Part-time Birding: May 2018

Rosy Starling

Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve. Devon
I couldn’t resist an evening walk out to the hide to look for the adult Rosy Starling. On arrival there was no sign but a Common Whitethroat, a Sanderling, several Common Ringed Plover and a large flock of Dunlin kept me entertained whilst I waited. Then a few Common Starling flew into the trees on the golf course and I prayed it would follow. I’m not a religious guy but my prayers must of been heard as it duly dropped in. A lot of the time it was obscured but I did manage some great views. Weird thing is, this is my first UK adult. I’ve seen numerous juvenile birds over the years but this one was special.

Short video clip of Rosy Starling

Rosy Starling

Common Whitethroat (Male)

Bladder Campion

Birds-foot Trefoil

Small-flower Lupin

Purple Foxglove

Southern Marsh Orchid

Dire Birding

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon.
I had a brief look around the lane after work and to say the birding was dire would be a understatement. The best bird on offer was a heard only Cetti’s Warbler.

I’ve been reading many comments about the poor showing and indeed quality of birds using (or should I say not using) this reserve. I’m not sure what’s happening there and hope things perk up at some point.

Max Chrysanthemum

Not Many Birds But An Eel

Footpath from Pound Lane to Partridge Road, Exmouth
Went for a walk with the kids as they like to explore this area. Not many birds of note around with the best being a Great Spotted Woodpecker but we did spot this Eel making his way up the very shallow stream.

Eel

Lots And Lots And Lots Of Gulls

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
Had a doctors appointment after work so I could only manage a quick 30 minutes birding today. As Orcombe was the nearest decent place to spend that time I headed there. I guess I thought it’s the best option considering the time available and there’s always a chance of a late migrant. On arrival at Gore Lane the farmer was busy in one of the fields with 2 tractors on the go. The activity had attracted a huge amount of Gulls and corvids. There were probably around 400 Gulls with them all looking like European Herring Gulls. The Corvids were in smaller numbers (60 or so) And comprised of Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Javkdaw, Eurasian Magpie and a Northern Raven. There was not much else on offer apart from a calling Common Whitethroat that remained hidden. I said Hi to the Cows as I walked to the coastal path and took some more flower pictures. I was hoping for some butterflies but there was only a single Small White on offer.

Medick

Common Sorrel

Cut-leaved Cranes-bill

More Churring

Undisclosed Site, Near Exmouth, Devon
On such a lovely evening I couldn’t resist having another look at the local European Nightjars. The weather didn't disappoint in drawing out the birds with 8 sightings. The sightings (from what I could make out) involved 4 birds but I could also hear more distant churring. My best estimate is that there are 7 or 8 birds in the area.

Willow Warbler Singing Like A Chiffy

Woodbury Common, Devon
I took another trip up to look at the Willow Warbler I saw yesterday which had black legs. I was curious as yesterday I noticed it was giving off an odd call. The best I can describe the call is a sped up Conmon Chiffchaff. I know Warblers can be excellent at mimicking but I have to admit I haven’t come across a Willow Warbler with this much talent. Perhaps I’ve just not been paying attention but I enjoyed listening to the bird. I wanted to double check just in case I was missing something.

I studied the bird for a while and as I did, it was plainly obvious it was a Willow Warbler. I though about the dark legs for a moment. This (as far as I know) means it could simply be a young bird that hasn’t reached breeding maturity yet. Leg colouration does change with age so I’m going to check in on this bird out from time to time to see if they have lightened. If they don’t, could this be a subspecies?

Now distinguishing grey looking Willow Warbler from Conmon Chiffchaff can be tricky enough if there’s no call and there’s poor views and I am in no way an expert in Willow Warbler subspecies so I’m just speculating. An interesting bird non the less.

Also on offer was a brief Garden Warbler (call only), a Male Eurasian Blackcap and a churring European Nightjar

East Devon Commons

Lympstone Common
A morning visit near the top of Bystock reserve produced a few Yellowhammer but little more. Near Yettington I spotted a few Barn Swallow resting on a wire.

Barn Swallows

Woodbury Common
A before work visit. I’m not going to give exact location details but I parked at the model aircraft car park. A Spotted Flycatcher and a daytime churring European Nightjar were the best on offer and both within a few meters of each other. I had another look after work and had the European Nightjar churring again but no sign of the Spotted Flycatcher. Both trips produced a Eurasian Jay, a few Common Linnet, Coal Tit, European Greenfinch and Eurasian Goldfinch.

Uphams Plantation, Yettington, Devon
After visiting Woodbury Common after work I popped here for a quick look. Lots of Brimstone on the wing and a Eurasian Hobby came through at speed but rather quiet otherwise.

Scarlet Pimpernel

Woodbury Common, Devon
An evening walk from the model aircraft car park. Again European Nightjar churring and also a Garden Warbler. Also a Willow Warbler (well that was what call it was kind of giving) with black legs.

