Caspian Tern And Spotted Redshank

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
After dipping twice on yesterday’s Caspian Tern, I was determined to get it in the bag today. So after work I headed to the marsh. It was busy to say the least so I ended up parking near the goat walk. Whilst there I had a quick scan and picked up 2 Little Tern heading in the viewing platform direction. Off I went for a look there to find a crowd that were on the bird on the opposite side of the river. Despite the bird having its back to us I was able to obtain really nice views. Whilst there I was informed that a summer plumage Spotted Redshank was showing well from the hide. With little time, I hot footed up there and got nice views of it with some Common Greenshank. Yesterday’s evening outing to the goat walk in search of the Tern gave me 19 Mediterranean Gull.

It has been nice to bump into a few birders over the last few days. Too many to mention but must say a huge well done to Matt Knott who found the bird (his second) well done that man, Mark Bailey has been giving great Twitter updates, Dave Stone for some good banter and my good pal Pete. I have to say thanks to Rob Murphy for constant text updates too. I know he is struggling to get to see it (a lifer bird too) but I hope it works out for him and Steph.

Caspian Tern

Little Tern

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I had a very quick sea watching session this morning from the raised huts. It was rather slim pickings with a Northern Fulmar and a few Northern Gannet but I was rather pleased with a single Little Tern that flew past heading towards the Warren.

No Savi’s Warbler

Ferrybridge, Portland, Dorset
Me and my mate Pete had a trip to Dorset today. We popped here first in the pouring rain in the hope of a Little Tern. No joy and there was nothing else on offer.

Lodmoor, Weymouth, Dorset 
We moved here to get some shelter at the bandstand. On arrival we were treated to really nice views of a Male Northern Wheatear in the car park. A look on the first scrape gave us our first of the year Common Tern with 2 individuals. Not a lot else on offer except 2 Common Snipe, a few Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and a single Common Sandpiper. However, as we were in the car park about to leave I picked out a strange call and got on to a Hirundine type bird as it flew straight over head and was able to confirm a Red-rumped Swallow. I was very pleased with myself for getting that firstly on call. It didn’t seem to stick around as it kept going north at pace.

Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset
We had a look here for the Savi’s Warbler but the weather was atrocious and we struck out even after staking out the bandstand area (we were informed this was the best place) We were treated to 2 Western Marsh Harrier, plenty of Eurasian Reed Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler. As we had a cuppa in the visitors centre another Common Sandpiper was pottering about on the island.

Portland Harbour, Dorset
We popped here as we were tired of the rain and it’s got decent shelter in the right conditions. It was nice to take a breather from the wind and rain but all that was on offer were 2 Common Sandpiper. This species seemed to turn up everywhere today. Although the weather was clearing up we both decided that we had had enough of feeling soaked through so headed home.

Dorset Tree Sparrow And A Self Found Black Redstart

Portland Bill, Dorset  
Me and my mate Pete had a day in Dorset today. Our first stop was the bird obs to get the lowdown on the reported Eurasian Tree Sparrow. I had seen on yesterdays blog that there were 2 but today there was an increase to 3 birds. We were advised that the obs quarry was the best place to look. We had brief flight views of 2 individuals but an hour or so stake out didn’t produce any other views. The Little Owl was playing ball either so we decided to head off. We had parked near the Pulpit Inn and on the way back I was pleased to self find a Black Redstart. A rather showy bird and we enjoyed prolonged views of the bird. We popped in to the obs to ensure it made the day list and headed off.

Black Redstart 

Meadow Pipit  

Common Linnet

Red Hot Poker    

Wild Celery     

English Stonecrop      

Ferrybridge, Portland, Dorset 
Next stop was to take in the Little Terns and they didn’t disappoint. I was impressed with the numbers too. I’ve visited this site for a few years now and today’s tally was the highest I can recall there. Let’s hope their breeding season is a success.

Little Tern    

Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset 
This was our last site and the target species was Bearded Reedling. On arrival we stopped in the visitor centre for some food and refreshments. As ever we both still had our bins to hand and were glad we did as there was a 2 cycle Yellow-legged Gull on one of the posts in the lagoon. It didn’t hang around too long though. We also enjoyed close views of a Common Tern feeding. There were good numbers of Common Swift, Barn Swallow and Common House Martin with a couple of Sand Martin thrown into the mix. Around the reserve were lots of Eurasian Reed Warbler and several Cetti’s Warbler.

