I spent a couple of hours early this morning looking around the Bowling Green Marsh area and I was rewarded with a Cattle Egret that flew over the marsh heading towards the Clyst Marshes . On the marsh itself there was 3 Little Egret , 3 Ruff , 2 Whimbrel , 3 Cetti`s Warbler , a European Reed Warbler and a male Blackcap . I then had a look at the Exe Estuary from the goatswalk and I saw 3 Sandwich Tern and another Whimbrel .
I am off to Spain for a week to do some birding with a couple of mates , will update on my return !
Thursday, 27 April 2017
Wednesday, 26 April 2017
Tuesday 25th April
A trip up to Somerset today with the first stop being at the Meare Heath reserve where we saw 4 Great White Egret , a fly over Great Bittern , a female Western Marsh Harrier , 4 Eurasian Hobby , a distant Little Ringed Plover seen on the back of the scrape , 5 Cetti`s Warbler , a Common Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler .
We then went across to the Ham Wall reserve and we saw another male and female Western Marsh Harrier , a Eurasian Hobby , 5 more Garden Warbler and a single Glossy Ibis ....also seen were 2 female Hairy Dragonfly and a nice Fallow Deer .
We then went across to the Ham Wall reserve and we saw another male and female Western Marsh Harrier , a Eurasian Hobby , 5 more Garden Warbler and a single Glossy Ibis ....also seen were 2 female Hairy Dragonfly and a nice Fallow Deer .
Monday, 24 April 2017
A Good Day
The Yarner Wood area was mine and my mate Kens destination this morning with our first stop at Trendlebere Down . And the day started well with 2 Tree Pipit , a singing Garden Warbler , 6 Willow Warbler , a few Lesser Redpoll including a stunning male in breeding plumage and a male and female Yellowhammer .
We then went for a look in the woods where we saw 4 Wood Warbler , a male and 2 female Pied Flycatcher , a male Common Redstart , 2 Eurasian Nuthatch and 2 Brimstone and a Holly Blue Butterflies .
We then went for a look in the woods where we saw 4 Wood Warbler , a male and 2 female Pied Flycatcher , a male Common Redstart , 2 Eurasian Nuthatch and 2 Brimstone and a Holly Blue Butterflies .
Saturday, 22 April 2017
Common Cuckoo
A look around the Exminster Marshes this morning produced 2 new year ticks with the first being a Common Whitethroat seen along the back path and the second being a Common Cuckoo that was calling down at the far end of the marsh .
Also seen were 2 Little Ringed Plover , lots of European Reed Warbler & Sedge Warbler , 6 Common Chiffchaff , 2 Blackcap , 5 Northern Wheatear including one of the Greenland Race and 6 Common Linnet........Also seen were 2 Grass Snake and my first Large Red Damselfly of the year .
Also seen were 2 Little Ringed Plover , lots of European Reed Warbler & Sedge Warbler , 6 Common Chiffchaff , 2 Blackcap , 5 Northern Wheatear including one of the Greenland Race and 6 Common Linnet........Also seen were 2 Grass Snake and my first Large Red Damselfly of the year .
Thursday, 20 April 2017
Two-Barred Crossbill again !
Another trip up to Haddon Hill in Somerset today for another look at the male Two-Barred Crossbill but the bird didn`t show as well today as the other day as I only got a quick view of it before it flew off again . There was a mixed flock of about a dozen Common Crossbill that showed very well and also seen were 6 Eurasian Siskin , a couple of Lesser Redpoll and an early European Nightjar was heard churring .
Tuesday, 18 April 2017
Two-Barred Crossbill
A trip up to Haddon Hill in Somerset for only my second ever Two-Barred Crossbill with my last one in Hampshire in 1990 . When we got there , we had to walk along a line of fir trees and at first there was no sign of it , but as we turned around and started to walk back half a dozen Common Crossbill flew in and in with them was the bird we had come for . The bird was a little bit smaller than Common Crossbill and had a slightly different call ! And after the elation of seeing it , I fired off a few shots as this is a bird that I have never photographed before . The light was not too good first thing this morning but I am still pleased with the shots that I managed to get .
We then went to Winterbourne Downs in Wiltshire where we saw a Stone Curlew , 2 Mistle Thrush , 6 Barn Swallow , 2 Brown Hare and 2 Large White Butterflies .
We then went to Winterbourne Downs in Wiltshire where we saw a Stone Curlew , 2 Mistle Thrush , 6 Barn Swallow , 2 Brown Hare and 2 Large White Butterflies .
Monday, 17 April 2017
Common Grasshopper Warbler
I had an early message this morning telling me that there was a reeling Common Grasshopper Warbler on the Clyst Marshes not far from my house , so I went down to see if I could see it and after a while I got it reeling and then got a quick view of it , but alas no chance of any photos .
Also seen on the marshes were 5 Cattle Egret , 5 Sedge Warbler , 2 Cetti`s Warbler , 2 Blackcap , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Jay , a male and female Eurasian Bullfinch , 3 male Reed Bunting and a Roe Deer .
