Rain

 A quick look at the Exminster Marshes this morning before the rain set in . Got me 3 Common Buzzard , a few Barn Swallow , 3 Cetti`s Warbler , 2 European Reed Warbler , 2 Sedge Warbler , Common Chiffchaff , 2 male Blackcap and 2 Cattle Egret .

Cattle Egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

Sunday 12th April

The Pied Flycatcher have returned to Yarner Wood and a pair showed quite well this morning .

Also seen were a pair of Blackcap , Willow Warbler , Common Chiffchaff , Goldcrest and Song Thrush .

Another highlight today was seeing a Water Shrew near the reservoir my first in over ten years 😀

Pied Flycatcher ( Ficedula hypoleuca ) . Yarner Wood . Devon

 

Ruff

 On The Exminster Marshes this morning new birds for the year were Common Swift , 2 Sedge Warbler , a European Reed Warbler and a  Ruff  . Also seen were Black-Tailed Godwit , Cetti`s Warbler , European Spoonbill , 4 Barn Swallow , numerous Common Sand Martin , The long staying Greater White-Fronted Goose , a male Western Marsh Harrier and 20+ Cattle Egret .              

Ruff ( Philomachus pugnax ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

Wednesday 8th April

 Four of us made an early morning trip up the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire in hope of seeing some good birds and we started off with Corn Bunting and in the end we had seen 100+ of these birds .

Also seen were 30+ Great Bustard , 10 Red Kite , a Common Whitethroat , 5 Stone Curlew , 2 Northern Wheatear , 20+ Skylark , 3 Grey Partridge , 2 Red-Legged Partridge & 2 Meadow Pipit .

We finished the day off at Marlborough Downs and we saw 2 Tree Sparrow and 6 Yellowhammer .

Also seen was Brown Hare , Roe Deer , Red Deer & Muntjac Deer .

A great days birding in superb weather !