Well another birding year comes to a close ! I didn`t see as many birds as last year but I can complain as I added two new birds to my British list with them being Brown Booby and Paddyfield Pipit .
And I also added Dark-Eyed Junco and Bluethroat to my county list .
So lets hope for more good birding in 2020 and a very Happy New Year to all my readers .
I have just changed my computer system and as you can see with the Paddyfield Pipit shot it is taking a bit of getting used too lol .
Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Monday, 23 December 2019
Bowling Green Marsh
My look at Bowling Green Marsh again today did not get me a lot different than yesterday as the water on the marsh is very deep and nearly up to the top of the marker post so its more like a lake and the most that we are getting is wildfowl and hardly any waders at all , with the best being today the long staying Long-Billed Dowitcher that has been with us for 3 months now , also seen were a male and female Greater Scaup , a male Common Pochard and around a dozen Northern Pintail and away from the Mariana Trench lol ....there was a Mistle Thrush and a Song Thrush a bird that is becoming quite scarce on the marsh now .
Sunday, 22 December 2019
Long-Billed Dowitcher
A report this morning of a Great Bittern on Bowling Green Marsh saw me making my way there to see if I could catch up with it as I have only ever seen one on the marsh and it still stays at one as I put in 3 hours there with no luck .
But the long staying Long-Billed Dowitcher was showing close to the hide so that made up for it a bit lol , also seen was the male Greater Scaup , a male Common Pochard and a male Eurasian Sparrowhawk .
But the long staying Long-Billed Dowitcher was showing close to the hide so that made up for it a bit lol , also seen was the male Greater Scaup , a male Common Pochard and a male Eurasian Sparrowhawk .
Friday, 20 December 2019
Not a Lot !
Not a lot a lot of birding to report lately but I saw a Barn Owl today near Tedburn St Mary and as it was my first in Devon this year it was very welcome .
Monday, 16 December 2019
Greater Scaup
This morning the male and female Greater Scaup came closer to the hide at Bowling Green Marsh than they have done before so I grabbed the chance to be able to get these better shots of them .
Also on the marsh today was a male Common Pochard , 3 male and a female Tufted Duck , 10 Northern Pintail , 19 Pied Avocet , 4 Common Greenshank , 2 Water Rail , 2 Stock Dove and a Grey Wagtail .
I then went to the Riverside Country Park in Exeter to look for some Bearded Reedling that have been reported there and I got a quick view of a male bird as it flew out of one reedbed into another , also seen was another Water Rail and a Common Chiffchaff ,
Also on the marsh today was a male Common Pochard , 3 male and a female Tufted Duck , 10 Northern Pintail , 19 Pied Avocet , 4 Common Greenshank , 2 Water Rail , 2 Stock Dove and a Grey Wagtail .
I then went to the Riverside Country Park in Exeter to look for some Bearded Reedling that have been reported there and I got a quick view of a male bird as it flew out of one reedbed into another , also seen was another Water Rail and a Common Chiffchaff ,
Sunday, 15 December 2019
Ducks
The day started off with a few Redwing in the cemetery grounds in Topsham . I then took a look at Bowling Green Marsh where the most birds I saw were ducks , with numerous Eurasian Wigeon , Common Teal and Northern Shoveler , there were also quite a few Northern Pintal , 8 Tufted Duck , a male Common Pochard and a 1st winter male Greater Scaup , there was not much else to talk about except this stunning male Eurasian Bullfinch .
Friday, 13 December 2019
Bowling Green Marsh
My look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me the male Common Pochard , a 1st winter male and female Greater Scaup , 2 male and 2 female Tufted Duck , 2 Common Snipe , and my first view of the long staying Long-Billed Dowitcher for quite a while , also seen were 4 Redwing , a Mistle Thrush and a bit of exotica with 2 fly through Black Swan .
Wednesday, 11 December 2019
Woodpeckers
Early this morning this female European Green Woodpecker came into my garden and fed under the apple tree for quite a while . I then went down to the hide at Bowling Green Marsh to do some birding as it was pouring down with rain . And I managed to see 5 Greylag Geese , 2 Greater Scaup , 2 male and 2 female Tufted Duck , a male Common Pochard , 2 Stock Dove and 2 Eurasian Jay .
Later in the day a male Great Spotted Woodpecker came into the garden to feed on the nuts , I am still living in hope that the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker returns but there has been no luck so far .
Later in the day a male Great Spotted Woodpecker came into the garden to feed on the nuts , I am still living in hope that the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker returns but there has been no luck so far .
Sunday, 8 December 2019
Brrrrrrrrrr
An hour spent on the Exminster Marshes today in the wind and rain got me 100+ Canada Geese , 3 Barnacle Geese , a Snow Goose of unknown origin , 100+ Eurasian Wigeon , 50+ Eurasian Curlew.....And quite Cold .
Saturday, 7 December 2019
Lesser Spot !
This morning around 9.30 I was sat in my dining room when my attention was drawn to the apple tree in my garden and to my amazement there in the tree was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker , I was in shock for short while taking it in !! I then dashed for my camera but I got back only to see it being flushed from the tree by 5 or 6 Western Jackdaws who come into my garden daily and take all the feed , it then flew from my garden to a tall tree at the back of my house , I searched for it for about an hour with no luck but a lot of the gardens are unapproachable , I hope that it returns again as I have been in my house since 91 and have never had a sniff of a LSW before today and never even thought that they were in the area . Only to be told that one was claimed on Bowling Green Marsh a few year ago , also one was seen by Riversmeet House before I started birding in 85 , so as you can see it is a very rare bird in this area....or so we think !!!
As I could not get a shot of it I did this pen and ink drawing of it , I am no artist but I did my best lol .
As I could not get a shot of it I did this pen and ink drawing of it , I am no artist but I did my best lol .
Thursday, 5 December 2019
BGM
A look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me slim pickings with only 8 Greylag Geese , a Greater Scaup , 3 male and a female Tufted Duck , 2 male and a female Northern Pintail and a male Eurasian Bullfinch . And at the bottom of Bowling Green Hill , 2 Mistle Thrush were feeding on the mistletoe in the tall tree .
Tuesday, 3 December 2019
Slow
The birding was quite slow on Bowling Green Marsh this morning with only the following birds seen , 10 Greylag Goose , 2 male and a female Tufted Duck , the Greater Scaup that has been around a few days , a Common Kingfisher , a Stock Dove and this female Eurasian Sparrowhawk that put everything up as it flew into the marsh .
Thursday, 28 November 2019
Bluethroat
Big news today that the 1st winter Bluethroat that was seen 9 days ago south of the Turf Locks in Devon had been found again this morning , as it was my car has just gone in for an mot so I had to bum a lift with fellow birder Dave Hopkins to see if we could catch up with it , thanks Dave . I got there but missed the bird by about a minute but the bird showed itself again about an hour later to the joy of myself and all the other birders that had come to see it .
This was my first Bluethroat in Devon after 34 years of birding so as you can guess I was well pleased...Yippee lol .
This was my first Bluethroat in Devon after 34 years of birding so as you can guess I was well pleased...Yippee lol .
Wednesday, 27 November 2019
Greater Scaup
This morning I opened the door to 20+ Redwing in the trees in the cemetery grounds in Topsham .
I then went down for a look at Bowling Green Marsh where the best bird today was this 1st winter male Greater Scaup , only a few days ago I said that this is always a good bird for the marsh and now this one turns up lol .
Also seen today were lots of the usual Eurasian Wigeon , Common Teal & Northern Shoveler , a male and female Northern Pintail , 4 male and 2 female Tufted Duck , 2 Common Snipe , the 1st winter Long-Billed Dowitcher and a Grey Wagtail .
I then went down for a look at Bowling Green Marsh where the best bird today was this 1st winter male Greater Scaup , only a few days ago I said that this is always a good bird for the marsh and now this one turns up lol .
Also seen today were lots of the usual Eurasian Wigeon , Common Teal & Northern Shoveler , a male and female Northern Pintail , 4 male and 2 female Tufted Duck , 2 Common Snipe , the 1st winter Long-Billed Dowitcher and a Grey Wagtail .
Monday, 25 November 2019
Monday 25th November
I took a look at Bowling Green Marsh from the hide this morning and I saw numerous Common Teal and Eurasian Wigeon , 50+ Northern Shoveler , 20+ Mallard , a male and female Northern Pintail , a female Tufted Duck and a female Greater Scaup..always a good bird for the marsh , but there was no sign today of the Long-Tailed Duck that had spent a few days with us .
A walk around the bushes by the viewing platform didn't turn up much at all with a male and female Common Stonechat , a few Goldcrest and 9 Black-Billed Magpie ,
Later in the day a look for Firecrest at the top of Bowling Green Road only turned up one very illusive bird...as you can see lol
A walk around the bushes by the viewing platform didn't turn up much at all with a male and female Common Stonechat , a few Goldcrest and 9 Black-Billed Magpie ,
Later in the day a look for Firecrest at the top of Bowling Green Road only turned up one very illusive bird...as you can see lol
Thursday, 21 November 2019
Rainy Days & Mondays Always Get Me Down
My birding today was done from the hide at Bowling Green Marsh due to the persistent rain ! But a bit of joy for the day was seeing the 1st winter Long-Tailed Duck in the channel close to the hide , and I am sorry to post a few more shots that were taken today.... I just couldn't resist lol
There was not a lot else to see with only the Long-Billed Dowitcher and a Common Snipe .
On the way home I stopped to look for the Firecrests at the top of Bowling Green Road but I only saw one today in the rain and cold weather
There was not a lot else to see with only the Long-Billed Dowitcher and a Common Snipe .
On the way home I stopped to look for the Firecrests at the top of Bowling Green Road but I only saw one today in the rain and cold weather
Wednesday, 20 November 2019
Better Shots !
My daily look at Bowling Green Marsh turned up a nice surprise this morning as the 1st winter male Long-Tailed Duck came down the channel and much closer to the hide allowing me to get the shots that I have been after since it turned up 3 days ago , as up till today it had stayed well out on the main lake . Also seen from the hide today were 2000+ Black-Tailed Godwit , the Long-Billed Dowitcher , 4 Dunlin and a Common Greenshank .
I went down to look for yesterdays Hawfinch but I had no luck as the wind was a lot stronger today with not many birds on show at all with only a few Goldcrest and Redwing and 2 Eurasian Bullfinch .
I had a look at the top of Bowling Green Lane for the Firecrests but I only managed to see two of them today .
I went down to look for yesterdays Hawfinch but I had no luck as the wind was a lot stronger today with not many birds on show at all with only a few Goldcrest and Redwing and 2 Eurasian Bullfinch .
I had a look at the top of Bowling Green Lane for the Firecrests but I only managed to see two of them today .
Tuesday, 19 November 2019
The Good & The Bad
My look around the Bowling Green Marsh this morning turned out to be a lot more rewarding than I expected as from the hide I saw the 1st winter male Long-Tailed Duck , quite a few Northern Shoveler , 2 Dunlin and the Long-Billed Dowitcher .
I then went down to the viewing platform area and came across a fresh Otter trail and as it turns out they had an Otter from the hide just after I had left ...Damn .There was only a few Redwing and Goldcrest around the bushes and I was just about to leave when I heard a Hawfinch calling and in my excitement I went up Bowling Green Lane looking for it with no luck , so I went back to where I heard it and it was still calling and this time it was coming from the Riversmeet House garden so there must be some kind of food for it in there , this is a first for me on BGM . It just shows that flogging the same patch comes up trumps sometimes !
I then went up to the top of Bowling Green Lane by the railway bridge to look for a Firecrest that had been seen there , I was with another birder when 3 of them showed together in the tree right in front of us and another was calling from the railway embankment ...so definitely 4 at least .
Later in the afternoon news came out of a Bluethroat on the sea wall south of the Turf Locks , a few birders went over to look for it but we had no luck at all !
I then went down to the viewing platform area and came across a fresh Otter trail and as it turns out they had an Otter from the hide just after I had left ...Damn .There was only a few Redwing and Goldcrest around the bushes and I was just about to leave when I heard a Hawfinch calling and in my excitement I went up Bowling Green Lane looking for it with no luck , so I went back to where I heard it and it was still calling and this time it was coming from the Riversmeet House garden so there must be some kind of food for it in there , this is a first for me on BGM . It just shows that flogging the same patch comes up trumps sometimes !
I then went up to the top of Bowling Green Lane by the railway bridge to look for a Firecrest that had been seen there , I was with another birder when 3 of them showed together in the tree right in front of us and another was calling from the railway embankment ...so definitely 4 at least .
Later in the afternoon news came out of a Bluethroat on the sea wall south of the Turf Locks , a few birders went over to look for it but we had no luck at all !
Monday, 18 November 2019
Whooper Swan
I went back to Bowling Green Marsh early this morning in hope of getting a better shot of the Long-Tailed Duck that was found yesterday and I was more pleased with todays shots than yesterdays but still in hope of getter better ones !
The female Common Goldeneye is still on the marsh with a few Tufted Duck , also seen were 5 Common Snipe and the Long-Billed Dowitcher . I then took a look around the bushes by the viewing platform were I saw 3 Redwing , 2 Mistle Thrush and a fly over Grey Wagtail .
I then met up with fellow birder Bob Bailey who said that he was going to Axminster look for the Whooper Swan that has been seen there and he kindly said that I could go along also... many thanks Bob .
The female Common Goldeneye is still on the marsh with a few Tufted Duck , also seen were 5 Common Snipe and the Long-Billed Dowitcher . I then took a look around the bushes by the viewing platform were I saw 3 Redwing , 2 Mistle Thrush and a fly over Grey Wagtail .
I then met up with fellow birder Bob Bailey who said that he was going to Axminster look for the Whooper Swan that has been seen there and he kindly said that I could go along also... many thanks Bob .
Sunday, 17 November 2019
Long-Tailed Duck
There was news today of a Long-Tailed Duck on Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham . So I went down to take a look at it and the 1st winter male bird was still on show but was always quite distant so these are the best shots of it that I could get today , this is the 1st Long-Tailed Duck that I have seen on the marsh since January 2014 so it was very welcome ... Well done Dave
Also seen were 2 male and a female Tufted Duck , a female Common Goldeneye and the long staying Long-Billed Dowitcher also put in an appearance .
Also seen were 2 male and a female Tufted Duck , a female Common Goldeneye and the long staying Long-Billed Dowitcher also put in an appearance .
Saturday, 16 November 2019
Haldon Forest
I took another look around the Haldon Forest this morning but it was a bit quiet . But I did manage to see a couple of Hawfinch and I heard another one on call , I also got a fly over Common Crossbill .
But after that there was not a lot else to be seen with a couple of Eurasian Jay , a European Green Woodpecker , and 2 Common Raven . Most of the other birders there had seen one or two Northern Goshawk before I got there but I had to make do with this Common Buzzard lol .
Also seen was this late Red Admiral Butterfly .
But after that there was not a lot else to be seen with a couple of Eurasian Jay , a European Green Woodpecker , and 2 Common Raven . Most of the other birders there had seen one or two Northern Goshawk before I got there but I had to make do with this Common Buzzard lol .
Also seen was this late Red Admiral Butterfly .
Friday, 15 November 2019
Common Goldeneye
A late afternoon look at Bowling Green Marsh got me this female Common Goldeneye a bird that is an uncommon visitor to the marsh . Also see were 10 Greylag Geese , numerous Eurasian Wigeon and Common Teal , 2 male Northern Pintail , 6 Northern Shoveler , 2 Tufted Duck , a male Gadwall , a small flock of European Golden Plover that flew into the marsh but then flew right out again and down by the viewing platform their was a male and female Common Stonechat .
Back home I saw a small flock of Fieldfare and Redwing in the Topsham Cemetery grounds .
Back home I saw a small flock of Fieldfare and Redwing in the Topsham Cemetery grounds .
Wednesday, 13 November 2019
Firecrest
This morning I took a look at the small copse that runs parallel to the M5 on the Exminster Marshes and I found a Tit flock going through it consisting of mostly Long-Tailed Tit , Great Tit and Blue Tit but in with them was a Eurasian Treecreeper , numerous Goldcrest and a Firecrest a new bird for me on the marshes .
Monday, 11 November 2019
Blue-Winged Teal
A trip down to Man Sands with Andy and Ken to look for a reported Blue-Winged Teal and at first there was no sight of it , so we went up to the coastguards cottage as two female Black Redstart have been seen there and after a short wait they were soon added to the day list .
Back then to look for the Blue-Winged Teal from the gate area and this time we were in luck as the bird flew out of the reeds and went to the far left hand corner where it preened for a while before vanishing back into the reeds again , and making it my 5th for Britain . Another bonus for the day was a female Hen Harrier that showed for a short while before being lost from sight over the hill top .
Back then to look for the Blue-Winged Teal from the gate area and this time we were in luck as the bird flew out of the reeds and went to the far left hand corner where it preened for a while before vanishing back into the reeds again , and making it my 5th for Britain . Another bonus for the day was a female Hen Harrier that showed for a short while before being lost from sight over the hill top .
Sunday, 10 November 2019
Hawfinch
A cold morning was spent up in the Haldon Forest in hope of seeing Hawfinch and I managed to see 3 of them at the top of the butterfly walk . Also seen were 8 Common Crossbill , 10 Eurasian Siskin , 6 Goldcrest , 20+ Redwing , a Common Buzzard and 2 Eurasian Jay .
Friday, 8 November 2019
Thursday 7th November
Paddyfield Pipit ?
A trip down to Cornwall to look for a potential 1st for Britain a Paddyfield Pipit . We arrived early morning and got to the very large field where it is being seen but the only problem was that the field was full of pipits lol . there was a bit of a crowd around the edge of the field and after a while a call went up that the bird was in the far right hand corner and it then showed on and off for quite a while and I must say that it looked different from pipits that I have seen before .
Local Cornish birders have got the call of the bird on tape and everything is pointing towards Paddyfield Pipit so we will just have to wait and see .
Also seen was an American Buff-Bellied Pipit and only the second one that I have seen in Britain so I was well pleased with that !! , numerous Meadow Pipits were also seen and a White Wagtail .
We then went to Porthgrarra to look for a reported Pallas`s Warbler and after a bit of a wait in the rain the bird showed on and off for a short while , along with 3 Firecrest , a Goldcrest , a Lesser Whitethroat possibly of the Siberian race , a Common Chiffchaff and in the car park I got the best ever views and shots of a Red Fox ....Stunning .
News then came out of 4 Pink-Footed Geese at Copperhouse Creek in Hale so we went and saw them and the day was finished off with a Little Stint on Ryans Field .....a great days birding and a good catch up with other birders from years gone by .
Footnote . We looked for Red-Billed Chough at 4 different locations around the tip of Cornwall but we had had no luck at any of them ...So frustrating lol !
A trip down to Cornwall to look for a potential 1st for Britain a Paddyfield Pipit . We arrived early morning and got to the very large field where it is being seen but the only problem was that the field was full of pipits lol . there was a bit of a crowd around the edge of the field and after a while a call went up that the bird was in the far right hand corner and it then showed on and off for quite a while and I must say that it looked different from pipits that I have seen before .
Local Cornish birders have got the call of the bird on tape and everything is pointing towards Paddyfield Pipit so we will just have to wait and see .
Also seen was an American Buff-Bellied Pipit and only the second one that I have seen in Britain so I was well pleased with that !! , numerous Meadow Pipits were also seen and a White Wagtail .
We then went to Porthgrarra to look for a reported Pallas`s Warbler and after a bit of a wait in the rain the bird showed on and off for a short while , along with 3 Firecrest , a Goldcrest , a Lesser Whitethroat possibly of the Siberian race , a Common Chiffchaff and in the car park I got the best ever views and shots of a Red Fox ....Stunning .
News then came out of 4 Pink-Footed Geese at Copperhouse Creek in Hale so we went and saw them and the day was finished off with a Little Stint on Ryans Field .....a great days birding and a good catch up with other birders from years gone by .
Footnote . We looked for Red-Billed Chough at 4 different locations around the tip of Cornwall but we had had no luck at any of them ...So frustrating lol !
