Todays birding saw me at my local patch Bowling Green Marsh again . And from the hide I was able to see the Long-Billed Dowitcher , an adult winter Ruff , a Curlew Sandpiper , a Common Sandpiper and around a dozen Bar-Tailed Godwit before a Eurasian Sparrowhawk put everything up !
The birding away from the hide was a bit slow today with only 2 Stock Dove , 2 Barn Swallow , a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Eurasian Bullfinch worth talking about .
Sunday, 29 September 2019
Saturday, 28 September 2019
Not Bad
This morning the Long-Billed Dowitcher was again seen on Bowling Green Marsh from the hide along with a Curlew Sandpiper and an adult winter Ruff , I then had a look around the bushes by the viewing platform where I saw a flock of 10-15 European Greenfinch , 6 Barn Swallow , a Common Chiffchaff , and a Eurasian Jay . And on the Clyst Estuary there was a pair of Common Kingfisher .
I then went to the allotments at Exwick in Exeter where I got a brief view of a Eurasian Wryneck the bird was quite elusive but it was heard on call as well . So in the end not a bad mornings birding .
I then went to the allotments at Exwick in Exeter where I got a brief view of a Eurasian Wryneck the bird was quite elusive but it was heard on call as well . So in the end not a bad mornings birding .
Friday, 27 September 2019
At Last !
I got a message late this afternoon telling me that the Long-Billed Dowitcher was again on Bowling Green Marsh but this time it was showing in front of the hide and as I was not really satisfied with the shots that I had got of it so far , I dashed down to the hide again and this time I was well pleased with result .
Todays other shot is of eleven Cattle Egret that were in Crockwells Meadow in the village of Exminster this morning , where there was also a fly over Yellow Wagtail .
Todays other shot is of eleven Cattle Egret that were in Crockwells Meadow in the village of Exminster this morning , where there was also a fly over Yellow Wagtail .
Thursday, 26 September 2019
More of the Dowitcher
Early this morning the Long-Billed Dowitcher showed distantly on the Exe Estuary , I then went back home and came out again to look at the estuary as the tide was coming in and the bird was showing a bit better now in with a small flock of Godwits but the water was by now getting deeper and the birds flew off up estuary allowing me to get this flight shot .
It then came into Bowling Green Marsh and showed a lot better than yesterday even though it was in the same spot . Also seen today was a male Garganey , a Curlew Sandpiper , a Common Sandpiper and a Ruff .
It then came into Bowling Green Marsh and showed a lot better than yesterday even though it was in the same spot . Also seen today was a male Garganey , a Curlew Sandpiper , a Common Sandpiper and a Ruff .
Wednesday, 25 September 2019
Long-Billed Dowitcher
Late afternoon news of a Long-Billed Dowitcher on Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham saw me making a dash there in hope that it was still on show . The good news was that it was still there but the bad news was that it was quite distant in the middle of a pack of Common Redshank but every now and then it showed itself and I managed to get these two distant shots of it , it is only the second for the marsh with the last one being in 2007 and staying into 2008 , so it was a very welcome bird for the marsh ......( Well done Keith ) .
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
Bearded Reedling
I went over to the Exminster Marshes this morning to see if there were any Cattle Egret still on show but all I saw were Little Egrets , I then took a walk up Corks Drove and to my amazement there was a Bearded Reedling calling from the small reedbed to the left of the path , for all my looking I couldn`t get to see it as its in an area where you cant get in to view it .
I then went up to the Matford Marshes to see if there were any Cattle Egret there but there was none but I did see this Green Sandpiper . Back home I took a look around the Cemetery grounds and I saw 2 European Green Woodpecker , a Song Thrush , a few Goldcrest and this European Hornet .
I then went up to the Matford Marshes to see if there were any Cattle Egret there but there was none but I did see this Green Sandpiper . Back home I took a look around the Cemetery grounds and I saw 2 European Green Woodpecker , a Song Thrush , a few Goldcrest and this European Hornet .
Friday, 20 September 2019
Bowling Green Marsh
Today I got a bit better shots of the Curlew Sandpiper that has been around the marsh for a few days now , also seen today were 3 Pied Avocet , numerous Common Redshank , a Common Sandpiper , 6 Bat-Tailed Godwit , 2 Red Knot and a second summer Mediterranean Gull .
Thursday, 19 September 2019
Song Thrush
Not a birding day today . But I did take a quick look around the Topsham Cemetery Grounds this morning where I saw 20+ Western Jackdaw , 3 Black-Billed Magpie , a Eurasian Jay , a European Green Woodpecker , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a male Blackcap , a Willow Warbler and this Song Thrush a bird that was very common in years gone by but not so easy to see these days .
Isn`t it just amazing what you can actually see in a quick half an hour in a cemetery grounds !
Isn`t it just amazing what you can actually see in a quick half an hour in a cemetery grounds !
Wednesday, 18 September 2019
White Stork
I had a look from the hide at Bowling Green Marsh this morning but it was hard work to pick anything out in the glare of the morning sun , hence the photo of the Curlew Sandpiper .Also seen were 3 Pied Avocet , 3 Bar-Tailed Godwit , a Ruff , a Common Sandpiper , Great Spotted Woodpecker , European Green Woodpecker & 2 Common Chiffchaff . But the highlight for me was a fly through calling Tree Pipit the first for me on the marsh in over 30 years of covering it !
