Deer and some European Hornet
On then to the Pennington Marshes to look for an American wader a Long-Billed Dowitcher and this time we had better luck seeing the bird but it never came too close to us , also seen were 2 female Northern Pintail , 9 Common Snipe , a Grey Plover and a Cetti`s Warbler .
Also seen today 3 Sika Deer and some European Hornet
Thursday, 22 October 2015
Nothing New
An afternoon look around Bowling Green Marsh only turned up the usual birds with quite a bit of a tit flock consisting of mainly of Long-Tailed Tit and Blue Tit with a few Great Tit and a single Coal Tit in with them , there was also a large flock of Goldcrest , besides that there were half a dozen European Robin , 2 Winter Wren , 2 Redwing , a Song Thrush , a Eurasian Nuthatch and a Eurasian Jay .
A look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary then got me 2 Little Egret and 6 Common Gull and on the Exe Estuary there was 30+ Pied Avocet .
A look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary then got me 2 Little Egret and 6 Common Gull and on the Exe Estuary there was 30+ Pied Avocet .
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
The Portland area again today
My mate Andy and myself went up to Portland Bill again today in hope of catching up with the European Serin but there was no sign of it today as last night was a clear one and it looked today as everything had moved on , but we gave it a good go again today but all we saw was 2 Little Owl in the quarry , around a dozen Goldcrest , 3 Common Kestrel , a Common Buzzard , a male and female Common Stonechat , 2 Redwing , a Rock Pipit and the day was finished off with a nice Short-Eared Owl , not a good as day as yesterday but with birding there is always tomorrow !
Monday, 19 October 2015
Portland Area
This afternoon my mate Andy Bond and myself went up to Portland Bill in Dorset as news had come out of a few good birds showing there , out first stop was at Suckthumb Quarry in Weston to look for a juvenile Red-Backed Shrike and it took us nearly 2 hours to get good views of this bird , the light was now beginning to drop but we still made our way to the obs at Portland Bill as a Red-Breasted Flycatcher had been seen a few times during the day , on arrival we were told that it had been seen in the hut-field , so we made our way there as fast as we could , we soon started picking up birds with quite a few Common Chiffchaff , 2 Willow Warbler and 2 Goldcrest seen but there was no sign of the Red-Breasted Flycatcher and our hopes were beginning to fade !!! when all of a sudden there the little beauty was ! sat right out in the open but we had no sooner got on it when off it shot again , the other bird seen around the obs today was a Serin but we didn`t manage to catch up with it , still as Meatloaf sang 2 out of 3 ain`t bad lol
Sunday, 18 October 2015
Common Crossbill
I have been birding my local patch Bowling Green Marsh on and off for a few weeks just checking the bushes in hope of maybe being lucky and finding something good and today it paid off as I got on a Common Crossbill flying over the marsh calling ! I heard more calling but I couldn`t get on them , I know that its not a rare British bird but it is a really rare bird for the marsh !!!
Also seen was 30+ Pied Avocet , a Bar-Tailed Godwit , a Whimbrel , a Lesser Redpoll , 6 Pied Wagtail , a single White Wagtail , 2 Grey Wagtail , 2 Eurasian Jay , a Great Spotted Woodpecker and wherever you looked on the marsh there was Goldcrest but after much searching I couldn`t find anything good in with them today .
Also seen was 30+ Pied Avocet , a Bar-Tailed Godwit , a Whimbrel , a Lesser Redpoll , 6 Pied Wagtail , a single White Wagtail , 2 Grey Wagtail , 2 Eurasian Jay , a Great Spotted Woodpecker and wherever you looked on the marsh there was Goldcrest but after much searching I couldn`t find anything good in with them today .
Saturday, 17 October 2015
Common Kingfisher
There was a report earlier in the week of a juvenile Ring-Necked Duck on the River Exe at Countess Wear ! so this afternoon I walked up river looking for it but after searching for quite a while there was no sign of it anywhere , but I saw 20+ Mallard , 3 Common Kingfisher one of our most stunning looking birds , the bird in the photo is a male bird picked out by its all black bill , a Little Egret , 2 Great Black-Backed Gull with one of them swooping in to catch a freshwater Eel , a male and female Common Stonechat , a fly over Common Raven and in the river there were quite a few Grey Mullet .