Also seen on the marshes were 5 Cattle Egret , 5 Sedge Warbler , 2 Cetti`s Warbler , 2 Blackcap , a Great Spotted Woodpecker , a Eurasian Jay , a male and female Eurasian Bullfinch , 3 male Reed Bunting and a Roe Deer .
Sunday, 16 April 2017
A Good Days Birding
I was on the Exminster Marshes at just gone 7 this morning as I wanted to check the back path to see if any Lesser Whitethroat had come in yet but the answer was none ! so I made my way around other areas of the marsh seeing on the way 25 Whimbrel , 30+ Dunlin , 12 Common Ringed Plover , 2 Ruff my first of the year , the sky was full with 200+ Common Sand Martin , a single Common House Martin , 2 Barn Swallow and my 1st Common Swift of the year , the warblers seen today were as follows , 4 Sedge Warbler , 2 European Reed Warbler , 2 Cetti`s Warbler , 4 Blackcap and 3 Common Chiffchaff .
A look at the Exe Estuary got me 5 Little Tern off of the Turf Locks and later in the afternoon I got a call telling me that there was a Greater-White Fronted Goose showing on the Powderham Marshes so I shot over to see it and got it alongside a late Dark-Bellied Brent Goose ....a good days birding !
A look at the Exe Estuary got me 5 Little Tern off of the Turf Locks and later in the afternoon I got a call telling me that there was a Greater-White Fronted Goose showing on the Powderham Marshes so I shot over to see it and got it alongside a late Dark-Bellied Brent Goose ....a good days birding !
Saturday, 15 April 2017
Eurasian Spoonbill
This morning I got in my car and drove to the end of my road intending to go to the Exminster Marshes but at the last minute I decided to have a quick look at Bowling Green Marsh and it turned out to be a good decision as when I was in the hide a Eurasian Spoonbill flew over and then dropped into the marsh , the first one that I have seen in Devon this year . There was not a lot else to report on the marsh but a 100+ Common Sand Martin , a Common House Martin and 2 Barn Swallow were nice .
A look at Goosemoor got me 15 Common Greenshank and the summer plumaged Spotted Redshank and a look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary turned up 3 Great Crested Grebe , a female Long-Tailed Duck , 10 Red Knot and a Mediterranean Gull .
A look at Goosemoor got me 15 Common Greenshank and the summer plumaged Spotted Redshank and a look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary turned up 3 Great Crested Grebe , a female Long-Tailed Duck , 10 Red Knot and a Mediterranean Gull .
Friday, 14 April 2017
Local Birding
Around the Exminster Marsh area today I saw 2 Barnacle Goose , 50+ European Golden Plover , 5 Whimbrel , 8 Little Ringed Plover , a Common Greenshank , a male Peregrine Falcon , 2 Barn Swallow , 3 European Reed Warbler , 2 Sedge Warble , 4 Blackcap and 6 Common Linnet .
Also seen was a Slow Worm and the following Butterflies , 6 Speckled Wood , 2 male Orange Tip , a Peacock and my first Green-Veined White of the year
Also seen was a Slow Worm and the following Butterflies , 6 Speckled Wood , 2 male Orange Tip , a Peacock and my first Green-Veined White of the year
Thursday, 13 April 2017
Western Subalpine Warbler
A trip up to Portland Bill today with Andy Bond and Ken Montandon to look for a Western Subalpine Warbler that was found this morning , we arrived to find a group of birders all looking at a patch of bracken where the bird had been seen earlier but had not been seen for a while , so Ken and I decided to have a look in a different area and I was lucky enough to find the bird again near the cliff ledge . The bird then showed on and off to all the birders there for quite a while but was always quite distant .
We then went down to the quarry and got nice views of a Little Owl the first one that I have seen for a couple of years ! And on the way home we stopped at Abbotsbury where there was 4 Long-Tailed Ducks on the Fleet .
We then went down to the quarry and got nice views of a Little Owl the first one that I have seen for a couple of years ! And on the way home we stopped at Abbotsbury where there was 4 Long-Tailed Ducks on the Fleet .
Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Western Marsh Harrier
This morning I took a look at the Exminster Marshes but the birding was very poor . And all I saw were 30+ Common Sand Martin , 2 Whimbrel , and singles of Blackcap , Common Chiffchaff , European Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler .
In the evening I had a call telling me that there was a female/immature Western Marsh Harrier showing on Bowling Green Marsh so I went down to have a look at it , but I could only manage to get these couple of record shots of it due to the distance .
In the evening I had a call telling me that there was a female/immature Western Marsh Harrier showing on Bowling Green Marsh so I went down to have a look at it , but I could only manage to get these couple of record shots of it due to the distance .
Tuesday, 11 April 2017
Gull`s
Ken Montandon and myself made a trip down to South Huish this morning to look for the reported Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull but after spending three and a half hours looking for them we had to admit defeat . And the best bird that we saw was this summer plumaged Cattle Egret .
