A quick hours birding at the Darts Farm Reserve got me a nice Spotted Redshank a 1st for me at this site .
Also seen were 300+ ( Dark Bellied ) Brent Geese , 10 Eurasian Wigeon , 12 Eurasian Curlew , numerous Rook , 6 Common Chaffinch , Great Spotted Woodpecker , Song Thrush & a male Reed Bunting .
A new bird into Bowling Green Marsh today was this female Common Pochard a bird that we dont see that often on the marsh . Also seen was the long staying Greater Scaup , a Ruff , Common Snipe , 2 Dunlin , numerous Northern Lapwing and a Wester Marsh Harrier that flew around the marsh a few times before settling in the reed bed .
But the highlight of the day was a Great White Egret that I picked up as it flew through the marsh heading towards the Exe Estuary .
On the high tide at Bowling Green Marsh this morning the following birds were seen .
Greater Scaup , Gadwall , Northern Pintail , Pied Avocet , Long-Billed Dowitcher , Spotted Redshank , Common Snipe , Western Marsh Harrier , Common Kestrel , Long-Tailed Tit and Common Chiffchaff .
A look at Woodbury Castle this morning got me my first Brambling in Devon this year with this male bird showing in with a small flock of Common Chaffinch . Also seen were 4 Coal Tit , 3 Winter Wren and 2 Eurasian Nuthatch .
And on Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham there was 8 Greylag Geese , a 1st winter Greater Scaup and a Mistle Thrush .
Here are a few distant shots of todays Surf Scoter that was showing with 4 Common Scoter in Hope Cove Torquay .
I went down to Dawlish Warren this morning in a gale with pouring rain to have another look look for the illusive Dusky Warbler that has been showing for a few days ( I know I`m Stupid lol ) . I have tried twice before with no luck but this morning I heard it calling and as I walked towards it the bird showed and flew up into a dead bush and I never saw it again . This bird makes it my 8th in Britain with 7 of them seen in my home county of Devon . Also seen at sea were half a dozen Northern Gannet and 4 Great Crested Grebe .
