Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
My first day back in the office after a lengthy time working from home was a shock to the system, so I decided to have an early finish. I headed for Bowling Green Marsh in case the reported Gloosy Ibis had dropped in on the main lagoon but I was unsuccessful. There were 2 Pied Avocet on the furthest island. A sleeping Common Pochard with the also sleepy Tufted Ducks. A few Northern Pintail were dotted about too. From the viewing platform were more Pied Avocet and good numbers of Dunlin. 2 Mistle Thrush were in the field on the approach to the platform. A quick look from Goosemoor produced 10 Common Greenshank, surpringly my first of the year!
Showing posts with label Mistle Thrush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mistle Thrush. Show all posts
Another Busy Week
Aylesbeare Common, Devon 29th August 2018
There was no further sign of the Spotted Flycatcher but I did hear Lesser Redpoll in an area of the reserve that I normally have luck with this species. However I was unable to locate a bird. At least I know they are about I guess. I’ve still not seen this species yet this year though which is rather depressing. Are numbers that low? Or am I just being unlucky? There were a number of fungi in the area but don’t expect my to identify this as I haven’t a clue!
Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 30th August 2018
It’s been a busy week but I have had a few quick visits to Orcombe Point. I was only able to do this after work so I’ve not see the variety or numbers that Matt Knott and others have seen. In fact the only birds of note have been a few Northern Wheatear.
Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon
Today I managed an hour around Bystock. I covered the main pool and South Heath to the boardwalk pools. Not too many birds around with Coal Tit, Common Chiffchaff, European Robin, Mistle Thrush and Great Spotted Woodpecker making the list. Butterflies fared better with several Small Copper, lots of Small White, Speckled Wood and a Painted Lady. Dragonflies included Emperor Dragonfly, Southern Hawker, Common Darter and Keeled Skimmer.
There was no further sign of the Spotted Flycatcher but I did hear Lesser Redpoll in an area of the reserve that I normally have luck with this species. However I was unable to locate a bird. At least I know they are about I guess. I’ve still not seen this species yet this year though which is rather depressing. Are numbers that low? Or am I just being unlucky? There were a number of fungi in the area but don’t expect my to identify this as I haven’t a clue!
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| Mushroom species |
It’s been a busy week but I have had a few quick visits to Orcombe Point. I was only able to do this after work so I’ve not see the variety or numbers that Matt Knott and others have seen. In fact the only birds of note have been a few Northern Wheatear.
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| Northern Wheatear |
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| Northern Wheatear |
Today I managed an hour around Bystock. I covered the main pool and South Heath to the boardwalk pools. Not too many birds around with Coal Tit, Common Chiffchaff, European Robin, Mistle Thrush and Great Spotted Woodpecker making the list. Butterflies fared better with several Small Copper, lots of Small White, Speckled Wood and a Painted Lady. Dragonflies included Emperor Dragonfly, Southern Hawker, Common Darter and Keeled Skimmer.
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| Painted Lady |
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| Small Copper |
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| Small Copper |
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| Keeled Skimmer (Female) |
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| Keeled Skimmer (Female) |
A Reported Red-backed Shrike
Undisclosed Site, Exmouth, Devon
I popped back to see if I could pick up on my possible Tree Sparrow before work. No joy but did get a Common Firecrest. It’s an amazing site really as I had a number of species. The best of the bunch were, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Eurasian Blackcap and the first fledged Conmon Chaffinch and Conmon Blackbird but no Spotted Flycatcher today.
Budleigh Common, Devon
After work, I received a message about a Red-backed Shrike that had been reported early in the day. I was at the Otter at the time but quickly got back to the car in hot pursuit. I met up with Matt Knott and we both scoured the area with no success. The only birds of note were a couple of Sand Martin, European Stonechat and Common Linnet. Still I enjoyed catching up with Matt and it’s always worth a look. At the end of the day, if your not out there looking your not going to see bugger all. I was only at the Otter for 10 minutes when I got the message so not much to report apart from a calling Cetti’s Warbler at White Bridge.
Some more flower pictures..... Yawn!
I popped back to see if I could pick up on my possible Tree Sparrow before work. No joy but did get a Common Firecrest. It’s an amazing site really as I had a number of species. The best of the bunch were, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Eurasian Blackcap and the first fledged Conmon Chaffinch and Conmon Blackbird but no Spotted Flycatcher today.
Budleigh Common, Devon
After work, I received a message about a Red-backed Shrike that had been reported early in the day. I was at the Otter at the time but quickly got back to the car in hot pursuit. I met up with Matt Knott and we both scoured the area with no success. The only birds of note were a couple of Sand Martin, European Stonechat and Common Linnet. Still I enjoyed catching up with Matt and it’s always worth a look. At the end of the day, if your not out there looking your not going to see bugger all. I was only at the Otter for 10 minutes when I got the message so not much to report apart from a calling Cetti’s Warbler at White Bridge.
Some more flower pictures..... Yawn!
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| Hairy Bittercress |
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| Uncertain of this species |
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| Pink Campion |
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| Common Chickweed |
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| Creeping Buttercup |
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| Bothriospermum Chinense |
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| Wild Geranium |
Northern Wheatear
Exton, Devon
I decided to see if there were any Northern Wheatear around the field near Exton station before work. I soon got on to a Male and was only there 20 minutes and had seen 3 Males. My first Northern Wheatear of the year and I always enjoy watching these birds bounce about.
Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
I decided to see if there were any Northern Wheatear around the field near Exton station before work. I soon got on to a Male and was only there 20 minutes and had seen 3 Males. My first Northern Wheatear of the year and I always enjoy watching these birds bounce about.
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| Northern Wheatear (Male) m |
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| Northern Wheatear (Male) |
I had an hour look after work. On arrival at the gate that leads to the viewing platform. I was greeted by a Male and Female Eurasian Bullfinch. The Male posed nicely but the Female didn’t want to play ball. In the field there were 2 Mistle Thrush that were rather showy. The other best birds of note were a solitary Common Snipe, 4 Northern Pintail and several Common Chiffchaff in the hedges.
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| Mistle Thrush |
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| Eurasian Bullfinch (Male) |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Common Blackbird (Female) |
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| Northern Shoveler (Female) |
Raptors And Finches
Uphams Plantation, near Yettington, Devon
I had a walk around the plantation after work and there were a few things on offer. At one point there was a group of 4 Common Buzzard flying low over head. Probably looking for some supper. A Common Kestrel wizzed through a bit later on. Then I noticed a lot of Finches coming in and starting to roost. I lost count but there were C100 Common Linnet, C150 Common Chaffinch and C20 Brambling. While I was watching this, a male Red Crossbill pottered about briefly before taking off. Also of note were 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Northern Raven, 2 Goldcrest, 7 Coal Tit and a single Meadow Pipit.
I had a walk around the plantation after work and there were a few things on offer. At one point there was a group of 4 Common Buzzard flying low over head. Probably looking for some supper. A Common Kestrel wizzed through a bit later on. Then I noticed a lot of Finches coming in and starting to roost. I lost count but there were C100 Common Linnet, C150 Common Chaffinch and C20 Brambling. While I was watching this, a male Red Crossbill pottered about briefly before taking off. Also of note were 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Northern Raven, 2 Goldcrest, 7 Coal Tit and a single Meadow Pipit.
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| Brambling (Female) |
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| Brambling (Female) |
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 |
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.
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.
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.
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Common Linnet |
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.
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| Little Egret |
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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