( Tundra ) Bean Goose

 I went down to Bowling Green Marsh early this morning to look for a reported ( Tundra ) Bean Goose but there was no sign of it but there were 15 Greater White-Fronted Goose still on show .

I then went off shopping only to find out later that there was now 2  ( Tundra ) Bean Geese showing well in the exact spot that I had looked at early this morning so I shot off down to there and joined in with the mass of birders that were there already . And got great views of my last year tick of the 2025 👀😀

Tundra Bean Goose ( Anser rossicus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

 

Still Here

 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 .

Greater White-Fronted Goose ( Anser albifrons ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Greater White-Fronts

 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 .

Greater White-Fronted Goose ( Anser albifrons ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

 

 

Christmas Eve Birding

 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 .

Common Stonechat ( Saxicola torquatus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Bowling Green Marsh

 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

Common Kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

 

BGM Area

 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 .

Reed Bunting ( Emberiza schoeniclus ) . Goosemoor . Topsham . Devon

 

Not a Lot

 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 .

Spotted Redshank ( Tringa erythropus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Great White Egret

 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 .

Great White Egret ( Ardea albus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

European Otter

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 .

European Otter ( Lutra lutra ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Gadwall ( Anas strepera ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Lesser Crested Tern

 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 ( Sterna bengalensis ) . The Exe Estuary . Devon

 

 

 

 

3rd December

 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 😀

Woodpeckers

 An half hour look around Topsham Cemetery on a bright crisp morning got me a pair of  Great Spotted Woodpecker , a European Green Woodpecker , a Song Thrush and 2 Goldcrest . So it was well worth the walk .

Great Spotted Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos major ) . Topsham . Devon

 

 

European Green Woodpecker ( Picus viridis ) . Topsham Cemetery . Devon

 

Water Rail

 A look at Bowling Green Marsh today got me a Water Rail an illusive bird to find on the marsh .

Also seen was a female Western Marsh Harrier , 200+ Pied Avocet , 6 Common Greenshank , a single Stock Dove , 2 Common Starling and a Goldcrest .

Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

 

Getting Ready For Winter

The day started off with 30+ Redwing in Topsham Cemetery . I then had a look at Goosemoor but I only saw a Western Marsh Harrier and a Common Raven .

On then to Bowling Green Marsh where 5 Greylag Goose were new in . Also seen were a few Bar-Tailed Godwit , 2 Firecrest , 6 European Greenfinch , a small flock of Long-Tailed Tit & 2 Eurasian Bullfinch .

Also a few Grey Squirrel were seen storing up acorns for the coming winter .

Grey Squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Bright & Sharp

 Goosemoor in Topsham was my first destination on a bright and crisp day . But there was not a lot to be seen with only a Common Buzzard and a Great Spotted Woodpecker .

My look at Bowling Green Marsh from the hide got me 200+ Pied Avocet and a Grey Heron , I then had a look around the bushes and saw another Great Spotted Woodpecker , Song Thrush , Mistle Thrush , Common Raven & numerous Dunnock .

And the day was finished off with another look from the hide that got me my first Common Kingfisher on the marsh for quite a while .

Common Buzzard ( Buteo buteo ) . Goosemoor . Topsham . Devon

 

Common Kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Good Birding

 I had a look at Goosemoor in Topsham this morning and saw the following . 2 Western Marsh Harrier ,  Green Sandpiper , Eurasian Sparrowhawk , Common Stonechat and Cetti`s Warbler .

And next door on Bowling Green Marsh there was a single Gadwall , Common Kestrel , Mistle Thrush , around a dozen Common Blackbird , a Female Blackcap and a Female Eurasian Bulfinch .

Western Marsh Harrier ( Circus aeruginosus ) . Goosemoor . Topsham . Devon

 

Common Blackbird ( Turdus merula ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Another YBW

I heard a Yellow-Browed Warbler calling in the Cemetery Grounds outside of my house in Topsham and after a later look around I got a view of it in with a crest flock just before they dropped into the nearby allotment . Also seen was a Eurasian Nuthatch . 

At Bowling Green Marsh the Red-Necked Grebe was still on show & a look around the bushes got me a Tit flock with Long-Tailed Tit , Coal Tit , Blue Tit , Goldcrest and a Firecrest . 

European Blue Tit ( Cyanistes caeruleus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Velvet Scoter

 Not a lot to report today ! 

But a trip down to Dawlish Warren this morning got me 5 very distant Velvet Scoter and 8 Common Scoter .

Velvet Scoter ( Melanitta fusca ) . Dawlish Warren . Devon

 

 

Heard but not Seen

 This morning I went down to Exmouth to look for a Yellow-Browed Warbler that was found yesterday in the Mudbank area . But after much searching I only got to hear it on call .

And I only saw 4 Common Chiffchaff , 2 European Robin and a few Goldcrest . I then went and had a look at Cockle Sands and saw my first 2 Sanderling of the year .

European Robin ( Erithacus rubecula ) . Mudbank . Exmouth . Devon

 

Crossbill

 My look around Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me the Red-Necked Grebe that was still showing well for the second day . I then had a look around the viewing platform area and I got a fly over Common Crossbill only my second birding the marsh in over 40 years 😀

Also seen was European Greenfinch , Eurasian Sparrowhawk , Song Thrush and Goldcrest .

