Budleigh Salterton to Exmouth cycle path, Exmouth, Devon
Took the kids for a bike ride today from Castle Lane to Littleham and back. As ever, I was noting the bird species. On the route were Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Common Buzzard, Song Thrush, Goldcrest and Eurasian Bullfinch. Around a third of the way along are a number of feeders. I’m not sure who keeps these stocked up by they were attracting a number of species including Eurasian Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit and House Sparrow. Also of note were 2 Fallow Deer in one of the fields.
Showing posts with label European Greenfinch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label European Greenfinch. Show all posts
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.
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.
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.
Undisclosed site, near Exmouth, Devon
A good evening with at least 6 European Nightjar. Churring, calling and wing clapping.
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.
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| Barn Swallows |
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.
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| Scarlet Pimpernel |
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.
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| 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!
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.
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!
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| Hawfinch (Female) |
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| Hawfinch (Female) |
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| Hawfinch (Female) |
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| Hawfinch (Female) |
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| Hawfinch (Female) |
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| Redwing |
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| Dunnock |
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| European Greenfinch (Female) |
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| Common Chaffinch (Male) |
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.
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| Black Redstart (Male) |
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| Black Redstart (Male) |
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| Black Redstart (Male) |
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| Eurasian Goldfinch |
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| Red Knot |
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| Red Knot |
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| Song Thrush |
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| White (Pied) Wagtail |
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.
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.
Dartford Warbler
Hawkerland Common
A quick scan with the scope from the entrance near the car park for Aylesbeare Common. On offer was a single European Stonechat, 7 European Greenfinch and a nice male Dartford Warbler (albeit very distant)
Aylesbeare Common
Around the common were 7 Yellowhammer, circa 50 Common Linnet and circa 30 Meadow Pipit. I had hoped for some Lesser Redpoll but again my luck was out on that front. They can be rather tricky to catch up with around here. On leaving there were 20 White (Pied) Wagtail drinking and pottering around a large puddle at the car park.
A quick scan with the scope from the entrance near the car park for Aylesbeare Common. On offer was a single European Stonechat, 7 European Greenfinch and a nice male Dartford Warbler (albeit very distant)
Aylesbeare Common
Around the common were 7 Yellowhammer, circa 50 Common Linnet and circa 30 Meadow Pipit. I had hoped for some Lesser Redpoll but again my luck was out on that front. They can be rather tricky to catch up with around here. On leaving there were 20 White (Pied) Wagtail drinking and pottering around a large puddle at the car park.
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.
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 Lots Of Them
East Budleigh Common, Devon
This last week I’ve had an urge to see Lesser Redpoll and have started to checkout the commons around Exmouth. Today was a walk after work was along the road that goes from Blackhill Quarry heading to Hayes pig Farm. Checking out all the trees produced no Lesser Redpoll but I did see the following. 2 male and 2 female Eurasian Bullfinch, 1 Eurasian Siskin, 4 Mistle Thrush and a large mixed Finch flock starting to get ready for roosting. In the flock were several Common Chaffinch and European Greenfinch with around 250 Common Linnet.
This last week I’ve had an urge to see Lesser Redpoll and have started to checkout the commons around Exmouth. Today was a walk after work was along the road that goes from Blackhill Quarry heading to Hayes pig Farm. Checking out all the trees produced no Lesser Redpoll but I did see the following. 2 male and 2 female Eurasian Bullfinch, 1 Eurasian Siskin, 4 Mistle Thrush and a large mixed Finch flock starting to get ready for roosting. In the flock were several Common Chaffinch and European Greenfinch with around 250 Common Linnet.
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| Common Linnet |
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| Common Linnet |
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.
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.
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!
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.
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| Red-throated Loon |
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!
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| 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)
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)
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| Brambling |
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