Armchair Tick

Hayle Estuary, Cornwall 2016
A rare (for me) occurrence took place today. I got an armchair tick.

Back in 2016, me and my mate Pete were in Cornwall doing the rounds of a few sites. I was secretly hoping to bump into the Dalmatian Pelican which at the time had got a bit twitchy and was frequently moving about. So imagine my joy when I picked up a huge bird being hotly pursued by a mass of Gulls. I first looked at the bird on bins and I couldn’t mistake the bird for anything other than the Pelican. I then got scope views for a few minutes as it tracked up the Estuary as it headed in the direction of Marizion. A fantastic beast of a bird and something that will stay in my memory forever. I can still recall the buzz when I realised what I was seeing.

I have to admit that I doubted (BOU decisions can be brutal) it would make anything other than Category E (or sit in Category D for an eternity) of the list but had hope as some other countries authorities had accepted what was obviously the same bird (proved from Photos). So I’m very pleased that they have spent the time debating this record and accepted it. It’s some consolation for the Bearded Vulture!

Giving The Pallid Harrier Another Chance

Blackhills Quarry, Exmouth, Devon
After reading on Devon Birds that the Pallid Harrier had been seen in the area, I thought I would look in to it. I checked out the Facebook page mentioned but have to admit I was dubious as to whether the ID was correct. However I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and thought it worthy of checking out. I checked out the area around the pond for around 45 minutes this morning before work. The first bird I noted was a Common Sandpiper that was quickly followed by a Northern Wheatear. There were good number of Meadow Pipit (potential Harrier food), On the pond were 3 Little Grebe and a single female Tufted Duck. No sign of the reported Pallid Harrier but I did have an unusual sighting with a flyover White-bellied Dipper!

I gave it another go for an hour after work I saw more Meadow Pipit, the Tufted Duck count went up to 4 birds and Canada Goose were added to the Wildfowl species. Several Common Moorhen were feeding in amongst a group of European Herring Gull and a Great Cormorant that were resting on the shore. A few mobile Common Linnet were around as were a party of European Stonechat. The best bird however was a rather pale looking bird that was rather distant that I believe was a young Whinchat but my photo doesn’t do it justice. Again no sign of a Pallid Harrier.

Common Sandpiper  

Northern Wheatear 

Little Grebe  

Whinchat (Juvenile)

Quiet On Orcombe

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
A quick look after work produced a single Northern Wheatear in the dung field along with a few Meadow Pipit. In the opposite field were a largish flock of Meadow Pipit and circa 20 Barn Swallow. Other than that, it’s was very quiet.

Northern Wheatear  

Northern Wheatear 

Orcombe Point

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I had an half an hour scam around the top fields area. A nice mixed feeding flock hung around the old dung field for a little while. After scrutinising the flock, nothing special revelled itself. The flock contained mainly Long-tailed Tit with a few Common Chiffchaff, Eurasian Blue Tit and Great Tit. The top field opposite the current dung field held a flock of Common Linnet, the most I’ve seen up there for a while with around 20 birds. A dozen or so Meadow Pipit and I had a flyover, calling Western Yellow Wagtail. Only heard as I was looking into the sun to try to locate it. A few Barn Swallow around but apart from that not a lot else to report.

A Mised Phalarope

Leisure Centre, Exmouth, Devon 
I was on my way home from work, pondering about where I could go birding for half hour or so when a text popped up from Matt Knott. I pulled over to have a quick read and was glad I did as it read “Grey Phal Leisure Centre”. Well that answered my “where to go?” dilemma! I got to site about 10 minutes later to find Matt scoping the area. A quick chat revealed that it had vanished as quick as it had been seen. Matt moved on to Mudbank to search and I agreed to stay in case it came back. I have to be honest I felt optimistic as the tide and feeding opportunities looked more than favourable. Matt walked back from Mudbank and we were both disappointed by the fact it wasn’t still around. I had to go but Matt went off on a mission to relocate the bird, apparently with no luck.

Thanks to Matt for the text. I always appreciate it and even if I don’t see a bird that anyone alerts me too, I would rather the text and have the chance than to find out later and be disappointed not to have had the opportunity!

