Part-time Birding: July 2018

Another Go At Sea Watching

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I popped up to the point early evening to see if there were any straggler Shearwaters in the bay. No luck this time around. The only birds on offer were a few Northern Gannet and Sandwich Tern. I was though kept entertained by a hunting female Common Kestrel and a very close range European Badger.

Common Kestrel (Female)

European Badger

A Bit Of A Let Down Or Was It?

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I had a sea watching session from the raised beach huts from 6:10 - 8:30. My anticipation was high due to the weather but I have to say it was rather dismal. The quantity was extremely poor and I only saw one Shearwater. However that happened to be a Great Shearwater! It was only seen briefly as it headed west in poor visibility. It’s not too often we get these here and this constitutes only my second sighting of this species from Exmouth. So quality outweighed the quantity on this occasion. I may try again this evening as the winds look to be dying down and any birds caught in the bay may be on the move out.

Not Quite Porthgwarra

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I was itching to get out and do some sea watching but was busy all day until early evening. I popped up to my favoured view point and hoped for the best. There were a number of Northern Gannet around and several Northern Fulmar. After about a quarter of an hour a group of 4 Manx Shearwater came through heading west. Over the next 30 minutes a few more groups came through and one held a Balearic Shearwater. I held on until the light faded in the hope of a Sooty Shearwater or Great Shearwater (one reported off Berry Head) with no avail. So not the quality of Porthgwarra as I ended with 1 Balearic Shearwater and 15 Manx Shearwater. I am busy again tomorrow (on what could potentially be a great sea watching day) but I am getting up at first light to try again for a few hours. Here's hoping for a Cory's Shearwater.... you've got to dream big!

Northern Gannet

Not Too Shabby

Berry Head, Brixham, Torbay
I had a day off today so I thought I would visit Berry Head for a change of scenery. Porthgwarra (as always) stole the limelight but a sea watch from the headland produced Manx Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater (looks like another one went through after I left), Northern Fulmar, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common Kestrel and Common Whitethroat. However that action was overshadowed by the amount of Short-beaked Common Dolphins in the area.Several Pods were seen and some at rather close range. The largest pod contained around 40 individuals. I would guess (as some pods were probably already seen) around 70 individuals in total. I decided on the headland (rather than the sea watching site) to open up Butterfly options. It paid off as there were Wall, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue on offer.

Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Wall

Red Admiral

Speckled Wood

Northern Fulmar

Chudliegh Knighton Heath, Devon
I had a quick stop off here on route to my next venue. Strangely I’ve never visited this reserve but I enjoyed the pools (that are very quick to get to). Dragonflies on offer here were, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Southern Hawker and Common Darter. I was gutted that the later wouldn’t sit still for a portrait! The best bird on offer was a solitary Male and a few female Yellowhammer.

Small Red Damselfly

Yarner Woods, Bovey Tracey, Devon
I done a walk from the car park up to the top hide area. Birds here were, Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Bullfinch (Male) and Grey Wagtail.

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I finished off with a quick stroll around the point. Not much action apart from a Male Peregrine Falcon that drifted along the coastal path. I came across a micro Moth which I at present have got no idea on the identification.

Peregrine Falcon (Male)

Unidentified micro Moth

Snow Goose In The Sun!

Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon

I was passing Darts Farm on my commute to work when I noticed an obvious white bird in the field. So I stopped by the cycle bridge to have a look and discovered it was a Snow Goose. I guess one of the 2 birds of unknown origin that were around Powderham earlier in the year.

Snow Goose

Osprey

Exton Station, Devon
I had another quick look for the Osprey off Exton after work and it paid off. Very nice views but unfortunately not easy to capture a descent photo with my equipment and the harsh haze. It spent a lot of the time I was viewing being harassed by Gulls but it was finally allowed to settle on a post.

Osprey

More Bystock Pools

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon
I had yet another walk around the same area as yesterday. Not much different to report from yesterdays sightings but I did manage this record shot of a Small Red Damselfly.

Beautiful Demoiselle (Male)

Small Red Damselfly (Male)

Another Walk Around Bystock

Exton Station, Devon
I decided to check the Estuary before work in the hope of seeing the Osprey. No luck and not much to report but I was pleased to find this Jersey Tiger Moth in the bushes by the entrance gate to the platform.

Jersey Tiger Moth

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon
I managed a walk around the main pool to the boardwalk after work. The aim was Dragonflies and I wasn’t dissatisfied. Around the main pool were a few Sourhern Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Azure Damselfly. On the walk to the boardwalk ponds were a few Beautiful Demoiselle, Keeled Skimmer, Red-eyed Damselfly and a Holly Blue. Surprisingly there wasn’t anything around the ponds!

Holly Blue

Azure Damselfly

Red-eyed Damselfly (Female Black form)

No Wood Sandpiper But A Black Tern

Goosemoor, Topsham, Devon
I went to look for the reported Wood Sandpiper early evening. No sign of the bird but 2 Juvenile Little Ringed Plover kept me entertained.

Little Ringed Plover (Juvenile)

The Quay, Exmouth, Devon
I finished the evening looking in the hope Matts Juvenile Black Tern that he spotted this morning would reappear in amongst the roost. I’ve had a busy day today so I couldn’t get out sooner. Sandwich Tern numbers have increased a lot and there must have been around 100 birds. Also 10 Mediterranean Gulls of varying ages present. I was about to give up as the light faded when out of a channel popped a Juvenile Black Tern. It was only visible for a few seconds but enough for me. I’m not sure it was the same bird though.

Byron Way, Exmouth, Devon
Looks like there are 2 young Common House Martin in the nest on my house. They are starting to poke their heads out now so hopefully not long until they fledge.

Common House Martin

Dragonflies, Butterflies And Some Birds Too

Aylesbeare Common, Devon
I has a walk around Aylesbeare Reserve after work for a change of scenery. It was nice to see a stunning Male Yellowhammer as I haven’t been to the right places to see one for a few months. A few Common Linnet, Willow Warbler, European Green Woodpecker and Coal Tit. Plenty of Dragonfly species and a variety of Butterflies. 1 Southern Hawker, several Keeled Skimmer, a rather bedraggled looking Four-spotted Chaser, 2 Emperor Dragonfly, double figures of Common Blue Damselfly and a handful of Blue-tailed Damselfly provided the Dragonfly action. The Butterfly entertainment came from good numbers of Greyling, 4 Holly Blue, lots Small White and Large White, many Large Skipper and a few Small Skipper, 3 Silver-washed Fritillary, 1 Dark-green Fritillary, 1 Red Admiral, a couple of Speckled Wood and plenty of Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. A few Silver Y moths made up the supporting act.

Common Blue Damselfly

Four-spotted Chaser

Emperor Dragonfly

Keeled Skimmer (Male)

Southern Hawker

Keeled Skimmer (Female)

Greyling

Cornflower

A Productive Lunchbreak

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon
A very quick lunchtime look around was mega productive for Butterflies and other critters. The following Butterflies species were seen, Silver-studded Blue, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Comma, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Small White, Large White, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary. Dragonflies included an Emperor Dragonfly, a Male and Female Keeled Skimmer. On the Moth front were good numbers of Silver Y, Six-spot Burnet, Common Grass Veneer and a new one for me in the form of a Common Purple and Gold.