The Last Couple of Days

Saturday 17th October

Early morning as I was driving towards Powderham Park there was an Osprey sat on one of the dead trees on the edge of the park . I then looked in Powderham Churchyard for a reported finch flock and I saw numerous European Greenfinch , 20+ Common Chaffinch , a nice male Brambling , 2 Lesser Redpoll , Eurasian Nuthatch , Firecrest and a Mistle Thrush .

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Sunday 18th October

A walk on the Exminster Marshes this morning got me . Cetti`s Warbler , Meadow Pipit , Common Stonechat , 2 Barn Swallow & 3 Mistle Thrush .

And a look at the Exe Estuary got me this Atlantic Grey Seal . 

Atlantic Grey Seal ( Halichoerus grypus ) . The Exe Estuary . Devon

 

Rare Fly

 Not a lot to report from Bowling Green Marsh today with 20+ Bar-Tailed Godwit , a very good count for the marsh of 22 Grey Plover , 2 Spotted Redshank , 2 Meadow Pipit & a Grey Wagtail .

But a look down around the viewing platform area got me a few rare Broad-Winged Fly a new species for me .

Many thanks to Tim Worfolk for his help with the fly . 

Broad-Winged Tachinid Fly ( Ectophasia crassipennis ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

 

BGM

 A quick look around Bowling Green Marsh started in the hide where I saw numerous Bar-Tailed Godwit ,  Grey Plover , Spotted Redshank and Stock Dove .

I then walked down to the viewing platform area and saw Eurasian Bullfinch , European Goldfinch and Greenfinch , Great Spotted Woodpecker and Eurasian Jay .

Eurasian Jay ( Garrulus glandarius ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

Corvids

Corvids were the main birds seen today in Topsham Cemetery with Western Jackdaw , Carrion Crow , Rook , Black-Billed Magpie , Common Raven and Eurasian Jay .

Also seen was a female Great Spotted Woodpecker , around 10 Long-Tailed Tit and a small fall of juvenile Common Wood Pigeon . 

Great Spotted Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos major ) . Topsham Cemetery . Devon

 

Long-Tailed Tit ( Aegithalos caudatus ) . Topsham Cemetery . Devon

 

Topsham Cemetery

 My look around the cemetery this morning did not turn up many birds with only Common Chaffinch , European Greenfinch , 2 European Green Woodpecker and 2 Common Blackbird .

But away from the birds it was not bad at all with the following Butterflies seen . Speckled Wood , Red Admiral , Common Blue and Clouded Yellow .

Also seen was a European Hornet and this Common Darter .

Common Darter ( Sympetrum striolatum ) . Topsham Cemetery . Devon

 

Walking Again

 A look at Bowling Green Marsh from the hide got me . Common Sandpiper , 19 Grey Plover , 10 Pied Avocet , 7 Bar-Tailed Godwit , 20+ Common Greenshank and 6 Meadow Pipit .

I then walked down to the viewing platform for the 1st time in 8 weeks and it paid off as I was on the viewing platform and a Great White Egret flew past heading towards the Exe Estuary , also seen was a Eurasian Jay , a Common Chiffchaff and a Common Seal .

Bar-Tailed Godwit ( Limosa lapponica ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

Wednesday 9th October

 An afternoon trip down to Berry Head near Brixham to look for a European Turtle Dove that has been there for a few days .

Now these birds used to be quite common in Britain but due to shooting etc they are a hard bird to catch up with here in Britain so this one was a very welcome bird to be able to see .

European Turtle Dove ( Streptopelia turtur ) . Berry Head . Devon

 

 

 

Tuesday 6th October

A trip down to Cornwall with Andy and Tim was my first trip out for quite a while . And our first stop was at Pendeen Point where we saw a very confiding Lapland Bunting . On then to Sennen Cove to look for Red-Billed Chough and at first there was no sign of them but after around 10 minutes 4 of them flew in and showed well .

We Then went to Drift Reservoir where after quite of a hazardous walk we got a bird we thought was the long staying Spotted Sandpiper but it turned out to be just a Common Sandpiper , also a Iceland Gull flew out from the flock of gulls and flew towards the dam .

Our last stop of the day was at Davidstow Airport where 3 Buff-Breasted Sandpiper showed very well . Also seen were Common Ringed Plover , Northern Wheatear and a flock of 50+ Lesser Black-Backed Gull .

Lapland Bunting ( Calcarius lapponicus ) . Pendeen Point . Cornwall

 

Red-Billed Chough ( Pyrrhocorax pyrrocorax ) . Sennen . Cornwall

 

Buff-Breasted Sandpiper ( Tryngites subruficollis ) . Davidstow Airport . Cornwall

 

 

Little Stint

 The day started with a small flock of Common Starling that flew over my garden . A bird that I hardly get up where I live in Topsham .

