Bonaparte’s Gull And Black Swans

Topsham Rec, Topsham, Devon
I’ve been a bit under the weather the last few days and felt dreadful leaving work but decided to have a quick stop off on the way home. Luckily the Bonaparte’s Gull was showing rather nicely and I managed to enjoy some great views. Also 2 Black Swan were busy feeding.

Bonaparte’s Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Black Swans

Half Day Off

Goosemoor, Topsham, Devon
I was going to have a full day off work to go birding but the weather made me change my mind so I opted for a half day. I started at Goosemoor but there was very little about initially. However the call of a Garden Warbler soon got my attention. I located the bird on Bowling Green Road in the trees to the left of the railway bridge. It showed briefly but I soon lost it. Also in that area were a Male and Female Eurasian Blackcap.

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
The rain set in again so I took refuge in the hide. On arrival I was aware of s lot of Hirundine activity. They were mainly Sand Martin but a number of Barn Swallow and a couple of Common House Martin accompanied them. A Cetti’s Warbler was calling at the left hand side at the back of the reeds and a single Little Grebe and Common Pochard were the best of the supporting cast. Then a Gull came in from the Estuary. It wouldn’t stay still as it flew around the reserve a few times and duly left. The rain was really coming down which hampered things but I felt at the time it was giving off Bonaparte’s Gull. I’ve since seen that it’s been reported later in the afternoon. So my initial thoughts seem to have been correct (for once).

Barn Swallow

Sand Martin

Sand Martins  

Maer Rock, Exmouth, Devon
I decided I fancied some sea watching so I pitched up at the raised beach huts near Maer Rocks. I watched for around 2 hours and it was rather productive. However Berry Head has put it to shame once again! During my watch I had a Common Loon, a Black-throated Loon, 5 Manx Shearwater, a Northern Fulmar, 4 Little Tern, 6. Common Tern, 1 Arctic Tern, 30 Sandwich Tern, 3 'Commic' Tern, 8 Black-legged Kittiwake, 5 Northern Gannet, 2 Common Murre, 2 unidentifiable Auk, 10 Common Scoter and 20 Pale-bellied Brant Goose. I was really surprised not to get a Skua. On Maer Rocks were 3 Purple Sandpiper and a totally knackered looking Male Northern Wheatear. He didn't move for quite some time. I checked back in on him from time to time and started to get concerned as the tide was starting to cover the Rocks. He left it until a moment or 2 before the Rocks were covered to muster up the strength to fly off towards the Maer, phew!

Northern Gannet  

Common Tern   

Little Tern (Honest) 

Northern Wheatear (Male)  

Purple Sandpiper  

Group of Purple Sandpiper

Common Scoter (Male)

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
A brief visit before calling it s day didn’t provide much more than a White Wagtail and 2 Eurasian Rock Pipit on the dung heap and a Common Whitethroat on Gore Lane. Matt Knott had a fruitless look around the top fields and was heading towards Bristol School Camp as I left. I’m not sure yet if that area was any better.

Snow Goose (In The Snow) And A Well Earned Bonaparte’s Gull

Powderham, Devon
I managed to get a few hours out (or should I say off family duties) so I could have a look at the Snow Geese at Powderham Corner. I arrived just as a bit of a snow shower kicked off (appropriate I guess) after the flurry easied off the 2 Snow Geese decided to come out of the ditch they were hiding in. I found myself wondering if these were the same 2 birds that I saw with my mate Pete at Maer Lake, St Ives, Cornwall last November. I’m not sure what the final thoughts on those where. Well no matter what the origin of these birds, they were nice to observe. I managed a couple of aweful record shots.

Snow Goose

Snow Goose

Exmouth quay, Devon
I then decided to give the Bonaparte’s Gull another go and was only at the quay for 10 minutes and my luck was in as it flew past the quay and in to Shelley Beach. A very quick look off Shelley Beach was fruitless. I’ve tried for this bird countless times this year so I’m pleased I had (brief) but close views of the bird in flight.

Treecreeper And Another Failed Attempt

Bystock Pools, Devon
An hours walk around the meadow and bordering woodland area produced 2 Eurasian Nuthatch, a very vocal Male European Green Woodpecker, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a few Coal Tit and what I hoped to see, 2 Eurasian Treecreeper (my first of the year).

Exmouth seafront and quay, Devon 
Another failed look for the Bonaparte’s Gull. This is becoming a bit of a bogey bird for me this year! Nothing else of note except the usual Gull species, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Great Cormorant.

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.