From the viewing platform that looks out onto the Clyst Estuary I then saw a Whimbrel , 2 Common Kingfisher and further down the estuary a White Stork that spent a bit of time circling over the Exe Estuary before drifting off out of view .
From the viewing platform that looks out onto the Clyst Estuary I then saw a Whimbrel , 2 Common Kingfisher and further down the estuary a White Stork that spent a bit of time circling over the Exe Estuary before drifting off out of view .
Monday, 16 September 2019
Cattle Egret
A trip over to the Exminster Marshes today to look for a reported Cattle Egret near the Turf Locks end of the marshes and sure enough there it was in with the cows , also seen were 2 juvenile Northern Wheatear and a couple of Common Stonechat .
I then made my way back to my car along the back path of the marshes and I saw a Willow Warbler , a Common Chiffchaff , 2 Common Lizard and a European Hornet .
I then made my way back to my car along the back path of the marshes and I saw a Willow Warbler , a Common Chiffchaff , 2 Common Lizard and a European Hornet .
Thursday, 12 September 2019
Rose-Ringed Parakeet
This afternoon I had a message telling me that there was some Rose-Ringed Parakeets near the Goatswalk in Topsham . So I went down to see if they were still there and I managed to hear 3 of them but they were deep in a dense tree and even though I searched for them for a while they never showed their selves .
I then had a look in Bowling Green Marsh were the female Western Marsh Harrier was showing but it always stayed distant over by the reedbeds .
I then had a look in Bowling Green Marsh were the female Western Marsh Harrier was showing but it always stayed distant over by the reedbeds .
Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Garganey
A couple of look around Bowling Green Marsh today got me a build up of wildfowl with 20+ Northern Pintail , 30+ Eurasian Wigeon , a few more Mallard and Common Teal and a Female / Juvenile Garganey .
I also saw the following , a Ruff , 20+ Bar-Tailed Godwit , 20+ Dunlin , a Whimbrel , a Eurasian Sparrowhawk , a Stock Dove , 3 Willow Warbler and a Female Eurasian Bullfinch .
I also saw the following , a Ruff , 20+ Bar-Tailed Godwit , 20+ Dunlin , a Whimbrel , a Eurasian Sparrowhawk , a Stock Dove , 3 Willow Warbler and a Female Eurasian Bullfinch .
Sunday, 8 September 2019
The Exe Estuary
I had a look at the Exe Estuary this morning from the Exton Railway Station . And I saw the Osprey that has been around for a few days now but I could only manage this distant shot of it as it was on the far side of the Estuary , also seen were 20+ Eurasian Oystercatcher , 10 Common Ringed Plover , 2 exotic Black Swan and a Common Seal .
Saturday, 7 September 2019
Bowling Green Marsh
A look at Bowling Green Marsh at high tide today got me 200+ Black-Tailed Godwit , 2 Bar-Tailed Godwit , 2 Common Greenshank , a Spotted Redshank , a Common Sandpiper and two Migrant Hawker . I then had a look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary and saw another two Common Sandpiper .
Tuesday, 3 September 2019
Brown Booby
A trip down to Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall today to look for a 1st for Britain a Brown Booby that had most likely come across from Caribbean waters , we arrived to see quite a bit of a crowd already there and we were soon put onto the bird that was sat on a rock well out to sea , but as luck would have it we were only watching the bird for a short while when it took to flight and came into the bay where we were standing giving great views and allowing me to get these distant shots of it .
After watching the bird for a while we went a short distance up the road to Caerthillian Cove to look for a reported Red-Backed Shrike but we searched for it for a while where it had been seen earlier with no luck , so I decided to look at a different area and as I was walking along a path of short grass I put up a Eurasian Wryneck it then flew to a bush and showed for a short while before dropping into deep cover .
Our last stop was at Davidstow Airport to look for a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper and at first we searched and searched with no luck at all and we were just about to head for home , but we decided to give it one last look and our luck was in as a small flock of Common Ringed Plover were found and there was the Buff-Breasted Sandpiper in with them .
After watching the bird for a while we went a short distance up the road to Caerthillian Cove to look for a reported Red-Backed Shrike but we searched for it for a while where it had been seen earlier with no luck , so I decided to look at a different area and as I was walking along a path of short grass I put up a Eurasian Wryneck it then flew to a bush and showed for a short while before dropping into deep cover .
Our last stop was at Davidstow Airport to look for a Buff-Breasted Sandpiper and at first we searched and searched with no luck at all and we were just about to head for home , but we decided to give it one last look and our luck was in as a small flock of Common Ringed Plover were found and there was the Buff-Breasted Sandpiper in with them .
Sunday, 1 September 2019
Arctic Skua
Not a birding day today . So I took my daughter and grandson down to the beach at Budleigh Salterton and as we were looking out at the sea 3 Sandwich Tern flew past being chased by a dark phase Arctic Skua and I was well pleased with that as its my first one this year .
Also seen were 3 Ruddy Turnstone , 2 Sanderling and a Rock Pipit and back home in my garden there was quite a few Small White and one or two Large White and Painted Lady Butterflies .
Also seen were 3 Ruddy Turnstone , 2 Sanderling and a Rock Pipit and back home in my garden there was quite a few Small White and one or two Large White and Painted Lady Butterflies .