A journey then down to look for a reported Little Stint and my luck was in as the bird showed well in with Common Ringed Plover and a Ruddy Turnstone . And nearby the Osprey was sat on its usual tree in Powderham Park .

Little Stint ( Calidris minuta ) . The Exe Estuary . Devon

 

Autumn

 I had a quick scan of Lyme Bay from Exmouth and saw plenty of Northern Gannet and my first returning Brent Goose and Great Northern Diver of the Autumn .

And on the Exe Estuary there were a couple of Great Crested Grebe and around 6 Great Black-Backed Gull .

Thursday 1st October

 On Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham this morning there was still 4 Eurasian Spoonbill , numerous Common Greenshank , 2 Curlew Sandpiper that were in with 20+ Dunlin , 2 Grey Plover , a few Bar-Tailed Godwit in with numerous Black-Tailed Godwit , a fly through Western Marsh Harrier , at least 100-200 Eurasian Curlew and a distant Peregrine Falcon that circled for a while putting everything up .

Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Yellow Wags

 My look at Bowling Green Marsh this morning turned up much of the same with . 4 Eurasian Spoonbill , 20+ Common Greenshank , a single Spotted Redshank , Grey Plover , 3 Common Ringed Plover , 12 Bar-Tailed Godwit were in with numerous Black-Tailed Godwit & 1 Pied Avocet . But the birds of the day were a couple of Yellow Wagtail ... The first ones recorded on the marsh this year 👀😀

Yellow Wagtail ( Motacilla flavissima ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

 

Eurasian Spoonbill ( Platalea leucorodia ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

In for the kill !

 Well today my look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me something that I have never seen before . As I was scanning through the waders a Western Marsh Harrier flew in putting everything up , the bird flew around low over the water for a few times and picked out a female Northern Pintail that it tried to catch . This carried on for about 15 minutes with the Pintail diving under the water trying to escape but in the end it came up and the Harrier dropped onto it and drowned it . It then tried to fly off with it but it was too heavy to carry . What a sad end to a lot of hard work . 

Also seen were a few Northern Pintail , 5 European Spoonbill , 8 Pied Avocet , 2 Spotted Redshank ,  3 Curlew Sandpiper , 20+ Common Greenshank and a single Grey Plover .

Western Marsh Harrier ( Circus aeruginosus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

 

 

Grey Plover ( Pluvialis squatarola ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

Walk About

 Well its 3 weeks to the day that I had my knee operation . So today I thought that I would give walking around the Cemetery Grounds a go !

I did not see a lot but it was great to get out again . The main bird seen was a European Green Woodpecker also seen were a few Grey Squirrel , a Speckled Wood Butterfly and a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly .

Grey Squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis ) . Topsham Cemetery . Devon

 

Out Again

 A look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me 4 European Spoonbill , 20+ Little Egret , 2 Grey Heron ,  2 Curlew Sandpiper , 2 Spotted Redshank , 30+ Dunlin , numerous Black-Tailed Godwit , a single Bar-Tailed Godwit , 3 Red Knot , a single Ruff , a Stock Dove and todays shot is of a  Common Magpie a common bird here in Britain .

Common Magpie ( Pica pica ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

Bowling Green Marsh

 A morning look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me the following birds . 4 European Spoonbill , 5 Grey Heron , 10 Little Egret , 4 Ruff , 20+ Dunlin , 40/50 Common Greenshank , a single Whimbrel and 3 Stock Dove .

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

 

Barn Owl

 Late last night there was a Barn Owl calling outside my house , I usually get a few Tawny Owl  . But this was only my second ever Barn Owl from home . 😁

September 9th

 I cant walk at the moment but Sue took me down to Exmouth and got me to a bench to sit on . And I soon started to pick up Sandwich and Common Terns feeding in the bay .When all of a sudden a Great Skua flew in and started  harassing the terns ....A nice year tick for me .

Back soon I hope

 I have just had my second new knee operation in 4 months so will not to get out for a while or post on here . But will be back soon I hope 👀

Eurasian Wryneck

News came out this morning of a Eurasian Wryneck seen on the Exminster Marshes . So I went over to see if I could see it . And as I was driving towards the Fishermans car park  I came upon 5 birders looking towards my car , so I got out and there was the bird feeding on the road in front of me . I had it for about a minute then it flew into the hedge and I don`t think it was seen again .... Jammy Git or what 😀

Later in the day I had 3 Red Knot and around a dozen Dunlin on the Clyst Estuary . And a look at Bowling Green Marsh got me 10 Western Cattle Egret and 2 Ruff .

Western Cattle Egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

Ruff ( Philomachus pugnax ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

Out and About

 The day started at Bowling Green Marsh with 4 Eurasian Spoonbill , 6 Western Cattle Egret , around a dozen Common Greenshank and a Stock Dove .

I then went and had a look at Powderham Marsh and I saw Little Grebe , a female Western Marsh Harrier and my first Wood Sandpiper of the year .

