Friday, 31 August 2018
Autumn is here
A look at Bowling Green Marsh got me the first 3 returning Pied Avocet of the Autumn . I then went down to again check out the bushes by the viewing platform and I saw 2 Willow Warbler , 2 Common Ciffchaff , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Jay , 3 Rook , a few juvenile European Goldfinch , a male Eurasian Bullfinch and in the small reedbed there was a surprise with 2 Sedge Warbler .
Thursday, 30 August 2018
The Orcombe Point Area
I decided to have a change this morning and made an early trip down to Orcombe Point in Exmouth to check out the bushes around the top fields .
And it turned out to be a good move as I saw the following birds , going over were 12 Tree Pipit , 7 Yellow Wagtail , numerous Barn Swallow and Common House Martin . Also seen around the bushes were 3 Northern Wheatear , a smart looking Whinchat , 2 Common Whitethroat , a Common Buzzard , a Common Kestrel , a Common Raven and I also had the good company of Exmouth birder Matt Knott .
And it turned out to be a good move as I saw the following birds , going over were 12 Tree Pipit , 7 Yellow Wagtail , numerous Barn Swallow and Common House Martin . Also seen around the bushes were 3 Northern Wheatear , a smart looking Whinchat , 2 Common Whitethroat , a Common Buzzard , a Common Kestrel , a Common Raven and I also had the good company of Exmouth birder Matt Knott .
Wednesday, 29 August 2018
Dipping
I started today off by checking the bushes near the viewing platform on Bowling Green Marsh and the results were not bad with 4 Willow Warbler , 4 Common Chiffchaff , 3 Blackcap and a Common Whitethroat . I then had a look out from the hide and saw 2 Red Knot , a Spotted Redshank , a juvenile Ruff and a Common Snipe .
There was news of a Western Bonelli`s Warbler being found at Berry Head in South Devon , so my mate Andy and myself went to see if we could catch up with it , we arrived to find a few birders already there but they said that there was no sign of it since early morning , but we gave it a couple of hours looking but again there was no sign of it and the only things to brighten up the visit was a Hummingbird Hawkmoth and a Small Blue Butterfly .
There was news of a Western Bonelli`s Warbler being found at Berry Head in South Devon , so my mate Andy and myself went to see if we could catch up with it , we arrived to find a few birders already there but they said that there was no sign of it since early morning , but we gave it a couple of hours looking but again there was no sign of it and the only things to brighten up the visit was a Hummingbird Hawkmoth and a Small Blue Butterfly .
Tuesday, 28 August 2018
Red Knot
An early morning look at Bowling Green Marsh over the high tide got me 3 Red Knot with one of them looking like a juvenile bird , there was also numerous Eurasian Curlew , Black-Tailed Godwit and Common Redshank , 20+ Dunlin , 16 Common Greenshank , 2 Whimbrel , 2 Green Sandpiper , a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull and a Stock Dove . I then left the hide and went to have a look around the bushes by the viewing platform where I saw 2 Common Kingfisher , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Common Chiffchaff and a male Eurasian Bullfinch .
My next stop was at Goosemoor and I saw another Common Chiffchaff and my first Blackcap of the autumn in the bushes by the railway line , and a look out at reserve got me 2 Common Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank .
My next stop was at Goosemoor and I saw another Common Chiffchaff and my first Blackcap of the autumn in the bushes by the railway line , and a look out at reserve got me 2 Common Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank .
Monday, 27 August 2018
Bowling Green Marsh
A look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me 20+ Dunlin , 2 Whimbrel , and singles of Red Knot , Ruff , Spotted Redshank , Bar-Tailed Godwit , Green Sandpiper and a Common Chiffchaff ,
A look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary only got me a Common Kingfisher and seen in Bowling Green Lane was this Eurasian Collared Dove .
A look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary only got me a Common Kingfisher and seen in Bowling Green Lane was this Eurasian Collared Dove .
Saturday, 25 August 2018
Portland Ribbon Wave
Not a lot seen today , but a trip down to the Bristol Schools Camp in Exmouth got me a rare moth , a Portland Ribbon Wave a new one for me , I also managed to see my first Small Copper Butterfly of the year and along Maer Lane there was a juvenile Northern Wheatear .
Thursday, 23 August 2018
Moth Day
I decided to have a look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning without knowing that they were having a Bug Day there for the kids and I got there just as they were going through some moths that they had trapped and I managed to see a few new ones for me , with Gold Spot , Brimstone Moth , Flounced Rustic , Six-Striped Rustic , Small Square-Spot and Mint Moth .
Also seen was Burnished Brass , Heart and Dart , Square-Spot Rustic and Large Yellow Underwing .
