My look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me 2 female Common Pochard along with a few Tufted Duck , 400+ Pied Avocet , numerous Black-Tailed Godwit , 12 Common Snipe , 5 Dunlin , 20+ Northern Lapwing , 100+ Common Redshank with a Spotted Redshank in with them , 2 Common Chiffchaff and a few Goldcrest .
Tuesday, 27 December 2022
Sunday, 25 December 2022
Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Isabelline Wheatear
Yesterday news came out of an Isabelline Wheatear showing on Colyford Common near Seaton in Devon and seeing that it was only the second record for my home county of Devon , Paul Bray , Dave Boult and myself shot off to see if we could see it . Our luck was in and we got nice views of it but I was not happy with my shots of it so this morning another trip was made to see if I could better yesterdays efforts and I am pleased with them today .
Also seen were numerous Meadow Pipits , a Water Pipit and a Rock Pipit .
Saturday, 17 December 2022
Feeding Frenzy
I enjoyed watching a feeding frenzy of Redwing and Common Blackbird near my house in Topsham this morning .
Tuesday, 13 December 2022
Better Light
Another trip down to Phear Park in Exmouth this morning to see if I could get better shots in the morning light of the Olive-Backed Pipit that was found yesterday . And I am well pleased with the results and well worth the trip .
Monday, 12 December 2022
Olive-Backed Pipit
Late news today of an Olive-Backed Pipit found in Phear Park in Exmouth . So I shot off to see if it was still on show and my luck was in😉 as when I got there the finder John Walters was still there and soon got me onto the bird .
I managed to fire off a few shots but the light was fading fast and these are the best that I could manage but I am pleased with them as I have never been able to photograph one of these birds before . I have only seen these birds twice before with my 1st being on the Scilly Isles way back in 1989 and my 2nd was in Brixham in 1997 so it was a long 25 year wait to see this bird again .
Friday, 9 December 2022
Wednesday 7th Decenmber
A look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me a few Northern Pintail & Northern Shoveler , a male and 3 female Tufted Duck , 8 Greylag Geese & 6 Common Snipe that showed very well . A female Western Marsh Harrier then flew in over the reedbed putting everything up , & 4 Common Buzzard and a Common Kestrel were also seen .
On a walk back up Bowling Green Hill and after a bit of a search a Firecrest finally showed itself .
Monday, 5 December 2022
Somerset Birding
A trip up to Chew Valley Lake in Somerset this morning got me the following birds . With numerous Tufted Duck and Common Pochard , a few Gadwall , around a dozen Common Goldeneye , a 1st winter male Greater Scaup , a very nice female Smew ( the bird that I had come for ) & 4 Goosander . 3 different Grebes were seen with Great Crested Grebe , Black-Necked Grebe and Little Grebe also seen were 10 Great White Egret and 2 Western Marsh Harrier .
On the way home we stopped of at the village of Stathe where we saw 36 Cattle Egret and a single Common Crane .
Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Firecrest
The highlight of my birding today was finding a Firecrest on Goosemoor in Topsham and my first ever seen at this site .
I then had a look at Bowling Green Marsh where I saw 2 Egyptian Geese , 2 male Tufted Duck , 20+ Pied Avocet , a Green Sandpiper , a Redwing , a Song Thrush and a male Eurasian Bullfinch
Sunday, 27 November 2022
Bowling Green Marsh
A look around Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me the following birds . 30+ Black-Tailed Godwit , 20+ Common Redshank , 4 Common Greenshank , 4 European Robin , 10 Long-Tailed Tit , a small flock of European Goldfinch , 2 Cetti`s Warbler . Today there was a small influx of Common Blackbird with 10-15 birds seen , and the Mistle Thrush has returned to its normal tree at the bottom of Bowling Green Lane where it feeds on the mistletoe each year and as I walked along the lower lane there was a male and female Eurasian Bullfinch .
Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Grey Phalarope
News of a Grey Phalarope seen on Bowling Green Marsh got me off of my bum and walking down to the marsh . On arrival the bird was showing sat huddled up in a small patch of grass and it only moved a few times while I was there .............. Later news said that the bird had passed away !
On the walk back home I saw a single Firecrest and Goldcrest at the top of Bowling Green Lane .
Tuesday, 22 November 2022
Sabine`s Gull
A sea watch in Dorset at Chesil Cove this morning got me a juvenile Sabine`s Gull a superb looking gull , 3 Little Gull ( 2 adult and a juvenile bird ) , numerous Black-Headed Gull and Black-Legged Kittiwake , 2 Mediterranean Gull , a Common Gull , 10 Great Black-Backed Gull and 6 Northern Gannet .
A look at Ferrybridge then got me a few Common Ringed Plover and Sanderling . The last stop of the day was at Radipole Lake where there was another 3 Med Gulls , 20+ Common Pochard , 9 Tufted Duck , a male Common Goldeneye and a screaming Water Rail .
Friday, 18 November 2022
Firecrest
On my walk today I only saw the one Firecrest and a Common Raven in Bowling Green Lane .
At Bowling Green Marsh there was not a lot different from yesterday with 3 male Northern Pintail , 2 Great Cormorant , 50+ Common Redshank , 2 Common Greenshank , 2 Common Snipe a Lesser Black-Backed Gull and a Common Kestrel .
