Sooty Shearwater

Otterton Coastal path, Devon 

I had the afternoon off for a hospital appointment that was cancelled so I had the urge to do some sea watching. No this place will never compare with the likes of Start Point, Berry Head and Porthgwarra but I was pleased to get 74 Manx Shearwater plus extremely delighted with a Sooty Shearwater. 

Manx Shearwater

Otterton Sewage works, Devon 

As the weather seemed like a possible good seawatch was on the cards I headed to my go to site at the coastal path near the Sewage works. It wasn't a bad shout as after 10 minutes had seen a steady flow of 50 Manx Shearwater. The Weather dipped in and out of good and bad visibility but I stuck with it for 1 and a half hours. I was glad I did as my final count was c 150 Manx Shearwater, 3 Razorbill, 4 Common Murre, 8 unidentified Auk and 7 Black-legged Kittiwake. As I was leaving there were singles of Yellowhammer and Cirl Bunting at the Sewage works.

Parasitic Jaeger

Otterton Cliffs, Devon 

I braved the wet weather for one and a half hours at the cliffs near the Sewage works. A constant stream of Manx Shearwater, totalling circa 500 birds. 3 Parasitic Jaeger, 1 European Storm Petrel was a lucky spot as it popped into my scope view while track some Manx Shearwater. Around 30 Common Murre some on the sea and some in flight. 10 Common Scoter bobbed around and 10 Black-legged Kittiwake battled their way west. 

Sooty Shearwater

Otterton Cliffs, Devon 

I wasn't going to go out today as I had been frantic at work and was feeling like I wanted to be a couch potato. Then, at about 6pm. I had the sudden urge that this evening was going to be good. So I dragged my tired carcas off the sofa and headed to the coastal path near the Sewage works. I used to seawatch Orcombe Point with some degree of success but a few years ago I started here and have found it more productive for Shearwater passage but have struggled with Skua species.

No sooner had I pointed my scope at the sea, I was watching 4 Manx Shearwater passing by. OK, I thought, Worth getting out for. Within 10 minutes I had seen 30 Manx Shearwater. Then out of the gloom, I picked out a Sooty Shearwater. It battled its way west into the strong south westerly winds.  At on point it came in close enough to appreciate it before heading further out into the gloomy bay.  On the sea were 10 Common Scoter and there were a few Northern Fulmar and Northern Gannet lurking about.

After that the Manx Shearwater passage really picked up with birds close in and distant as did the Black-legged Kittiwake of which I totalled 70 birds. At one point, I was tracking some Manx Shearwater and Black-legged Kittiwake, when a Parasitic Jaeger started hassling the latter. It chased one for a few moments before finally settling on the sea. Unfortunately, way too distant for my phone to scope abilities. An unidentified Auk species flew by just after this as did a Common Loon.

I stayed for a further 30 minutes or so and I was so pleased I did. The Manx Shearwater passage continued and I ended on 132 birds. But to top off a great evening, a Pomarine Jaeger popped into my scope as I was scanning. It always remained distant and I soon lost it. 

A very productive visit and goes to show, you should always go with your gut instinct. Well, it worked this time at least!

Manx Shearwater

Otterton Sewage Works, Devon 

I had a 45 minute sea watching session from the cliffs near the Sewage works this evening. A bit of Manx Shearwater passage. All the groups totaled 36 birds. 2 Razorbill sat far out. 21 Common Scoter, 3 Sandwich Terns and 3 Northern Fulmar. Around the farmland were 8 Brown Hare and 2 Cirl Bunting.

Black-throated Loon

Seaton, Devon 

I had a day off yesterday (26th March) so I popped to Seaton for a good look around. I started at Black Hole Marsh and was treated to my (and the sites) first Common House Martin of the year with 3 that flew through heading north. A Cetti's Warbler should briefly but very well near the Sand Martin nesting area. 

I moved on to the beach near the Harbour and was treated to a Black-throated Loon. A local rarity. It was on the sea for a short while then flew west. A Great Crested Grebe pottered about and singles of Manx Shearwater and Great Skua made an appearance. A few Northern Fulmar were also off Seaton Hole. 

Next was Coronation Corner. Numerous Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mew Gull and a single second winter Mediterranean Gull was a welcome site.

Lastly, I visited Colyford Common. 6 Sand Martin put in a fly through appearance while they made their journey North. Also on site was a single Northern Wheatear.

It was a lovely day and nice to get some welcomed summer arrivals on the scoreboard. 

Sea Watching

Berry Head, Devon 

I had the day off especially to do some sea watching. I was tempted to venture to Porthgwarra (wish I had now as good counts of Great Shearwater and Cory's Shearwater). However, I still had an enjoyable time with great company at Berry Head. It was slow going but a trickle of Manx Shearwater and Balearic Shearwater was a welcome site. As was a Pomerine Jaeger, a few Parastic Jaeger and a Great Skua. Lots af Black-legged Kittiwake, Northern Fulmar and Northern Gannet to make up the supporting cast. Also great amount of Harbour Porpoise sightings. 

A lovely couple from Stockport were on holiday and by chance ended up on Berry Head. It was a great pleasure getting them on to a number of lifers (Manx Shearwater Balearic Shearwater, Pomerine Jaeger,  Parasitic Jaeger and Harbour Porpoise). It was amazing to see the joy on their faces and made me think of all the times I've had those "get in there!" Moments. All too few and far between these days. But equally nice to see the true meaning of enjoying birdwatching. 

All in all a great day out. As Berry head always is.

Sea Watch Let Down By Large Shearwaters

Porthgwarra, Cornwall 
Me and my mate Pete headed off early in the hope of sea watching heaven. We arrived in good time and I headed up to the head whilst Pete staked out the cove. There was a large ensemble of expectant birders and I had already seen a report en route that Berry head and seen a large Shearwater Species. All set for a good watch I thought. It started off well with 3 Great Skua in close succession, a couple of Balearic Shearwater and a Single Sooty Shearwater. Decent numbers of Manx Shearwater went through and a close European Storm Petrel. All good so far I thought. I was wrong, it started to get quieter by the minute, whilst Berry Head had 2 Long-tailed Jaeger and another large Shearwater species. One species was added to the day with a Parasitic Jaeger. Let’s say there were a number of birders left wanting.

Sea Watching

Berry Head, Devon 
I had the afternoon off so as conditions looked good for a sea watch I gave it as shot. On arrival, I discovered I had missed out on a few Balearic Shearwater and Atlantic Puffin. I only stuck around for around and hour and a half as I had to get back to Exmouth. I did see 2 groups of Manx Shearwater equaling 15 birds. A number of Mediterranean Gull of various ages. Good numbers of Northern Gannet. A few Northern Fulmar, a Tufted Duck and a Great Skua that got a conversation going about South Polar Skua.

Not Quite 2,500 But Still A Great

Berry Head, Brixham, Devon
Me and my mate were planning on going to Porthgwarra today but my daughter was ill this morning. She went to school but I didn’t want to venture 2 and half hours away in case the school called to say “come and get her”. So we opted for a closer venue and Berry Head seemed the best option. As it happens the call never came so I was most aggrieved to see a report of 1,500 Great Shearwater at Porthgwarra. That’s a spectacle you don’t get to witness that often. I’ve since seen that the total was over 2,500 plus a possible Band-runped Storm Petrel. Now that’s a total slap across the chops!

I'm trying to be positive though as I did managed a single Great Shearwater at Berry Head, so all was not lost. The time spent on site was rather productive. Around 10 Great Skua and 8 Parasitic Jaeger on offer, with some very close in sightings. 2 Red Phalarope popped up a few times but the views were very brief. Balearic Shearwater numbers were in the region of 50 birds whilst we were on site and there was a single Manx Shearwater. Theres was 1 possible Sooty Shearwater. A distant bird that was rather long winged to be a Balearic Shearwater but I just couldn’t clinch it 100% and the view was ever so short. I still haven’t seen a European Storm Petrel this year and typically one was seen after I left.

One of the Parasitic Jaeger’s to me looked like a potential Pomarine Jaeger. See the second photo. What made me thnk with this bird was the fact that the breast band went all around, where as it should stop on a Parasitic. Not a complete clincher though as this can be misleading on both species but I also felt tha the birds flight was more relaxed, steady and strong.I guess that the jury will stay out on this one.

Also an unidentifiable small Skua. Size pointed to Long-tailed Jaeger but again, far too distant to clinch a positive ID.

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
Later in the afternoon I had a very quick look from the raised beach huts. Not a great deal on offer except circa 25 Common Scoter.

Great Skua  

Parasitic Jaeger or Pomarine Jaeger?

Parasitic Jaeger 

Balearic Shearwater  

Great Skua  

Great Skua

Great Skua

Berry Head Sea Watching

Berry Head, Brixham, Devon
I had a few hours sea watching today. I went with my mate who at present is unable to make the trek back up the quarry. So I spent an hour from the headland and an hour from the sea watching site. On the headland conditions where awful but down on the sea watching area was more productive. On arriving a cracking Sooty Shearwater showed incredibly close. 4 Balearic Shearwater and a couple of Manx Shearwater also came through. 1 Great Skua and 3 Parasitic Jaeger put in an appearance but a few more Parasitic Jaeger were called out but I failed to get on them in the gloom. A European Storm Petrel was called and lost as soon as called. Frustrating but that’s the nature of that species. It is hard to pick out a Starling size bird in gloomy conditions at distance. Supporting cast were a couple of Common Tern, Sandwich Tern and Mediterranean Gull, Several Northern Fulmar, a raft of Black-legged Kittiwake and a number of Northern Gannet. No photos today due to weather conditions. I got rather wet is an understatement and a warm cuppa in the cafe was very welcome.

