3rd May

 LUNDY ISLAND TRIP

Today I went on the Devon Birds annual trip to Lundy Island and on the crossing there was way over a hundred Manx Shearwater seen . But the highlight was a Risso`s Dolphin a first for me 😊 seen along with quite a few Common Dolphin .

Once we got to the Island the ship went around the island before docking and we saw numerous Razorbill , Common Guillemot and quite a few Atlantic Puffin .

Once we got onto the Island the highlight was a Eurasian Golden Oriole that I found on call in Millcombe Valley , I spent a bit of time trying to see the bird with no luck . But it was later seen in other areas of the island . Also seen was a Yellow Wagtail of the Channel Race and a Spotted Flycatcher .

Manx Shearwater ( Puffinus puffinus ) . Bideford to Lundy Island . Devon

 

Atlantic Puffin ( Fratercula arctica ) . Lundy Island . Devon

 

High Winds

 This morning it was very windy . But I still took a look at the Exminster Marshes where I saw 2 European Spoonbill , Barn Swallow , Common Raven and a Common Lizard .

I then went to a spot on Haldon Forest where I had a Garden Warbler singing from deep cover but I could not see it , there was also a Mistle Thrush

                                                                 European Spoonbill

Stupid

 This morning the weather was nice so I went out to Emsworthy Mire on Dartmoor in hope of catching up with Common Cuckoo but when I got there the wind was quite strong so the cuckoos where hard to see but I managed to see one and heard another calling .

Also seen was a male Common Redstart so I though I would get a nice shot of it only to find that I had come out with no card in my camera...Stupid me 😖 as I also saw 2 Lesser Redpoll my first of the year . And a male and female Northern Wheatear .

Back home in Topsham I saw 2 Eurasian Collared Dove a common bird but I found them hard to see this year !

Eurasian Collared Dove ( Streptopelia decaocto ) . Topsham . Devon

 

Eurasian Hobby

 Well today I could only manage to get this distant shot of a Eurasian Hobby . It is my first of the year so fingers crossed that I can better it some time .

Also seen was a male Western Marsh Harrier , Cetti`s Warbler , Eurasian Reed Warbler  , Sedge Warbler , Common Chiffchaff and a Blackcap .