Willow Warbler with black legs

Undisclosed site, near Exmouth, Devon
A good evening with at least 6 European Nightjar. Churring, calling and wing clapping.

Dorset Tree Sparrow And A Self Found Black Redstart

Portland Bill, Dorset
Me and my mate Pete had a day in Dorset today. Our first stop was the bird obs to get the lowdown on the reported Eurasian Tree Sparrow. I had seen on yesterdays blog that there were 2 but today there was an increase to 3 birds. We were advised that the obs quarry was the best place to look. We had brief flight views of 2 individuals but an hour or so stake out didn’t produce any other views. The Little Owl was playing ball either so we decided to head off. We had parked near the Pulpit Inn and on the way back I was pleased to self find a Black Redstart. A rather showy bird and we enjoyed prolonged views of the bird. We popped in to the obs to ensure it made the day list and headed off.

Black Redstart

Meadow Pipit

Common Linnet

Red Hot Poker

Wild Celery

English Stonecrop

Ferrybridge, Portland, Dorset
Next stop was to take in the Little Terns and they didn’t disappoint. I was impressed with the numbers too. I’ve visited this site for a few years now and today’s tally was the highest I can recall there. Let’s hope their breeding season is a success.

Little Tern

Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset
This was our last site and the target species was Bearded Reedling. On arrival we stopped in the visitor centre for some food and refreshments. As ever we both still had our bins to hand and were glad we did as there was a 2 cycle Yellow-legged Gull on one of the posts in the lagoon. It didn’t hang around too long though. We also enjoyed close views of a Common Tern feeding. There were good numbers of Common Swift, Barn Swallow and Common House Martin with a couple of Sand Martin thrown into the mix. Around the reserve were lots of Eurasian Reed Warbler and several Cetti’s Warbler.

Domestic Duck

Eurasian Coot and young

Great Crested Grebe

European Greenfinch

Yellow Flag Iris

Heracleum moellendorffii

Add caption

What A Difference An Angle Makes

The Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon
I had a bit of time to spare after work so I though I would look around the White Bridge area of the Otter. When I arrived a few Barn Swallow were feeding over the water and field. 3 Common Buzzard were soaring above and I kept an eye out for a Red Kite without success. Along the path to the hide were a few Eurasian Blackcap, a Cetti’s Warbler and 2 Eurasian Reed Warbler. Then I spotted a really stand out bird. It was giving off a very pied plumage appearance. I got on to it with my bins initially but decided it deserved a look at with the scope as it was a tad distant. With the scope I could easily see it was a Bunting and the default would be Common Reed Bunting but in the lighting conditions and with the angle it looked completely different. The bird duly changed angle to reveal its true identity as a Common Reed Bunting. It just goes to show how easy it can be to get confused.

Common Reed Bunting

Crosswort

Meadow Buttercup

Red Valarian

Hyacinth Orchid

Blue Flag Iris

More Nightjars

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
A quick look from the hide this morning and 2 Ruff in almost breeding plumage were at the back left of the reserve. A few Eurasian Blackcap around the garden but not much else of note.

Cowslip

Aylesbeare Common, Devon
A quick visit after work to look for Dartford Warbler was unsuccessful. It was rather quite but there were a few Eurasian Blackcap near the farm. I’m not sure if it’s just me but I think this species seems to be more abundant this year as I see them everywhere lately. There were a number of Brimstone on the wing plus this Small Blue.

Small Blue

Undisclosed site, near Exmouth, Devon
I went to have another look at the local European Nightjar and had a smart Male perch up briefly. It churred for a few seconds and duly dived in to cover. Excuse the truly awful pictures. I have lightened them but the quality is dreadful. A record shot if nothing else.

European Nightjar

Looking For Butterflies And Other Winged Critters

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon
I had to pop to the recycling centre this afternoon so I decided to do a quick circuit of both the Meadow area and Pool areas of the reserve. I was hoping for a selection of Butterflies and Dragonflies. There were only Small White and Large White on the wing in the Meadow so I drove around to the pool area. It was rather busy so I knew my chances would be slim on seeing much but I continued to walk to the end of the boardwalk. None of the Butterflies settled so no pictures but did see a Brimstone and best of all large Fritillary species. As it was a flight view I couldn’t make out which one. The likely species here is High Brown or Dark Green but both aren’t usually on the wing until mid June. So is this something else or are they simply making the most of the nice weather? I also spied a ???? that rested on the boardwalk.

I also spotted a Terrapin. Now most people would say WOW! but not me. There must have been pet ones realised there a few years ago and as much as I like them, they cause severe damage to the ecosystem. I know the warden tries to eradicate them when discovered. The reason for this is they love to eat the dragonfly larva. With quite a number of important species breeding there, this can be devastating.

On the bird front it was rather quiet. A Common Buzzard was sat in the Meadow on arrival and a few Song Thrush were singing away. In the trees around the Meadow were a few Great Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit and European Robin and a European Green Woodpecker flew over.