A trip down to Cornwall today for todays birding . With our 1st stop being at Ruan Lanihorne to look for a juvenile Purple Heron that has been seen there for a few days , but we couldn`t see it anywhere and all we saw was a Common Sandpiper and 3 Stock Dove .
So we went on down to the tip of Cornwall to a spot near Sennen where we looked at a ploughed field and in it was a juvenile American Golden Plover , a very smart looking Eurasian Dotterel ( The 1st I have seen for quite a few years ) , a European Golden Plover , at least 10 White Wagtail and 3 Northern Wheatear .
We then decided to start heading back home and on the way we again stopped for another look for the juvenile Purple Heron and this time our luck was in but it was quite distant and only just showing in the long grass , our last stop was at Davidstow Airport where 3 Buff-Breasted Sandpiper all juveniles showed very well , the most that I have ever seen together .
Most of todays birds were very distant in falling rain hence the photos ! but I hope to try again on a better day .
Saturday, 30 September 2017
Friday, 29 September 2017
Another Spot Fly !
A couple of hours spent checking the bushes on Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me , a Spotted Flycatcher that showed briefly before going back into cover again , a couple of Grey Wagtail , 8 Winter Wren , 4 Common Chiffchaff , a male and female Blackcap , 6 European Greenfinch , 20+ European Goldfinch , 2 Eurasian Jay , 2 Western Jackdaw and a female Reed Bunting . And a look from the viewing platform got me a Northern Wheatear the was sat on the estuary wall of Riversmeet House .
Thursday, 28 September 2017
Wednesday 27th September
Myself and my 2 mates Andy & Ken went up to Dorset to do some birding today . Our first stop was at Stanpit Marsh to look for a reported Lesser Yellowlegs but after spending quite a bit of time there looking for it there was no sign of it anywhere and there was not a lot else to see either with only a Great White Egret , 2 Ruff , 2 Spotted Redshank and this smart looking Black Swan ( Long distance migrant lol )
We then had a look around the Arne RSPB Reserve and at Middlebere we saw 40+ Eurasian Spoonbill the most that I have ever seen together and making quite a sight to see , also seen was the bird that we had come for a juvenile Stilt Sandpiper that is most likely the same bird that was seen at Lodmoor near Weymouth a week or so back .
We then had a look around the Arne RSPB Reserve and at Middlebere we saw 40+ Eurasian Spoonbill the most that I have ever seen together and making quite a sight to see , also seen was the bird that we had come for a juvenile Stilt Sandpiper that is most likely the same bird that was seen at Lodmoor near Weymouth a week or so back .
Monday, 25 September 2017
Greenish Warbler
Today Sue and I went to Portland Bill in Dorset in hope of seeing a Greenish Warbler that was found in the Observatory garden yesterday . After the hour and a half journey we parked up in the car park where a Northern Wheatear was on show , we then made our way to the obs and soon located with a Yellow-Browed Warbler , I then got a quick view of the Greenish Warbler but it soon vanished back into cover , it then showed on and off for short spells . It took us 3 hours to get good views of it out in the open but it was well worth the wait as this was only my second ever Greenish Warbler and my first one photographed . The only other one that I have seen was in Kenidjack Valley Cornwall back on the 24th September 2000 . Also seen were a few Common Chiffchaff and Goldcrest , a single Willow Warbler and offshore there was a pod of 10-15 Bottle-Nosed Dolphin .
Sunday, 24 September 2017
MMMMM
Here are a few poor shots due to harsh light of the birds thought at first to be Red-Rumped Swallow , but now thought to be a Barn Swallow x Common House Martin or maybe just Common House Martin ??? .
Saturday, 23 September 2017
Not a Lot !
My look around Bowling Green Marsh today didn`t turn up much at all , as from the hide I saw 2 Curlew Sandpiper , 2 Little Stint , 2 Bar-Tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel in among all the usual numerous waders , also seen was a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk fly in and take a Dunlin .
Then a look around the bushes got me 4 Common Chiffchaff , a Willow Warbler , a Cetti`s Warbler and the Goldcrest are starting to build up in numbers .
Then a look around the bushes got me 4 Common Chiffchaff , a Willow Warbler , a Cetti`s Warbler and the Goldcrest are starting to build up in numbers .
Thursday, 21 September 2017
More of the Black Tern
I was at Bowling Green Marsh early this morning to catch the high tide and I got some good results with 300+ Black-Tailed Godwit , a single Bar-Tailed Godwit , 200+ Eurasian Curlew , 100+ Common Redshank , 50+ Dunlin , 2 juvenile Ruff , 2 Little Stint , a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper , a Common Sandpiper and a Red Knot .
I then went for a look around the bushes but the birding was a bit slow with only 3 Willow Warbler , 7 Common Chiffchaff and 2 male and a female Blackcap , another look from the hide then got me around a dozen Northern Pintail , 2 Little Grebe , a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk , a female Peregrine Falcon and yesterdays juvenile Black Tern again dropped into the marsh this afternoon .