My last stop was at the Exminster Marshes and got a YellowWagtail , a White Wagtail , 6 Pied Wagtail and a fall of Clouded Yellow Butterflies with 7 seen .

Yellow Wagtail ( Motacilla flavissima ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

Osprey

 Just a few shots of todays Osprey that caught a fish in the Exe Estuary this morning and then took it to a dead tree in Powderham Park to eat it . 

Also in the area were about 20+ Barn Swallow .

Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus ) . Powderham Park . Devon

 

 

 

Red-Necked Phalarope

 An afternoon visit to Black Hole Marsh in Seaton to look for a Red-Necked Phalarope that was found this morning . And as you can see the bird showed very well . This is the eighth time that I have been lucky enough to see one of these in Britain .

Red-Necked Phalarope ( Phalaropus lobatus ) . Black Hole Marsh . Devon

 

 

 

White Stork

 A trip down to Otterton this morning to grab a look at the White Stork that has been hanging around the area . I think it is one of the birds that were released in Cornwall....But still good to see .

I then had a look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham and I saw 4 Eurasian Spoonbill , 2 Cattle Egret , 8 Grey Heron , Green Sandpiper , Common Sandpiper and 3 Stock Dove .

White Stork ( Ciconia ciconia ) . Otterton . Devon

 

Exe Estuary

 News came out of a juvenile Black Tern seen on the Exe Estuary . So I went down to the Topsham Recreation Ground for a look but all I saw were 3 Juvenile Mediterranean Gull and a Common Sandpiper .

So I then went to the Goat walk in Topsham but no luck with the tern again but I got a Little Gull and 6 Ruddy Turnstone . Then a look at Bowling Green Marsh got me 2 Eurasian Spoonbill and a Western Cattle Egret .

And back at home this Holly Blue Butterfly was in the garden for a while .

Holly Blue ( Celastrina argious ) . Topsham . Devon

 

 

Cattle Egret

A look at Bowling Green Marsh got me 2 Eurasian Spoonbill , 6 Grey Heron , 80+ Little Egret , at least 10 Western Cattle Egret , numerous Black-Tailed Godwit , 20+ Common Greenshank , 6 Dunlin , 7 Barn Swallow , 3 Common House Martin and 3 Pied Wagtail .

The marsh is the more dried out than I have ever seen it before !

Western Cattle Egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

 

Dead

The birding is dead at the moment but fingers crossed it changes soon .

But I did have this Clouded Yellow Butterfly in my garden today a very nice first for my garden . 😀 

Clouded Yellow ( Colias crocea ) . Topsham . Devon

 

Not a lot

 A quick walk around the Exmouth Marina with Sue after having a nice sausage bap in the cafe there .  Didn`t get me much at all with only 3 Eurasian Collared Dove and a few Barn Swallow and Common House Martin .

Also seen in Exmouth was a Clouded Yellow Butterfly .

Bowling Green Marsh

A high tide look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me 4 Eurasian Spoonbill , numerous Black-Tailed Godwit , a single Bar-Tailed Godwit , 2 Whimbrel , a Green Sandpiper , numerous Common Redshank , 5 Common Greenshank , a Spotted Redshank , 6 Dunlin and 2 Stock Dove . 

Green Sandpiper ( Tringa ochropus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

Whimbrel ( Numenius phaeopus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

Eurasian Spoonbill ( Platalea leucorodia ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Devon

 

Yellow Wagtail

 A look at the Exminster Marshes this morning got me at least 6 Yellow Wagtail with adult and juvenile birds seen . 

There was also a Dozen + Pied Wagtail , Barn Swallows , Common House Martins and Common Starling

Also seen were 2 Clouded Yellow Butterflies .

Yellow Wagtail ( Motacilla Flavissima ) . The Exminster Marshes . Devon

 

Tuesday 21st . July

A trip up to Eastleach Martin in Gloucestershire with Tim & Andy . Got me a Long-Tailed Shrike a new bird for my world list . I tried to get shots of it but the heat haze was very bad  , I did manage to get a couple of them so I was pleased with that .

Also seen was Red Kite and Corn Bunting .

Long-Tailed Shrike On The List

 

13th JULY

 A couple of shots of last nights Caspian Tern that I saw on Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham . I just managed to get on and grab these 2 shots of it before it flew off towards the Exe Estuary 

As you can see they are just record shots but beggars cant be choosers .

Caspian Tern ( Hydroprogne caspia ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon

 

 

Med Gulls

 New into the marsh today were 5 Mediterranean Gull and a Peregrine Falcon  . Along with all the usual suspects with 2 Eurasian Spoonbill , 8 Little Egret , 2 Spotted Redshank in summer plumage , Whimbrel , 4 Green Sandpiper , Lesser Black-Backed Gull and 2 Stock Dove .

Green Sandpiper ( Tringa ochropus ) . Bowling Green Marsh . Topsham . Devon