Part-time Birding: Red Knot

Showing posts with label Red Knot. Show all posts

Common Goldeneye

Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon

I had to hang around in Exmouth for a few hours this afternoon. So I decided to watch here as the tide was dropping. Lots of species were on offer. There were quite a few Grey Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Red Knot and Sanderling, lots of Dunlin a small group of European Golden Plover flew up river. Several Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebe. I finally picked out a male Common Goldeneye over the far side of the estuary.

Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon

I moved to Shelly Beach to look for the Black Redstart but couldn't locate so opted for Maer Rocks on as the tide would have dropped enough to look for Purple Sandpiper and was in luck with 7 on site.

Curlew Sandpiper

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham,

I had some time to kill after lunch, so I decided I would see if I could find the Osprey or a Curlew Sandpiper. I stated off at the viewing platform but the wind had really picked up and I think the Osprey was probably hunckering down. There were a good number of waders on the far left side though. Mainly Eurasian Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Redshank and a few EurasianWhimbrel. I decided to get out of the wind and next popped in to the hide. There was a Red Knot in with the again numerous waders but I was pleased to get a Curlew Sandpiper pottering at the far right back of the reserve. Other notable species wereca Common Redshank and Northern Pintail. I decided to check the viewing platform again before leaving and noted 5 Red Knot with a group of Dunlin but still no sign of the Osprey.

Curlew Sandpiper

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon

An evening look around produced a Little Stint, Green Sandpiper, Common Ringed Plover, a Red Knot, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Plenty of Dunlin and eventually a single Curlew Sandpiper.

Brown Booby

Gwithian Sands, Cornwall
I gave in to the lure of a potential UK second (the Kent bird a few days before seems to be a different bird). Me and my good pal Pete set off towards Hayle and around halfway there, a report came out that it was around Godrevy Point. So I thought “lets set up at Gwithian sands” as it’s a good position to see across the whole bay and across to St Ives. The plan worked perfectly as we had only been searching for 15 minutes when Pete spotted what he thought was the Brown Booby diving in the Cadris Bay direction. He quickly gave me directions and I got on to the bird exiting the water and it started heading towards Hayle. It gave really good views and we were both able to clinch the ID. A report came out a moment later saying a possible candidate had gone past Godrevy Point in a westerly direction. Which further supported our ID.

Hayle, Cornwall
Having bagged the bird quicker than anticipated, we decided to check out Ryan’s field and the Estuary. There was no sign of the White Stork. Despite high numbers of bird the only species of note on the estuary were 4 Red Knot and a small group of Common Ringed Plover. Having bagged the target bird we decided to grab a cuppa and head back home.

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I quickly popped here before going home in the hope of a Whinchat or something better but the only birds of note were 3 Northern Wheatear.

Some Good Waders

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
After work I popped into the hide and caught a decent roost. The best I’ve seen on the marsh for a while. Lots of Eurasian Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Redshank. In amongst this was a single Red Knot, 2 Ruff, Spotted Redshank and best of all a Curlew Sandpiper.

Another Missed Wood Sandpiper

Goosemoor, Topsham, Devon
After work I decided to take a look for yesterday’s Wood Sandpiper and today’s Curlew Sandpiper. I couldn’t get out last night to look for the former and I knew that the tides would be wrong at the time of visit but it seemed rude not to pop in as it’s on the way home. Goosemoor was very quite with only several Black-headed Gull on site.

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
Hide
I moved on to the hide in hope but the best bird was a Green Sandpiper. It showed rather close in at times. There were several juvenile Common Shelduck but not much else of note. On the lane to the viewing platform was a smart Red Admiral and a Southern Hawker. I’m not sure if the sightings board in the hide is up to date but someone had marked Wood Sandpiper as seen.

Green Sandpiper

Red Admiral

Viewing platform
A look off the platform only produced one decent bird, a single Summer plumage Red Knot was pottering around in Greenshank corner. No photo could be obtained due to wind, haze and it was obscured at times. Plenty of Common Redshank and Black-headed Gulls around too.

Red Knot Or Not?

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
A pre work visit to the hide early morning. There wasn't a great deal about but on my first scan of the waders on the spit I was drawn to this smaller wader. It was sleeping when I first saw it so I couldn't be sure what it was. It woke up to preen itself for a moment or two and I could only manage a few of my rubbish photos. At the time it was sleeping, I did think Red Knot. However when it was preening etc. the neck looked to long for a Red Knot (picture 1 kind of capture this). The light was awful (as it can be at this site when the sun is low) but the bird was a medium sized wader and looked a dull brown / grey on the back, wings and head (almost like a non breeding Godwit plumage). The chest and belly were white but the chest had some faint barring on it. It was short billed and the supercilium stood out a mile (picture 2 shows this). I had a proper look at the pictures during my lunch break and conferred with my trusty Collins App and the only suitable candidate was a Red Knot. Although it didn't quite sit well with me (me and my curiosity again!).

Mystery Wader - Longer neck than I would expect for Red Knot

Mystery Wader - Look at that Supercilium!

Mystery Wader - Short bill

I returned to the site after work to have another look. There were plenty of Waders about. Mainly Black-tailed Godwit but a couple of Dunlin and several Red Knot were in the mix. I was glad there were Red Knot about as it gave me a chance to do a compare and contrast on the bird from this morning. And in honesty, looking at the Red Knot has made me think my bird from this morning didn't quite fit with how these birds looked. However I cant seem to tag it to anything else at the moment! Also on site was a Ruff, a few Sand Martin and a Male Eurasian Blackcap on the road near Goosemoor.

Red Knot in amongst Black-tailed Godwit

Dunlin in amongst Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

The Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon
I had time for a quick look before heading home. The Cetti's Warbler was in song near the white bridge. No sign of the Lesser Whitethroat but to be fair I wasn't on site long. Still no Common Kingfisher or Water Rail! A few Barn Swallow were about but apart from that the site was very quiet.

Hawfinch And Black Redstart

Topsham Cemetery, Devon
As it was freezing this morning I thought I would try my luck with the Hawfinch before work. I have tried a few brief attempts but had no luck. Today that luck changed. There were at least 6 birds (I suspect there were more as they were quite mobile at one point) I managed to get some descent on the ground views but my photo wasn’t great at all. When they got mobile, I was joined by Dave Stone as we tried to pin them down. Nice to catch up with Dave and share some sighting details. A few other bits and bobs were around the cemetery, including European Greenfinch, Regwing, Song Thrush and Goldcrest. I finally had to drag myself away and get to work!

Hawfinch (Female)

Redwing

Dunnock

European Greenfinch (Female)

Common Chaffinch (Male)

Budleigh Salterton Cricket Pitch, Devon
After work I was torn between looking here or having another look for the Corn Bunting at Orcombe Point. I was pleased with my decision as on the left hand side of the Cricket pitch was a stunning Male Black Redstart. I managed a few (very distant shots) and it was very mobile. The Tawny Owl was roosting in its usual tree and also of interest was a lonely Red Knot on the Estuary near the picnic tables. Matt Knott text me to say that the Corn Bunting was still on site. Think I will take another look at it tomorrow.