Western Cattle Egret

Quay, Exmouth, Devon

An early morning look from the Quay in hope of the Bonaparte’s Gull proved fruitless but there were 2 Ruddy Turnstone scuttling around the edges near the dock and 1 Common Eider off the Warren.

Imperial ground, Exmouth 

I decided to move on to the Imperial ground area where on arrival there were good numbers of Gulls on the grass area. Many Black-headed Gulls and European Herring Gulls plus 4 Mew Gull but no Bonaparte’s Gull. The Brant Geese were in close by the seems grass area (car park) so viewed them from the car. Also there were a few Dunlin and Red-breasted Merganser. I then noticed a Little Egret and was watching that and noticed a smaller bird tucked away in the sea grass. The bird finally lifted its head to reveal a Western Cattle Egret! I watched it for a moment before deciding to take a photo. I have to take my photos via my iPhone through my scope. As I got out (slowly) to get my scope from the boot, the bird flew. I tracked it as it headed for the rugby ground. As it flew I was able to see the bird better and got all the features for the ID. I went to have a look at the rugby pitch but no joy. 

Quay, Shelley Beach and Imperial Ground, Exmouth, Devon 

After work I went back for another look for both the Western Cattle Egret and Bonaparte’s Gull at the Quay, Shelley Beach and Imperial Ground after work, with no success. There was however a Common Loon and Common Eider from the Quay.

Ruff And Stuff

Bowling Green Marsh, Devon
A quick visit to see if the 2 Ruff were still around and my luck was in. They were either very active or obscured from view but did manage a record photo. Also of note was a Male Common Pochard, several Nothern Pintail, 3 Common Greenshank and 2 Little Grebe. Plenty of Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Teal, several Gadwall, 1 Greylag Goose, a few Tufted Duck, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Redshank.

Black-tailed Godwit

Ruff

Common Pochard (Male)

Northern Shoveler (Male)

Little Grebe

Northern Pintail (Male)

Just For Fun

Crealy great adventure park, Devon
As we are members, the family visit this place near enough every Sunday. It’s surprising what you see here. A little while back I came across a flock of C50 Black-tailed Godwit feeding near the lake. Nothing so exciting today and this is a little off track but just for fun. I couldn’t resist snapping a picture of this guy. It was grunting like hell as I walked past. As ever with Crealy, lots of Corvids and Gulls.

Emu

Rook

European Herring Gull

Finches And Buntings Part II

Stantyway Farm, Otterton, Devon 
Had another dawn look around the Farm area. Again a large flock of Common Linnet, Common Chaffinch and European Goldfinch. No Brambling or European Greenfinch. Bunting wise, again a single Cirl Bunting, 4 Yellowhammer and C30 Conmon Reed Bunting. Couldn’t locate the odd looking one from yesterday, so perhaps it was just an odd looking Conmon Reed Bunting. Also a Mistle Thrush and Common Kestrel of note.

Yellowhammer

Common Linnet

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
An hour or so visit after work. From the goat walk and viewing platform. 4 Mew Gull, 5 European Golden Plover, numerous Pied Avocet, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank and 2 Little Egret.

Little Egret

Finches And Buntings

Water treatment plant, Otterton, Devon
A dawn visit to the coastal path produced 4 Red-throated Loon, a Northern Fulmar, 10 European Shag and 10 Eurasian Skylark in the fields.

Red-throated Loon

Stantyway Farm, Otterton, Devon 
On my way back to Otterton I was drawn by a large mixed Finch and Bunting flock around the farm / football pitch. The flock comprised of 1 male and 4 female Brambling, C40 Common Chaffinch, C100 Common Linnet, C10 Eurasian Goldfinch, 3 European Greenfinch, C20 Common Reed Bunting, 4 Yellowhammer and a Cirl Bunting. An interesting, unidentified Bunting was also briefly seen and I will be having another look tomorrow. Frustratingly I couldn’t get a photo!

Common Reed Bunting

White-throated Dipper

Ludwell Valley, Exeter, Devon
A quick stop off after work at the Topsham road end got me quickly on to 2 White-throated Dipper in the brook. It never ceases to amaze me how the birds make a living in the city. It’s unfortunately not the cleanest of brooks but fair play they get on with it.

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
Spent a bit of time around the Marsh. Lots of Eurasian Wigeon and Eurasian Teal. A few Tufted Ducks and Northern Shoveler. Standout birds were a single Common Pochard, 3 Common Snipe, numerous Northern Pintail and as I was leaving close to dusk a Eurasian Sparrowhawk hunting the hedges around the road near the hide.

Bramblings Galore

Lympstone, Devon
I managed a very quick look at the Sowdon Lane area (by the cycle path) of Lympstone after work and had the large flock of C50 Brambling. They were very mobile between the sunflower field and trees by the Railway line. Plenty of  Common Chaffinch in the flock and a few European Greenfinch and Eurasian Goldfinch. Also a single Common Reed Bunting (my first of the year)

Brambling

Glaucous Gull

Shelley Beach, Exmouth, Devon 
A text from fellow Exmouth birder Matt Knott that the Bonaparte’s Gull was showing very well, had me heading for Shelly Beach. On arrival the Bonaparte’s Gull was nowhere to be seen. As I met up with Matt, however he had just spotted a Glaucious Gull that had flown overhead and settled on Great Bull Hill. Quickly got on to the bird and got these awful record shots.

