Yesterdays Greater White-Fronted Geese had relocated to Bowling Green Marsh this morning and were showing close to the hide . But they never stayed long as by the time that I returned from the viewing platform area they had flown off .
But they didn`t go far as they were soon refound at Darts Farm where they were showing in with a large flock of ( Dark Bellied ) Brent Geese .
A trip over to the Exminster Marshes this morning as 18 Greater White-Fronted Goose of the Russian Race had been found early this morning . I arrived to find them still on show but had to view them through a metal gate . I watched them for about half an hour with other birders that were there , then all of a sudden they decided to fly off towards the Exe Estuary !
The only other thing of note were 2 Western Marsh Harrier .
Bowling Green Marsh turned up these birds today . Pied Avocet 400+ , Northern Lapwing 50+ , Spotted Redshank , Grey Heron , Eurasian Collared Dove , 3 Winter Wren , Common Stonechat , a small flock of European Goldfinch and around a dozen House Sparrow .
Happy Christmas to all my readers .
My daily look at Bowling Green Marsh today got me numerous Northern Shoveler , Eurasian Wigeon , Common Teal and a few Northern Pintail . 20+ Northern Lapwing , Western Marsh Harrier , Common Kestrel , 2 Stock Dove , Song Thrush , a male Common Stonechat and a male and female Eurasian Bullfinch
A look at Goosemoor in Topsham this morning got me 5 Reed Bunting . I then birded the bushes around Bowling Green Marsh and saw the following . Mistle Thrush , Meadow Pipit , Winter Wren , a female Eurasian Bullfinch , European Goldfinch & a male and female Blackcap .
A water Rail was also heard on call but not seen .
There was not a lot to report from Bowling Green Marsh today ! With all the usual wildfowl . But a new in male Tufted Duck was nice to see . On the waders front there was only 100+ Pied Avocet , Around 50 Common Redshank and in with them were 2 Spotted Redshank .
Other birds seen today around the marsh were as follows . Meadow Pipit , European Greenfinch , European Goldfinch and Common Raven .
I started the day off with a look at Goosemoor in Topsham but all it got me was 4 Reed Bunting . I then had at look at the Exe Estuary where I saw 6 Dark Bellied Brent Geese , 2 male Red-Breasted Merganser and 2 Common Gull .
The last stop was at Bowling Green Marsh where I picked up a Great White Egret flying into the marsh it is a bird that is becoming less rare now but it is only my 2nd one that I have seen on the marsh this year .
Also seen were numerous Pied Avocet , a Spotted Redshank , a Common Kingfisher and a Firecrest .
Today the weather was really bad with heavy rain and very high winds on Bowling Green Marsh but it produced my first European Otter on the marsh for about 4 years . It only gave views for a short while before vanishing up a channel beside the railway line .
There was not a lot else to talk about but a male and female Gadwall were nice to see along with 400 + Pied Avocet , 3 Common Gull , a Common Kingfisher and 2 Common Raven .
This morning I went down to Exmouth and got on the Stuart Line River Cruise with a few other birders in hope of getting better views of yesterdays Lesser Crested Tern .
We left Exmouth and cruised up the river but had no luck . But luck changed on the return trip as the bird showed very well sat on a buoy , allowing me to get these shots of it so I was well pleased .
Lesser Crested Tern
Today started off with a look around the Topsham Cemetery on a cold frosty morning with a calling Tawny Owl . Not a lot else of note were seen but a male and female Blackcap were new for my Cemetery Grounds list .
Later in the day news broke of a possible Royal / West African Crested Tern seen in the Exe Estuary and I was stuck at home with no car as my car was in for an MOT . So I phoned my birding buddy Brian Heasman and he very kindly picked me up and off we went to the Cockwood Steps where there was quite a crowd already . But we picked a spot and we got views of the bird sat on a buoy and fishing .
Later after more photos were looked at the bird was seen to have a grey rump and was then put out as a Lesser Crested Tern....A first for Britain for me 😀
