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.
Showing posts with label Eurasian Wigeon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eurasian Wigeon. Show all posts
Black Redstart And Caspian Gull
Exmouth Leisure Centre, Exmouth, Devon
I had a quick look this morning to see if anything tasty was sheltering from the storm. There were a group of Ruddy Turnstone on the shoreline, 6 close in Great Crested Grebe and high numbers of Brant Goose and Eurasian Wigeon. I was unable to photograph everything as the heavens opened and I got totally drenched in just a few seconds. To the point that I needed to pop home and change before setting off to work. I even had to put a bin bag on my car seat to stop my fresh clothes from getting wet. The joys of birding!
Shelley Beach, Exmouth, Devon
After work I popped along to see if any of the Black Redstarts were about. On arrival a female was showing rather well. I was setting up to take a photo when I got a text from Matt Knott about a Caspian Gull On Mudbank. So I quickly headed back to the car.
Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon
On arrival Matt has already moved on so I scanned the area. No sign of the Caspian Gull and in fact there were very few large Gulls about. Despite this, I decided to hang about and scan the masses of Wildfowl. In amongst the Brant Goose and Eurasian Wigeon good numbers of Northern Pintail were noted. A few Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstone and Common Redshank were around the shore. After about 20 minutes, a few large Gulls dropped on the water. I scanned them all and in typical fashion, the last one was the Caspian Gull. None of them hung around long enough for a photo and they headed off to what was left of the sandbar near Starcross. Light was awful by this point so I couldn’t pick it out. Another nice find by Matt and I came away pleased with my ever so brief views.
I had a quick look this morning to see if anything tasty was sheltering from the storm. There were a group of Ruddy Turnstone on the shoreline, 6 close in Great Crested Grebe and high numbers of Brant Goose and Eurasian Wigeon. I was unable to photograph everything as the heavens opened and I got totally drenched in just a few seconds. To the point that I needed to pop home and change before setting off to work. I even had to put a bin bag on my car seat to stop my fresh clothes from getting wet. The joys of birding!
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| Ruddy Turnstone |
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| Ruddy Turnstone |
After work I popped along to see if any of the Black Redstarts were about. On arrival a female was showing rather well. I was setting up to take a photo when I got a text from Matt Knott about a Caspian Gull On Mudbank. So I quickly headed back to the car.
Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon
On arrival Matt has already moved on so I scanned the area. No sign of the Caspian Gull and in fact there were very few large Gulls about. Despite this, I decided to hang about and scan the masses of Wildfowl. In amongst the Brant Goose and Eurasian Wigeon good numbers of Northern Pintail were noted. A few Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstone and Common Redshank were around the shore. After about 20 minutes, a few large Gulls dropped on the water. I scanned them all and in typical fashion, the last one was the Caspian Gull. None of them hung around long enough for a photo and they headed off to what was left of the sandbar near Starcross. Light was awful by this point so I couldn’t pick it out. Another nice find by Matt and I came away pleased with my ever so brief views.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon
A quick look after work. The tide was out and everything was up Estuary, so I walked up the railway footpath to view. Really high numbers of Eurasian Wigeoan and Brant Goose (a couple of which were Pale-bellied). I’m still looking out for a Black Brant and I still can’t seem to catch up with a Red-Crested Pochard. Good numbers of Black-tailed Godwit and Northern Pintail but nothing else of real note. On arrival though I was treated to a stunning rainbow.
A quick look after work. The tide was out and everything was up Estuary, so I walked up the railway footpath to view. Really high numbers of Eurasian Wigeoan and Brant Goose (a couple of which were Pale-bellied). I’m still looking out for a Black Brant and I still can’t seem to catch up with a Red-Crested Pochard. Good numbers of Black-tailed Godwit and Northern Pintail but nothing else of real note. On arrival though I was treated to a stunning rainbow.
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| Stunning Rainbow |
Wildfowl Numbers Are On The Up
Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon
I havent been here for a few weeks so I decided to have a quick look after work. Eurasian Wigeon Numbers were very high with my best guess being around 900 plus birds. Around 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Northern Pintail and nice to see the Brant Goose numbers rising with a few hundred birds on site.
