Greater Scaup

Sowden Lane, Lympstone, Devon 

I wanted to look for the female Greater Scaup that has been on the river Exe for some time. Having read Matt Knotts blog it was clear it prefers this area. I couldn't locate the bird for some time but finally it popped up rather close. Also 6 Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Great Crested Grebe.

Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon 

I moved on in hope of seeing the 2 immature Common Eider. Again I had to put some time in before I picked them out very distantly. Also a single Common Scoter.

Greater Scaup (Female)

Firecrest and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Mudbank, Exmouth, Devon 

I had the day off today and was keen to get out in the sun. I wanted to visit a few old haunts so I popped here first. Not a great deal on offer but I was pleased to see my first Red-breasted Merganser of the year. I realised how much I miss some of my old local spots. Also a few Great Crested Grebe around too. 

Bystock Pools, Exmouth,Devon 

On to one of my favourite places. I quickly got on to a Yellowhammer and some Eurasian Siskin but the star bird was a very showy Common Firecrest. Unfortunately I only armed myself with bins for this and was annoyed with a lost fabulous photo opportunity. It was also pleasing to see a few Butterfly species with Brimstone, Peacock and Comma.

Yarner Woods, Bovey Tracey, Devon 

I decided I had the urge to see Lesser Spotted Woodpecker so I made the trip up to the best spot in Devon. As soon as I arrived at the top car park, I heard the unmistakable drumming and after just popping into the reserve, a got on to an individual. Only a brief view before it moved on. Down at the pond hide was a pair of Mandarin Duck. That again put in a brief show before hiding in the undergrowth.

Little Auk and Black-necked Grebe

Harbour, Weymouth, Dorset 

Another day off and another lure. Little Auk is not a species you really get to enjoy down south. They are usually flybys or a distant speck on the sea. So I had to give this bird a go. I opted to set up opposite the lifeboat station. There were a number of birders on both sides eagerly waiting. After around 20 minutes a Whistle came from the opposite side and signals pointing a little further up the harbour. I walked the couple of hundred metres and could see the tiny thing in-between 2 yellow boats. Quick bin views confirmed and I was soon getting great scope views. The best views I have ever had and what a buzz.

Little Auk 

Little Auk 

Little Auk 

Little Auk 

Sandsfoot, Weymouth, Dorset 

With the Little Auk safely in the bag. I decided to see if I could spot the Black-necked Grebes from the sailing club. I did one scan with no luck and another birder turned up and on his first scan picked them up. I assume they had popped up from a feeding session. Non the less, we enjoyed pretty decent views of 4 birds. Also on site were numerous Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebe. All done by lunchtime, I decided to head home. One happy chap.

Black-necked Grebe 

Red-necked Grebe

Elberry Cove, Broadsands, Devon
I had most of the day off today so I thought I would look for the Red-necked Grebe. I didn’t have to look too hard as 2 birds showed rather well. Also on site were singles of Common Loon, Black-throated Loon and Great Crested Grebe.

Red-necked Grebe (2 individuals)

Red-necked Grebe

Black-throated Loon

Cockwood, Devon
I have been desperate to see Sanderling for a while so I popped to the railway steps as the tide was dropping. Plenty of Dunlin and Ruddy Turnstone feeding at the shoreline but sadly no Sanderling. Also a few Mew Gull, Common Redshank and Red-breasted Merganser but not much else of note.

50% Target Species Obtained In Dorset

Me and my mate Pete headed off to the Weymouth amd Portland areas today with 4 targets in mind. Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pallid Swift and Franklin’s Gull. With Franklin’s Gull being a lifer bird for me.

Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset
We arrived and firstly scanned the car park as there were good numbers of Gull species still hanging around. A good few scans showed that the Franklin’s Gull wasn’t in the group but there were a couple of Mew Gull and good numbers of Mediterranean Gull in amongst the large numbers of Black-headed Gull and numerous European Herring Gull. We decided that we would come back later in the afternoon, as this is when it had been reported. We then went for the next bird, a Ring-necked Duck. The best place to view wasn’t in the reserve so we walked along the road to the tennis courts, where there is a viewing pontoon. Within a few minutes, the bird (a 1st winter Male) showed beautifully for a while and it came in very close. In fact, my best views of this species.

Ring-necked Duck (Male)

Ring-necked Duck (Male)

Ring-necked Duck (Male)

Chesil Cove, Portland, Dorset
With a report of the Pallid Swift we set off to take a look. This isn’t a lifer bird (so no pressure there) but it would constitute only my second UK record. We put an hour or so in with no luck. Sods law, the bird kept getting reported in the afternoon. Whilst we were staking the place out, there were 2 extremely distant Black Redstart that you could just pick out in the scope.

Portland Harbour, Dorset 
We decided to have our packed lunch at the harbour and give it a Scan in the hope of a Grebe or Loon species but the best on offer were a few Red-breasted Merganser.

Ferrybridge, Portland, Dorset
It seemed rude not to stop here for a quick look and there had been a reported (Black) Brant Goose. On arrival, Pete got a close Female Black Redstart and a scan produced high numbers of Red-breasted Merganser. There were only 6 Brant Goose in view and not one was a (Black) Brant Goose

Lodmoor, Weymouth, Dorset
Next, we had a look for the Lesser Yellowlegs. An initial walk up the west side of the reserve failed to produce the bird but on the way back it had dropped in and was associating with a Ruff. I never tire of seeing Lesser Yellowlegs and got really enjoyable views. The Ruff was in odd plumage and was equally enjoyable

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Ruff

Ruff

Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset
Late afternoon, we headed back for a final look for the Franklin’s Gull. Many Gulls kept dropping in and leaving. Again, a few Mew Gull and good numbers of Mediterranean Gull but sadly no lifer bird for me today.