Not Quite 2,500 But Still A Great

Berry Head, Brixham, Devon
Me and my mate were planning on going to Porthgwarra today but my daughter was ill this morning. She went to school but I didn’t want to venture 2 and half hours away in case the school called to say “come and get her”. So we opted for a closer venue and Berry Head seemed the best option. As it happens the call never came so I was most aggrieved to see a report of 1,500 Great Shearwater at Porthgwarra. That’s a spectacle you don’t get to witness that often. I’ve since seen that the total was over 2,500 plus a possible Band-runped Storm Petrel. Now that’s a total slap across the chops!

I'm trying to be positive though as I did managed a single Great Shearwater at Berry Head, so all was not lost. The time spent on site was rather productive. Around 10 Great Skua and 8 Parasitic Jaeger on offer, with some very close in sightings. 2 Red Phalarope popped up a few times but the views were very brief. Balearic Shearwater numbers were in the region of 50 birds whilst we were on site and there was a single Manx Shearwater. Theres was 1 possible Sooty Shearwater. A distant bird that was rather long winged to be a Balearic Shearwater but I just couldn’t clinch it 100% and the view was ever so short. I still haven’t seen a European Storm Petrel this year and typically one was seen after I left.

One of the Parasitic Jaeger’s to me looked like a potential Pomarine Jaeger. See the second photo. What made me thnk with this bird was the fact that the breast band went all around, where as it should stop on a Parasitic. Not a complete clincher though as this can be misleading on both species but I also felt tha the birds flight was more relaxed, steady and strong.I guess that the jury will stay out on this one.

Also an unidentifiable small Skua. Size pointed to Long-tailed Jaeger but again, far too distant to clinch a positive ID.

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
Later in the afternoon I had a very quick look from the raised beach huts. Not a great deal on offer except circa 25 Common Scoter.

Great Skua  

Parasitic Jaeger or Pomarine Jaeger?

Parasitic Jaeger 

Balearic Shearwater  

Great Skua  

Great Skua

Great Skua

Quiet Sea Watching

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I had 2 very brief sea watching sessions from the raised beach hut area. Conditions seemed good but both viewings were very quiet. The best offering on this mornings attempt was an Auk, which felt like Common Murre but too distant to tell. Also a decent number of Northern Gannet knocking about. Matt Knott and his mate Nick seemed to fare slightly better with 1 confirmed Balearic Shearwater and possibly a few more.

After work wasn’t much better with the highlights being 7 Common Scoter, a few Sandwich Tern and Northern Gannet.

My Porthgwarra trip is now confirmed for Thursday due to work commitments. It looks like the winds will still be favourable. It can’t be much worse than today anyway!

A Potential Yellow-legged Gull

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I had an optimistic look around after work but the only species of note were a group of mobile Meadow Pipits. I even had a brief sea watch but only managed a distant Northern Gannet.

Mudbank, Exmouth, Devon 
I moved on from Orcombe Point to have a look at the Estuary. Plenty of birds around, mainly Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull. A few Eurasian Curlew and Eurasian Oystercatcher. I did have a decent candidate Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull but the sun was directly in my eyes and scope and the Gull in question wouldn’t move before I had to leave. I’d have liked to see the bird in flight or stretch it’s wings for me to clinch further ID features

I’m hopefully off to Porthgwarra on Wednesday or Thursday (if my boss is in a good enough mood to give me a last minute day off) as I feel the predicted conditions could prove very rewarding. Hmmm, I wonder if that Trindade Petrel is still around and fancies performing? Wake up Spence!

Pallid Harrier

Colaton Raleigh Common, Devon
I’ve not been able to get out this week as I’ve had a case of man flu (there worse type of flu there is of course) so I was pleased to get a text late yesterday afternoon  from Matt Knott advising that had amazingly found a Pallid Harrier but I wasn’t able to have a look. So I popped to site as soon as I had dropped the kids to breakfast club only to be told it had been seen not too long ago. I could only spare 30 minutes before I had to drag myself to work (my first day back after snot fest). As I still wasn’t feeling to great my boss agreed to a very early finish but I couldn’t resist spending some more time looking for the Pallid Harrier. It’s not a lifer bird for me but it would constitute only my second individual in the UK. So it seemed worthwhile putting the time in.

