Birding Wiltshire

 The day started off at the Wintebourne Downs Reserve to look for Stone Curlew and we saw 2 of them along with Corn Bunting , Red-Legged Partridge , Red Kite and a few Brown Hare .

We then went across to an area on Salisbury Plain for Great Bustard and we got superb views of male and female birds . Also seen were 3 Eurasian Hobby , a Yellow Wagtail , over 50+ Corn Bunting , plenty of Common Whitethroat , 20+ Red Kite , 3 Yellowhammer , 4 Red-Legged Partridge and the day was then finished off with a superb pair of Grey Partridge .

Also seen was Muntjac and Red Deer .

Stone Curlew ( Burhinus oedicnemus ) . Winterbourne Down . Wiltshire

 

Corn Bunting ( Miliaria calandra ) . Saisbury Plain . Wiltshire

 

Great Bustard ( Otis tarda ) . Salisbury Plain . Wilshire

 

 

Grey Partridge ( Perdix perdix ) . Salisbury Plain . Wiltshire

 

 

Sunday 27th April

 I went to a spot on the Exminster Marshes to look for Eurasian Hobby and Whinchat but I had no luck with either of them today .

But I did manage to see . Common Skylark , Cetti`s Warbler , Common Whitethroat , Common Raven , House Sparrow and Common Linnet .

Also seen were the following Butterflies . Green-Veined White , Orange Tip , Peacock and plenty of Large Red Damselfly .

Common Linnet ( Carduelis cannabina ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

Green-Veined White ( Pieris napi ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

Funny how things happen

 I misread a message this morning about a calling Grasshopper Warbler that was calling near the viewing platform on the Exminster Marshes but I read it to quick and went to the viewing platform at Bowling Green Marsh .

The rain was falling  as I walked towards the viewing platform and I saw this bird sat in the prominent dead tree . I got on it and was amazed to see that it was a European Turtle Dove ! It was one of those times when I saw it and it saw me as it then flew into the garden of Riversmeet House . I spent over an hour getting soaked looking for it but sadly there was no more sign of it .

This was only the second time that I have seen these birds birding my local patch Bowling Green Marsh with the other one seen way back in 1996 ! 

Back at home this European Green Woodpecker was seen in Topsham Cemetery .

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

 

A good days Birding

A trip over to the Exminster Marshes this morning turned out to be a good move as I saw 3 more birds for the year with . A very nice Wood Sandpiper , a male Garganey ( Always very distant ) and Common Swift with 3 birds seen .

Also seen was my 1st Common House Martin in Devon this year that was in with a small flock of Common Sand Martin and then a look at the cattle got me 20+ Cattle Egret .

Wood Sandpiper ( Tringa glareola ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

Garganey ( Anus querquedula ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

Common Swift ( Apus apus ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

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

 

The Exminster Marshes

A look around the Exminster Marshes this morning just got me the usual suspects with . European Reed Warbler , Sedge Warbler , Cetti`s Warbler , Common Chiffchaff , Winter Wren , Barn Swallow , Song Thrush and Reed Bunting .

There was also a report of a Short-Eared Owl but after much searching there was just no sign of it !

Sedge Warbler ( Acrocephalus schoenobaenus ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

Surf Scoter

Off down to Broadsands today to look for a Surf Scoter . And it was showing on and off , but all the time it was very distant . Other birds around today were Norther Fulmar , European Shag , Northern Gannet , Common Raven , European Green Woodpecker , Cirl Bunting , House Sparrow & European Green  finch .

Cirl Bunting ( Emberiza cirlus ) . Broadsands . Devon

 

Wood Warbler

 An unexpected Wood Warbler near the Exeter Canal at Marsh Barton in Exeter this morning and as I was nearby I went to have a look for it . I met up with the finder and he told me exactly where the bird was . So off I went in hope ! And got to the spot and got a view of the bird on the ground in the foliage . It then flew up into the the row of Poplar trees and called just the once .

I spent an half an hour looking for it until it started to rain but there was no more sign of it !

European Reed Warbler

A quick look around Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me European Reed Warbler that has returned to the small patch of reed by the viewing platform .

Also seen today were Common Greenshank , Whimbrel , Cetti`s Warbler , Blackcap , Common Chiffchaff and seen in the Clyst Estuary from the viewing platform was a Common Seal .

European Reed Warbler ( Acrocephalus scirpaceus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

 

Saturday 19th April

 A dash down to Mudbank Lane in Exmouth to look for reported Little Tern . And I was lucky to connect with 3 of them along with 30+ Sandwich Tern . Also seen were numerous Pale Bellied Brent Geese , 8 Whimbrel and a Common Gull .

