Cettis Warbler

St Saviours Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon

It's my birthday today so went for a good walk along the Otter. Near the water treatment area was several Eurasian Blackcap and Common Chiffchaff. A pair of Eurasian Bullfinch and a showy and noisy Cetti's Warbler. Further down river were 7 Common Merganser and 2 Grey Wagtail.

Common Merganser (Female)

Grey Wagtail

White-throated Dipper and Common Merganser

Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I decided to go to Cadhay Bridge for a late afternoon walk. In the wooded area was a Eurasian Treecreeper, a couple of Redwing were also about. On the river was a single female Common Merganser and 2 White-throated Dipper. 

Common Merganser

White-throated Dipper

White-throated Dipper

St Saviours Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I took a look along the river heading north from here. Just by the Otter Mill was a cracking White-throated Dipper accompanied by a Grey Wagtail.

Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I walked along the footpath going north of the bridge that has the river on your left and woods on your right. On the river we're 4 Common Merganser (2 pairs) and the woods held Eurasian Treecreeper and Eurasian Nuthatch.

Ring-necked Duck

Blackhill Quarry, Exmouth, Devon 

I was at my mum in laws when I heard news of 2 male Ring-necked Duck at the Quarry. I set off with no bins and hoped someone would be there. As luck would have it a chap was there and had one in his scope and he kindly let me take a peak. As we got chatting I discovered he was half Welsh and was a fellow Swansea City supporter and we had a brief footie chinwag. Hope to see him around again. 

Red-legged Partridge

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I haven't had any chance to make a dent in the 2022 year list, apart from the usual garden birds which has included Eurasian Jay, Redwing, Common Pheasant and a non tickable Indian Peafowl. I did pop to a few places late afternoon toady though. 

On the Road out of Ottery to Putts Corner (Hare and Hounds) in the first field on the left past the animal rescue centre were a group of 6 Red-legged Partridge. I was only on bins, so poor record shot below.

A few 100 metres south of St Saviours Bridge, wad a nice White-throated Dipper and 6 Common Merganser. 

Red-legged Partridge 

Common Merganser

Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 

An early evening walk from Cadhay Bridge to Taleford. At Cadhay Bridge were 3 Common Merganser (1 Male and 2 Females), 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Eurasian Nuthatch. Barn Swallow and Common  House Martin numbers are on the rise too. 

Common Merganser (Female)

Common Merganser (Male)

Stock Dove 

Common Merganser

Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I took a walk along the wooded area and bridge area after work. In the wooded area were a pair of Eurasian Nuthatch, lots of Goldcrest and Coal Tit. In the adjacent field was a pair of Stock Dove but best of all were 2 pairs of Common Merganser.

Common Merganser (2 pairs)

Common Merganser (Female)

Common Merganser

Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon

After work today, I took a walk out to Cadhay Bridge. I've been here a few times over lockdown this winter in search of Common Merganser with no luck. There were several birds here last winter so I was starting to get a bit worried this year. However, todays visit proved productive with 3 birds. A Male and 2 Females. A poor picture in poor light. Also a few Redwing in the area.

Common Merganser (Male and 2 Females)

A New Location

Footpath North From Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 

The family have done the walk in my last post a few times this week. However, there was nothing worth mentioning.

Today though, we tried a new footpath and managed to add a few species to my lockdown list. Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Black (pair) Common Merganser (pair) and unexpectedly a pair of Mandarin Duck. Also worthy of a mention were the vast amount of Common Chiffchaff.

Some Decent Stuff On The Otter

St Saviours Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 
After work I explored further along this area taking in Coleridge bridge. A single White-throated Dipper was taking a bath at the waters edge. One flyover Common Merganser and a single Grey Wagtail were the best on offer.

White-throated Dipper 

White-throated Dipper 

Exploring My Surroundings 2

Cadhay Bridge to Taleford, Devon 
I had a walk along this public footpath that takes in some of the river Tale. A Common Kingfisher seen from Cadhay Bridge was my first of the year. The Common Merganser were in their usual place. Along the river Tale path was a single Grey Wagtail. In one of the fields were 3 Stock Dove. Not much else to brag about but I see this as a great spot for White-throated Dipper.

Exploring My Surroundings

Cadhay Bridge to Otter Nurseries, Devon
I had more time to check the area out today and rain didnt halter things either. The Common Mergansers were in the same place but the number had increased to 10 (3 males and 7 females). They were joined by a Little Egret. I walked a fair way along the wooden public footpath and whilst I didnt see anything I wouldnt expect to see. It was nice to get a feel for the site. Lots of good habitats that include some great stubble fields that can be viewed easily from the path. I'll be keeping an eye on that area. I'm optimistic that this will prove to be a good site and time will tell I guess.

Common Merganser (males)

Common Merganser (male and females)

It was also nice too a number of Snowdrop dotted around.

Snowdrop

Common Merganser

Cadhay Bridge, Devon 
I've finally started to explore my Ottery surroundings. I have found a number of good habitats to look at but finding suitable parking is a real issue. Especially when your short on time. However, today I managed to park very near to the Otter river near Cadhay House. I was pouring down so I didnt get long here but I did see 5 Common Merganser (2 male and 3 female). It also looks good for the Eurasian Beaver. I'm looking forward to checking this site out more as it has river, grassland and wooded areas. Looks like good potential.

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 

Northern Goshawk And Willow Tit

Undisclosed site, Devon
I finished work very early as I had an appointment to go to which took less time than expected. So I decided to do a swift trip to a site I know that’s good for Northern Goshawk. It proved worth the visit as one was circling overhead as I parked up. I managed descent views of the bird for a few minutes before it drifted out of sight.

Stover Country Park, Devon
Time wasn’t really on my side but on the way home I stopped off at Stover for a lightening quick walk to the feeder and back. 15 Common Merganser were on the lake, 1 of them being a drake.

Common Merganser (Male)

Common Merganser (Females)

On the feeder (although it was devoid of seeds) were the usual species but it was nice to see both a male and female Eurasian Siskin and best of all, a Willow Tit. I initially put it down (obviously) as a Marsh Tit. However it came down to the platform (as someone had sprinkled seeds by the bench) and closer scrutiny showed that the crown was matt and not glossy. It’s cheeks were brilliant white and obviously larger, pale panels on the secondaries showed through and it was a warm buff colour underneath.

I managed a few other dreadful photos.

Great Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Eurasian Coot