Domestic Duck   

Eurasian Coot and young   

Great Crested Grebe      

European Greenfinch    

Yellow Flag Iris   

Heracleum moellendorffii 

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Nightingales, Bitterns And Lots Of Cool Stuff

Bridgewater and Taunton Canal near Lower Durston, Somerset
There is a little spot I know of on this canal that holds a few Common Nightingale. I got there to be greeted with the delightful song and encountered stonking views of 2 individuals. Also around the area were a few Eurasian Blackcap and Common Chiffchaff.

Common Chiffchaff

Eurasian Blackcap (Male)

Common Nightingale  

Common Nightingale  

Common Nightingale  

Common Nightingale   

Common Nightingale    

Common Nightingale  

Common Vetch   

Ground Ivy

Chinese Hawthorn  

Greylake, Somerset 
As this was just around the corner, I popped in for a quick look around. I didn’t stay long as I struggle with this reserve. I have only been a few times but I find the reserve hard work as I seem to be looking at head height reed all the time. I did see a few Eurasian Reed Warbler though.

Field Mustard  

Common Comfrey 

Ham Wall, Somerset 
My next stop was just up the road at Ham Wall. I have visited a few times this year but not seen Eurasian Bittern so this species plus Common Cuckoo were my priority birds. It was rather busy today but it didn’t deter the birds. The first bird of note was a Great Egret, I eventually racked up 10 by the time I left. I was treated to a Male Marsh Harrier next and numerous Common Swift were screaming above. In fact there were so many Common Swift I lost count of the numbers. Next I managed to get one of my 2 bogey birds of this year in the form of a Common Kingfisher... phew. Typically (once you see one the flood gates open) I ended up seeing 2 birds. I had heard both my target birds calling by this point so I kept going to the Avalon hide being treated to quite a few Garden Warbler and Eurasian Blackcap. There were no sightings of either species at the hide but I was delighted to see a ball of fluff... I mean Tawny Owl chick. A gorgeous looking thing indeed. I moved back to the Tor View Hide and I was instantly treated in flight views of a Common Cuckoo and within a minute 2 flight views of Eurasian Bittern (its like waiting for a bus). There were a lot of Eurasian Reed Warbler around the Reserve and several Cetti’s Warbler giving it large (as they do).I was surprised not to see a Eurasian Hobby though. With my boots filled I stopped for a coffee and ate my lunch before heading off elsewhere.

Common Kingfisher

Common Kingfisher 

Garden Warbler 

Tawny Owl (Chick)

Greylag Goose 

Common Swift

Great Egret

Great Egret

Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon
As I left Ham Wall I decided I would head back to Exmouth and check the sea as conditions looked pretty good. I watched for around an hour and half and managed a few good sightings. First off were 2 Great Skua that were rather distant and didn’t hang about but enjoyable all the same. Tern activity got good at one point with circa 20 Sandwich Tern and a couple of Commic Tern. In amongst this was a Little Tern, this surprised me a little as I though this should be on a breeding ground by now. Then I picked out a bird that looked to have a different jizz to it. It always stayed distant so I couldn’t get a full positive ID but it was looked a tad smaller than Sandwich Tern and looked to have shorter wings and a slower and shallower flight pattern. My only thought is a Roseate Tern. Looking at BirdGuides there have been a couple reported so it’s possible this was indeed one but as I mentioned, I couldn’t get enough on it. During my time there around 20 Manx Shearwater passed through, all heading west and 1 Auk species and a single Northern Fulmar.

When all is said and done, a rather productive and very enjoyable day out.

Half Day Off

Goosemoor, Topsham, Devon
I was going to have a full day off work to go birding but the weather made me change my mind so I opted for a half day. I started at Goosemoor but there was very little about initially. However the call of a Garden Warbler soon got my attention. I located the bird on Bowling Green Road in the trees to the left of the railway bridge. It showed briefly but I soon lost it. Also in that area were a Male and Female Eurasian Blackcap.

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
The rain set in again so I took refuge in the hide. On arrival I was aware of s lot of Hirundine activity. They were mainly Sand Martin but a number of Barn Swallow and a couple of Common House Martin accompanied them. A Cetti’s Warbler was calling at the left hand side at the back of the reeds and a single Little Grebe and Common Pochard were the best of the supporting cast. Then a Gull came in from the Estuary. It wouldn’t stay still as it flew around the reserve a few times and duly left. The rain was really coming down which hampered things but I felt at the time it was giving off Bonaparte’s Gull. I’ve since seen that it’s been reported later in the afternoon. So my initial thoughts seem to have been correct (for once).

Barn Swallow

Sand Martin

Sand Martins  

Maer Rock, Exmouth, Devon
I decided I fancied some sea watching so I pitched up at the raised beach huts near Maer Rocks. I watched for around 2 hours and it was rather productive. However Berry Head has put it to shame once again! During my watch I had a Common Loon, a Black-throated Loon, 5 Manx Shearwater, a Northern Fulmar, 4 Little Tern, 6. Common Tern, 1 Arctic Tern, 30 Sandwich Tern, 3 'Commic' Tern, 8 Black-legged Kittiwake, 5 Northern Gannet, 2 Common Murre, 2 unidentifiable Auk, 10 Common Scoter and 20 Pale-bellied Brant Goose. I was really surprised not to get a Skua. On Maer Rocks were 3 Purple Sandpiper and a totally knackered looking Male Northern Wheatear. He didn't move for quite some time. I checked back in on him from time to time and started to get concerned as the tide was starting to cover the Rocks. He left it until a moment or 2 before the Rocks were covered to muster up the strength to fly off towards the Maer, phew!

Northern Gannet  

Common Tern   

Little Tern (Honest) 

Northern Wheatear (Male)  

Purple Sandpiper  

Group of Purple Sandpiper

Common Scoter (Male)

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
A brief visit before calling it s day didn’t provide much more than a White Wagtail and 2 Eurasian Rock Pipit on the dung heap and a Common Whitethroat on Gore Lane. Matt Knott had a fruitless look around the top fields and was heading towards Bristol School Camp as I left. I’m not sure yet if that area was any better.

Little Tern

Exmouth Seafront, Exmouth, Devon

A quick visit this morning to have a look for yesterday’s Little Terns was unsuccessful. There was however one Common Eider. I could only manage this awful picture. 

Common Eider (Male)

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 

I then moved on to head to work but decided I had time for a lightening quick look from the hide. I was pleased that I did as there was a Ruff showing well in front of the hide that was quickly joined by 3 others. Nothing else of note apart from a calling Cetti’s Warbler in the reeds on the opposite side of the reserve. 

Ruff

Ruff

Exmouth Seafront, Exmouth, Devon

Another Little Tern text from Matt whilst I was in work made me ensure I was out of the office early! I arrived at the Seafront and nothing was on view. After around 10 minutes a group of Sandwich Tern moved across the bay from the Warren direction and in amongst them was a single Little Tern. Job done as they say.

Both Whitethroats In One Day

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I spent a little over an hour on site this morning from 7:20 to 8:30. Birding was a tad more rewarding today with at least 3 Common Whitethroat. There may have been a forth but I couldn’t be sure as 2 birds in particularly were rather mobile and ranging around the top orchid field and coastal path whilst 1 bird was routed to the vegetation in the north east corner of the same field but I seemed to be getting 4 lots of song. In the electric fence field was a smart Male Northern Wheatear and a Female Common Kestrel stopped for a moment. A look around the dung field and possibly the same Male Northern Wheatear along with a Female were on offer. Also in the dung field were the 2 White Wagtail.

Common Whitethroat

Common Whitethroat

Common Kestrel (Female)

Northern Wheatear (Male)

Northern Wheatear (Male)

Northern Wheatear (Female)

White Wagtail

Northern Wheatear (Female)

The Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon
After work I was again drawn to the otter. I was pleased I did as there was a cracking Lesser Whitethroat on show near the white bridge. I enjoyed close prolonged views of a bird I don’t see to often.

Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Exmouth Seafront, Devon 
A Text from Matt Knott alerted me to some Little Tern active on Exmouth seafront. I quickly headed off in pursuit. I arrived (around halfway along the seafront) just as Matt and Nick were leaving but they quickly gave me the low down on the birds. I was very quickly joined by Dave Stone and we both eagerly scanned the sea. There were some Sandwich Tern on offer along with a few Northern Gannet. We couldn’t however locate the birds we were hoping to see. I then picked out a smaller Tern on a sand bar that had appeared whilst waiting. It was distant but eventually I called it as a Common Tern and both Dave and myself were happy it was. Dave was happier as it was his first of the year. With no luck on the Little Tern I relocated to the Quay in the hope they had settled on Great Bull Hill or Warren Point but again there was no sign. Thanks as ever to Matt for the alert.