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