Otterton Coastal path, Devon
I had the afternoon off for a hospital appointment that was cancelled so I had the urge to do some sea watching. No this place will never compare with the likes of Start Point, Berry Head and Porthgwarra but I was pleased to get 74 Manx Shearwater plus extremely delighted with a Sooty Shearwater.
Darts farm, Topsham, Devon
I saw a report of an unseasonal Tundra Bean Goose and as I needed to pop to Exmouth I thought I would drop by. The bird showed from the main viewing area within a few minutes of me being on site. I wonder where this bird has originated from as it shouldn't be here right now!
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| Tundra Bean Goose |
Otterton Sewage works, Devon
As the weather seemed like a possible good seawatch was on the cards I headed to my go to site at the coastal path near the Sewage works. It wasn't a bad shout as after 10 minutes had seen a steady flow of 50 Manx Shearwater. The Weather dipped in and out of good and bad visibility but I stuck with it for 1 and a half hours. I was glad I did as my final count was c 150 Manx Shearwater, 3 Razorbill, 4 Common Murre, 8 unidentified Auk and 7 Black-legged Kittiwake. As I was leaving there were singles of Yellowhammer and Cirl Bunting at the Sewage works.
Mamaris, Turkey 23rd May to 6th June
It seems like an eternity since our last family holiday. Covid put a stop to them since our last on in 2019. So we were all excited to get back to our favourite family holiday County of Turkey for our 6th time. We arrived at dusk and the first birds I saw was 2 Sand Martins followed by a flyby Purple Heron.
Sat at the balcony was often very productive. And throughout the stay I saw Hooded Crow, Red-rumped Swallow, Alpine Swift, Pallid Swift, Eurasian Jay (sub species), Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Eurasian Collared Dove, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Eurasian Blue Tit, European Robin, Song Thrush and Eurasian Goldfinch simply having a morning coffee. And one evening I was treated to a Tawny Owl.
The pool area produced much the same except one day whilst taking a break from swimming and sat around the pool an Eleanor's Falcon flew low over the resort.
We spent a few days around the beach and the only species of note were Yellow-legged Gull.
A boat trip during the first week produced OK numbers of Yellow-legged Gull plus singles of Great Cormorant and Pygmy Cormorant as we were leaving Marmaris. We stopped at Turunc there was a pair each of Eurasian Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow and there were good numbers of Sand Martin and Barn Swallow. Also noted were a few possible Spanish Sparrow but I am aware that there are many hybrids with House Sparrow so they could have been a mishmash. 2 Rock Dove, more Eurasian Collared Dove a single Laughing Dove and a Mallard.
I had a few walks around some farmland lanes near the hotel a various times during the trip. This produced a Helmeted Guineafowl, Sardinian Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eastern Orphean Warbler plus a Sombre Tit.
We spent one day at a Water park and the only new species added to the trip was White Wagtail
On our second week we took a Jeep safari. And at our meet up point with other jeeps were lots of Alpine Swift and 1 Little Ringed Plover. We had lunch at Turgut Selalesi Waterfall and I saw 2 Common Nightingale, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Wren, Grey Wagtail and a Monarch Butterfly.
Towards the end of the holiday I wanted to check out the Mills Park at Günnücek as its a good wooden area and part of the National nature reserve. For some unknown reason it was closed but not deterred I took a walk along the road out of Marmaris and then back down to the marina and managed to get me my target bird a Krupers Nuthatch. Also Eurasian Jay, Common Blackbird, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Goldfinch and House Sparrow.
A 2 hour coach transfer from the hotel to the airport forced a bathroom stop off for several other travellers. We stopped at a remote service station that overlooked farmland and orchards. It was a productive 30 minutes stop as I saw Calendra Lark and European Bee-eater plus more Red-rumped Swallow.
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| Moth species |
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| Helmeted Guineafowl |
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| Barn Swallow (Young) |
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| Blue-tailed Damselfly |