I then went to the Otter Marshes in hope of seeing a possible Pallid Swift that had been seen there but I was out of luck again . But I did see 4 female Goosander and 5 Common Ringed Plover .

Goosander ( Mergus merganser ) . The Otter Marshes . Devon

 

Common Ringed Plover ( Charadrius hiaticula ) . The Otter Marshes . Devon

 

New Bird For The Marsh

 On Bowling Green Marsh this morning there was a Red-Necked Grebe and its the very first time we have had one of these birds on Bowling Green Marsh and it puts my total of birds seen on BGM to 217 . The bird always stayed way over the other side of the marsh so these two shots were the best I could manage due to distance and bad light .

Also seen today was a male Common Pochard , Pied Avocet , Spotted Redshank , Bar-Tailed Godwit , Common Snipe , Green Sandpiper . Western Marsh Harrier , Peregrine Falcon and Common Kestrel .

Red-Necked Grebe ( Podiceps grisegena ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

 

Raindrops are falling on my Head

 A look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning in the pouring rain did not get me a lot . But it was still good to get out

The marsh had all the normal wildfowl for this time of year with the standout bird being Gadwall with 6 of them seen today along with numerous Northern Pintail , Common Teal and Northern Shoveler .

Also seen were over 200 Pied Avocet , 12 Bar-Tailed Godwit and a Spotted Redshank .

Gadwall ( Anas strepera ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Bowling Green Marsh

My look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning got me a ( Dark Bellied ) Brent Goose , 8 Gadwall , a female Garganey , 100+ Pied Avocet , 20+ Common Greenshank , 2 Spotted Redshank , a single Ruff , 30+ Dunlin and a Common Kestrel and a Song Thrush .

Garganey ( Anus querquedula ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Ruff ( Philomachus pugnax ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Dipping Swifts

 My mate Andy and myself went  to Portland Bill this morning in hope of seeing yesterdays Pallid Swift but after searching for it there was no sign of it .

And there was not a lot else to see but a hundred + Northern Gannet feeding close in was very good to see and even better there was a light phase Pomarine Skua in with them . We then went and got a very obliging Snow Bunting that was in one of the quarries .

Then news broke of 2 Pallid Swift in Dawlish which is close to where we live so we decided to go back for them . But just before we got there heavy rain came in and the birds were not seen again !

So we Dipped 3 Pallid Swifts in one day........Must be some kind of record Grrrrrrrrrrr . 😖 

Snow Bunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis ) . Portland Bill . Dorset

 

 

Lesser Redpoll

 First thing this morning there was 2 Tawny Owl calling in the Topsham Cemetery Grounds . So a bit later I decided to go and have a look for them . But I could not find them anywhere .

But I did see a Lesser Redpoll the first one I have found around my house / cemetery area in over 40 years so I was very pleased 😀

Also seen was a European Green Woodpecker , 20+ Redwing , 4 Mistle Thrush , 6 Common Blackbird and a small flock of Common Chaffinch .

Mistle Thrush ( Turdus viscivorus ) . Topsham Cemetery . Devon

 

 

There and Gone

 A quick look around Bowling Green Marsh before the rain set it in did not get me much at all with only a small flock of European Goldfinch . a European Greenfinch , a small flock of Goldcrest then went through and in with them was a small warbler that I just could not clinch the I D as they went through very quickly . 

European Goldfinch ( Carduelis carduelis ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Goldcrest ( Regulus regulus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Searching

 An hour spent this morning searching for yesterdays Yellow-Browed Warbler with no sign of it today . But 5 Firecrest were seen .

Firecrest ( Regulus ignicapilla ) . Bowling Green Lane . Topsham . Devon

 

 

31st October

YBW

A local birder found a Yellow-Browed Warbler yesterday morning at the top of Bowling Green Lane in Topsham .

So as I was only 5 minutes away I dashed down to look for it . And I was there for quite a while with nothing doing at all . Then a Tit flock went through with mostly Long-Tailed Tits and Great Tits and then I got onto the YBW that was also in with the flock along with a Eurasian Treecreeper .

As quick as it came the Tit flock was gone and I stood there for about another hour and a half looking for them with no luck . But then a lady birdwatcher came up the hill and said the she had just had a YBW on call at the bottom of the lane .

I then went to the hide and saw 100+ Pied Avocet , a Spotted Redshank and 9 Common Greenshank .

Spotted Redshank ( Tringa erythropus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

Tuesday 28th October

 Another trip down to Cornwall today with our first stop at Truro to look for a Lesser Yellowlegs that has been showing on the the river . And at first there was no sign of it but after a bit of a walk we ended up getting nice views of the bird that seems now to be a yearly migrant from across the pond .

We then went to Helston where there was an immature male Ring-Necked Duck......I think that I have only seen at this age over in America so it was good to see it in this plumage .

Our last stop was at the Lower Tamar Lake and we managed to see Willow Tit and Marsh Tit .

Lesser Yellowlegs ( Tringa flavipes ) . Truro . Cornwall

 

Ring-Necked Duck ( Aythya collaris ) . Helston Boating Lake . Cornwall .