Greater Scaup

Sowden Lane, Lympstone, Devon 

I wanted to look for the female Greater Scaup that has been on the river Exe for some time. Having read Matt Knotts blog it was clear it prefers this area. I couldn't locate the bird for some time but finally it popped up rather close. Also 6 Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Great Crested Grebe.

Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon 

I moved on in hope of seeing the 2 immature Common Eider. Again I had to put some time in before I picked them out very distantly. Also a single Common Scoter.

Greater Scaup (Female)

Common Eider And Water Pipit

Lyme Regis, Dorset
A late post from yesterday. I was in the area so it seemed rude not to have a quick look at the Common Eider. The bird showed at very close range.

Common Eider (Male)

 Common Eider (Male)

Otter estuary, Devon 
Today I managed a lightening quick walk from the white bridge to the hide. The usual suspects were on offer but I was pleased to nab a Water Pipit on the

Pied Avocet And Common Eider

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
A morning visit on Monday didn’t give up the Yellow-browed Warbler but from the hide was a single Ruff and few Dunlin in amongst the many Black-tailed Godwit flock and a nice raft of Pied Avocet.

Pied Avocer

Shelly Beach, Exmouth, Devon 
A quick look after work in the hope of a Black Redstart was unsuccessful. I guess it was hunkered down due to the presence of a Eurasian Sparrowhawk. On the estuary were a few Common Eider, with one individual at rather close range.

Dorset Delivers Again

A cracking “fill your boots” day out in Dorset.

Portland Harbour, Dorset 
First stop off in search of Loons and Grebes. It was rather quiet here but eventually a Black-throated Loon showed distantly. The only other bird of note was a Common Murre.

Sandsfoot Castle, Weymouth, Dorset 
My next stop proved better with a Common Loon, Horned Grebe, 6 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Black-necked Grebe.

Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset 
My main targets here were the Ring-necked Duck and Bearded Reedling. After two circuits of the Buddleia Loop I was giving up hope of the later but just near the visitor centre I heard the distinctive call and there were a Male and Female at real close quarters. They were often slightly obscured and due to the breeze, never ventured right to the top of the reeds. I absolutely adore this species and wish I could see them more often. A quick look of the pontoons along the main road gave me the other target bird. Mission complete! Also on site were good numbers of Common Pochard, Gadwall and Tufted Duck. I was surprised not to get a Mediterranean Gull though!

Bearded Reedling (Male)

Bearded Reedling (Female)

Bearded Reedling (Female)

Bearded Reedling (Female)

Lodmoor, Weymouth, Dorset 
Next stop off was for the Lesser Yellowlegs. I got straight on to this cracking bird and had nice close views for a few minutes but it flew off before a photo opportunity. Also onsite was a Male Western Marsh Harrier, Ruff and good numbers of Common Snipe.

Ruff

Maiden Castle, Dorchester, Dorset
I couldn’t resist stopping off here for Corn Bunting and the place didn’t disappoint as I got straight on to a group of circa 20 birds.

Lyme Regis, Dorset 
A final stop off to look for the apart showy Common Eider and boy is it showy. The bird was outside the harbour and gave nice views. I couldn’t locate any Purple Sandpiper or the earlier reported Black Redstart in the Bowling Green area.

Common Eider (Male)

FINALLY A Yellow-browed Warbler!

Decoy Country Park, Newton Abbot, Devon 
As I was going to go to Stover I decided to pop here to look for the Common Loon. After a decent search, there was no sign. I bumped into Charlie Fleming. I’ve seen many of his excellent photos over the years but we have never chatted before. It was a pleasure getting  to know him and we had a very good chinwag. I hope to bump in to him again sometime.

Stover Country Park, Stover, Devon 
I wanted to pop here as I love to see the Common Merganser and it didn’t disappoint with 4 pairs on site. Eurasian Siskin was about the best at the feeder and 2 pairs of Mandarin Duck were a nice addition too.

Mandarin Duck (Male and Female)

Cockwood
My next stop off to look for Common Eider and Common Goldeneye and both species showed (if not distantly).

Powderham Sawmills
I gave the area another go for the Yellow-browed Warbler and within 10 minutes the bird showed beautifully in the willows to the right of the concrete area outside Poppy’s Flower studio. I’m glad I have finally caught up with this lovely species as I was beginning to think I would never see another one again!

