Little Stint

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon 

I have been on holiday in North Devon all week. In Watermouth. Disappointingly, not a lot to talk about to be honest. Best on offer were Grey Wagtail, Marsh Tit, Northern Raven and Eurasian Rock Pipit. So it was nice to get to a familiar site and see a Little Stint this evening. It spent most of its time sleeping with a few Dunlin until a couple of Common Moorhen trampled through and disturbed the lot. It then gad to show (although distantly). 

Little Stint (Middle bird)

Northern Wheatear

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
A very quick look at the dung heap this afternoon was rewarded with a pair of Northern Wheatear and a Eurasian Rock Pipit. I was hoping for Western Yellow Wagtail but no such luck.

Northern Wheatear (Male)

Northern Wheatear (Male)

An OK Reward For Zero Effort

Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon 
I’m a very outdoorsy person and being house bound has been driving me insane! So after I had finished what I could do work wise at home I decided to pop to Lime Kiln Car Park in the hope of an easy Common Ringed Plover and I wasn’t disappointed as one was feeding in a channel near the car park. There were a few Eurasian Rock Pipit but nothing else of note.

Woodbury Common, Devon
I moved to the model airplane car park and just hung around in the hope that something good would come to me. It was actually a good decision as there was a Female Brambling in with the Common Chaffinch. I was super chuffed when 2 Female Red Crossbill landed briefly on a tree next to the car park. I finished off with circa 100 Fieldfare overhead 6 of which dropped in on the car park trees. So my sciatica isn’t stopping me from seeing some good stuff and I’m able to do it with virtually no  effort. I’m just pleased to be able to get out even if it is extremely gentle birding and for a very short period.

Another Interesting Gull

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I had a look around this afternoon, as the winds seemed ok for a sea watching session. I aimed for the coastal path and after a while I realised there was nothing doing. Next I thought I would check the dung field. There were a lot of European Herring Gull a Meadow Pipit and a Eurasian Rock Pipit. With not much else there I decided to walk down Gore Lane in the hope of something sheltering in the hedges.

As I got to the gate next to the lane that leads to the camp I noted quite a few more Gulls in that field. I scanned through with my binoculars and picked out a very unusual Gull. It looked like a smaller European Herring Gull and had a red bill. At this point I was torn between setting my scope up for a picture or keep looking. I (in hindsight) regrettably opted for the latter. I was trying to assess the leg colour but that was hampered by the length of the grass. However what I did glimpse, seemed to be a dark colouration. The Gull looked slender in build and I did clock that the primaries seemed to have white tips. At this point I thought “I need to get a photo of this” so I slowly started to get my scope off my back and set it up. With that the bird (and the whole group) took flight.

I managed to track the bird as it flew off towards Foxholes. I stayed a while in the hope it would return (as many other birds did) but it didn’t. I had a quick look in the field that approaches the camp and in the dung field (in case it had doubled back) but no joy. I also took a drive around Foxholes (just in case) but again, no joy.

Now if I look at any text, this bird should be an Audouin’s Gull. A big call I know! So at present, I’m not calling it as I don’t have enough proof. Needless to say, I will be checking Orcombe out again first thing!

Corn Bunting

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I worked from home due to the snow and at late lunchtime I was pleased with how thinks had panned out. The reason for being was that I received a text from Matt Knott that he had a Corn Bunting in the new dung field. I had very little time so I set off with my binoculars and drove up. All the roads in Exmouth were clear at this point so I hoped Maer Lane and Gore Lane were passable. It’s turns out the route up from the lifeboat station is flooded, which it has been quite a lot over the last few weeks. Luckily I always come in from the Littleham direction so all was well. I bumped into Matt whilst I was there as he had just returned from a walk around and we both got straight into the bird sitting in some snow on the right hand side of the dung heap. It was bitterly cold so we both had watery eyes so  not the greatest of views but still a delight as this is a real rarity for Devon and indeed my first sighting in Devon.

I did manage another quick look later on (armed with gear to get a photo) but the best I could manage was a few very brief flight views. So no photo. Also a few Meadow Pipits and Eurasian Rock Pipit.

As ever, thanks to Matt for the text. I owe you a pint for that find mate.

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.

Eurasian Rock Pipit

Eurasian Magpie 

Northern Raven

Northern Raven 

Mediterranean Gull

A3052 near Crealy, Devon
After my interesting Buzzard on Sunday I decided to have one more look after work but no joy. I guess it will have to go down as a WTF was that bird.

Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon 
I decided to give the Otter a look over to see what Gulls we’re hanging about. On arrival there were 4 Common Ringed Plover resting on the edge of one of the channels. They were accompanied by 2 Dunlin and there were several Common Redshank around. I moved up the footpath, to the first viewing platform and noticed a few Gulls on the river but they were obscured for a lot of the time. In amongst the Black-headed Gulls was a smart adult winter Mediterranean Gull (my first of the year). Try as I might I couldn’t get a photo. The Tawny Owl was roosting in a hole in one of the larger trees to the right hand side of the scrapes. Also on the river was a Little Grebe, some Eurasian Wigeon and Eurasian Teal.

The Gulls looked like they would be viewable from the beach path so I relocated but once I got there they had mostly cleared off. There were however 18 Brant Geese close in and a very brave Eurasian Rock Pipit.

Common Ringed Plover

Eurasian Rock Pipit

Brant Goose

European Herring Gull

Water Pipit

Cricket pitch, Budleigh Salterton, Devon

After work, Matt Knott alerted me to a Water Pipit that he had viewed earlier in the day. I happened to be up the road looking for the Italian Sparrow at the time. Having already seen the Sparrow a few times, I thought I would give it a miss and decided to head over and have look for the Pipit.

On arrival there were a number of Eurasian Rock Pipit and White (Pied) Wagtail feeding on the Cricket pitch but I couldn’t locate the Water Pipit. Around 30 Common Linnet and a single European Greenfinch were chattering away in the hedges / trees around me.

I then moved to the scrape in the hope it was feeding there. Again no sign but had nice views of 2 Common Snipe. There were good numbers of Gulls comprising of Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, European Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull. A few Northern Lapwing and a single Eurasian Curlew were busy pottering about. I didn’t see any Common Ringed Plover, which I half expected to see on the scrape. 

After a short while, I decided to locate back to the pitch and on the first scan I picked out the Water Pipit. It was rather distant and I tried to get a picture but (I know my photos aren’t great) none are worthy of posting. Nevertheless a nice bird that I don’t get to see that often. So it was great to have had the opportunity. Thanks to Matt for the info.

Finally.... A Stonechat

Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon
A very swift lunchtime walk to the hide, gave me my first European Stonechat of the year. I can’t believe it’s taken me until now to see one! 2 individuals feeding in the reeds to the left of the hide. From the hide 10 Northern Lapwing, C30 Eurasian Curlew and a few (very frozen looking) Eurasian Teal.

Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon
A walk after work for the white bridge to the mouth of the estuary. 4 Little Grebe around the bridge, a single Northern Lapwing on the scrapes near the hide, 2 Eurasian Rock Pipit on the cricket pitch, a group of Brant Goose near the estuary mouth and a calling (but not seen) Tawny Owl in the direction of the farm shop, were the best of the bunch.