Farewell 2018

Firstly, thanks to anyone that reads my blog and a happy New Year to you all. I only started blogging for my own records at the start of 2018 but it’s been humbling to hear from quite a number of people that it’s been informative to them. I have to be honest and say It was a tough year (birding wise) but I still managed a healthy 242 species locally and on my trips further afield (although I did miss some that I would have expected). 

I didn’t obtain that many lifers this year but I guess that when you’ve seen over 400 species the lifers do get harder to get. However the quality this year far outweighed the quantity of birds seen with American Horned Lark, Green Heron, Grey Catbird and Pied Wheatear being my stand out birds.

One thing in particular that interested me this year was to discover that DNA proved the Italian type Sparrow at Budleigh Salterton wasn’t a full Italian however they couldn’t rule out other Mediterranean island birds but I never found out the conclusion of those results. I am still pleased that I got to see such an interesting bird though. 

Another surprise was the Dalmatian Pelican that hung around Cornwall and spent a little time in Devon a couple of years ago was added to the UK list and became a nice armchair tick for me. I will never forget how impressed I was with that wingspan!

I was lucky enough to see a number of rare species but simple things like the Hawfinch influx was one of most enjoyable things of the year as were higher than average Brambling flocks. Yes, I love going for that mega but It’s not always about that prize if you truly enjoy watching our feathered friends. 

That said, my biggest disappointments were a few missed lifers with Brown Shrike in Cornwall, and a Franklin’s Gull at Radipole Lake. Also, (although not a lifer) what will no doubt be Devon’s first Pallid Harrier. A great find by Matt Knott and I was smothering with flu so couldn’t drag myself out. 

So here’s hoping 2019 will be a great birding year for you all. Thanks to all those that have helped me this year. I feel blessed to be part of a great group of people in this area. 

Winter Wildfowl Spectacle

Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
I had my annual winter visit to the WWT centre today. I do love visiting at this time of year to witness the wildfowl spectacle. My target was the Holden Hide as this gives a good viewpoint of the reserve and you can usually get all the main species the reserve has to offer. From the hide there were large groups of (Bewick’s) Tundra Swan, Whooper Swan, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Greylag Goose, there were a decent number of Barnacle Goose but they were always very distant as were the 7 Common Crane that were on site. 2 Peregrine Falcon were again distant and hunkering on the ground from the wind, From the Martin Smith hide were 2 Ruff. There were also 3 Pink-footed Goose on site and I wasn’t sure if they were captive or not. Either way, they were a welcome site.

Pink-footed Goose 

(Bewick’s) Tundra Swan

Common Moorhen  

Greylag Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

Whilst onsite it had a look around the captive enclosures so I could brush up on those rarer species that turn up in the UK including some of those mega American diving Ducks.

Ruddy Shelduck (Female)

Goldeneye (Male)

Common Goldeneye (Female)

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Common Eider (Male and Female) 

Red-breasted Goose 

Snow Goose

Smew (Male)

Canvasback (Male)

Redhead (Male)

Cackling Goose

Bufflehead (Male)

Barrow’s Goldeneye (Male)

Greater Scaup (Male)

Lesser Scaup (Male)

Ring-necked Duck (Male)

Westhay Moor, Somerset
On the way home I popped here in the hope of a Bearded Reedling. At first the place seemed devoid of life but things picked up with a Male Western Marsh Harrier and a Merlin. I heard a few Bearded Reedling but I failed to locate any birds.

Fallow Deer

Powderham, Devon
I had a look around Powderham before work in the hope of seeing the Yellow-browed Warbler Matt Knott found yesterday. I couldn’t locate it but enjoyed some nice views of a large flock of Red-legged Partridge and the resident Fallow Deer.

Fallow Deer

Short-eared Owl At Last

Exminster Marsh, Exminster, Devon
I had a quick look from the middle car park for the 2 reported Short-eared Owls with no joy. It was late in the day and cold so I didn’t stick around for long. However as I was driving back on the A379 just a hundred metres or so from the roundabout that leads to station road (heading towards Exeter). One of the birds flew along the road towards me! I managed to avoid veering off the road and slowed down enough to obtain a few seconds view of the bird. Luckily there was no traffic behind me as I expect I would have had an angry BEEP. Phew! I have finally caught up with one. I was beginning to think I would miss out on this cracking species this year so I’m pleased to finally see one.