Powderham Corner
A final stop off to check through the Brant Goose. Nothing of interest that I could pick out as they were always distant. However, on the Estuary was a close Grey Plover and good numbers of Northern Pintail. In the fields on the way back to the main road were 2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk co hunting Thrushes (I think Redwing). They were both unsuccessful.

Grey Plover 

Common Eider

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
Not deterred by the poor quality of species from reports I had read from Berry Head this morning, I decided to give sea watching a quick go from the raised beach huts after work. It was initially very quiet and even with the sheltered position, very hard going. A few species finally gave themselves away in the form of a single and brief Balearic Shearwater and 2 Common Eider. And that as they say was that!

Common Eider (Males)

Little Tern

Exmouth Seafront, Exmouth, Devon

A quick visit this morning to have a look for yesterday’s Little Terns was unsuccessful. There was however one Common Eider. I could only manage this awful picture. 

Common Eider (Male)

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 

I then moved on to head to work but decided I had time for a lightening quick look from the hide. I was pleased that I did as there was a Ruff showing well in front of the hide that was quickly joined by 3 others. Nothing else of note apart from a calling Cetti’s Warbler in the reeds on the opposite side of the reserve. 

Ruff

Ruff

Exmouth Seafront, Exmouth, Devon

Another Little Tern text from Matt whilst I was in work made me ensure I was out of the office early! I arrived at the Seafront and nothing was on view. After around 10 minutes a group of Sandwich Tern moved across the bay from the Warren direction and in amongst them was a single Little Tern. Job done as they say.

Western Cattle Egret

Quay, Exmouth, Devon

An early morning look from the Quay in hope of the Bonaparte’s Gull proved fruitless but there were 2 Ruddy Turnstone scuttling around the edges near the dock and 1 Common Eider off the Warren.

Imperial ground, Exmouth 

I decided to move on to the Imperial ground area where on arrival there were good numbers of Gulls on the grass area. Many Black-headed Gulls and European Herring Gulls plus 4 Mew Gull but no Bonaparte’s Gull. The Brant Geese were in close by the seems grass area (car park) so viewed them from the car. Also there were a few Dunlin and Red-breasted Merganser. I then noticed a Little Egret and was watching that and noticed a smaller bird tucked away in the sea grass. The bird finally lifted its head to reveal a Western Cattle Egret! I watched it for a moment before deciding to take a photo. I have to take my photos via my iPhone through my scope. As I got out (slowly) to get my scope from the boot, the bird flew. I tracked it as it headed for the rugby ground. As it flew I was able to see the bird better and got all the features for the ID. I went to have a look at the rugby pitch but no joy. 

Quay, Shelley Beach and Imperial Ground, Exmouth, Devon 

After work I went back for another look for both the Western Cattle Egret and Bonaparte’s Gull at the Quay, Shelley Beach and Imperial Ground after work, with no success. There was however a Common Loon and Common Eider from the Quay.

Horned Grebe And A Missed Pipit

Quay, Exmouth, Devon 
An early morning look (at first light) from the quay provided me with distant views of the Long-tailed Duck. It was off shore from the Warren Point. Also 2 Common Loon, 2 Common Eider, several Common Scoter, several European Shag and Red-breasted Merganser. Distant views of the Horned Grebe near Cockwood and a few Great Crested Grebe. Numerous Gulls but nothing unusual.

Lympstone, Devon 
A look on the way to work in the Sowden Lane area (near the cycle track and rail bridge) gave very close views of several Brambling.

Topsham, Devon 
Had a look at the rec after work to see if the Water Pipit was around but no sign. Only bird of note was a single Common Sandpiper.

Half Descent Sea Watch

5th January 2018
Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon 
A Very brief sea watching session at first light for 30 minutes. 10 Common Scoter, one of which could have been a Velvet Scoter as I’m sure I had a flash of white on one but the choppy conditions and distance made it impossible to obtain a positive ID. Also of note, 3 Common Eider, too many Black-legged Kittiwake and Northern Gannet to count. Several each of Razorbill and Common Murre heading west. Disappointingly, no Loon species that I could see.