Part-time Birding: Common Greenshank

Showing posts with label Common Greenshank. Show all posts

Garganey

Lower Otter Restoration Project, Devon

I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for a few weeks but Ben Rowland got me out of the house for a few hours this morning. We were after yesterday's reported Male Garganey. We walked up the footpath from the White Bridge with no sign. Several others had also not see the bird. Whilst looking We spotted a few Water Pipit, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank and Common Snipe. Whilst up near the new viewing platforms a few people said that there were a few birders on the Garganey and they had been asked to let us know. So we promptly made our way back towards the White Bridge to be put straight on to the bird sleeping close to the path.

And awesome morning as it really helped my mental health to be out in nature with great company. The Road to recovery is tough but I'm getting there.

Garganey (Male)

Back out again

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon

I haven't done much birding over the last month due to severve back and shoulder issues that I need an operation on. But today I felt mobile enough to get out so I opted for this site as its nice and flat and easy. There wasn't anything to talk about from the island hide apart from a fly through Eurasian Sparrowhawk. However, the tower hide was a bit more productive with numerous Common Ringed Plover, a single Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Grebe and a sleepy Common Greenshank.

Common Greenshank

Greater White-fronted Goose

Exminster Marsh, Devon

I took a quick walk along the railway path this evening. Lots of Barn Swallow, Common House Martin and Sand Martin. Several Common Reed Warbler were the first birds to treat me. Then a got the briefest of views of the long staying Greater White-fronted Goose before it headed back into a ditch. A single Eurasian Whimbrel was hanging about with Eurasian Curlew. Several Common Swift few overhead. Ans a single Common Greenshank.

Curlew Sandpiper

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon

An evening look around produced a Little Stint, Green Sandpiper, Common Ringed Plover, a Red Knot, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Plenty of Dunlin and eventually a single Curlew Sandpiper.

Finally A Northern Wheatear, Some Nice Waders And A YL Gull

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon

I was in Exmouth on an errand and had literally 10 minutes to spare. So I popped here for a quick look. Since moving and lockdown, I haven't been here in ages. It felt nice to be back on a familiar site. The target was Northern Wheatear and since a load had been seen at Beer Head. I thought there had to be some here. Anyway, I was able to see a single bird in my 10 minutes there. Amazingly, due to lockdown. This was my first of the year.

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon

A quick visit this evening produced the Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper and Ruff from the viewing area before the island hide. Lots of Dunlin and Common Ringed Plover about I also bumped into Steve Waite that let me know of an adult Yellow-legged Gull from the tower hide. I picked it out but the light wouldnt let me get a great photo with my equipment. Also a single Common Greenshank and lots more Dunlin from this hide.

Little Stint

Yellow-legged Gull

Western Cattle Egret

Cockwood, Devon
I had a little time this lunchtime, so I popped to look for Western Cattle Egret. I saw an early report so checked out the marsh area between the A379 and Church Road. As the report stated, 27 birds were in the area.

Western Cattle Egret

Powderham Castle, Devon
I then popped here to look at the area as it was flooded. The usual wildfowl (no Egyptian Goose) and a few waders including several Common Greenshank.

Wood Sandpiper And A Nice Selection Of Waders

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
The Wood Sandpiper was reported late morning so after work I thought I would swing by on my way home. I only had my binoculars but obtained really nice views to the left of the hide with a few Green Sandpiper. On the main spit were a few Eurasian Whimbrel and Common Greenshank. A nice finish to the visit was a Ruff moulting out of summer plumage.

Caspian Tern And Spotted Redshank

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
After dipping twice on yesterday’s Caspian Tern, I was determined to get it in the bag today. So after work I headed to the marsh. It was busy to say the least so I ended up parking near the goat walk. Whilst there I had a quick scan and picked up 2 Little Tern heading in the viewing platform direction. Off I went for a look there to find a crowd that were on the bird on the opposite side of the river. Despite the bird having its back to us I was able to obtain really nice views. Whilst there I was informed that a summer plumage Spotted Redshank was showing well from the hide. With little time, I hot footed up there and got nice views of it with some Common Greenshank. Yesterday’s evening outing to the goat walk in search of the Tern gave me 19 Mediterranean Gull.

It has been nice to bump into a few birders over the last few days. Too many to mention but must say a huge well done to Matt Knott who found the bird (his second) well done that man, Mark Bailey has been giving great Twitter updates, Dave Stone for some good banter and my good pal Pete. I have to say thanks to Rob Murphy for constant text updates too. I know he is struggling to get to see it (a lifer bird too) but I hope it works out for him and Steph.

Caspian Tern

Bowling Green Marsh

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
It’s been a busy week this week so I was pleased to get a bit of birding in. A quick look after work from the viewing platform wasn’t very productive with the best on offer being a few Common Greenshank. I was hoping for Eurasian Blackcap along the lane but it was all rather quiet.

First Sand Martins And Western Cattle Egret

Exminster Marsh, Devon
A quick look from the viewing platform first thing for yesterday’s reported female Red-crested Pochard was unsuccessful. However, I was pleased to see my first Sand Martin of the year. Around 4 birds were going over the canal from the estuary to the marsh and back. The best of the wildfowl on the lagoon were 2 Nothern Pintail, several Gadwall and several Tufted Duck. The Snow Goose was in exactly the same place I saw it a week ago in the field near the Swans Nest.