Sandwich Tern ( Sterna sandvicensis ) . The Exe Estuary . Exmouth . Devon

 

Thursday 17th April

 A great days birding out at Yarner Wood on the edge of Dartmoor . And the first place I look was out on the heath were I saw a performing Tree Pipit , a Willow Warbler and a Common Cuckoo .

I then had a look around the wood and got 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ( Excuse the picture but they were very illusive ) , Pied Flycatcher , Common Redstart and Garden Warbler .

All new for the year so I was well pleased 😀

Tree Pipit ( Anthus trivialis ) . Yarner Heath . Devon

 

 

Willow Warbler ( Phylloscopus trochilus ) . Yarner Heath . Devon

 

 

Pied Flycatcher ( Ficedula hypoleuca ) . Yarner Wood . Devon

 

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos minor ) . Yarner Wood . Devon

 

Year Ticks

 I went over to the Exminster Marshes this morning and ended up with 5 year ticks . The birds that I saw are . European Reed Warbler , Sedge Warbler , Common Whitethroat , Whimbrel and Northern Wheatear .

Also seen were Common Buzzard , Blackcap , Common Chiffchaff and Long-Tailed Tit .

Whimbrel ( Numenius phaeopus ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

Whiskered Tern

A trip up to Somerset today to Durleigh Reservoir to look for a Whiskered Tern and I am happy to say that we got great views of the bird as it put on a great aerial display .

We also saw Common House Martin , Common Sand Martin , Barn Swallow , Great Crested Grebe and a Great White Egret .   

Whiskered Tern ( Chlidonias hybrida ) . Durleigh Reservoir . Somerset

 

 

 

 

Red-Breasted Merganser

A quick morning look at Bowling Green Marsh got me the male Red-Breasted Merganser that has been on the marsh for a few days now .

Also seen was Common Redshank , Common Greenshank , Black-Tailed Godwit , Barn Swallow , Cetti`s Warbler , Blackcap and Common Chiffchaff .

Red-Breasted Merganser ( Mergus serrator ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

 

11th April

An afternoon trip down to Slapton Ley in hope of seeing a Purple Heron and a Black-Crowed Night Heron . And after quite a wait we got a view of the Purple Heron in flight but there was no sign of the BCNH .

Not a lot else seen because we were stood in one spot but we did see Cetti`s Warbler and Common Chiffchaff  

Topsham

 Birds seen in Topsham today are as follows , 4 European Spoonbill , 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull ,  Common Buzzard , up to at least 4 Blackcap , 3 Common Chiffchaff , Great Spotted Woodpecker , European Green Woodpecker , Long-Tailed Tit and Goldcrest .

Common Chiffchaff ( Phylloscopus collybita ) . Topsham . Devon

 

Red-Breasted Merganser

 An hour spent at Bowling Green Marsh this afternoon got me a Male Red-Breasted Merganser a bird that you ever hardly see on the marsh but a common bird out on the estuary .

Also seen was a few Northern Pintail , 30+ Common Shelduck , 4 European Spoonbill , 5 Little Egret and a Stock Dove .

Red-Breasted Merganser ( Mergus serrator ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

The last 2 days

Friday 4th April

This afternoon , my garden was visited by an Eurasian Jay and this was a new bird for my garden list 😊 

Saturday 5th April

I was in my garden when I picked up a Red Kite that was heading north towards the M5 .                    News then came out of a Common Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Bowling Green Marsh but by the time that I got there the bird had moved on . But I did see 4 European Spoonbill , a Cetti`s Warbler and a Common Chiffchaf   

Eurasian Jay ( Garrulus glandarius ) . Topsham . Devon

 

Bowling Green Marsh

 A look at the marsh this morning got me 4 European Spoonbill , 4 Grey Heron , 2 Little Egret , the long staying Long-Billed Dowitcher , a single Red Knot , 100+ Common Redshank , 2 Spotted Redshank and around a dozen Dunlin .

And back at home I had a Common Buzzard and a Great Spotted Woodpecker .

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

 

 

Tuesday 1st April

 Another trip out to Bellever Tor on Dartmoor got me the following birds . Common Skylark , a brief view of the Great Grey Shrike , Common Skylark , male and female Common Crossbill , Common Buzzard , Common Stonechat and Meadow Pipit .

Then on the way home we had a quick stop at the Exminster Marshes where we saw male and female Egyptian Goose .

Common Skylark ( Alauda arvensis ) . Bellevor Tor . Dartmoor . Devon

 

Egyptian Goose ( Alopochen aegyptiaca ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon