Saturday, 29 June 2019
Mothing
A trip down to my mate Matts House in Exmouth to look at some moths that he had caught overnight and another mate Martin also turned up with a couple more , so the first 4 in the pictures are new moths for me and the other two are also very nice .
Friday, 28 June 2019
More of the Tern
Another look at the Caspian Tern seen of off the viewing platform on Bowling Green Marsh today and this time the bird showed very well in flight . Also seen were 2 Little Tern , a Sandwich Tern , 6 adult and a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull , 4 Dunlin and singles of Bar-Tailed Godwit , Whimbrel and a Water Rail .
Thursday, 27 June 2019
Caspian Tern
Some distant shots of todays Caspian Tern on the River Clyst at Topsham . The bird was found earlier in the day at Exmouth by local birder Matt Knott .
Monday, 24 June 2019
Painted Lady
No birding done today but this Painted Lady was a welcome visitor to my garden and my first of the year .
Sunday, 23 June 2019
Saturday 22nd June
Out on a Mothing trip today with a couple of mates Martin and Matt with our first stop being at Berro but the moth that we were looking for didn`t put in an appearance today but we did see a Yellow Shell moth and a good show of Pyramidal Orchids .
We then went on to Stock Hill a good area for the 2 moths that we had come looking for Chimney Sweeper and Forester , 2 stunning little moths and new moths for all three of us and we were in luck and got good views of both of them , also seen in the area were 4 Tree Pipit .
Our last stop was at Collared Hill to look for the Large Blue Butterfly as it was a new one for Matt and we saw a couple of them , so with everyone happy we then headed for home .
We then went on to Stock Hill a good area for the 2 moths that we had come looking for Chimney Sweeper and Forester , 2 stunning little moths and new moths for all three of us and we were in luck and got good views of both of them , also seen in the area were 4 Tree Pipit .
Our last stop was at Collared Hill to look for the Large Blue Butterfly as it was a new one for Matt and we saw a couple of them , so with everyone happy we then headed for home .
Friday, 21 June 2019
Rose-Coloured Starling
An early morning look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me the summer plumaged Spotted Redshank , 6 Common Redshank , 2 Common Greenshank , 10 Eurasian Curlew and 2 Whimbrel .
I then went over to Exminster Village to look for a reported adult Rose-Coloured Starling but there was no sign of it for quite a while but then again I was the only one there looking for it , but after a while other birders then turned up and the bird was picked up in flight with about 50+ Common Starling and it then sat out in the open and we all got great views of it .
I then went over to Exminster Village to look for a reported adult Rose-Coloured Starling but there was no sign of it for quite a while but then again I was the only one there looking for it , but after a while other birders then turned up and the bird was picked up in flight with about 50+ Common Starling and it then sat out in the open and we all got great views of it .
Thursday, 20 June 2019
Same As
Another look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham this morning in appalling weather didn't turn up anything different to yesterdays viewing . But the Spotted Redshank was showing a bit better today even though it was in heavy rain .
Wednesday, 19 June 2019
Spotted Redshank
I managed to grab this long distance shot of the summer plumaged Spotted Redshank that was showing on Bowling Green Marsh this morning , it was in with around half a dozen Common Redshank and a Common Greenshank .
Also seen today was the Eurasian Spoonbill , 3 Little Egret , 2 Mediterranean Gull , 3 Stock Dove , 3 Barn Swallow and a Common House Martin and there was also a Lesser Black-Backed Gull of the Intermedius Race .
Also seen today was the Eurasian Spoonbill , 3 Little Egret , 2 Mediterranean Gull , 3 Stock Dove , 3 Barn Swallow and a Common House Martin and there was also a Lesser Black-Backed Gull of the Intermedius Race .
Sunday, 16 June 2019
Bowling Green Marsh
A look at Bowling Green Marsh early this morning got me a Eurasian Spoonbill , 7 Little Egret , 2 Grey Heron , 5 Mediterranean Gulls and 1 Common Kingfisher , 2 Cetti`s Warbler , a female Blackcap . At high tide there were hardly any waders on the marsh with only 7 Common Redshank , a Common Greenshank , 1 Eurasian Curlew and a Northern Lapwing , what an absolute disaster for waders the RSPB have turned this reserve into by just very bad management with very high water levels all year long and overgrown foliage .....Shame on you !
Friday, 14 June 2019
Bee Orchid
A look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham this morning got me the Eurasian Spoonbill that has been with us for a few days now , also seen was a Little Egret , 5 Black-Tailed Godwit , 2 Stock Dove , a few Common House Martin and Common Sand Martin , 6 European Reed Warbler , 2 Cetti`s Warbler , 2 Blackcap , 2 Common Chiffchaff and a fly through Eurasian Sparrowhawk .
I then went to Tremletts Marsh where at least 3 Bee Orchid were out in bloom .
I then went to Tremletts Marsh where at least 3 Bee Orchid were out in bloom .
Tuesday, 11 June 2019
Little Terns
This afternoon there were 2 Little Tern sat on a sandbar in the middle of the Exe Estuary along with 20+ Sandwich Tern and a couple of Common Gull , there had been 3 of them but I was told that one had flown up estuary towards Topsham .
I then headed for home but on the way I stopped for another look at Bowling Green Marsh and today as you can see the Eurasian Spoonbill was showing very well .
I then headed for home but on the way I stopped for another look at Bowling Green Marsh and today as you can see the Eurasian Spoonbill was showing very well .
Monday, 10 June 2019
Eurasian Spoonbill
This Eurasian Spoonbill was on the Exe Estuary off of the Goatswalk in Topsham but after a short while it flew towards Bowling Green Marsh where it showed quite well , also on the marsh was a Cetti`s Warbler and a European Reed Warbler .
Tuesday, 4 June 2019
Bonaparte`s Gull
A trip down to Exmouth this morning to look for a 1st summer Bonaparte`s Gull that was found yesterday by Matt Knott and I was lucky that fellow birder Dave Boult was already there and he soon got me on to the bird . The only trouble was that it was always quite a long distance out in the estuary so I was lucky to get any shots of it at all with my slr camera gear but Dave had better luck with his set up .
Sunday, 2 June 2019
Mothing
I got a call from my mate Matt telling me that he had a Small Elephant Hawkmoth because he knew that this was a new one for me so I went down and saw it and I also saw another 6 new moths for me so many thanks Matt .
Saturday, 1 June 2019
Hot
Overnight I caught a few moths with the highlight being this Pale Tussock . The weather was superb today so I took myself off to the Haldon Forest to see what was about and as soon as I got there I had 6 Common Crossbill and also seen was a European Nightjar that was nearly underfoot right beside the path with cyclists going past it most of the time and another was heard churring , there was also 2 Tree Pipit , 3 Garden Warbler at least , a few Willow Warblers and 2 pair of Common Stonechat .