Some Somerset Stuff

Oathe, Somerset
I had a work meeting in Somerset today and after it finished I popped to this area for half an hour as it was around the corner. The reason for the visit was that I had heard there were Whooper Swans here. I couldn’t find any but I was impressed by the amount of Northern Lapwing in the area. I didn’t do an accurate count but it was was in the several hundreds. I walked along the road and flushed a Common Kingfisher and best of all a Jack Snipe. There were also a decent amount of Redwing and Fieldfare.

Fieldfare 

Swell Wood, Somerset
I also popped into this RSPB reserve for 10 minutes. I didn’t leave the car park as someone had dropped Seed all over the place and there was a real feeding frenzy of woodland birds. Lots of Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit and Great Tit with a couple of Marsh Tit mixed in. Also a Eurasian Nuthatch and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker. This seemed like a really nice reserve and has a Heronry lookout hide.

Cirl Bunting

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I managed a quick look around Gore Lane after work until dusk. The 2 Cirl Buntings are still about and were feeding near the dung heap. They didn’t stick around for long and darted for cover in the hedge that follows the road when a juvenile Eurasian Sparrowhawk came bombing through. The bird stopped in the opposite field. I didn’t have my scope but managed this photo through my binoculars!

(Juvenile) Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Yet More Eurasian Woodcock

East Devon Common, near Hayes Pig Farm, Yettington

I had a drive around the roads near Hayes Pig Farm at dusk I the hope of finding any feeding Eurasian Woodcock. My luck was in as I spotted an individual in my headlights. I only managed to get this single stinker of a record photo on my iPhone emote it flew off 

Eurasian Woodcock 

More Eurasian Woodcock

East Devon Common, near Hayes Pig Farm, Yettington
I staked out an area a few miles from Hayes Pig Farm at dusk tonight. My reward was 7 Eurasian Woodcock and a Tawny Owl. I do enjoy seeing the Eurasian Woodcock but tonight’s views were all flyovers. Still at rather close range and they started flying while it was just about light enough to enjoy.

Red-necked Grebe And Black Guillemot

Elberry Cove, Paignton, Devon
I finished work early and popped along for another look for the Red-necked Grebe. Conditions were much calmer than my last unsuccessful visit. I first noted 2 Common Loon, one of which was in rather close. The Red-necked Grebe was more distant but I obtained decent views. A few European Shag and Great Cormorant were also in the cove.

Common Loon 

Common Loon 

Common Loon

Red-necked Grebe

Shoalstone, Paignton, Devon
A quick move on to the car park in the hope that the reported Black Guillemot was about. I got straight on to the bird in question. It was very distant though. Also a fly past Atlantic Puffin was most unexpected but pleasing. A few Common Murre were equally distant as were some Northern Gannet.

No Sign But Eurasian Woodcock

Woodbury Common, Devon
I had a quick look around until dusk. No sign of yesterday’s Hen Harriers or Red Crossbill but a nice flock of circa 200 Fieldfare and a few Redwing.

Near Hayes Pig Farm, Yettington, Devon
I drove home via the back road (from Yettington to Bystock) and had brief but great views of a Eurasian Woodcock in my headlights on the road before it flew off.

Not 1 But 2

Woodbury Common, Devon
I haven’t done much birding this week (well nothing worthy of talking about) so I was glad to get an early finish today and get out for a few hours up to dusk. I thought I would look around the common and I had just got out of the car when I spotted 2 birds that looked like raptors flying through at distance. I got my bins on the first bird and realised it was a juvenile Hen Harrier. I quickly moved to the second bird and had a wow moment as this was also a Hen Harrier. The second bird in my mind was a female. Also just as I was around 100 metres from the car I had 6 Red Crossbill. I walked around seeing not much else for a while but came across a flock of circa 30 Fieldfare and several Redwing. A few Meadow Pipit, Common Linnet and Common Chaffinch made the supporting cast.

Eurasian Woodcock And A Missed Soaking

East Devon Commons, Devon 
I’m not going to give away the exact location I’m afraid but a after work walk coinciding with dusk, gave me 2 very close in flight views of Eurasian Woodcock. It’s nice to know that there are at least a few back in the area. I just made it back to the car before the thunderstorm hit and the heavens opened. That would have been one heck of a soaking. Phew!

