Black-throated Loon

Otterton Sewage works, Devon 

I had an hours look around the works and coastal path. At the works on arrival was a Male Cirl Bunting. Lots of singing Eurasian Skylark where a pleasure to listen to on the way to the coastal path. On the sea was a single Black-throated Loon and 2 Razorbill. Back at the works on my way back to the car was a Willow Warbler. 

Cirl Bunting

Stantywell Farm, Otterton, Devon

I had an hour off work this pm as I needed a break. Having not seen Cirl Bunting for a while I thought this place would deliver. I walked down from the farm and staked out the usual field (with beehives in) with no joy. Loads of Common Linnet and Common Chaffinch around and Eurasian Skylark in the air. I had to start calling it quits and head home. At the first gate down front the farm I heard a familiar call. A bit of a scan and there was a Cirl Bunting, hiding rather well in the hedge. Just shows that despite their colour they can be well camouflaged when they want to. See if you can spot it.

Cirl Bunting (Male)

Manx Shearwater

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.

Eurasian Spoonbill

Coastal path near Otterton, Devon 

I had a few hours to spare this morning so I visited a few old haunts. I started at the sea watching ledge near the Sewage works. As it was high tide, my thought was possibly a good chance of some Loons. Not great quantity but singles of Common Loon and Red-throated Loon were enjoyed. A few Common Murre and Northern Fulmar plus a hunting Peregrine Falcon were also enjoyed. Unfortunately I didn't see any Common Scoter or Cirl Bunting.

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon 

Next I visited one of my old favourite areas when I lived in Exmouth. It was rather quite, with no sign of a Common Firecrest but a solo Lesser Redpoll was a nice consolation. 

Shelley Beach, Exmouth, Devon 

I had a lightening quick look for the Black Redstart with no success. 

Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon 

Finally, a look off here. As it was hight tide, it was nice to see a few Common Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstone and a single Dunlin close up. Out in the estuary were a few Great Crested Grebe but I couldn't locate the 2 Black-necked Grebe. The star bird was initially sleeping on arrival but a short wait meant great views of the Eurasian Spoonbill.

Eurasian Spoonbill

Eurasian Spoonbill 

Cirl Bunting

Stantywell Farm, Otterton, Devon 

I've not been able to birdwatch for nearly 2 weeks due to contracting Covid. Despite being double vaccinated, it was still not a pleasant experience. Today was the day of my freedom after isolation and after obtaining a negative test I was keen to get out. 

I decided to keep it simple and go somewhere very quite so I popped to Stantywell Farm. I gave the sea an optimistic look which drew a complete blank but I was entertained by a cracking Male Cirl Bunting along the footpath from the sewage works to the coastal path. Also in the fields was a nice Brown Hare. 

Not a trip for quantity but it didn't matter as it was so nice to get back out into the field and in the fresh air. 

I also had this cracking Silver Y moth in my garden the other day. 

Silver Y

Manx Shearwater

Otterton Sewage Works, Devon 

I had a 45 minute sea watching session from the cliffs near the Sewage works this evening. A bit of Manx Shearwater passage. All the groups totaled 36 birds. 2 Razorbill sat far out. 21 Common Scoter, 3 Sandwich Terns and 3 Northern Fulmar. Around the farmland were 8 Brown Hare and 2 Cirl Bunting.

Buntings And A Cattle Egret

Stantywell Farm, Otterton, Devon 

I had the day off today so I decided to venture outside of Ottery. I haven't visited Statywell Farm for some time and was so pleased to be back here. The main target was of course Cirl Bunting and I managed 6 individuals. Numbers are down from previous visits but the species is spreading further east, so its a good thing in my book. Other Bunting species also on site were a single Female Yellowhammer and Male Common Reed Bunting. A nice group of circa 30 Common Linnet, several Eurasian Skylark and 2 Stock Dove made the supporting cast. I was disappointed not to see Red-legged Partridge but a nice Brown Hare made me smile before I left.

Common Reed Bunting (Male)

Brown Hare 

Cirl Bunting (Male)

White Bridge, Budleigh Salterton, Devon 

I couldn't resist the lure of a long staying Western Cattle Egret, so I popped here to take a look. The bird showed very nicely in the first field with the cattle along with several Little Egret. Best views were from the path heading north of the White Bridge. Not much else of note but a Little Grebe from the Bridge was a welcome sight.

Western Cattle Egret 

European Stom Petrel

Otterton, Devon
I went for my daily exercise from Stantywell Farm to the coastal path near the sewage works this evening. In one of the fields just down from the farm were, 2 Red-legged Partridge and 2 Brown Hare.

A further 2 Brown Hare were seen further along. At the feeder at the sewage works was a stunning male Cirl Bunting and along the path to the coastal path was a nice female Common Whitethroat.

At the coastal path I scanned the sea. A few Northern Gannet and Northern Fulmar were far out and then whilst tracking a Black-legged Kittiwake, I picked up a small black bird just above the surface. It was initially heading straight towards me so my initial thought was Common Murre. However, the jizz was all wrong. The bird then tracked west and it because immediately obvious I was watching a European Storm Petrel. Not too shabby for a lockdown tick.

A Week Of Dipping Ducks And A Surprise

16th March - Labrador Bay, Devon 
I popped here first thing. Bad idea as the sum was low and directly shining on the mussel beds. It was so bright I couldnt look through my bins. I was obviously hoping for the Surf Scoter, Velvet Scoter and Long-tailed Duck. But I managed to dip all three species. A nice amount of Cirl Bunting around the car park area and a number of Great Crested Grebe in the parts of the bay I could scan without being blinded.

Cirl Bunting (Male)

Cirl Bunting (Male)

Orcombe point, Exmouth, Devon 
I popped here after work in the hope of a Northern Wheatear. None on site as it was a nice day so they perhaps just carried on through. Bumped into Matt Knott and as always, it was nice to have a quick chin wag. I did catch up with the Black-legged Kittiwake colony though.

17th March- Powderham Marsh, Devon 
I made a flying lunchtime visit to see the Green-winged Teal. It didnt show whilst I was there. Another dipped Duck. I did catch up with the Snow Goose and a couple of Cirl Bunting.

Butts Road, Ottery St Mary, Devon 
I couldnt sleep so I was in the back garden having a cigarette at 02:30 and heard a sistant strange call. I get Tawny Owl here most nights but this was different. After a few moments the call got nearer and I quickly realised it was a Little Owl. I'm going to have to check a few places in the area.

Today - Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 
Due to be advised to work from home and will be having the kids at home from Monday. I took a look here after work as I may not be out for a while. On the river were 2 White-throated Dipper, a Common  Kingfisher and Little Egret. No sign of any Common Merganser.

Around the trees in the area were a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Chiffchaff and Eurasian Nuthatch.

A Few Good Species

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon 
I popped here first after work as I was inspired by Matt Knotts finding. As Matt mentioned, it is looking good up there at the moment. My first find were 3 Lesser Redpoll, only brief views and then flight views before disappearing. Next was a pair of Eurasian Siskin. Then the bird I was hoping for, a cracking Common Firecrest. The only one I spotted but calls suggested many more on site.

Otterton Sewage Works, Devon
I decided to give this place a quick look on the way home. At the car park feeder was a stunning Male Cirl Bunting and a few Yellowhammer. Sea watching wasnt shabby either. A nice calm surface revealed 6 Red-throated Loon, 1 Black-throated Loon and plenty of Northern Fulmar.

Cirl Bunting (Male)

Red-throated Loon 

Yellowhammer (Female)

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Back In The Field

Sewerage Works, Otterton, Devon 
The sciatica got the better of me and I have been near enough housebound for a week. I’ve been going stir crazy, so as I felt a bit better today, I decided to venture out. I popped to the sewage works as it is flat and easy going. I was rewarded with a Female Cirl Bunting, a Male Yellowhammer and a Male Common Reed Bunting. They were all seen near the car park area.

Cirl Bunting (Female)

Hayes Barton Pig Farm, Yettington, Devon
On the way to the farm there were 2 Helmeted Guineafowl at Bicton. Around the farm were a decent number of Common Chaffinch. It was difficult to count the Common Chaffinch as they were very flighty. Also on site were a single Female Brambling and 1 Grey Wagtail. Just along the road I was stopped by a group of 3 Eurasian Bullfinch (1 Male and 2 Females) and I could resist a photo opportunity.

Eurasian Bullfinch (Male)

Eurasian Bullfinch (Female)

A Decent Selection At The Farm

Hayes Pig Farm, Yettington, Devon
A walk along the road and the public footpath at the farm after work. The place was quiet busy with bird activity. I guess the earlier dusting of snow in the area and the cold had brought them in towards the farm in search of food. There were circa 150 Common Chaffinch, a Female Brambling, several Common Reed Bunting, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Cirl Bunting, Circa 30 Redwing, several Fieldfare, 1 Grey Wagtail, a few Meadow Pipit, European Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

A Bird Friendly Farm

Otterton Sewage Works, Devon 
A look around before work gave a female Cirl Bunting, Male Common Reed Bunting and several Common Chiffchaff feeding bear the car park. Unfortunately the Cirl Bunting flew off whilst I was setting up the scope and didn’t return, so no photos. I have to say that the work that Stantywell farm is putting in to make it a bird friendly environment is doing something. Also on site were a few Eurasian Skylark.

Common Chaffinch (Female) 

Common Reed Bunting (Male)

Common Chaffinch (Male)

Hayes Barton Pig Farm, near Yettington, Devon 
A grey and wet after work visit didn’t produce much but a Grey Wagtail brighttened up the visit.

Red-throated Loon

Stantywell Farm And Otterton Coastal Path
A quick look after work. I started at Stantywell Farm in the hope of Cirl Bunting and Yellowhammer but I was not successful. Things picked up from the coastal path near the Sewage Treatment Works with a single Red-throated Loon, several Northern Gannet and Circa 30 Eurasian Skylark in the fields. As I was leaving around the area there were circa 30 Fieldfare looking to roost in a tree. Also of note is the fact that there is a healthy House Sparrow population around the farm.