Mew Gull

Mediterranean Gull

European Herring Gull

A Very Odd Gull Indeed

Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon
I had a brief look after work. Not a great deal going on when I first turned up. A pair of distant Red-breasted Merganser, a single Brant Goose and the regular Gull and Wader species. Matt Knott then turned up and we both started scanning. Matt picked out a Gull that I must of initially overlooked or it turned up after I had scanned that particular group.

Anyway it made us both stop and wonder. Now I am the first to admit that Gulls are my weak point in my birding skills. Yes I can tell the obvious but I do struggle a tad with ageing and subtle differences of the Herring Gull taxon. This bird made us think Hmmm European Herring Gull but a weird one at that and worth a closer look. We both went through the thought process. Subtle hints of American and possible Argentatus etc. etc.

So on to the bird in question. It was a 1st winter individual. The bill colour was pink with a black tip (almost Glaucous looking in structure). Pink legs. One of my shots shows barring on the arse end of the bird. As far as I've read, this is something to look out for when looking for American Herring Gull but it should be excessive and I'm not sure my pictures have captured that much barring. My pictures don't reflect the colouration (I expect Matt has better ones) but it was a drab brown (very uniformed on the neck and chest (another pointer to American?) It was also aggressive to near enough ever other Gull that came into its personal space. Perhaps its just a grumpy Gull but I find myself asking "Is this a trait of a particular species or subspecies? It was noticeably larger than the other Gulls, which actually goes against American as they are generally similar in size and structure. I did think that it wasn't dark enough to be American (text book bird) but I now know that that isn't a reliable driving factor in the ID process.

So then are we on to Argentatus? Now I'm not that great on that subspecies so I need to refresh myself to assess the possibility of this. The only other options left are - Hybrid (due to the size but with what?) but I'm not really on board with this. Or its quite simply a very odd looking European Herring Gull, probably the most likely option.

Just to note, that there was a report of an American Herring Gull on the 18th February at Hayle in Cornwall photo here American Herring Gull, Hayle Estuary, Cornwall unfortunately there's not a lot of detail in the photo to compare but interesting that there has been (and could still be) one out there in the South West.

If nothing else it was an interesting Gull and gave Matt and I something to mull over as there was little else on offer. At present its in the note book as a European Herring Gull but undecided as to whether is Argenteus or Argentatus but there's something going on with this bird in my mind. I guess its the curiosity in me and I hate it when I have to just let a species go a "Its just a weird one". I guess its the OCD in me, that needs to exhaust all avenues to tag it to a particular species before I do admit defeat. If I do come up with anything else I will of course update.   

Here are my photos.

Odd Herring Gull

bird on left being aggressive

Odd Herring Gull

large pink bill / black tip

Odd Herring Gull

rear view

Odd Herring Gull

barring on arse

Odd Herring Gull
top bird

Odd Herring Gull
bird on right

noticeably larg

Western Cattle Egret

Quay, Exmouth, Devon

An early morning look from the Quay in hope of the Bonaparte’s Gull proved fruitless but there were 2 Ruddy Turnstone scuttling around the edges near the dock and 1 Common Eider off the Warren.

Imperial ground, Exmouth 

I decided to move on to the Imperial ground area where on arrival there were good numbers of Gulls on the grass area. Many Black-headed Gulls and European Herring Gulls plus 4 Mew Gull but no Bonaparte’s Gull. The Brant Geese were in close by the seems grass area (car park) so viewed them from the car. Also there were a few Dunlin and Red-breasted Merganser. I then noticed a Little Egret and was watching that and noticed a smaller bird tucked away in the sea grass. The bird finally lifted its head to reveal a Western Cattle Egret! I watched it for a moment before deciding to take a photo. I have to take my photos via my iPhone through my scope. As I got out (slowly) to get my scope from the boot, the bird flew. I tracked it as it headed for the rugby ground. As it flew I was able to see the bird better and got all the features for the ID. I went to have a look at the rugby pitch but no joy. 

Quay, Shelley Beach and Imperial Ground, Exmouth, Devon 

After work I went back for another look for both the Western Cattle Egret and Bonaparte’s Gull at the Quay, Shelley Beach and Imperial Ground after work, with no success. There was however a Common Loon and Common Eider from the Quay.

Horned Grebe And A Missed Pipit

Quay, Exmouth, Devon 
An early morning look (at first light) from the quay provided me with distant views of the Long-tailed Duck. It was off shore from the Warren Point. Also 2 Common Loon, 2 Common Eider, several Common Scoter, several European Shag and Red-breasted Merganser. Distant views of the Horned Grebe near Cockwood and a few Great Crested Grebe. Numerous Gulls but nothing unusual.

Lympstone, Devon 
A look on the way to work in the Sowden Lane area (near the cycle track and rail bridge) gave very close views of several Brambling.

Topsham, Devon 
Had a look at the rec after work to see if the Water Pipit was around but no sign. Only bird of note was a single Common Sandpiper.

Common Goldeneye

Topsham Recreation Ground, Devon 
I took the kids to the scate park but as always I had the bins with me. Not much of note but nice views of  2 drake Common Goldeneye and 2 drake Red-breasted Merganser