17th November
Another walk to Bowling Green Marsh again this morning and a stop off at the top of Bowling Green Marsh again got me 2 Firecrest and also a Common Raven .
At the Marsh I saw the following birds . 8 Greylag Goose , a female type Garganey , Northern Pintail , Great White Egret , 2 Common Snipe , Common Kingfisher and 2 Black Swan .
Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Common Eider
This morning I walked to Bowling Green Marsh as I was in an accident the other day so I am carless for a while ! Anyway I was walking down Bowling Green Lane and came across a flock of Long-Tailed Tit and in with them were a couple of nice Firecrest and a few Goldcrest .
I had just got into the hide at the marsh and was put on a sleeping female Garganey when my phone went off with a message from my mate Paul telling me that the female Common Eider was showing off of Exmouth . So I walked back to the Railway Station and jumped on the train to Exmouth and Paul picked me up outside the station and off we went and got nice views of the Eider ( a year tick for both of us )
We then had a look around the marina area and we saw a male and 2 female Black Redstart... A very nice day ... Thanks Paul .
Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Monday 14th November
A look around Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me numerous Norther Shoveler and Eurasian Wigeon , 4 Greylag Geese , around 30+ Pied Avocet , a Common Snipe , 3 Dunlin , numerous Black-Tailed Godwit and in with them were a few Bar-Tailed Godwit .
I then had a look for a reported Firecrest along Bowling Green Lane but could not find it . But there was a small flock of Goldcrest and in with them was a calling Yellow-Browed Warbler . I looked for it for quite a while but I never did get to see it .
Saturday, 12 November 2022
Bowling Green Marsh
A look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me all the normal wildfowl for this time of year!
Also seen were 10 Pied Avocet , numerous Common Redshank , a single Ruff , a Common Snipe numerous Black-Tailed Godwit and 3 Bar-Tailed Godwit .
Monday, 7 November 2022
Glaucous Gull
Yesterday there was a Glaucous Gull found at the Exeter Quay . Today local birder Dave Boult went to see if it was still around and he was in luck and found it again and soon put the news out so that other birders could go and see it .
Glaucous Gull is the largest of the white winged gulls that we get in this country and it always gives me a buzz when I manage to see one ...... Good Birding Dave .
Saturday, 5 November 2022
Friday 4th November
I stated the day off around the Gore Lane area of Exmouth and I found 2 female Black Redstart on the dung heap . Also seen was a Rock Pipit , 2 Pied Wagtail , a Common Skylark and 20+ Common Linnet .
I then went for a look at the sallows around the long stay car park as Exmouth Birder Matt Knot had seen a Yellow- Browed Warbler there . I just got out of the car and heard it calling so my hopes were high . But after much searching I only saw it the once in the top of the trees ..
Thursday, 3 November 2022
Long Distance !
The bird of the day today was a new for bird Bowling Green Marsh . A juvenile Purple Heron that was in the reeds on the far side of the marsh and was extremely hard to see . I managed to see it stick its head and neck out of the reeds once , and then got it in flight as it left the marsh and I was able to just get this long distance shot of it before was lost from view .
Other birds seen today were 2 Egyptian Goose , a male Mandarin ( a rare bird for the marsh ) . a Spotted Redshank and 2 Cetti`s Warbler
Wednesday, 2 November 2022
Tuesday 1st November
The day started with Thrushes flying over my house and there was 20+ Redwing , a Fieldfare and my 1st Mistle Thrush of the autumn . I then took a look at Bowling Green Marsh and I saw 20+ Common Greenshank , a single Pied Avocet , 2 Dunlin , a Common Snipe , Lesser Black-Backed Gull , Common Gull , Mediterranean Gull and my first Otter of the year . A very rare thing to catch up with here at the Marsh .
I then met up with my mate Paul Bray and we went up to Meare Heath in Somerset to see if we could catch up with the adult drake American Wigeon that has been showing there and we were in luck as it was showing quite well . Also seen were numerous Gadwall , a Great Crested Grebe and 3 Western Marsh Harrier . And nearby there was a field with numerous Cattle Egret in it .
Saturday, 29 October 2022
Crimson Speckled Footman
News of a possible Greenish Warbler at Dawlish Warren meant an afternoon trip down to see if I could catch up with it . But after quite a bit of a search there was no more sign of the bird .
But a massive bonus was seeing this Crimson Speckled Footman a moth that is an immigrant to this country . This is the second time that I have seen one of these moths in this country with my first on the Scilly Isles many years ago .
Friday, 28 October 2022
Friday 28th October
The birding was much slower today ! But the day started off with a few Fieldfare flying over my garden . I then took a look at Bowling Green Marsh and I saw Numerous Black-Tailed Godwit , 10 Common Greenshank , 2 Dunlin and a Grey Plover .
The next stop was at the Exminster Marshes but there was not a lot on show here as well with only 6 Little Egret , 2 Cattle Egret , a Common Gull and 3 Cetti`s Warbler . And at the Turf Locks there was a Western Marsh Harrier , 2 Redwing and this fly over Grey Heron .
