Buntings And A Cattle Egret

Stantywell Farm, Otterton, Devon 

I had the day off today so I decided to venture outside of Ottery. I haven't visited Statywell Farm for some time and was so pleased to be back here. The main target was of course Cirl Bunting and I managed 6 individuals. Numbers are down from previous visits but the species is spreading further east, so its a good thing in my book. Other Bunting species also on site were a single Female Yellowhammer and Male Common Reed Bunting. A nice group of circa 30 Common Linnet, several Eurasian Skylark and 2 Stock Dove made the supporting cast. I was disappointed not to see Red-legged Partridge but a nice Brown Hare made me smile before I left.

Common Reed Bunting (Male)

Brown Hare 

Cirl Bunting (Male)

White Bridge, Budleigh Salterton, Devon 

I couldn't resist the lure of a long staying Western Cattle Egret, so I popped here to take a look. The bird showed very nicely in the first field with the cattle along with several Little Egret. Best views were from the path heading north of the White Bridge. Not much else of note but a Little Grebe from the Bridge was a welcome sight.

Western Cattle Egret 

Unusual Urban Birding

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I haven't blogged for a while. In fact, I haven't birded for a while either. Work commitments and illness have gotten in my way. 

I have only been on few walks around my estate. I have of course been watching the garden and the main order of the last few weeks have been. Redwing, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a flyover Little Egret. 

On today's lunchtime walk though I came across something that I have heard calling of late. A few streets away I came across an usual site. An Indian Peafowl. This female was rather at home wandering the street and pottering about in gardens. Not quite what you would expect from urban birding.  

Indian Peafowl (Female)

A Nice Long Walk

Ottery St Mary Area, Devon
The whole family went for a long walk after home schooling. We followed public footpaths from the bottom of Butts Road. Through the farm fields towards Fairmile Lane to the Otter River. We then followed the Ottery up to Cadhay Bridge and back home.

So added to my lockdown list were the following species.

Coal Tit
Little Egret
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Barn Swallow
Stock Dove
Mistle Thrush
Eurasian Teal

Exploring My Surroundings

Cadhay Bridge to Otter Nurseries, Devon
I had more time to check the area out today and rain didnt halter things either. The Common Mergansers were in the same place but the number had increased to 10 (3 males and 7 females). They were joined by a Little Egret. I walked a fair way along the wooden public footpath and whilst I didnt see anything I wouldnt expect to see. It was nice to get a feel for the site. Lots of good habitats that include some great stubble fields that can be viewed easily from the path. I'll be keeping an eye on that area. I'm optimistic that this will prove to be a good site and time will tell I guess.

Common Merganser (males)

Common Merganser (male and females)

It was also nice too a number of Snowdrop dotted around.

Snowdrop

First Sand Martins And Western Cattle Egret

Exminster Marsh, Devon 
A quick look from the viewing platform first thing for yesterday’s reported female Red-crested Pochard was unsuccessful. However, I was pleased to see my first Sand Martin of the year. Around 4 birds were going over the canal from the estuary to the marsh and back. The best of the wildfowl on the lagoon were 2 Nothern Pintail, several Gadwall and several Tufted Duck. The Snow Goose was in exactly the same place I saw it a week ago in the field near the Swans Nest.

Cockwood, Devon 
After work, I decided to look for the 4 Western Cattle Egret reported on Twitter by local birder Dave Boult. They were apparently in a field at the rear of Cofton garage. The garage is just off the main Dawlish Road just past Cockwood (opposite the entrance to Cofton holiday park). I couldn’t locate any in the field but after a very brief search I located them with some Little Egret in a tree near the rear of the garage. I didn’t have my scope (left it in the car) but I could clearly make out 2 birds but I suspect that the others were there too.

I moved on to have a look off the railway steps in the hope of seeing Sanderling. Strangely a species I’ve not yet seen this year. No luck with the Sanderling but there were a few Mew Gull and the Horned Grebe. In the blight was a single Common Greenshank and towards Starcross, a small flock of Dunlin.

All About The Littles

Exminster Marsh, Exminster, Devon 
I had a few hours out this afternoon so firstly I decided to walk Along Station Road from the main RSPB car park to the middle car park. Not a great deal around to be honest so I ambled back. On the way bank I bumped in to my mate Pete. He had been to Powderham Marsh this morning and seen the Little Gull that’s been hanging about. Time was a bit short to I headed off (upping the pace) to take a look. As I was near the main car park, I heard a calling Eurasian Reed Warbler but decided I couldn’t spend the time looking for it.

Powderham Marsh, Powderham, Devon
Pete had warned me that it was muddy so I was glad I had my wellies on as I slugged my way to the viewing platform. Muddy is an understatement!! As I was walking at pace through the mud I was pretty tired on arriving at the platform. Age is definitely catching up with me lately! Anyway, the first birds that stuck out were the dodgy Snow Geese (equally dodgy photos below) I spent some time scanning the scrapes but had no joy with the Little Gull. I was however pleased to come across my first Little Ringed Plover of the year. Far too distant for a photo. Also around the scrape were a few Little Egret, 3 Greylag Goose, a few Northern Lapwing and a smart Common Sandpiper. As the theme of the day was species starting with Little, its ironic that I was also a little late home for tea!

Snow Goose

Common Sandpiper 

Somerset Levels

I had a day off and opted for a trip to the Somerset Levels

Ham Wall
Me and my mate Pete headed off and got to site for around 9am. The rain hadn’t hit but it was rather windy. We had only been on site 10 minutes and got a Great Egret. As we advanced around the site we were impressed by the amount of Gadwall and Common Pochard. No Eurasian Bittern seen despite hearing a few booming. 1 Cetti’s Warbler seen and several others heard. A total of 3 Western Marsh Harrier seen with 2 males and a female. We also saw a total of 4 Great Egrets and on leaving, a group of circa 20 distant Sand Martin.

Eurasian Coot

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Grey Heron

Great Egret

Common Pochard (Male and Female)  

Eurasian Teal (Male and Female) 

Gadwall (Male and Female)
Common Pochard photobomb!!

Westhay to Burtle
We had a tip off on the location of the Western Cattle Egret so we headed off on the road between the villages of Westhay and Burtle. In one of the fields we found a total of 5 birds hanging out with 10 Little Egret. A mass of Gulls were in the next field, with manly Black-headed Gull a number of Lesser Black-backed Gull and a few Mew Gull. These were all put up when a party of 3 Common Buzzard and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew through.

Westhay NNR
Our last stop of the day. A little disappointing as there was little on offer with the best birds being 2 Greylag Goose. I did however hear a few pings of a Bearded Reedling but couldn’t locate any birds.

Finches And Buntings Part II

Stantyway Farm, Otterton, Devon 
Had another dawn look around the Farm area. Again a large flock of Common Linnet, Common Chaffinch and European Goldfinch. No Brambling or European Greenfinch. Bunting wise, again a single Cirl Bunting, 4 Yellowhammer and C30 Conmon Reed Bunting. Couldn’t locate the odd looking one from yesterday, so perhaps it was just an odd looking Conmon Reed Bunting. Also a Mistle Thrush and Common Kestrel of note.

Yellowhammer

Common Linnet

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
An hour or so visit after work. From the goat walk and viewing platform. 4 Mew Gull, 5 European Golden Plover, numerous Pied Avocet, Eurasian Curlew, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank and 2 Little Egret.

Little Egret