Part-time Birding: Eurasian Magpie

Showing posts with label Eurasian Magpie. Show all posts

Lots And Lots And Lots Of Gulls

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
Had a doctors appointment after work so I could only manage a quick 30 minutes birding today. As Orcombe was the nearest decent place to spend that time I headed there. I guess I thought it’s the best option considering the time available and there’s always a chance of a late migrant. On arrival at Gore Lane the farmer was busy in one of the fields with 2 tractors on the go. The activity had attracted a huge amount of Gulls and corvids. There were probably around 400 Gulls with them all looking like European Herring Gulls. The Corvids were in smaller numbers (60 or so) And comprised of Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Javkdaw, Eurasian Magpie and a Northern Raven. There was not much else on offer apart from a calling Common Whitethroat that remained hidden. I said Hi to the Cows as I walked to the coastal path and took some more flower pictures. I was hoping for some butterflies but there was only a single Small White on offer.

Medick

Common Sorrel

Cut-leaved Cranes-bill

One Of Those Days

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I felt that the over night conditions were primed for a fall of migrants so I popped up first thing. The place was almost devoid of any bird life apart from a few European Herring Gull and Eurasian Magpie. As I have mentioned before on this blog, I have a real love / hate relationship with Orcombe. There can be weeks where I see nothing but it can also deliver the goods. Today was a day of nothing, so I headed to work with my tail between my legs.

Aylesbeare Common, Devon
After work I took a look around the common. I was hoping for Dartford Warbler. I had walked for 20 minutes down the left hand side of the reserve and in that time I hadn’t seen a bird. At this point I thought to myself “Spence, this is one of those days!” I continued towards the bottom of the reserve (where there are a number of pools) and had only seen 2 Carrion Crow and heard a singing Common Chiffchaff. Once I arrived at the pools things did improve slightly with a Male Eurasian Bullfinch, a Common Chiffchaff, 2 Eurasian Blue Tit and a Common Chaffinch.

On another note. My 9 year old daughter Brooke went on an orginised wildlife walk at Dawlish Warren today and was chuffed to see her first Osprey and Sand Lizard. It’s nice to see her really getting into her birds and wildlife. Her life list is now 62! Not bad considering she only started listing this year. Perhaps she’ll beat her Daddy one day?

I’m off to Portland area tomorrow so hopefully I will have a better day.

All About The Corvids

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I had an hours look around after work. Not a great deal on offer but I did enjoy close views of a Northern Raven,. Lots of Eurasian Magpie and Carrion Crow as ever. A few Eurasian Rock Pipits were in the new dung field and a few Eurasian Skylark were singing away in the top feild.