I then went for a look around the bushes but the birding was a bit slow with only 3 Willow Warbler , 7 Common Chiffchaff and 2 male and a female Blackcap , another look from the hide then got me around a dozen Northern Pintail , 2 Little Grebe , a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk , a female Peregrine Falcon and yesterdays juvenile Black Tern again dropped into the marsh this afternoon .
Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Black Tern
A look from the hide at Bowling Green Marsh today got me 30+ Dunlin , 2 juvenile Little Stint , a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper , a Green Sandpiper , a Pied Avocet and an adult Little Grebe . A look around the bushes down by the viewing platform then turned up 8 Common Chiffchaff , 2 Willow Warbler and my 1st Goldcrest on the marsh this autumn . Then news came out from one of the birders of a juvenile Black Tern showing from the hide , so off I went back to the hide to grab a view of it , a nice end to the days birding .
Tuesday, 19 September 2017
The Yanks Are Still Coming !
Another trip up to Dorset again with my mate Andy to look for a Baird`s Sandpiper at Lynch Cove on the Fleet . We arrived to find some birders there but they told us that there was no sign of the bird since early in the morning when it had flown off , so we waited in hope that it would return and in the meantime we could check out the other birds that were on show , with 10 Dunlin , 2 Bar-Tailed Godwit , a Pied Avocet , 40+ Mediterranean Gull and a Grey Wagail . We had been waiting for about an hour and a half when the Baird`s Sandpiper flew in and joined the Dunlin and we were able to get good views of the bird .
We then went to Abbotsbury and went into the Swannery to look for the reported Spotted Sandpiper and once again we got good views of the bird making it my 8th American bird since the Yellow Warbler that was seen on the 21st of August .
We then went to Abbotsbury and went into the Swannery to look for the reported Spotted Sandpiper and once again we got good views of the bird making it my 8th American bird since the Yellow Warbler that was seen on the 21st of August .
Monday, 18 September 2017
Monday 18th September
A quick look at Bowling Green Marsh on the evening high tide turned out to be quite productive with 100+ Dunlin , 50+ Black-Tailed Godwit , 2 Pied Avocet , a juvenile Little Stint , a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper , a Ruff , a juvenile Common Ringed Plover , a Common Snipe , 2 Little Grebe and we also saw the gruesome sight of the local Lesser Black-Backed Gull catch and eat a Dunlin .
Sunday 17th September
Another look at Davidstow Airport this morning got me the juvenile Buff-Breasted Sandpiper again and it was usually in with Dunlin and Common Ringed Plover , a drive around the airport then turned up a juvenile Little Stint , 12 Lesser Black-Backed Gull , an adult Yellow-Legged Gull , 20+ Meadow Pipit , 3 Northern Wheatear , 3 White Wagtail and 3 Common Skylark .
Sunday, 17 September 2017
Saturday 16th September
A look around Davidstow Airport in Cornwall today got me some good birds , with 30+ Dunlin , 20+ Common Ringed Plover , a single superb looking European Golden Plover , a very nice juvenile Buff-Breasted Sandpiper , 20+ Lesser Black-Backed Gull , 4 White Wagtail , 6 British Pied Wagtail and a fly over Eurasian Sparrowhawk .
I then heard news from local birders that 2 Snow Geese were at Maer Lake in Bude and that they had come in a few days ago on the stormy weather , so I went to have a look at them and found them on the far side of the marsh .
I then heard news from local birders that 2 Snow Geese were at Maer Lake in Bude and that they had come in a few days ago on the stormy weather , so I went to have a look at them and found them on the far side of the marsh .
Friday, 15 September 2017
Bowling Green Marsh
I did my daily walk around the far end of Bowling Green Marsh but the birding was a little bit slow today and the best bird that I saw was a Coal Tit a very infrequent visitor to the marsh . Also seen were the following birds , a Grey Wagtail , 4 Common Chiffchaff , a male Blackcap , a Cetti`s Warbler , 50+ Carrion Crow , a Eurasian Jay , 4 European Greenfinch and a flock of 100+ European Goldfinch , I then had a very quick look out from the hide and saw the female Western Marsh Harrier that visits the marsh now and then .
Thursday, 14 September 2017
Another Yank
Another trip up to Dorset again today with our destination Portland Bill . We had come to look for another American Wader a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper , but when we arrived we got the bad news that the bird had flown off high so that was a bit of a blow ! So we then went to the quarry to look for a Eurasian Wryneck a bird of the Woodpecker family , there was a few people already there and we were told that the bird had not been seen for about an hour , so we picked a spot in hope that it would be seen again and after about half an hour the bird was seen again but it was only visible in the long grass and as we were stood there looking at it we got news that the Buff-Breasted Sandpiper was showing again in the horse paddock , so we made our way back there and got very nice views of the bird .
On the way back home we again stopped to have a look at the Fleet near to Abbotsbury and this time we saw 3 Grey Phalarope , not a bad end to the day .
On the way back home we again stopped to have a look at the Fleet near to Abbotsbury and this time we saw 3 Grey Phalarope , not a bad end to the day .
Wednesday, 13 September 2017
The Yanks Are Coming
Today my mate Andy Bond and myself made the trip up to the RSPB Reserve at Lodmoor in Dorset to look for the two reported American Waders that have been seen there . And the first one that we saw was a juvenile Stilt Sandpiper and its only the 3rd one in Britain for me , we then went across to the other side of the marsh where we saw a juvenile Least Sandpiper but it was quite a bit distant and I could only just get these two record shots of it with my lens at full stretch .
While we were there we also saw 5 Common Ringed Plover , a winter plumaged Red Knot , a Great White Egret , a Western Marsh Harrier and 2 Common Kingfisher . And on the way back home we stopped for a look at the Fleet at Abbotsbury and we saw a juvenile Black Tern .
While we were there we also saw 5 Common Ringed Plover , a winter plumaged Red Knot , a Great White Egret , a Western Marsh Harrier and 2 Common Kingfisher . And on the way back home we stopped for a look at the Fleet at Abbotsbury and we saw a juvenile Black Tern .
Tuesday, 12 September 2017
Stoat
A look around the bushes at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me 8 Common Chiffchaff , a Willow Warbler , a European Reed Warbler and a calling Cetti`s Warbler , also seen were4 European Greenfinch , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Jay , a Eurasian Nuthatch and 3 Curlew Sandpipers .
I then went for a look around the Goats Walk Land Trust field and I saw a small flock of Long-Tailed Tit and a Stoat dashed across the path in front of me but was lost from view before I could even move lol .
I then went for a look around the Goats Walk Land Trust field and I saw a small flock of Long-Tailed Tit and a Stoat dashed across the path in front of me but was lost from view before I could even move lol .
Monday, 11 September 2017
Seawatching
Even though the winds were strong from the west this morning I still decided have a go at a seawatch off of Exmouth . And I didn't expect to get too much at all , but in the end I was quite pleased with what I saw . There was over 200+ Northern Gannet , then I picked up a couple of Great Skua that slowly made their way across the bay , then a couple of light phase Arctic Skua turned up and spent some time chasing the Sandwich Terns and they were soon joined by a dark phase bird , add to that a Manx Shearwater , a Northern Fulmar and some Black-Legged Kittiwake making it a nice couple of hours birding .
I then had a look around the Exmouth Marina area where I saw a Common Kingfisher and a look at Shelley Beach got me a single Little Egret .
I then had a look around the Exmouth Marina area where I saw a Common Kingfisher and a look at Shelley Beach got me a single Little Egret .
Sunday, 10 September 2017
Grey Phalarope
The day started off as usual with me checking the bushes around my local patch Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham , but it was slow going this morning with just 4 Common Chiffchaff , 2 Willow Warbler , a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk , 20+ Barn Swallow and a Eurasian Bullfinch seen .
But I then got news of a Grey Phalarope showing outside of the hide at Dawlish Warren so I went to see if I could see it , on arrival the bird was not showing but after around 15 minutes it came out into view again and showed well ( I love seeing these little waders ! a bird that spend most of their lives well out to sea and are only usually seen around this time of year when they get stormblown ) , also seen were 30+ Sandwich Tern , 10 Common Tern and an Atlantic Grey Seal .
But I then got news of a Grey Phalarope showing outside of the hide at Dawlish Warren so I went to see if I could see it , on arrival the bird was not showing but after around 15 minutes it came out into view again and showed well ( I love seeing these little waders ! a bird that spend most of their lives well out to sea and are only usually seen around this time of year when they get stormblown ) , also seen were 30+ Sandwich Tern , 10 Common Tern and an Atlantic Grey Seal .
Saturday, 9 September 2017
2 Spotted Flycatcher
I usually have trouble seeing Spotted Flycatchers but now it seems that I have them coming out of my ears lol . As today I had a look around a different area the Goat Walk Land Trust Field at the end of Bowling Green Lane and I found two of them together but they were chasing each other around so they were soon lost from view & only allowing me to get this poor record shot of one of them .
On Bowling Green Marsh there was 2 Common Chiffchaff , a Willow Warbler , a Cetti`s Warbler and 5 European Robin .
A look at the Exe Estuary got me 2 Osprey that were right down the far end , and a male Peregrine Falcon flew across the estuary , the day was finished of with a Northern Wheatear that was sat on the back wall of Riversmeet House .
On Bowling Green Marsh there was 2 Common Chiffchaff , a Willow Warbler , a Cetti`s Warbler and 5 European Robin .
A look at the Exe Estuary got me 2 Osprey that were right down the far end , and a male Peregrine Falcon flew across the estuary , the day was finished of with a Northern Wheatear that was sat on the back wall of Riversmeet House .