I then went down to have a look around the top fields at Gore Lane in Exmouth and on the way there I came across a field full of cows , so I parked up and had a look at them and I found around 10 juvenile Yellow Wagtail feeding among them , my first ones of the autumn .
Also seen was Burnished Brass , Heart and Dart , Square-Spot Rustic and Large Yellow Underwing .
I then went down to have a look around the top fields at Gore Lane in Exmouth and on the way there I came across a field full of cows , so I parked up and had a look at them and I found around 10 juvenile Yellow Wagtail feeding among them , my first ones of the autumn .
Wednesday, 22 August 2018
Spotted Crake
I got news this morning of a Spotted Crake showing on the River Otter at Budleigh Salterton . So off I went in hope that it would still be showing when I got there , and as it was I had no problems at all because the finder Chris Townend was still there and very kindly put me on to the bird . I managed to get these shots of it and was pleased with them because of the long distance between me and the bird and I didn`t expect to get any at all .
This is the first Spotted Crake that I have seen since the one on Blackhole Marsh back in 2015 .
Thanks Chris
This is the first Spotted Crake that I have seen since the one on Blackhole Marsh back in 2015 .
Thanks Chris
Monday, 20 August 2018
Sunday 19th August
A look at my local patch Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham didn`t turn up much at all today with only the following birds seen . The Snow Goose of dubious origin was in with a mass of Canada Geese , also seen were 4 Grey Heron , around a dozen Dunlin , a Spotted Redshank and an adult Mediterranean Gull .
Thursday, 16 August 2018
European Storm Petrel
I went down to Exmouth early this morning in the rain to look for a reported Black Tern , I looked out from an area near the docks and soon picked it out feeding in with a gull flock .
Even though the rain was falling quite heavy I decided to go to the other end of Exmouth near the lifeboat station and went up to the raised beach huts for a seawatch , for quite a while I was only getting some Northern Gannet and Black-Legged Kittiwake , then the rain stopped for a short spell allowing me to see a couple of Northern Fulmar and 2 European Storm Petrel , one of them was about three quarters of the way out but the other one was in a bit more closer , its the first ones that I have seen in Devon for a few years .
My Photoshop is down at the moment so no pics for a while .
Even though the rain was falling quite heavy I decided to go to the other end of Exmouth near the lifeboat station and went up to the raised beach huts for a seawatch , for quite a while I was only getting some Northern Gannet and Black-Legged Kittiwake , then the rain stopped for a short spell allowing me to see a couple of Northern Fulmar and 2 European Storm Petrel , one of them was about three quarters of the way out but the other one was in a bit more closer , its the first ones that I have seen in Devon for a few years .
My Photoshop is down at the moment so no pics for a while .
Wednesday, 15 August 2018
Bowling Green Marsh
My look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning didn`t turn up anything different but there was still some good birds to be seen , with the juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill that has been with us for going on a week now ! , 20+ Dunlin , 6 Whimbrel , numerous Common Redshank , around 20 Common Greenshank , a Spotted Redshank , a juvenile Ruff , a single Bar-Tailed Godwit a Green Sandpiper , a Common Sandpiper and the juvenile Western Marsh Harrier flew in and settled in the trees by the reedbed on the far side of the marsh , also seen was a Common Kingfisher that was sat on the wall of Riversmeet House .
Out of the moths that I caught last night the best were Elbow-Stripe Grass-Veneer and a Shuttle-Shaped Dart .
Out of the moths that I caught last night the best were Elbow-Stripe Grass-Veneer and a Shuttle-Shaped Dart .
Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Glossy Ibis
I got a call today telling me that there was a Glossy Ibis on Bowling Green Marsh and as I had not seen one in Topsham this year I went to have a look at it . As I got on to it everything went up and we soon picked out what had put them up , a juvenile Western Marsh Harrier , it then flew around for a while and spooked the Ibis into flying off !
So I started to look at other things and saw the juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill , around 20+ Dunlin , a Spotted Redshank , the long staying Ruff , a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper .
Out of the moths that I caught last night there was one new one for me and seen in flight it was a nice looking Lesser Broad-Bordered Yellow Underwing , also seen was Dar-Barred Twin-Spot Carpet and a smart Common Grass Veneer .
So I started to look at other things and saw the juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill , around 20+ Dunlin , a Spotted Redshank , the long staying Ruff , a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper .
Out of the moths that I caught last night there was one new one for me and seen in flight it was a nice looking Lesser Broad-Bordered Yellow Underwing , also seen was Dar-Barred Twin-Spot Carpet and a smart Common Grass Veneer .
