Common Redstart

Peak Hill, Sidmouth, Devon 

I had a stroll around this area late afternoon / early evenibg, hoping for an earlier reported Western Yellow Wagtail with no joy. The were 2 Mistle Thrush and a Willow Warbler on offer though. 

Mutters Moor, Sidmouth, Devon 

I then spent the rest of my time at this lovely location. I was treated to a female Common Redstart not far from the carpark. It was the briefest of sightings and despite staking the place out for 20 minutes it never reappeared. Further into the Moor I managed to see my first Red Crossbill of the year. First picked out on alarm call and after a Little wait, it showed briefly  There were several Yellowhammer dotted around and calling. On my way back to the car, a lovely pair of Dartford Warbler kept me entertained for a while. Phone scoping is tricky at times and the only picture I managed of a Dartford Warbler was when my phone decided to auto focus but not on the bird!

European Stonechat (Male)

Yellowhammer (Male)

 Dartford Warbler (Male)

Red Crossbill

Undisclosed site, East Devon

Sorry but I'm not going to say where I took my evening walk today as I saw a number of schedule 1 species and the site may not be a well known breeding area. On the site were 2 Dartford Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit, 5 Yellowhammer and best of all, my first of the year Red Crossbill. With 12 birds on view. They were always rather distant. Hence, the mega zoomed scope photo. Also of interest was a flyover Common Swift, Mistle Thrush and European Green Woodpecker. 

Red Crossbill (Male)

Red Crossbill

Uphams plantation, Woodbury, Devon 
I popped here as it's one of my usual haunts at this time of year. First bird I see, Red Crossbill, a female. A few seconds later it was joined by a male. Short but nice views were obtained. Also on site of note were a European Green Woodpecker and Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

An OK Reward For Zero Effort

Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon 
I’m a very outdoorsy person and being house bound has been driving me insane! So after I had finished what I could do work wise at home I decided to pop to Lime Kiln Car Park in the hope of an easy Common Ringed Plover and I wasn’t disappointed as one was feeding in a channel near the car park. There were a few Eurasian Rock Pipit but nothing else of note.

Woodbury Common, Devon
I moved to the model airplane car park and just hung around in the hope that something good would come to me. It was actually a good decision as there was a Female Brambling in with the Common Chaffinch. I was super chuffed when 2 Female Red Crossbill landed briefly on a tree next to the car park. I finished off with circa 100 Fieldfare overhead 6 of which dropped in on the car park trees. So my sciatica isn’t stopping me from seeing some good stuff and I’m able to do it with virtually no  effort. I’m just pleased to be able to get out even if it is extremely gentle birding and for a very short period.

No Sign But Eurasian Woodcock

Woodbury Common, Devon
I had a quick look around until dusk. No sign of yesterday’s Hen Harriers or Red Crossbill but a nice flock of circa 200 Fieldfare and a few Redwing.

Near Hayes Pig Farm, Yettington, Devon
I drove home via the back road (from Yettington to Bystock) and had brief but great views of a Eurasian Woodcock in my headlights on the road before it flew off.

Not 1 But 2

Woodbury Common, Devon
I haven’t done much birding this week (well nothing worthy of talking about) so I was glad to get an early finish today and get out for a few hours up to dusk. I thought I would look around the common and I had just got out of the car when I spotted 2 birds that looked like raptors flying through at distance. I got my bins on the first bird and realised it was a juvenile Hen Harrier. I quickly moved to the second bird and had a wow moment as this was also a Hen Harrier. The second bird in my mind was a female. Also just as I was around 100 metres from the car I had 6 Red Crossbill. I walked around seeing not much else for a while but came across a flock of circa 30 Fieldfare and several Redwing. A few Meadow Pipit, Common Linnet and Common Chaffinch made the supporting cast.

Common Kestrel At Close Range

Bicton Common, Devon
After work I had a mooch around the area opposite the Uphams Plantation car park. On arrival I noted a large mixed flock feeding around the car park. I scanned for anything unusual but the flock consisted of Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Goldcrest. I continued on my way and had 2 flyover Red Crossbill, several mobile Meadow Pipit and some Common Linnet were flitting about. Then everything went quiet so I turned around to move on only to discover the reason for everything ducking for cover. A close (around 20 metres) range Female Common Kestel was surveying the area from the top of a small pine tree. It’s always nice to be able to appreciate a bird close up.

Common Kestrel (Female)

Common Kestrel (Female)

Common Kestrel (Female)

Red Crossbill

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
A visit to the hide first thing. Viewing is always hard on sunny mornings this time of the year as the sun is low and in yours eyes. However, good numbers of Eurasian Teal, a few Eurasian Wigeon, a single Common Greenshank and several Black-tailed Godwit dropped in. Apart from that it was rather quite and most birds were still rather sleepy.

Woodbury Common, Devon
A lightening visit to the model airplane area after work produced a few Common Chiffchaff, a feeding flock of Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit and Eurasian Blue Tit, singles of Eurasian Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Best of all was a brief view of a Red Crossbill. There were a few more around as I heard multiple calls but I couldn’t locate. I also noted large numbers of Dunnock. At one point around 15 were foraging together on the path. They have obviously done ok.

Red Crossbill In The Cold

Uphams Plantation, Yettington, Devon 

An hours (very cold) visit after work produced 2 Brambling in amongst the small Common Chaffinch flock, 1 calling flyover Red Crossbill was my first of the year. 1 European Green Woodpecker surprisingly again, my first of the year, 10 Redwing several Goldcrest and Long-tailed Tit plus 20 Common Linnet.