Friday, 16 October 2015
Common Buzzard
This morning I had a early morning look at Bowling Green Marsh where the Common Buzzard was perched on its favourite tree but not a lot else was seen with only a female Common Kestrel , 200+ Black-Tailed Godwit , 30+ Pied Avocet and the White Wagtail was seen again for its fourth day on the marsh .
I then had a look at the Ludwell Valley area of Exeter for White-Throated Dippers but there wasn't any sign of them ! but I did see a Grey Wagtail , 2 Eurasian Jay , a Eurasian Treecreeper and 5 Winter Wren
I then had a look at the Ludwell Valley area of Exeter for White-Throated Dippers but there wasn't any sign of them ! but I did see a Grey Wagtail , 2 Eurasian Jay , a Eurasian Treecreeper and 5 Winter Wren
Thursday, 15 October 2015
Common Raven
Only a short afternoon visit to BGM Marsh today as I had to get my eyes tested this morning , as the other day I was watching Match Of The Day and thought that Liverpool were playing well and being a United fan that signalled to me that I had better get my eyes tested lol .
Anyway jokes aside I started the day at Goosemoor where there was a few Common Greenshank , a Water Rail and 2 Common Raven , I then had a look at Bowling Green Marsh but there was not a lot to see on the marsh today with only another 2 Common Raven , a Common Buzzard , 20+ Goldcrest , and a Common Chiffchaff , a look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary only got me a Common Kingfisher .
Anyway jokes aside I started the day at Goosemoor where there was a few Common Greenshank , a Water Rail and 2 Common Raven , I then had a look at Bowling Green Marsh but there was not a lot to see on the marsh today with only another 2 Common Raven , a Common Buzzard , 20+ Goldcrest , and a Common Chiffchaff , a look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary only got me a Common Kingfisher .
Wednesday, 14 October 2015
Isabelline Shrike
I went for a look around Bowling Green Marsh again this morning still in hope of finding something good lol but all I saw was a Peregrine Falcon , my first 2 Redwing of the autumn , a Cetti`s Warbler and around 15 Goldcrest , and in the garden of Riversmeet House I found a Eurasian Treecreeper !
But then news came out of a 1st winter Isabelline Shrike in South Devon at Sth Huish Marsh so four of us made the trip down to see if we could see it and we ended up getting fabulous views of this very rare bird in Devon .
But then news came out of a 1st winter Isabelline Shrike in South Devon at Sth Huish Marsh so four of us made the trip down to see if we could see it and we ended up getting fabulous views of this very rare bird in Devon .
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
White Wagtail
Another look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me views of the Yellow-Browed Warbler and the Lesser Redpoll again today , but the only different bird seen today was a White Wagtail that flew in and landed with the cows in the field beside the viewing platform .
Also seen today were 2 Greylag Geese , 20+ Goldcrest , 10 Long-Tailed Tit , 2 Common Chiffchaff , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Jay and 2 Common Raven
Also seen today were 2 Greylag Geese , 20+ Goldcrest , 10 Long-Tailed Tit , 2 Common Chiffchaff , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Jay and 2 Common Raven
Monday, 12 October 2015
Lesser Redpoll a new bird for my BGM list
I was down on my local patch Bowling Green Marsh early this morning looking for a Yellow-Browed Warbler that was found yesterday and I came across it around 9.50 in with Long-Tailed Tits and Goldcrest but the view that I got of it was very quick as it flew from one tree to another but it did call three times ! also seen was 4 Coal Tit , 3 Common Chiffchaff , a female Blackcap , 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker , 2 Eurasian Jay & a male Common Bullfinch but the best bird of the day for me was a Lesser Redpoll a new bird added to my BGM list the bird was around the small pond on the marsh just by the bottom of Bowling Green Lane .
Later in the afternoon a look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary got me 5 Pied Avocet , 4 Common Greenshank , 2 European Golden Plover , a Common Kingfisher and a Common Seal
Later in the afternoon a look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary got me 5 Pied Avocet , 4 Common Greenshank , 2 European Golden Plover , a Common Kingfisher and a Common Seal
Saturday, 10 October 2015
European Green Woodpecker
I have not been birding much today and I was sat in my house when this Female European Green Woodpecker landed on my lawn , I grabbed my camera and fired off this shot through the glass window , not a bad result and a good bird for my garden list !!
Its was around 4pm so I went and had a look around the Topsham Cemetery Grounds and saw another European Green Woodpecker but the chances are that it could be the same bird , around 12 Goldcrest and 2 Common Raven were also seen .
