I had a look at my local site Bowling Green Marsh this morning where all the normal wildfowl were on show including 4 male and 2 female Northern Pintail , there was also a good variety of waders with numerous Black-Tailed Godwit , 100-150 Bar-Tailed Godwit , 200+ Pied Avocet , 50+ Common Redshank , a single Spotted Redshank and a few Dunlin also seen was a European Green Woodpecker , a Stock Dove , a Common Raven and an elusive Water Rail .
I then went down to the other end of the marsh and saw another Spotted Redshank on the Clyst Estuary but it could have been the earlier bird from the marsh as birds had now started to leave the marsh for the estuary ! I then had a look at the trees in Riversmeet House and found a pair of Eurasian Treecreeper , 2 Eurasian Nuthatch and a Common Chiffchaff .
Monday, 29 February 2016
Sunday, 28 February 2016
Grey Partridge
I had a quick look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning and saw 3 Male and 3 female Northern Pintail and a few Black-Tailed Godwit of the Icelandic race , I then had a look around the roads by the village of Ide and saw a few Common Skylark and heard the sweet sounding song of a Woodlark but for all of my looking I couldn`t get to see it , also seen was a Common Raven , then I saw the bird of the day as I was driving down one of the roads I came across a Grey Partridge that was stood in the middle of the road with a couple of Red-Legged Partridge , and it was great to get good views of the two different partridges together , as the car got closer to them they made their way into one of the fields but they never flew off !
Saturday, 27 February 2016
Bonaparte`s Gull
The adult Bonaparte`s Gull was showing in the Exe Estuary this afternoon but was always very distant so no chance of getting a shot of it , but perhaps another day ! there was also 5 male and a female Red-Breasted Merganser , 5 Common Gull , 3 Great Black-Backed Gull and a fly over Grey Heron .
Thursday, 25 February 2016
Spotted Redshank
This winter plumaged Spotted Redshank was showing very well this afternoon on the Clyst Estuary in Topsham along with 50-60 Common Redshank , 2 Common Greenshank , 100 + Dunlin , 20 + Grey Plover , a few Eurasian Curlew and a partial summer plumaged Red Knot ( My 1st of the year )
I then walked around and had a look at the Exe Estuary where I saw 250-300 Black-Tailed Godwit and 50+ Pied Avocet .
I then walked around and had a look at the Exe Estuary where I saw 250-300 Black-Tailed Godwit and 50+ Pied Avocet .
Monday, 22 February 2016
Not a lot today !
A quick stop over at the feeding station in the Great Haldon Forest got me a few Eurasian Siskin and Common Chaffinch , I then carried on with my journey down to Buckfastleigh where a look at the River Dart got me 20+ Mandarin Duck !
Sunday, 21 February 2016
Yellow-Browed Warbler
I have not done a lot of birding in the last few days ! but on hearing that a Yellow-Browed Warbler had been seen in the grounds of St Jame`s School in Exeter I just had to go and have a look for it this morning , I arrived to find the school gates open but was surprised to find no birders there at all !
At first there was no sign of the bird but after a while I picked it up on call and soon had a few fleeting views of the bird , I had rang my birding buddy Brian Heasman and just after he turned up out popped the bird in full view I fired off a few shots and was over the moon to get this one decent shot of it , another birder that I had called got the bird a bit later so perhaps it will stay for a while or it may have been around for a quite a while but only just found .
At first there was no sign of the bird but after a while I picked it up on call and soon had a few fleeting views of the bird , I had rang my birding buddy Brian Heasman and just after he turned up out popped the bird in full view I fired off a few shots and was over the moon to get this one decent shot of it , another birder that I had called got the bird a bit later so perhaps it will stay for a while or it may have been around for a quite a while but only just found .
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Birding Somerset
Today a group of us went up to do some birding in Somerset but what a day we picked as it poured with rain all day , our first stop was at Glastonbury Heath to look for a male Ring-Necked Duck and we soon found it in with 40+ Tufted Duck , we also saw a Great Crested Grebe , a Common Kingfisher and a Cetti`s Warbler was heard on call .
On then to the Curry Moor area on the Somerset Levels to look for some reported Whooper Swan but at first we couldn't find them but we did see 2 Jack Snipe and a Common Snipe , we then went to Swell Wood where we looked out over the levels again and 2 Common Crane were picked up , then we went back to Curry Moor for another look and this time we found 10 Whooper Swan ! so in the end it was not a bad day even if we did get soaked .
On then to the Curry Moor area on the Somerset Levels to look for some reported Whooper Swan but at first we couldn't find them but we did see 2 Jack Snipe and a Common Snipe , we then went to Swell Wood where we looked out over the levels again and 2 Common Crane were picked up , then we went back to Curry Moor for another look and this time we found 10 Whooper Swan ! so in the end it was not a bad day even if we did get soaked .
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
Common Crossbill
This morning I once again visited a site that must be kept private ! and I was lucky enough to see 4 fly over Common Crossbill and was very pleased as I have had them before at nearby sites but have never had them at this site before ! also seen were 20+ Common Raven , 12 Common Buzzard & 2 Common Stonechat , plus 2 Woodlark were heard singing and a Tawny Owl was heard on call .
Saturday, 13 February 2016
Green-Winged Teal
Not a lot to report today as I went over to Blackhole Marsh with my mate Brian to look for the American Green-Winged Teal and a Glossy Ibis that has also been around for quite a time ! and we managed to get the Teal but it was quite distant but we missed out on seeing the Ibis only for it to turn up again after we had returned home , just proves the birding can bite you on the bum sometimes lol .
Friday, 12 February 2016
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
A look from the hide at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me the usual wildfowl with Eurasian Wigeon , Common Teal , Northern Shoveler , Gadwall , Northern Pintail , Common Pochard and Tufted Duck , also seen was my first Water Rail on the marsh this year , 500+ Black-Tailed Godwit , 50+ Bar-Tailed Godwit , 300+ Pied Avocet , 10 Eurasian Curlew and 3 Grey Plover .
I then went out to Steps Bridge for a look and was lucky enough to find a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker as it wasn't drumming or calling and I only found it as I saw some bits falling from a tree and looked up and there it was ! , also seen was a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Nuthatch , a Eurasian Treecreeper , 4 Eurasian Siskin and a few Marsh Tit .
I then went out to Steps Bridge for a look and was lucky enough to find a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker as it wasn't drumming or calling and I only found it as I saw some bits falling from a tree and looked up and there it was ! , also seen was a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Nuthatch , a Eurasian Treecreeper , 4 Eurasian Siskin and a few Marsh Tit .
Thursday, 11 February 2016
Spotted Redshank
I had a look around Bowling Green Marsh today but as it was low tide there was not a lot to be seen but there was quite a lot of Eurasian Wigeon , Common Teal and Northern Shoveler seen from the hide and at the other end of the marsh by Riversmeet House there was a Common Snipe , a male and female Common Stonechat and a few Common Linnet .
I then had a look at the Clyst Estuary from the viewing platform and saw numerous Dunlin , a single Grey Plover , 20+ Common Redshank , this winter plumaged Spotted Redshank , 2 Common Greenshank and overhead a battle was going on between a Eurasian Sparrowhawk and a Common Raven....good to watch !!
I then had a look at the Clyst Estuary from the viewing platform and saw numerous Dunlin , a single Grey Plover , 20+ Common Redshank , this winter plumaged Spotted Redshank , 2 Common Greenshank and overhead a battle was going on between a Eurasian Sparrowhawk and a Common Raven....good to watch !!
Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Woodlark
Early this morning I went for a look at the Exminster Marshes but the road was impassable due to heavy flooding so you could only look at the first couple of fields and they held 50+ Common Redshank and 12 Northern Lapwing .
I then went to a private site where I saw 3 Woodlark , a few Common Skylark , a Common Buzzard and 16 Common Raven .
I then went to a private site where I saw 3 Woodlark , a few Common Skylark , a Common Buzzard and 16 Common Raven .
Sunday, 7 February 2016
Yellowhammer
This morning I had a quick visit to a site near Exmouth to check on the Lesser Redpoll flock but alas they seem to have moved on , perhaps due to the bad weather that we have had and I only managed to see just the two of them , but there was a large flock of 20-30 Yellowhammer`s on show with some stunning male birds showing well , also seen were 12 Reed Bunting and a single Stock Dove .
Thursday, 4 February 2016
Bowling Green Marsh
I had a stroll around my local patch Bowling Green Marsh today but the birding was pretty slow ! with the best birds seen being a male and female Common Stonechat and 5 Common Reed Bunting , there was also a flock of 20+ Common Linnet that were moving around the marsh as was a single Redwing , a look from the hide got me 2 male and 2 female Northern Pintail , 3 male Common Pochard and 2 Common Snipe , the usual birds were around the feeders with the best being 2 Eurasian Nuthatch .
Wednesday, 3 February 2016
Green-Winged Teal
This morning I made a trip up to the Great Haldon Forest as I had heard that there was some smart looking Brambling on show at the bird feeding station , when I arrived there it was blowing a gale but the birds didn`t seem bothered at all and soon I managed to see 2 male and a female Brambling , also seen were 20+ Eurasian Siskin , 8 Coal Tit & 2 Eurasian Nuthatch , I then went to another spot that is good for Common Raven and I saw six of them .
Later in the day my mate Andy Bond and myself went over to Blackhole Marsh near Seaton to look for a reported Green-Winged Teal , we had just left the car park and reached the path when a Barn Owl flew out from one of the trees but it was soon lost from view ! the Green-Winged Teal was showing from the tower hide but was very distant ! but it came closer as the daylight was fading and I just managed to get this record shot of it just before the light went but I hope to get a better shot of it at a later date , then as we were making our way back home 3 Woodcock flew over the road in front of us in the last rays of light a very nice end to the day .
Later in the day my mate Andy Bond and myself went over to Blackhole Marsh near Seaton to look for a reported Green-Winged Teal , we had just left the car park and reached the path when a Barn Owl flew out from one of the trees but it was soon lost from view ! the Green-Winged Teal was showing from the tower hide but was very distant ! but it came closer as the daylight was fading and I just managed to get this record shot of it just before the light went but I hope to get a better shot of it at a later date , then as we were making our way back home 3 Woodcock flew over the road in front of us in the last rays of light a very nice end to the day .
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
The Exminster Marshes
A look around the Exminster Marshes this morning didn`t get me many birds but was still quite enjoyable in between the heavy downpours of rain as I saw numerous Eurasian Wigeon and Common Teal , 2 male and a female Northern Pintail , a few Northern Shoveler , 50+ Northern Lapwing , 4 Common Snipe , a Peregrine Falcon , 8 Common Skylark , 4 Meadow Pipit , a flock of 20+ Long-Tailed Tit , 4 Common Chiffchaff were flitting around the trees by the middle car park as was this Black-Billed Magpie and 2 Reed Bunting and a Common Raven flew over calling .
