Up Close And Personal

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

No birdwatching today as had to put in an 11 hour day at work to complete some important reports. However, I did get up close and personal with an Eurasian Goldfinch. I was working at my desk in the kitchen dinner, when *THUD* I looked through the patio doors to find the poor thing flat out on it back on the patio. I initially thought it was dead but quickly noticed some eye movement. It was clearly knocked out cold. I decided to bring it indoors as we have a lot of cats in out area. Popped it in a open cardboard box with a teatowel to keep it warm. I kept an eye on it for 10 minutes and it seemed to be coming back to its senses. I careful picked it up and placed it on the lawn and stood guard for a moment before it took flight. It had a stronge straight flight so I am confident it will be OK. It maybe me me but it Starred at me for a moment before it took off, almost as if it was saying "Thanks" 

Eurasian Goldfinch

Slim Pickings

Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon 
A quick visit after work. The fields from the hide are flooded slightly at the moment and today held a number of Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew and Eurasian Wigeon but no sign of the Water Rail that’s been rather showy of late. Around the crop field were Common Linnet, Eurasian Goldfinch and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull. Nothing else of real note.

Not A Lot To Report

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon

I had an half hour look around at the crack of dawn but it was rather quiet. A Male Common Kestrel showed briefly near the coastal path, a few Meadow Pipits were mobile about the site as were a few Common Linnet and Eurasian Goldfinch. Not much else of note. I bumped into Matt Knott who was still on site when I left so he may have had more but I had to drag my sorry butt to work. 

Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon
Inspired by yesterday’s Lesser Redpoll. I decided to have another look around the fields and pond areas. The hide area proved most productive with 2 Green Sandpiper at the far end of the wetland area plus a Cetti’s Warbler seen but mostly heard to the left of the hide. A few Finches popped up on the surrounding trees but nothing interesting.

Green Sandpiper 

Green Sandpiper two individuals  

Common Linnet 

A Few Bits and Bobs And A Purple Hairstreak

Otterton, Devon
I had a quick walk along the path from the Sewage works to the coastal path. A few Butterflies of note included Speckled Wood, Comma, Ringlet, Small White, Large White, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown and Small Skipper. Bird wise, a Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew low over the field, Eurasian Skylark, Common Chaffinch and Eurasian Goldfinch.

 

Small Skipper  

Field Bindweed  

Bystock Pools, Devon
I moved on for a quick look around the meadow and adjacent woodland. A few Eurasian Nuthatch and a single Great Spotted Woodpecker were the best birds of note but it was the Butterflies and Moths that stole the show with Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Comma, Gatekeeper, Small White, Meadow Brown, Silver-washed Fritillary and best of all a Purple Hairstreak. Moths produced large numbers of Six-spot Burnet a Garden Tiger and a few I’m working on the ID as moths are still a work in progress for me.

Silver Y (Thanks for the help Matt)  

Yet to ID Moth 

Greater Burdock    

Alder Spittlebug 

Tree Bumblebee?

East Devon Commons

Lympstone Common
A morning visit near the top of Bystock reserve produced a few Yellowhammer but little more. Near Yettington I spotted a few Barn Swallow resting on a wire.

Barn Swallows

Woodbury Common
A before work visit. I’m not going to give exact location details but I parked at the model aircraft car park. A Spotted Flycatcher and a daytime churring European Nightjar were the best on offer and both within a few meters of each other. I had another look after work and had the European Nightjar churring again but no sign of the Spotted Flycatcher. Both trips produced a Eurasian Jay, a few Common Linnet, Coal Tit, European Greenfinch and Eurasian Goldfinch.

Uphams Plantation, Yettington, Devon
After visiting Woodbury Common after work I popped here for a quick look. Lots of Brimstone on the wing and a Eurasian Hobby came through at speed but rather quiet otherwise.

Scarlet Pimpernel   

Woodbury Common, Devon
An evening walk from the model aircraft car park. Again European Nightjar churring and also a Garden Warbler. Also a Willow Warbler (well that was what call it was kind of giving) with black legs.

Willow Warbler with black legs 

Undisclosed site, near Exmouth, Devon
A good evening with at least 6 European Nightjar. Churring, calling and wing clapping.

Hawfinch And Black Redstart

Topsham Cemetery, Devon
As it was freezing this morning I thought I would try my luck with the Hawfinch before work. I have tried a few brief attempts but had no luck. Today that luck changed. There were at least 6 birds (I suspect there were more as they were quite mobile at one point) I managed to get some descent on the ground views but my photo wasn’t great at all. When they got mobile, I was joined by Dave Stone as we tried to pin them down. Nice to catch up with Dave and share some sighting details. A few other bits and bobs were around the cemetery, including European Greenfinch, Regwing, Song Thrush and Goldcrest. I finally had to drag myself away and get to work!

Hawfinch (Female)

Hawfinch (Female) 

Hawfinch (Female)  

Hawfinch (Female)

Hawfinch (Female)

Redwing

Dunnock 

European Greenfinch (Female) 

Common Chaffinch (Male)

Budleigh Salterton Cricket Pitch, Devon
After work I was torn between looking here or having another look for the Corn Bunting at Orcombe Point. I was pleased with my decision as on the left hand side of the Cricket pitch was a stunning Male Black Redstart. I managed a few (very distant shots) and it was very mobile. The Tawny Owl was roosting in its usual tree and also of interest was a lonely Red Knot on the Estuary near the picnic tables. Matt Knott text me to say that the Corn Bunting was still on site. Think I will take another look at it tomorrow.

Black Redstart (Male)

Black Redstart (Male) 

Black Redstart (Male)    

Eurasian Goldfinch 

Red Knot 

Red Knot 

Song Thrush 

White (Pied) Wagtail 

More Snow

Exnouth, Devon
I didn’t get out birding but did walk to my mum in law and then my Sister in laws. There were a fair few birds on the move west mid morning, obviously aware of what was coming our way. The numbers weren’t anywhere near the last snow event but of note were Redwing, Fieldfare and Common Starling.

I put out extra food and had a flock of 15 Eurasian Goldfinch gladly scoffing away. I don’t get too many of them around me so this flock was a welcome sight. I do hope they all make it.

I feel for the migrating species at the moment. Can you imagine travelling hundreds (if not into the thousands) of miles, being absolutely exhausted then having to face this? It will no doubt take its toll. Then there’s the early breeders like Common Blackbird that will also suffer from this. We’ve had no serious snow for around 8 years and then we are blasted with 2 major events a few weeks apart. I just hope the losses aren’t too bad this time.

Home Working

Byron Way, Exmouth, Devon
I spent the day working from home to complete a 5000 word assignment on leadership styles and when to use them..... YAWN. I was hoping to get out for an hour but birding was rained off. However, I do have a descent view and managed to see the following in the garden and trees at the back of adjacent street. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 European Green Woodpecker, 4 Eurasian Goldfinch, 1 Goldcrest, a party of 10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Eurasian Blue Tit, 3 Great Tit, 1 Song Thrush, 4 Common Blackbird and 2 European Greenfinch which aren’t that common in my garden. So that did break up my assignment day.

The Little Guys Made It

County Hall, Exeter, Devon
Whilst having a cigarette break in work, I watched a large party of mixed birds feeding. In the flock were, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Tit, 3 Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Eurasian Wren. So it was very encouraging to see that the smaller species in that area had made it through the rough weather. Also around the site throughout the day were, 8 Common Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 European Green Woodpecker, 1 Eurasian Jay and a few Eurasian Goldfinch.

Buzzard Quest And Bramblings

A3052 near Crealy, Devon
After my interesting Buzzard from yesterday. I had a look at a few locations around Crealy (before and after work) without a sniff of any sort of Buzzard. I will keep looking (As long as the snow holds off) even just to put it to bed as an odd looking Buzzard. I know there are some birds that you just have to let go but I don’t like to let go without a fight!

Uphams Plantation, near Yettington, Devon
I gave up on the Buzzard quest with just enough time for another quick walk around the plantation. I arrived just in time to catch the Finches coming in and start to roost. Numbers of Common Linnet and Common Chaffinch were quite a bit lower than my last visit but Brambling numbers were slightly up with C40. Also 2 Goldcrest and 10 Eurasian Goldfinch but no Red Crossbill today.

Fieldfares And Siskins

Bicton and Woodbury Commons
An hours circular walk from the model airplane car park to Uphams plantation car park then across the road and back up to the model airplane car park. Around 30 Common Linnet, 3 Eurasian Siskin, a few Eurasian Goldfinch and European Greenfinch over head. Not much else to report apart from a flock of around 50 Fieldfare circling about looking to settle down for the night.

Finches And Buntings

Water treatment plant, Otterton, Devon
A dawn visit to the coastal path produced 4 Red-throated Loon, a Northern Fulmar, 10 European Shag and 10 Eurasian Skylark in the fields.

Red-throated Loon

Stantyway Farm, Otterton, Devon 
On my way back to Otterton I was drawn by a large mixed Finch and Bunting flock around the farm / football pitch. The flock comprised of 1 male and 4 female Brambling, C40 Common Chaffinch, C100 Common Linnet, C10 Eurasian Goldfinch, 3 European Greenfinch, C20 Common Reed Bunting, 4 Yellowhammer and a Cirl Bunting. An interesting, unidentified Bunting was also briefly seen and I will be having another look tomorrow. Frustratingly I couldn’t get a photo!

Common Reed Bunting

Bramblings Galore

Lympstone, Devon
I managed a very quick look at the Sowdon Lane area (by the cycle path) of Lympstone after work and had the large flock of C50 Brambling. They were very mobile between the sunflower field and trees by the Railway line. Plenty of  Common Chaffinch in the flock and a few European Greenfinch and Eurasian Goldfinch. Also a single Common Reed Bunting (my first of the year)

Brambling