Fieldfare 

Lots Of Wagtails

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I popped up for an hour this afternoon to discover a lot of Wagtails around the dung heap. The vast majority being Pied with a number of Meadow Pipits and a solitary Grey Wagtail. A decent flock of Common Linnet were also around this area. Around 20 Eurasian Skylark flew overhead as did a Common Kestrel. I only managed 1 Cirl Bunting though.

A New Year

A new year and a fresh list to complete. 1 popped to a few sites and managed 82 species. I won’t mention them all but the highlights were.

Matford Marsh, Exeter 
I thought I would pop here in the hope of last years boggie bird (Yellow-browed Warbler). No joy but there was a Common Chiffchaff that got me excited for a second or so. Around the marsh were Black-tailed Godwit, Tufted Duck, Little Egret, Peregrine Falcon, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Common Snipe.

Powderham Sawmill
Another go at last years boggie bird but again there was no Yellow-browed Warbler on offer but a group of 6 Red-legged Partridge were close by.

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham
A Little Gull off the Goat Walk was a welcome sight, also here were Pied Avocet, Red Knot, Grey Plover and Dunlin. Around the marsh were Redwing, Northern Pintail, Bar-tailed Godwit and Cetti’s Warbler. I didn’t stay long as it was far too overcrowded for my liking. I felt almost claustrophobic.

Orcombe Point, Exmouth 
A quick visit produced Cirl Bunting, Northern Raven and Meadow Pipit.

The Seafront, Exmouth
What is it about “We must all go for a walk on New Year’s Day?!” As again this place was far too busy (it was busier than I have ever seen it in the summer) so I didn’t hang about but did manage a distant Red-throated Loon

The Quay and Imperial Grounds, Exmouth 
Black Redstart, Common Eider, Mew Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Horned Grebe, Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser were the best on offer here.

Hayes Pig Farm, Yettington 
A quick visit got me a Brambling at the farm and a European Green Woodpecker nearby. A quick return visit to a site near the farm at dusk got me a Eurasian Woodcock.

Cirl Bunting

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I managed a quick look around Gore Lane after work until dusk. The 2 Cirl Buntings are still about and were feeding near the dung heap. They didn’t stick around for long and darted for cover in the hedge that follows the road when a juvenile Eurasian Sparrowhawk came bombing through. The bird stopped in the opposite field. I didn’t have my scope but managed this photo through my binoculars!

(Juvenile) Eurasian Sparrowhawk

A Very Odd Bunting

Powderham Marsh, Devon
My mate Pete alerted me to an odd bunting in the hedges of the third field from the car park. So after work I popped along for a quick look. On route I noted that there were large numbers of Common Pheasant. On arrival at the hedge I noted lots of activity. Several Common Reed Bunting, a single Female Cirl Bunting a Male Yellowhammer and Common Chaffinch were popping up after feeding in the field the other side of the hedge. The hedge in question is the one nearest the railway line and runs parallel with it. For anyone that knows the site well the field is the one just after the first feeding station.

I then noted the odd Bunting in question. It had its back to me but my first impression was that it appeared to be small looking. However on comparison with the Common Reed Bunting it was clear that it wasn’t. The head pattern was close to Little Bunting but it lacked any black markings and the brown crown stripe. It had a pink bill and pink legs and I noted a very distinctive white eye ring, which is a feature on winter Common Reed Bunting but again the rest of the head pattern didn’t seem to fit. From what I could see of the wings, no white wing bars were visible, which again pointed me away from Little Bunting. Sadly, I never got to see the front of the bird. The back pattern was very much Little Bunting looking. It flew off after a few moments and I had to leave as I needed to get home to run some errands. There was probably only about 15 minutes of decent daylight left anyway. I didn’t have my scope (unusual for me) to take a photo (not that I think it would have helped though as it was obscured most of the time).

A very odd bird indeed and I can’t put my finger on the ID. I have looked at lots of photos and articles, even looking at real out there species to no avail. The obvious possibilities are Common Reed Bunting or Little Bunting but I’m left thinking is it something more intriguing? I might have to pop back tomorrow armed with scope.

Cirl Buntings

Undisclosed site, Near Exmouth, Devon 
I had a quick visit after work to a site I know of that holds Cirl Bunting. Sorry to disappoint but due to sensitivity reasons I won’t digress where so please don’t comment asking. Anyway, there were 3 birds on offer. 1 male and 2 female. Try as I might I could only manage one half descent photo of a male.

Cirl Bunting (male)

Finches And Buntings Part II

Stantyway Farm, Otterton, Devon 
Had another dawn look around the Farm area. Again a large flock of Common Linnet, Common Chaffinch and European Goldfinch. No Brambling or European Greenfinch. Bunting wise, again a single Cirl Bunting, 4 Yellowhammer and C30 Conmon Reed Bunting. Couldn’t locate the odd looking one from yesterday, so perhaps it was just an odd looking Conmon Reed Bunting. Also a Mistle Thrush and Common Kestrel of note.

Yellowhammer

Common Linnet

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
An hour or so visit after work. From the goat walk and viewing platform. 4 Mew Gull, 5 European Golden Plover, numerous Pied Avocet, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank and 2 Little Egret.

Little Egret