Cockwood, Devon
After work, I decided to look for the 4 Western Cattle Egret reported on Twitter by local birder Dave Boult. They were apparently in a field at the rear of Cofton garage. The garage is just off the main Dawlish Road just past Cockwood (opposite the entrance to Cofton holiday park). I couldn’t locate any in the field but after a very brief search I located them with some Little Egret in a tree near the rear of the garage. I didn’t have my scope (left it in the car) but I could clearly make out 2 birds but I suspect that the others were there too.

I moved on to have a look off the railway steps in the hope of seeing Sanderling. Strangely a species I’ve not yet seen this year. No luck with the Sanderling but there were a few Mew Gull and the Horned Grebe. In the blight was a single Common Greenshank and towards Starcross, a small flock of Dunlin.

A Couple Of Bits Ands Bobs

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
My first day back in the office after a lengthy time working from home was a shock to the system, so I decided to have an early finish. I headed for Bowling Green Marsh in case the reported Gloosy Ibis had dropped in on the main lagoon but I was unsuccessful. There were 2 Pied Avocet on the furthest island. A sleeping Common Pochard with the also sleepy Tufted Ducks. A few Northern Pintail were dotted about too. From the viewing platform were more Pied Avocet and good numbers of Dunlin. 2 Mistle Thrush were in the field on the approach to the platform. A quick look from Goosemoor produced 10 Common Greenshank, surpringly my first of the year!

Red Crossbill

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
A visit to the hide first thing. Viewing is always hard on sunny mornings this time of the year as the sun is low and in yours eyes. However, good numbers of Eurasian Teal, a few Eurasian Wigeon, a single Common Greenshank and several Black-tailed Godwit dropped in. Apart from that it was rather quite and most birds were still rather sleepy.

Woodbury Common, Devon
A lightening visit to the model airplane area after work produced a few Common Chiffchaff, a feeding flock of Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit and Eurasian Blue Tit, singles of Eurasian Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Best of all was a brief view of a Red Crossbill. There were a few more around as I heard multiple calls but I couldn’t locate. I also noted large numbers of Dunnock. At one point around 15 were foraging together on the path. They have obviously done ok.

Wood Sandpiper Episode III

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
Hide
I popped to the hide before work and one of the Green Sandpiper was in front of the hide. A few Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Dunlin and a Stock Dove were about but not much else was on offer.

Green Sandpiper

Black-tailed Godwit

Viewing platform
A quick look produced 4 Common Greenshank and circa 40 Dunlin.

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon
I couldn’t resist a quick nip across to Seaton for the reported Wood Sandpiper. And on my third attempt this year I obtained awesome close views of a juvenile. I don’t know what it is about this Marsh but the Wood Sandpipers always show well. I bumped into Tim White who reminded me of a few years ago when there were 30 plus however last year there were no records. Also a showy Common Sandpiper was on offer.

Wood Sandpiper (Juvenile)

Common Sandpiper

Byron Way, Exmouth, Devon
I forgot to mention that my Common House Martin have fledged. I didn’t witness it but I believe 2 youngsters made their way out from the nest some time on Tuesday.

Spotted Redshank

Goosemoor, Topsham, Devon
I had a little look late afternoon for the reported Spotted Redshank and the bird was on show on the opposite side of the Estuary. A smart Summer plumage bird that spent a lot of time hidden in the channel. Apart from that the area was rather quiet bar a few Northern Lapwing, Common Redshank and a single Common Greenshank. A Broad-bodied Chaser put in a brief appearance as did a couple of Ringlets.

Spotted Redshank

Northern Lapwing

Eurasian Whimbrel And Common House Martin

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
I had to visit to the marsh today. This morning produced 2 year ticks. From the hide was a lovely Eurasian Whimbrel, from the road going from the hide to the viewing platform gate was a Male Eurasian Blackcap and on the path to the viewing platform a Female Eurasian Blackcap. There wasn’t much else from the hide except a pair of Northern Pintail and a pair of Gadwall and from the platform a Common Greenshank. Of note off the Goat Walk though was a single Pied Avocet and a flock of around 100 European Golden Plover. No Osprey, that I had hoped for.

This afternoons visit was only a quick one to the hide and I got my first Common House Martin fly through with a few Sand Martin and a few Barn Swallow lingered. Again not much else of note.

Whimbrel

European Golden Plover

Common Greenshank

Eurasian Curlew

Pied Avocet

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
I took my 9 year old daughter for a walk this afternoon. I was hoping that yesterday’s Little Ringed Plover would still be hanging about. Well if it was I didn’t see it. My daughter is actually really getting into birding more and more as she gets older. So she was pleased to see her first Pied Avocet, Northern Pintail and Common Greenshank.

Pied Avocet

Northern Pintail (Female)

Eurasian Wigeon (Female)

Common Greenshank

Ruff And Stuff

Bowling Green Marsh, Devon
A quick visit to see if the 2 Ruff were still around and my luck was in. They were either very active or obscured from view but did manage a record photo. Also of note was a Male Common Pochard, several Nothern Pintail, 3 Common Greenshank and 2 Little Grebe. Plenty of Northern Shoveler and Eurasian Teal, several Gadwall, 1 Greylag Goose, a few Tufted Duck, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Redshank.