We then stopped of at Slapton where we saw our first two Sandwich Terns of the year offshore in the bay .
We then stopped of at Slapton where we saw our first two Sandwich Terns of the year offshore in the bay .
Sunday, 9 April 2017
Cetti`s Warbler
Cetti`s Warbler is a smart little bird and you can hear their distinctive call most days on Bowling Green Marsh , but seeing one let alone photographing one is a different matter ! But today , I picked a spot where one has been seen before and after about an hours wait out one popped and I am quite pleased with the result .
I also got my 1st European Reed Warbler for the marsh this year and there was also plenty of Blackcap and Common Chiffchaff , And a look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary got me 4 Great Crested Grebe , a summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe and 2 Common Kingfisher .
I also got my 1st European Reed Warbler for the marsh this year and there was also plenty of Blackcap and Common Chiffchaff , And a look from the viewing platform at the Clyst Estuary got me 4 Great Crested Grebe , a summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe and 2 Common Kingfisher .
Saturday, 8 April 2017
Common Snipe
An afternoon stroll around Bowling Green Marsh got me 5 Little Egret , a male and female Gadwall , 6 Tufted Duck , 30+ Bar-Tailed Godwit , a Common Snipe and around the bushes there was 6 male Blackcap , 4 Common Chiffchaff , a male Common Reed Bunting and my 1st couple of Small White Butterflies for the year .
Friday, 7 April 2017
Egyptian Goose
A report yesterday of 3 Egyptian Geese on Powderham Park saw me there this morning hoping that they would still be on show ! and after much looking I managed to see one of them but perhaps the other 2 were out of view somewhere , there was not a lot else to talk about there with only a Stock Dove and a Common Chiffchaff .
On the way back home I took the back road that takes you around the back way to the village of Exminster and on the way there I came across this partial albino Common Blackbird .
On the way back home I took the back road that takes you around the back way to the village of Exminster and on the way there I came across this partial albino Common Blackbird .
Thursday, 6 April 2017
Northern Wheatear
A quick look at the Exminster Marshes this morning got me my 1st Northern Wheatear of the year , it was on the north end of the marsh and I was told it was still showing well around 3pm !
Also seen were European Reed Warbler , Cetti`s Warbler and Blackcap ..... but after I got back home I got a message telling me that there was a Short-Eared Owl on the north end of the marsh as well , oh well that's birding for you lol .
Also seen were European Reed Warbler , Cetti`s Warbler and Blackcap ..... but after I got back home I got a message telling me that there was a Short-Eared Owl on the north end of the marsh as well , oh well that's birding for you lol .
Wednesday, 5 April 2017
The Exminster Marshes
This morning I did the Exminster Marshes loop and it started off well in the middle car park where I saw my 1st European Reed Warbler of the year but it was very elusive and never came out into full view . Also seen were 50+ Eurasian Curlew , 30+ Black-Tailed Godwit & 20+ Common Sand Martin . Up on the path by the Exeter Canal 8 Common Chiffchaff , 2 Blackcap , 2 Cetti`s Warbler and my 1st Sedge Warbler of the year were added to the list . And on the back path a few male Common Reed Bunting and Common Skylark were also seen .
Other things of note seen today were 2 Grass Snake , 3 Slow Worm , a Common Lizard and a Orange Tip & Speckled Wood Butterflies
Other things of note seen today were 2 Grass Snake , 3 Slow Worm , a Common Lizard and a Orange Tip & Speckled Wood Butterflies
Tuesday, 4 April 2017
Whimbrel
A look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me 10 Bar-Tailed Godwit , 200+ Common Sand Martin , 6 Common Chiffchaff , 2 Blackcap and a Cetti`s Warbler , down the far end of the marsh I had a look at the Clyst Estuary where I saw a single Whimbrel .
I then had a look around the Goosemoor area and I saw 8 Common Greenshank , a smart looking Spotted Redshank that was just coming into summer plumage , a Common Kingfisher , a male and female Common Kestrel , a very vocal male European Green Woodpecker , a male and female Eurasian Bullfinch and my 1st Speckled Wood Butterfly of the year .
I then had a look around the Goosemoor area and I saw 8 Common Greenshank , a smart looking Spotted Redshank that was just coming into summer plumage , a Common Kingfisher , a male and female Common Kestrel , a very vocal male European Green Woodpecker , a male and female Eurasian Bullfinch and my 1st Speckled Wood Butterfly of the year .
Sunday, 2 April 2017
European Green Woodpecker
Not a lot to report today ! But for the last few days there has been a calling male European Green Woodpecker around where I live in Topsham and today I managed to catch up with it plus another calling male bird in the Cemetery Grounds outside of my house .
I also managed to see my 1st Small Tortoiseshell & Orange Tip Butterflies of the year + 2 Peacock and a Brimstone .
I also managed to see my 1st Small Tortoiseshell & Orange Tip Butterflies of the year + 2 Peacock and a Brimstone .
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