Its was around 4pm so I went and had a look around the Topsham Cemetery Grounds and saw another European Green Woodpecker but the chances are that it could be the same bird , around 12 Goldcrest and 2 Common Raven were also seen .
Friday, 9 October 2015
A new bird for my BGM list
Today started well as I found a Firecrest near to my home in Topsham , I only found my first one of this species a few weeks back so to find another one in less than a month is amazing !!!
Later in the day I had a look at my local patch Bowling Green Marsh and was told that a female Mandarin Duck had been seen earlier but could not be found now ! and as this was a new bird for my BGM list and I had already missed a couple of these on the marsh I was a bit p****d off ! but as it was the bird showed well after about an hours wait and the smile was back on my face lol , also seen were all the normal wildfowl but a count of over 100+ Northern Pintail was outstanding for the marsh , waders included 15 Pied Avocet , 20+ Dunlin , 2 Bar-Tailed Godwit , a Spotted Redshank and a Red Knot .
Later in the day I had a look at my local patch Bowling Green Marsh and was told that a female Mandarin Duck had been seen earlier but could not be found now ! and as this was a new bird for my BGM list and I had already missed a couple of these on the marsh I was a bit p****d off ! but as it was the bird showed well after about an hours wait and the smile was back on my face lol , also seen were all the normal wildfowl but a count of over 100+ Northern Pintail was outstanding for the marsh , waders included 15 Pied Avocet , 20+ Dunlin , 2 Bar-Tailed Godwit , a Spotted Redshank and a Red Knot .
Thursday, 8 October 2015
Rose-Coloured Starling
Today is my birthday so as usual I wanted to go birding so my mate Ken Montandon and myself set off to bird the Shapwick Heath area in Somerset , but we were so busy talking that we missed the turn off and before we realized it we were nearly at Bristol so we then thought that seeing that we were that far up we would carry on to Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire to look for a juvenile Rose-Coloured Starling that has been seen there and we soon located the bird and got great views of it in a pear tree but it was very mobile , we then headed back to Shapwick Heath but there was not a lot on show there today with the best being 2 Great White Egret , 2 Cetti`s Warbler and quite a few Marsh Frog , but still we had a good day !
Monday, 5 October 2015
Black Brant
This afternoon the weather was continuous drizzle !! but I still went down to the Imperial Ground at Exmouth to look for a Black Brant ( Branta bernicla nigricans ) the American version of our Brent Goose and after a bit of a search I managed to get distant views of it on a sand bar in the middle of the Exe Estuary ( Thanks Terry ) , there was also 300+ Dark Bellied Brent Geese , 3 Pale Bellied Brent Geese , in with then also was the Ridgway`s Cackling Goose .
Not a lot else to report with only the usual good numbers of Eurasian Wigeon and Northern Pintail , 3 Little Egret and 2 Common Greenshank .
Not a lot else to report with only the usual good numbers of Eurasian Wigeon and Northern Pintail , 3 Little Egret and 2 Common Greenshank .
Saturday, 3 October 2015
Another Day !!!!
Another morning up in the forest didn`t turn up much different than the days before but I wanted to try and photograph a female Common Crossbill but only a few Crossbill were seen today but luck was with me and I did get what I wanted , also seen was my first Mistle Thrush of the autumn , 10 Eurasian Siskin , 2 Eurasian Nuthatch , 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Jay and 2 Common Bullfinch
Friday, 2 October 2015
Still some Crossbills
Around 20+ Common Crossbill were still showing today on a beautiful morning at the Great Haldon Forest but they were not as photographable today ! but the Eurasian Siskin were a joy to see and photograph , also seen quite a few Coal Tit , 2 Eurasian Jay , a Eurasian Nuthatch , a female Great Spotted Woodpecker also around the woods were numerous calling Goldcrest and a flock of Long-Tailed Tit`s
Thursday, 1 October 2015
Common Crossbill
I had a quick look this morning at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham and saw 3 Pied Avocet , 2 Common Snipe , 2 Ruff and a single Bar-Tailed Godwit , I then decided to go up to the Great Haldon Forest and it turned out to be a good move as I found a mixed flock of 20-30 Common Crossbill a bird that I have always been trying to get a nice shot of and today was my lucky day but it took me over an hour to get the shots that I wanted !
I also saw 20+ Eurasian Siskin , 10 Coal Tit , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Nuthatch and a Common Raven .
I also saw 20+ Eurasian Siskin , 10 Coal Tit , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Nuthatch and a Common Raven .
