A walk down the back path at the Exminster Marshes got me a single Glossy Ibis and I think this is the same bird that has been seen for a while now .
Not a lot else was seen today with the best being a Juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill and a female Western Marsh Harrier .
A quick look this morning at Bowling Green Marsh got me this juvenile Eurasian Spoonbill . It was asleep for most of the time , but I managed to get these shots when it woke up for a brief spell .
Also seen was the Spotted Redshank and Ruff that have been with us for a few days now , 20+ Pied Avocet , 300+ Black-Tailed Godwit , 5 Dunlin and 2 Common Snipe .
A walk along Bowling Green Lane this morning got me a nice Firecrest . At Bowling Green Marsh there were 20+ Northern Pintail , a male and female Tufted Duck , 3 Common Snipe , a Spotted Redshank and 3 Lesser Black-Backed Gull .
Later in the day I made a trip out to Blackhill Quarry where this American Ring-Necked Duck showed quite well at times .
I had a look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning in hope that Storm Eunice had dropped a good bird or two onto the marsh . But I`m afraid to say there was no such luck . But I did see numerous Eurasian Wigeon and Northern Pintail , a male and female Tufted Duck . Numerous waders were on show with a mass of Black-Tailed Godwit , 5 Pied Avocet , 100+ Common Redshank , a Spotted Redshank that showed very well , 4 Dunlin and a single Ruff .
Other birds seen were Little Egret , Grey Heron , Common Buzzard and a Lesser Black-Backed Gull .
Early this morning I did a sea watch from the beach huts near the life boat station at Exmouth . And I saw a few of the usual suspects with Northern Gannet , Northern Fulmar , European Shag , Common Scoter , Red-Throated Diver , Great Crested Grebe and Black-Legged Kittiwake all seen .
I then had a look in the Maer Valley where I saw a couple of Rose-Ringed Parakeet before heading off back home again .
A day out to the Slimbridge WWT turned out to be a good day . As on arrival we made our way right out to the Estuary Hide , a great hide that has a lift to take you up to the different floors where you can look out over the marshland and the River Severn . There were birds everywhere and the Ross`s Goose was soon picked up in with the large Barnacle Goose flock . I then went to another window where you could see quite a few Bewick`s Swan along a flock of over 1500 European Golden Plover and 100+ Northern Lapwing
Also seen were 7 Common Crane , a male Peregrine Falcon , Common Goldeneye , Common Pochard and a Great White Egret .
Sue and I then had a walk around and we saw the Chilean Flamingo`s and other exotic bird and we then had a nice cup of tea and cake .
We then went back out to the superb Estuary Hide has a Little Stint had been reported but our luck was out with that one . But a flock of Snow Geese had flown in from the River Severn to the marshland and there were 3 White morph birds plus a Dark morph bird and is only the second time I have ever come across a dark morph bird ......... Good Days
This morning I went to Yarner Wood to look for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and I managed to see one of them , I also saw Great Spotted Woodpecker , European Green Woodpecker , Eurasian Nuthatch , 2 Common Raven and the morning finished off with a Eurasian Treecreeper .
I had only just got back home when I got a message about a Great White Egret that was showing on the Matford Marshes on the edge of Exeter . So off I went again . And as you can see it was well worth it .
This morning I had a great surprise with a Marsh Tit that was on the feeders in my garden for a short while . And a nice garden tick for me after a wait of over 30 years .
I then went across to the Exminster Marshes where I saw a male Peregrine Falcon , a Ruff , a Song Thrush and a Cetti`s Warbler . And a look at the Exe Estuary from the Turf Locks got me my first 2 Common Ringed Plover of the year and a Common Gull .
The day was finished off at North Wood with a Eurasian Sparrowhawk & 2 Yellowhammer
Monday 7th February
A look around Blashford Lakes in Hampshire got me a few Gadwall , a Great Bittern , a Song Thrush and a few Eurasian Siskin . I then went across to Ibsley Water were I saw 3 Goosander , quite a few Lesser Black-Backed Gull`s and a nice Ring-Billed Gull .
Tuesday 8th February
I was on my way back from Hampshire when I got news that there was a female Goosander that was showing well at the quay in Exeter . So off I went in hope that it would still be there . And as you can see it showed very well .
A look at my local patch Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me 2 Egyptian Geese , numerous Black-Tailed Godwit & Common Redshank and a nice Spotted Redshank that showed very well . Also 2 Common Snipe and around a dozen Northern Lapwing .
A trip down to Brandy Head near Otterton this morning to look for Common Scoter and I managed to see around 50+ of them . Also seen were a few Northern Fulmar and Black-Legged Kittiwake , a Dartford Warbler , a male Cirl Bunting and a Reed Bunting .
I then had a look around Woodbury Castle where there was a Eurasian Treecreeper , a Eurasian Nuthatch and a Stock Dove .
Not a lot to report today ! But this 1st winter European Spoonbill was showing very well on Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham . There was news of a Black-Legged Kittiwake on the Exe Estuary at Topsham today , a very rare bird this far up the Estuary . So I looked for it at a couple sites but never got to see it .