Not Quite Porthgwarra

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I was itching to get out and do some sea watching but was busy all day until early evening. I popped up to my favoured view point and hoped for the best. There were a number of Northern Gannet around and several Northern Fulmar. After about a quarter of an hour a group of 4 Manx Shearwater came through heading west. Over the next 30 minutes a few more groups came through and one held a Balearic Shearwater. I held on until the light faded in the hope of a Sooty Shearwater or Great Shearwater (one reported off Berry Head) with no avail. So not the quality of Porthgwarra as I ended with 1 Balearic Shearwater and 15 Manx Shearwater. I am busy again tomorrow (on what could potentially be a great sea watching day) but I am getting up at first light to try again for a few hours. Here's hoping for a Cory's Shearwater.... you've got to dream big!

Northern Gannet

Not Too Shabby

Berry Head, Brixham, Torbay
I had a day off today so I thought I would visit Berry Head for a change of scenery. Porthgwarra (as always) stole the limelight but a sea watch from the headland produced Manx Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater (looks like another one went through after I left), Northern Fulmar, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common Kestrel and Common Whitethroat. However that action was overshadowed by the amount of Short-beaked Common Dolphins in the area.Several Pods were seen and some at rather close range. The largest pod contained around 40 individuals. I would guess (as some pods were probably already seen) around 70 individuals in total. I decided on the headland (rather than the sea watching site) to open up Butterfly options. It paid off as there were Wall, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue on offer.

Short-beaked Common Dolphin  

Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Short-beaked Common Dolphin   

Wall

Red Admiral   

Speckled Wood    

Northern Fulmar  

Chudliegh Knighton Heath, Devon 
I had a quick stop off here on route to my next venue. Strangely I’ve never visited this reserve but I enjoyed the pools (that are very quick to get to). Dragonflies on offer here were, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Southern Hawker and Common Darter. I was gutted that the later wouldn’t sit still for a portrait! The best bird on offer was a solitary Male and a few female Yellowhammer. 

Small Red Damselfly  

Yarner Woods, Bovey Tracey, Devon
I done a walk from the car park up to the top hide area. Birds here were, Spotted Flycatcher, Marsh Tit, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Bullfinch (Male) and Grey Wagtail. 

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I finished off with a quick stroll around the point. Not much action apart from a Male Peregrine Falcon that drifted along the coastal path. I came across a micro Moth which I at present have got no idea on the identification. 

Peregrine Falcon (Male)

Unidentified micro Moth

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.

Wave Watching

Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon
With conditions still primed for some sea watching I had a pre and after work session from the Maer Rocks area. In the morning (06:45 - 07:20) I seem to have missed the Shearwater, Skua and Auk action as Berry Head seemed to be the place (as ever) to be. I did however see descent numbers of Sandwich Tern and my first Arctic Tern. The after work session (16:30 - 17:10) was slightly better with c30 Manx Shearwater appearing out of the gloom, 2 Common Scoter a Velvet Scoter and an unidentifiable Skua species. I’m pretty sure the Skua was an Parasitic Jaeger but it was rather distant and in the gloom so it was very difficult to get a positive ID even in the scope. Also on Mear Rocks were 3 Purple Sandpiper and a Ruddy Turnstone.

Lots of Shearwaters

Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon
As the conditions seemed perfect I decided to do a quick sea watch session once the kids were settled for the night. As soon as I set up the scope it was obvious that there was a lot of passage going on. Within a few minutes I had already counted 40 Manx Shearwater heading west. As I scoped the birds just didn’t seem to stop streaming through. One group came close in near the large bouy that the Terns rest on and I could make out a Balearic Shearwater. Try as I might I couldn’t even muster one of my crappy pictures. I stayed until the light was no longer any good (around 8:15pm) and had counted c 280 - 290 Manx Shearwater. Also of note were a group of Common Scoter close in and several Sandwich Tern on the previously mentioned bouy.

Manx Shearwater 

Sandwich Tern

Re-assessing The Manxies

Otterton Coastal Path, Devon
I was looking through some of my recent and awful photos and on looking at one of the group of Manx Shearwater from the 29th March, one of the birds to me looks very dark and indeed bigger. So could this be a Sooty Shearwater?

Obviously Sooty Shearwater are normally seen during the autumn passage but there have been rare records in the spring. Here is a heavily cropped version of my original blog photo (bird on the right). The bird on the left is bang on Manx Shearwater but as I’ve said the other bird looks all black and larger. I also recall from the time that this bird seemed to have a stronger flight pattern. It could simply be a trick of the light but my gut feeling says otherwise.

Putative Sooty Shearwater 

Manxies And Sarnies

Coastal path at Sewage Plant, Otterton, Devon
I felt the conditions were ok to look at the sea today. So after work I popped to what’s always been a reliable site for me. There’s a handy vantage point on the coastal path just at the end of the footpath from the Sewage treatment plant.

On arrival and even before I had set my scope up, I was treated to 2 Sandwich Tern heading west. My first Sarnies of the year. For the first 10 minutes there wasn’t much happening apart for 1 Northern Gannet, 1 Black-legged Kittiwake and 1 Northern Fulmar. Then within a 10 minute period 25 Manx Shearwater came through in a group of 6, a single, a group of 8 and finished with a group of 10. My first Manxie movement of the year.

I do apologise for my photos here as my scope is ok for the range but my iPhone struggled. So really poor digiscoping record shots.

Manx Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Manx Shearwater