Well I’m off to hopefully see the Brown Shrike in Cornwall tomorrow. It has so far answered my prayers and stuck around. Just one more day please!!
I havent been here for a few weeks so I decided to have a quick look after work. Eurasian Wigeon Numbers were very high with my best guess being around 900 plus birds. Around 30 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Northern Pintail and nice to see the Brant Goose numbers rising with a few hundred birds on site.
Well I’m off to hopefully see the Brown Shrike in Cornwall tomorrow. It has so far answered my prayers and stuck around. Just one more day please!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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| Pied Avocet |
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| Northern Pintail (Female) |
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| Eurasian Wigeon (Female) |
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| Common Greenshank |
American Wigeon Again!
Matford Pools, Exeter, Devon
After work I decided to take another look at the American Wigeon. This time around it was showing nicely on the left of the first pool. Also of note were a Stock Dove, several Common Snipe, a few Northern Lapwing, a few Eurasian Curlew and Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Exminster Marsh, Exminster, Devon
A made a quick stop here but nothing of any note.
After work I decided to take another look at the American Wigeon. This time around it was showing nicely on the left of the first pool. Also of note were a Stock Dove, several Common Snipe, a few Northern Lapwing, a few Eurasian Curlew and Lesser Black-backed Gull.
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| American Wigeon (Male) |
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| American Wigeon (Male) |
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| Eurasian Wigeon (Male) |
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| Northern Lapwing |
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| Great Cormorant |
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| Tufted Duck (Male) |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Canada Goose |
Exminster Marsh, Exminster, Devon
A made a quick stop here but nothing of any note.
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| Common Moorhen |
White-throated Dipper
Ludwell Valley, Exeter, Devon
A quick stop off after work at the Topsham road end got me quickly on to 2 White-throated Dipper in the brook. It never ceases to amaze me how the birds make a living in the city. It’s unfortunately not the cleanest of brooks but fair play they get on with it.
Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
Spent a bit of time around the Marsh. Lots of Eurasian Wigeon and Eurasian Teal. A few Tufted Ducks and Northern Shoveler. Standout birds were a single Common Pochard, 3 Common Snipe, numerous Northern Pintail and as I was leaving close to dusk a Eurasian Sparrowhawk hunting the hedges around the road near the hide.
A quick stop off after work at the Topsham road end got me quickly on to 2 White-throated Dipper in the brook. It never ceases to amaze me how the birds make a living in the city. It’s unfortunately not the cleanest of brooks but fair play they get on with it.
Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
Spent a bit of time around the Marsh. Lots of Eurasian Wigeon and Eurasian Teal. A few Tufted Ducks and Northern Shoveler. Standout birds were a single Common Pochard, 3 Common Snipe, numerous Northern Pintail and as I was leaving close to dusk a Eurasian Sparrowhawk hunting the hedges around the road near the hide.
American Wigeon
Matford Pools, Exeter, Devon
Finally caught up with the American Wigeon on a visit after work. The Eurasian Wigeon flock were at the back of the pool from the viewing platform. They were obscured from view for a lot of the time but the bird eventually gave decent (if not distant) views. The only other birds of note were 2 Common Snipe and a group of 7 Mistle Thrush.
Seafront, Exmouth, Devon
A late afternoon (almost dusk) sea watch from near the clock tower, produced 2 Red-throated Loon. I still haven’t managed to catch up with the Long-tailed Duck anywhere on the Exe as yet though.
Finally caught up with the American Wigeon on a visit after work. The Eurasian Wigeon flock were at the back of the pool from the viewing platform. They were obscured from view for a lot of the time but the bird eventually gave decent (if not distant) views. The only other birds of note were 2 Common Snipe and a group of 7 Mistle Thrush.
Seafront, Exmouth, Devon
A late afternoon (almost dusk) sea watch from near the clock tower, produced 2 Red-throated Loon. I still haven’t managed to catch up with the Long-tailed Duck anywhere on the Exe as yet though.
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