Halfway to the grenade range  I got excited by a largish raptor heading towards me only to be quickly deflated to see it was a Common Buzzard. The second bird I spotted also got me excited but I again quickly realised its true identity as a Female Common Kestrel. That was quickly followed by a Male Common Kestrel. Whilst on site both Common Kestrels were rather active and I started to worry that I would start ignoring them and in turn end up ignoring the Pallid Harrier. Unfortunately I came away not seeing the bird in question. I wonder if it is still in the area and being elusive or it has indeed moved on? With today’s wind direction I actually favoured it still being in the area rather than moving on but who knows?

Also on site during both visits were European Green Woodpecker, Several Meadow Pipits (which I hoped would be pursued by the Harrier), Common Linnet and European Stonechat. Even though I didn’t see it I must admit it was nice to be back in the field after being ill. Again I would like to congratulate Matt on an absolutely wonderful find and for getting the news out quickly.

Mostly Non Tickable Stuff

Bicton Arena, Yettington, Devon 
On the way to the Otter Estuary after work I noticed 2 Helmeted Guinea-fowl in the field just by the entrance to the Arena. I couldn’t resist a quick look and some pictures. They aren’t a BOU tickable species but I still enjoy seeing this unusual species.

Helmeted Guinea-fowl

Helmeted Guinea-fowl

Helmeted Guinea-fowl

The Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon 
I got to site around 10 minutes too late to catch the Spotted Crake as it’s preferred feeding area had literally just disappeared under the water. The Bar-headed Goose was showing distantly from the hide. Another non tickable bird but again a very smart species and a joy to observe.

East Devon Commons, Devon
The area I visited had very little on offer as it was rather busy with walkers etc, so everything was skulking away. However I did manage the briefest of views of a Dartford Warbler.

A Decent Variety

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
A pre work visit gave a minimum of 8 Northern Wheatear. 4 in the dung field and 4 in the field with the electric fence. Some very approachable birds. Several fly over Western Yellow Wagtails flitting about and a small group of Meadow Pipit.

Northern Wheatear (2 individuals) 

Northern Wheatear 

Northern Wheatear 



Northern Wheatear

Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon 
Had an hours look after work. In the second cattle field north of white bridge were 3 distant Western Cattle Egrets. I then walked down to the hide where the Spotted Crake showed on and off on the opposite side of the Estuary. The Western Cattle Egrets then relocated near the hide and I obtained far better views. I found out on the way back to the bridge that they had been flushed by a jogger in the field! Finally from the white bridge looking towards the estuary mouth, I spotted the Bar-headed Goose. Returning again for what I believe is it’s fourth year in the area.

Western Cattle Egret  

Western Cattle Egret

Bar-headed Goose

Bar-headed Goose

Bar-headed Goose

A Quick Scan Around Orcombe

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I Managed a quick scan around after work which produced at least 5 Northern Wheatear in the new dung field. I managed to take photos of 4 individuals. A couple of flyover Western Yellow Wagtail. I couldn’t locate them on the ground as the cattle where in areas of long grass and at the farther end of the field. Not much else of note birdwkse but lots of Small White Butterflies and a smart Comma.

Northern Wheatear  

Northern Wheatear  (2 individuals)

Northern Wheatear 

Comma 

Small White 

A Sad Lady Amherst’s Pheasant

World Of Country Life, Exmouth, Devon 
I haven’t visited this place in a few years (its bloody expensive) but we had free passes for the family due to the kids completing the summer reading challenge set out by Exmouth library. If you complete the task you earn yourself a medal. Both my daughters blitzed the task so we headed off to get their rewards.

I remembered from my last trip that they kept a number of birds to I couldn’t resist taking a peek. I came across this sad looking Male Lady Amherst’s Pheasant (I’d look sad if I were caged too I guess). True be told though, this is probably and unfortunately the only way you will ever see this species in the UK. As far as I know, the last wild bird seen was a Male in Millbrook, Bedfordshire in 2016. This species is almost certainly extinct. Fortunately I have been lucky enough to see a wild bird so it’s on my life list.

Lady Amherst’s Pheasant (Male)

They also had some Golden Pheasant. Another bird that will probably stop being self sustaining and go extinct in the UK. I’ve not seen a wild bird so I hope I do before that occurs.