Common Loon At Close Quarters,

Elberry Cove, Paignton, Devon
Me and my mate Pete had planned to do a trip to Slimbridge today but I woke up feeling rather crappy to say the least. I monged out on the sofa for the morning and finally felt ok to pop out. There’s only so much daytime television anyone can take! So I thought “I haven’t seen Red-necked Grebe this year” so I set off to see if the one in Elberry Cove would play ball. The weather conditions were against me as I battled to view into strong winds. There was no sign of the bird but a very friendly European Robin kept me company. It was feeding between my feet and I swear that if I had food on me, it would have feed from my hand. Sadly on the beach was a washed up dead Harbour Porpoise that the Carrion Crow were eyeing up.

Harbour Potpoise 

European Robin  

European Robin 

European Robin 

Brixham Harbour, Brixham, Devon
As the wind was fierce and the sea very choppy. I decided the harbour would be a good place for things to use as a shelter. I wasn’t wrong as no sooner as I had arrived, I got on to an outrageously close Common Loon. The bird showed amazingly all the time I was there. It fed, cleaned itself and even had a nap. The Ruddy Turnstone were as friendly as ever. Also in the harbour near the breakwater was a Grey Seal.

Common Loon

Common Loon

Common Loon

Ruddy Turnstone

Grey Seal

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
Matt Knott has informed me of a Short-eared Owl on Orcombe this morning so I headed off in hope. This is another species I seem to unable to connect with this year and today’s jaunt didn’t put that right.

Barnacle Goose Amd Yet Another Missed Yellow-browed Warbler

Milbury Lane, Exminster, Devon
I had a very quick look for yesterday’s Yellow-browed Warbler before work around Milbury Lane with no luck. I really think I’m not destined to connect with this species this year. The only birds of note was a fly through Female Eurasian Sparrowhawk and large numbers of Redwing and a few Fieldfare flying overhead.

Exminster Marsh, Exminster, Devon
A quick look from the middle car park after work gave up the 4 Barnacle Goose in amongst a large flock of Canada Goose. Also good numbers of Northern Lapwing about. Light was fading fast, so no time to look for anything else.

Barnacle Goose

Barnacle Goose 

Barnacle Goose 

Barnacle Goose

50% Target Species Obtained In Dorset

Me and my mate Pete headed off to the Weymouth amd Portland areas today with 4 targets in mind. Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pallid Swift and Franklin’s Gull. With Franklin’s Gull being a lifer bird for me.

Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset
We arrived and firstly scanned the car park as there were good numbers of Gull species still hanging around. A good few scans showed that the Franklin’s Gull wasn’t in the group but there were a couple of Mew Gull and good numbers of Mediterranean Gull in amongst the large numbers of Black-headed Gull and numerous European Herring Gull. We decided that we would come back later in the afternoon, as this is when it had been reported. We then went for the next bird, a Ring-necked Duck. The best place to view wasn’t in the reserve so we walked along the road to the tennis courts, where there is a viewing pontoon. Within a few minutes, the bird (a 1st winter Male) showed beautifully for a while and it came in very close. In fact, my best views of this species.

Ring-necked Duck (Male)

Ring-necked Duck (Male)

Ring-necked Duck (Male)

Chesil Cove, Portland, Dorset
With a report of the Pallid Swift we set off to take a look. This isn’t a lifer bird (so no pressure there) but it would constitute only my second UK record. We put an hour or so in with no luck. Sods law, the bird kept getting reported in the afternoon. Whilst we were staking the place out, there were 2 extremely distant Black Redstart that you could just pick out in the scope.

Portland Harbour, Dorset 
We decided to have our packed lunch at the harbour and give it a Scan in the hope of a Grebe or Loon species but the best on offer were a few Red-breasted Merganser.

Ferrybridge, Portland, Dorset
It seemed rude not to stop here for a quick look and there had been a reported (Black) Brant Goose. On arrival, Pete got a close Female Black Redstart and a scan produced high numbers of Red-breasted Merganser. There were only 6 Brant Goose in view and not one was a (Black) Brant Goose

Lodmoor, Weymouth, Dorset
Next, we had a look for the Lesser Yellowlegs. An initial walk up the west side of the reserve failed to produce the bird but on the way back it had dropped in and was associating with a Ruff. I never tire of seeing Lesser Yellowlegs and got really enjoyable views. The Ruff was in odd plumage and was equally enjoyable

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Ruff

Ruff

Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset
Late afternoon, we headed back for a final look for the Franklin’s Gull. Many Gulls kept dropping in and leaving. Again, a few Mew Gull and good numbers of Mediterranean Gull but sadly no lifer bird for me today.

Mew Gull

Mediterranean Gull

European Herring Gull