This morning Ken , Andy and myself made the journey up to Clevedon in Somerset to look for a Pied Crow that has been showing there for a few days , there was a few birders already there when we arrived and we were told that the bird wasn`t there but that it would soon come back and after a short while it did come back and showed well . I don't know if it will ever be accepted on to the British list but it was good to get views of it anyway .
I have seen these birds abroad before , in Western Sahara at the Café Chtoukan in 2010 and in Gambia at Kololi in 2016 .
Saturday, 30 June 2018
Friday, 29 June 2018
Moths
I got these moths in Topsham today . With the Yellow-Winged Clearwing being very rare indeed .
Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Wednesday 27th June
An early morning look around Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me 5 Whimbrel , 2 Bar-Tailed Godwit , and a Common Greenshank so it seems that the return migration has just begun at last .
I also saw 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Nuthatch , 4 Blackcap , 2 European Reed Warbler , 2 Common Chiffchaff and a smart looking male Eurasian Bullfinch .
Later in the day I got a call telling me that there was a summer plumaged Spotted Redshank on the Clyst Estuary , so I went down to look for it , but by the time I got there it had flown off but it turned up again on Goosemoor and I was able to get views of it but it always stayed a bit distant and as I was looking at it a Eurasian Hobby flew over my head , I then had another look at Bowling Green Marsh where the only thing different from this morning was a Stock Dove that dropped in for a drink .
I also saw 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Nuthatch , 4 Blackcap , 2 European Reed Warbler , 2 Common Chiffchaff and a smart looking male Eurasian Bullfinch .
Later in the day I got a call telling me that there was a summer plumaged Spotted Redshank on the Clyst Estuary , so I went down to look for it , but by the time I got there it had flown off but it turned up again on Goosemoor and I was able to get views of it but it always stayed a bit distant and as I was looking at it a Eurasian Hobby flew over my head , I then had another look at Bowling Green Marsh where the only thing different from this morning was a Stock Dove that dropped in for a drink .
Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Out and About
Today started off on Bowling Green Marsh where I saw around 10 European Reed Warbler , 2 Common Chiffchaff , 2 Blackcap and a Eurasian Nuthatch , there was also quite a few Ringlet showing today . A look at the Clyst Estuary from the viewing platform got me 5 Little Egret , a Common Greenshank and a Common Kingfisher .
I then met up with my mate Andy and we went out to Dartmoor for a look around . And we saw quite a few Northern Wheatear , a Spotted Flycatcher , numerous Common House Martin , 5 Willow Warbler , a Garden Warbler , a male Whinchat and 2 Mistle Thrush also seen were the following moths , Pearl Veneer and Common Carpet...both new for me .
We finished the day off at Aish Tor where we saw a few Silver-Washed Fritillary and High Brown Fritillary .
I then met up with my mate Andy and we went out to Dartmoor for a look around . And we saw quite a few Northern Wheatear , a Spotted Flycatcher , numerous Common House Martin , 5 Willow Warbler , a Garden Warbler , a male Whinchat and 2 Mistle Thrush also seen were the following moths , Pearl Veneer and Common Carpet...both new for me .
We finished the day off at Aish Tor where we saw a few Silver-Washed Fritillary and High Brown Fritillary .
Sunday, 24 June 2018
Saturday 23rd June
Early this morning I went to my mate Matt`s house in Exmouth to watch him open his moth trap as I am just getting into Mothing and I am loving it .
As you can see I have posted a few pictures of some of them but I was lucky enough to see many more , hope you enjoy them as much as I did .
Many Thanks again Matt
As you can see I have posted a few pictures of some of them but I was lucky enough to see many more , hope you enjoy them as much as I did .
Many Thanks again Matt
Friday, 22 June 2018
Bowling Green Marsh
A morning look around Bowling Green Marsh didn`t get me a lot , with 20+ Black-Tailed Godwit , a few Common House Martin , a Stock Dove , 4 European Reed Warbler , a Sedge Warbler , a singing male Blackcap and a Common Chiffchaff .
Also seen were a male and female Broad-Bodied Chaser and quite a few Soldier Flies .
Also seen were a male and female Broad-Bodied Chaser and quite a few Soldier Flies .
Thursday 21st June
This afternoon I had a Cattle Egret that flew across Bridge Road in Topsham and then flew up the Clyst Marshes , I then met up with Andy Bond and we went to see if the American Royal Tern would come back to the Portland area in the evening and on the way there we had a Red Kite over the A30 just outside of Honiton .
Alas there was no sign of the American Royal Tern but we did see 30+ Common Tern , a single Sandwich Tern and nice views of a Roseate Tern .
Alas there was no sign of the American Royal Tern but we did see 30+ Common Tern , a single Sandwich Tern and nice views of a Roseate Tern .
Wednesday, 20 June 2018
The Ashclyst Forest
A look around the Ashclyst Forest on the edge of Exeter this morning got me the following Butterflies , 4 White Admiral , 4 Ringlet , 2 Silver-Washed Fritillary , numerous Meadow Brown and 2 Speckled Wood .
Also seen was this impressive European Hornet that brought a good end to the day .
Also seen was this impressive European Hornet that brought a good end to the day .
Tuesday, 19 June 2018
The East Devon Commons
My first stop today was at Bystock Common . Where I saw my first Marbled White Butterfly of the year along with plenty of Meadow Brown , a few Small Heath , a Large Skipper and a Common Blue . I also saw the following moths , Common Grass-Veneer & Garden Grass-Veneer both new for me , Straw Dot , Common Marble and a few Six-Spot Burnet .
I then went to the East Devon Common and I saw 4 male and 2 female Silver-Studded Blue Butterflies , another Large Skipper and 2 Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary .
I then went to the East Devon Common and I saw 4 male and 2 female Silver-Studded Blue Butterflies , another Large Skipper and 2 Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary .
Monday, 18 June 2018
Mediterranean Gull
A look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham this morning got me . Numerous Black-Headed Gull , 4 1st summer Mediterranean Gull , 20+ Eurasian Curlew , 6 European Reed Warbler , and singles of Cetti`s Warbler , Blackcap and Common Chiffchaff .
And also seen was a smart Small Magpie Moth .
And also seen was a smart Small Magpie Moth .
Sunday, 17 June 2018
Moths
Another trip down to my mate Matt`s house in Exmouth this morning to see what moths he had caught last night . And he showed me my first ever Privet Hawkmoth and what a little stunner it was . I was also able to see Treble Brown Spot , Buff Arches , Light Arches and Uncertain .
Friday, 15 June 2018
Bowling Green Marsh
This morning we had a very good meeting to see if there is any way of making the reserve even better than it already is . Many thanks to Peter and Becky and the other local birders that turned up to see if we can all help in any way . This has been my local patch for over 30 years and it will be good to see it progress .
Wednesday, 13 June 2018
The East Devon Commons
I went up to the East Devon Commons this morning to look for a couple of Butterflies , the two were Silver-Studded Blue and Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary and I managed to see both of them in small numbers . I also had a look for moths and again I did quite well with numerous Brown Silver-Line , a few Cinnabar , 2 July Belle and a nice Four-Dotted Footman .
Also of note was a daytime calling European Nightjar .
Also of note was a daytime calling European Nightjar .