Glaucous Gull (Juvenile)

Glaucous Gull (Juvenile)

Also a Common Loon was feeding at close range.

Exmouth Quay, Devon 
Moved on to the quay so see if the Bonaparte’s Gull was hanging around there but again no joy. Did however get views of the Long-tailed Duck feeding in the channel off Warren Point. Thanks to Matt for the alert.

Red-legged Partridge

Hayes Barton Farm, Yettington, Devon
A dawn visit to the pig farm near Yettington produced 6 Red-legged Partridge in the field directly behind the farm house. It was good to see healthy numbers of House Sparrow around the farm buildings, I would guess c40. Numerous Corvids with a mix of Carrion Crow, Rook and Western Jackdaw. A few Common Pheasant and a calling European Green Woodpecker.

Horned Grebe And A Missed Pipit

Quay, Exmouth, Devon 
An early morning look (at first light) from the quay provided me with distant views of the Long-tailed Duck. It was off shore from the Warren Point. Also 2 Common Loon, 2 Common Eider, several Common Scoter, several European Shag and Red-breasted Merganser. Distant views of the Horned Grebe near Cockwood and a few Great Crested Grebe. Numerous Gulls but nothing unusual.

Lympstone, Devon 
A look on the way to work in the Sowden Lane area (near the cycle track and rail bridge) gave very close views of several Brambling.

Topsham, Devon 
Had a look at the rec after work to see if the Water Pipit was around but no sign. Only bird of note was a single Common Sandpiper.

Italian Sparrow

Cadbury Gardens, East Budleigh, Devon 
An early morning visit to see the possible Italian Sparrow proved very productive as the bird in question showed very well on the feeders. It’s nice to see the change in the bill colour from the last time I saw it in November. I’ve heard there are plans to try to trap the bird to obtain DNA. Let’s hope that’s possible and can hopefully answer a lot of questions.

American Wigeon

Matford Pools, Exeter, Devon 
Finally caught up with the American Wigeon on a visit after work. The Eurasian Wigeon flock were at the back of the pool from the viewing platform. They were obscured from view for a lot of the time but the bird eventually gave decent (if not distant) views. The only other birds of note were 2 Common Snipe and a group of 7 Mistle Thrush.

Seafront, Exmouth, Devon 
A late afternoon (almost dusk) sea watch from near the clock tower, produced 2 Red-throated Loon. I still haven’t managed to catch up with the Long-tailed Duck anywhere on the Exe as yet though.

Out And About In Devon

Ludwell Valley, Exeter, Devon
This can be a good site for White-throated Dipper but none seen ofay. I did see 4 Green Sandpiper and 2 Grey Wagtail.


Stover County Park, Devon 
20 Common Merganser mainly females but 4 males, a pair of Mandarin Duck, 2 pairs of Common Pochard. On the feeder were a pair of Eurasian Bullfinch, a male Eurasian Siskin, 3 Eurasian Nuthatch and plenty of Coal Tit, European Blue Tit and Great Tit.


Exminster Marsh, Devon
100’s of Eurasian Wigeon but I couldn’t locate the American Wigeon, which I later discovered had relocated back to Matford Marsh. However I was pleased to see a Western Marsh Harrier on leaving site.


Cockwood, Devon 
I had cracking views of the resident Horned Grebe and a Common Loon from the railway steps. Also of note were a group of 20 Grey Plover and a single Great Crested Grebe.


Exmouth, Devon
Awesome close views of a Common Firecrest on the path at the rear of the Cricket pitch. One of my favourite birds and I love watching them potter about.


Hayes Barton, Devon 
My last stop was the pig farm to see if there were any Red-legged Partridge in the surrounding fields but nothing about. It was dusk when in left and just up the road (on the way back to Exmouth) near the triangular road section. I was stopped in my tracks by a pair of eyes in my headlights. I edged forward very slowly and got excellent views of a Eurasian Woodcock. I managed to observe the bird for a few moments before it realised I was watching it and it quickly vanished into the scrub. The best views I have ever had as I normally only get flyovers. 

Common Goldeneye

Topsham Recreation Ground, Devon 
I took the kids to the scate park but as always I had the bins with me. Not much of note but nice views of  2 drake Common Goldeneye and 2 drake Red-breasted Merganser

Half Descent Sea Watch

5th January 2018
Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon 
A Very brief sea watching session at first light for 30 minutes. 10 Common Scoter, one of which could have been a Velvet Scoter as I’m sure I had a flash of white on one but the choppy conditions and distance made it impossible to obtain a positive ID. Also of note, 3 Common Eider, too many Black-legged Kittiwake and Northern Gannet to count. Several each of Razorbill and Common Murre heading west. Disappointingly, no Loon species that I could see.