Sunday, 12 August 2018
Drizzel
The rain was falling this morning so I thought that I would go to the hide at Bowling Green Marsh to do some birding in the dry . As it had gone high tide the birds had already started to leave the marsh , but there were still a few to be seen with the Eurasian Spoonbill , 3 Common Ring Plover a common bird but not very common on the marsh , around a dozen Dunlin , a Ruff , a Green Sandpiper an adult Mediterranean Gull and a bit of exotica with 2 fly over Black Swan .
Also seen was a Red Fox that was dashing across the marsh .
Also seen was a Red Fox that was dashing across the marsh .
Saturday, 11 August 2018
A Good Day
The day started off with a Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding on the nuts in my garden , a bird that I only get in the garden now and then !
I then went for a look at Bowling Green Marsh at high tide and from the hide I saw the usual birds that we see there , with numerous Eurasian Curlew , 6 Whimbrel , masses of Black-Tailed Godwit and Common Redshank , 20-30 Dunlin , 3 Green Sandpiper , a Common Sandpiper , an adult Mediterranean Gull and the juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill was still on show on the far side of the marsh . I then went down to the viewing platform where I saw a male Eurasian Bullfinch , and as I was looking out from the viewing platform the drizzle had just started to fall and to my delight a female type Common Redstart landed on the seawall of Riversmeet House , it is a bird that we hardly see on the marsh or the surrounding area ! and it is the first that I have found for the marsh .
I was then told that just after I had left the hide a Cattle Egret had dropped in for a brief spell but had flown off north , so I thought that I would have a look for it on the Clyst Marshes and I found it in with the herd of cows near to Darts Farm , so I put the news out and it was good to see other birders being able connect with it .
Out of the moths that I caught last night there was one new one for me , this White-Spotted Pug .
I then went for a look at Bowling Green Marsh at high tide and from the hide I saw the usual birds that we see there , with numerous Eurasian Curlew , 6 Whimbrel , masses of Black-Tailed Godwit and Common Redshank , 20-30 Dunlin , 3 Green Sandpiper , a Common Sandpiper , an adult Mediterranean Gull and the juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill was still on show on the far side of the marsh . I then went down to the viewing platform where I saw a male Eurasian Bullfinch , and as I was looking out from the viewing platform the drizzle had just started to fall and to my delight a female type Common Redstart landed on the seawall of Riversmeet House , it is a bird that we hardly see on the marsh or the surrounding area ! and it is the first that I have found for the marsh .
I was then told that just after I had left the hide a Cattle Egret had dropped in for a brief spell but had flown off north , so I thought that I would have a look for it on the Clyst Marshes and I found it in with the herd of cows near to Darts Farm , so I put the news out and it was good to see other birders being able connect with it .
Out of the moths that I caught last night there was one new one for me , this White-Spotted Pug .
Friday, 10 August 2018
Little Stint
A morning look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me a Snow Goose , 10 Little Egret , a Juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill , 2 Green Sandpiper , a Ruff , a Bar-Tailed Godwit and 12 Whimbrel .
I then went down to the other end of the marsh to have a look around the bushes where I saw 4 Common Chiffchaff , 2 Willow Warbler , a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a male Eurasian Bullfinch .
Later in the afternoon I got news of a Little Stint on the marsh so I went down again to see if I could catch up with it and it was still showing but always stayed very distant but you could still pick out that it was a moulting adult bird , also seen was a juvenile Western Marsh Harrier and a look from the viewing platform was not to bad as there was an Osprey and around 20 Dunlin .
I then went down to the other end of the marsh to have a look around the bushes where I saw 4 Common Chiffchaff , 2 Willow Warbler , a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a male Eurasian Bullfinch .
Later in the afternoon I got news of a Little Stint on the marsh so I went down again to see if I could catch up with it and it was still showing but always stayed very distant but you could still pick out that it was a moulting adult bird , also seen was a juvenile Western Marsh Harrier and a look from the viewing platform was not to bad as there was an Osprey and around 20 Dunlin .
Wednesday, 8 August 2018
Monday, 6 August 2018
Spectacle
Out of the moths that I caught last night there was one new one for me , a smart looking Spectacle .
Later in the day I had a look at Bowling Green Marsh where I saw a juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill , 100+ Common Redshank , a Spotted Redshank , 1 Ruff , 20-30 Dunlin , 1 Whimbrel , and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull .
Later in the day I had a look at Bowling Green Marsh where I saw a juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill , 100+ Common Redshank , a Spotted Redshank , 1 Ruff , 20-30 Dunlin , 1 Whimbrel , and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull .
