Tuesday, 31 March 2020
Back Again
Mr Woodpecker returned to my garden again this afternoon and I just could not resist posting this shot that I got of him today as he brightens up my day in these sad times !
Monday, 30 March 2020
Aghhhhhh
Well this morning I got a text message saying that there was a Red Kite heading towards Topsham . So I nipped out into the garden and picked it up south of the railway station area , I then went into the cemetery grounds where you have a better open view and I got onto it again being mobbed by corvids in the Dats Farm area , it then made its way up the Clyst Valley and was lost from view .
As you can see I have tried to do a drawing of it but I`m not an artist so I am afraid this was the best that I could come up with .
Later in the day this male Great Spotted Woodpecker dropped the tree in my garden and then did something I have never seen before , it dropped down onto the bird bath and took a drink !
As you can see I have tried to do a drawing of it but I`m not an artist so I am afraid this was the best that I could come up with .
Later in the day this male Great Spotted Woodpecker dropped the tree in my garden and then did something I have never seen before , it dropped down onto the bird bath and took a drink !
Sunday, 29 March 2020
Blog
Hi to all my readers . I will try to keep my blog going the best I can in these sad times but there are not to many places that I can get too at the moment .
This morning I went down to the steps at St Margarets in Topsham where you can look down the Exe Estuary and across to the Exminster Marshes , not a lot was seen but you never know ! And today I saw the 2 Black Swan again at the marina and looking across to the marshes I saw 3 Egyptian Goose , 9 Common Shelduck and 2 Common Raven .
This morning I went down to the steps at St Margarets in Topsham where you can look down the Exe Estuary and across to the Exminster Marshes , not a lot was seen but you never know ! And today I saw the 2 Black Swan again at the marina and looking across to the marshes I saw 3 Egyptian Goose , 9 Common Shelduck and 2 Common Raven .
Friday, 27 March 2020
Birding Topsham
Well this morning on my walk around Topsham I had a Rose-Ringed Parakeet at the quay in Topsham and nearby the pair of Black Swan were still on show .
I then took a look at the Recreation Ground where I saw 10 Common Redshank , 2 Eurasian Curlew and a fly over Common Raven .
I then took a look at the Recreation Ground where I saw 10 Common Redshank , 2 Eurasian Curlew and a fly over Common Raven .
Thursday, 26 March 2020
Lock Down day 3
On my daily allowed walk I stopped off at Goosemoor , where I saw 50+ Common Redshank , 3 Common Greenshank and 20+ Black-Tailed Godwit .
I then walked to the Exe Estuary where I saw a pair of Black Swans I know they are not wild birds but still nice to see .
It was a nice walk in nice weather and I kept my distance from people . But the only problem was too many joggers running past coughing and spitting . So I will have to think just how safe my walk is !
I then walked to the Exe Estuary where I saw a pair of Black Swans I know they are not wild birds but still nice to see .
It was a nice walk in nice weather and I kept my distance from people . But the only problem was too many joggers running past coughing and spitting . So I will have to think just how safe my walk is !
Wednesday, 25 March 2020
Home Birding
Not a lot to report today but there was a European Green Woodpecker , a Eurasian Nuthatch , a Common Chiffchaff and my first Willow Warbler of the year . As well as all the normal birds around the feeders .
Tuesday, 24 March 2020
MMMM
I was thinking of closing my blog down while we are all in lockdown . But we are aloud to go out for a walk each day so I have decided to post anything of note that I manage to see on them .
And today I saw the following Butterflies , 2 Brimstone , a Small Tortoiseshell and this Peacock .
Hope this goes down ok with everyone !
And today I saw the following Butterflies , 2 Brimstone , a Small Tortoiseshell and this Peacock .
Hope this goes down ok with everyone !
Monday, 23 March 2020
Sunday 22nd March
A trip down to Dawlish Warren this afternoon got me a female Kentish Plover and its was my first since 2016 and my 14th for Dawlish Warren , it took a wait of over a couple of hours for the tide to come in but it was worth the wait in the end .
Also seen was a Great Cormorant of the Cinnencis race and there was also 20+ Dark Bellied Brent Goose and in with them was a Pale Bellied Brent Goose of the Hrota race .
Also seen was a Great Cormorant of the Cinnencis race and there was also 20+ Dark Bellied Brent Goose and in with them was a Pale Bellied Brent Goose of the Hrota race .
Saturday, 21 March 2020
Blackcap
It was a nice morning today so I took a walk out to Powderham Marsh and it did not turn out to bad at all as I saw . the long staying Snow Goose , a male Green-Winged Teal , a male Greater Scaup , a single Little Ringed Plover , a Ruff , 3 Pied Wagtail and 1 White Wagtail , 4 male and a female Reed Bunting , a male and female Cirl Bunting and to finish the day off I found my first Blackcap of the year a smart male bird .
Friday, 20 March 2020
Migrants
A quick pop over to the Exminster Marshes this afternoon as a Northern Wheatear had been reported . And in the end I managed to see a male and 2 female birds . Also seen was well over 100+ Common Sand Martin and it is a great sight to see these birds back with us again .
Thursday 19th March
Here are a few distant shots of the 1st winter Laughing Gull seen at Cheddar Reservior , where the bird has been coming into roost for the last few days after originally being found at Chew Valley Lake . The only other birds of note were 100+ returning Sand Martin .
Tuesday, 17 March 2020
Surf Scoter
A trip down to Labrador Bay near Shaldon this morning got me an adult male Surf Scoter and a Velvet Scoter that were both together by the mussel beds , I was able to view them from the car park but they were very distant .
Green-Winged Teal
Here are a couple of long distance shots of the male Green-Winged Teal that I saw yesterday the 16th on the Powderham Marshes near Exeter in Devon , it was always on the far side of the marsh so I was glad to get what I could .
There was also a Snow Goose , a male Greater Scaup , 2 Little Ringed Plover and a couple of White Wagtail .
There was also a Snow Goose , a male Greater Scaup , 2 Little Ringed Plover and a couple of White Wagtail .
Thursday, 12 March 2020
Wednesday 11th March
The adult male Greater Scaup was again on Bowling Green Marsh this morning but it was always a little bit distant so I could only manage this record shot of it . Also seen were numerous Northern Shoveler , a few Tufted Duck and Northern Pintail .
On the wader front there was over 200 Black-Tailed Godwit and in with them was a single Bar-Tailed Godwit , there was also 20+ Common Redshank , 9 Common Greenshank , 6 Dunlin and the long staying 1st winter Long-Billed Dowitcher that has been with us for nearly six months now !
On the wader front there was over 200 Black-Tailed Godwit and in with them was a single Bar-Tailed Godwit , there was also 20+ Common Redshank , 9 Common Greenshank , 6 Dunlin and the long staying 1st winter Long-Billed Dowitcher that has been with us for nearly six months now !
Wednesday, 11 March 2020
Monday, 9 March 2020
Bowling Green Marsh
Today my morning look at Bowling Green Marsh got me 100+ Black-Tailed Godwit , 20+ Common Redshank , a Common Greenshank and the 1st winter Long-Billed Dowitcher , also on the list today was a European Green Woodpecker , 2 Common Chiffchaff and a few European Greenfinch .
I then went down to Goatswalk to look at the Exe Estuary but the only birds I saw were 4 Ruddy Turnstone and I then finished the morning off with a Eurasian Treecreeper near Riversmeet House .
I then went down to Goatswalk to look at the Exe Estuary but the only birds I saw were 4 Ruddy Turnstone and I then finished the morning off with a Eurasian Treecreeper near Riversmeet House .
Wednesday, 4 March 2020
Wet Wet Wet
It was a very wet day today so I took myself of to the hide at Bowling Green Marsh to see if there was anything about and I saw the adult male Greater Scaup along with a few Common Pochard and Tufted Duck . A look at the wader then got me 600+ Black-Tailed Godwit , 20+ Dunlin , and two Common Snipe .
Other birds seen today were a few European Greenfinch and a male Reed Bunting . Also seen was the female Red Fox that seemed to be happy just sitting out in the rain for a long spell .
Other birds seen today were a few European Greenfinch and a male Reed Bunting . Also seen was the female Red Fox that seemed to be happy just sitting out in the rain for a long spell .
Tuesday, 3 March 2020
Ruff
A quick look today at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me Numerous Northern Pintail , 6 Tufted Duck , 2 male and a female Common Pochard , 400+ Black-Tailed Godwit , 2 Common Snipe , a Ruff , 2 Common Greenshank , a European Green Woodpecker and a Cetti`s Warbler .
Monday, 2 March 2020
Great Grey Shrike
Another day out with Andy and Ken saw us heading for Somerset to look for a Great Grey Shrike at Croydon Hill and after a long walk through the woods we came to some clear fell and after a bit of a wait we then managed to get good views of the bird .
We then went on to Wrafton Pond in North Devon to look for a male Red-Crested Pochard and the bird showed quite well , and seeing that we have dipped them twice already this year we were well pleased to see this one .
We then went on to Wrafton Pond in North Devon to look for a male Red-Crested Pochard and the bird showed quite well , and seeing that we have dipped them twice already this year we were well pleased to see this one .
