Alpine Swift

Cockwood, Devon.

Having not been able to get out and experience the current Alpine Swift influx. I was pleased to have time this morning to head over to Dawlish direction as 4 were on show over the country park. On route I thought they had moved on due to messages on WhatsApp but I decided to keep going and was pleased I did as when I was going through Starcross, a further message came out that 2 were viewable at the ridge West of Cockwood. So I headed to the steps and was straight on to the 2 birds. Strongly a UK first for me having seen hundreds abroad. On the estuary was a bonus Spotted Redshank and in a stubble field south of Kenton were 2 Red-legged Partridge. 

Rose-ringed Parakeet and Red Kite

London

Myself and the family just got back from a few days in London. We went to take in a show and do some site seeing. 

Wiltshire

On they way up we stopped for a break at a place near Stonehenge. Conveniently, a place I knew would be good for Red-legged Partridge. I wasn't wrong as there were 12 birds plus a bonus 5 Grey Partridge. 

Hampshire / Surrey

While driving through these counties on the A303 and M3 I was treated to 6 Red Kite. 

London 

We arrived at our hotel in Wembley and was greeted by a calling Rose-ringed Parakeet that was sat in a tree opposite the hotel. 

London Portobello Road

On the second day we went to Portobello Road and I managed a total of 21 Rose-ringed Parakeet. With the majority of these around the Ladbroke Grove tube station whilst the birds were going to roost somewhere. 

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Red-legged Partridge

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I haven't had any chance to make a dent in the 2022 year list, apart from the usual garden birds which has included Eurasian Jay, Redwing, Common Pheasant and a non tickable Indian Peafowl. I did pop to a few places late afternoon toady though. 

On the Road out of Ottery to Putts Corner (Hare and Hounds) in the first field on the left past the animal rescue centre were a group of 6 Red-legged Partridge. I was only on bins, so poor record shot below.

A few 100 metres south of St Saviours Bridge, wad a nice White-throated Dipper and 6 Common Merganser. 

Red-legged Partridge 

Western Yellow Wagtail

Beer Head, Devon 

All the years I've lived in East Devon, I have never managed to get to this site. Got some info off Kevin Hale today though and had an evening visit. A joy of a site with lots of great habitats. And an amazing migration drop in area. 

I wanted to have a look for Western Yellow Wagtail and was not disappointed. Within minutes I had got nice views of 4 birds. I normally see this species hanging about with Cows, so to see them dodging sheep feet was a bit of a novelty.  

On leaving, there was a Red-legged Partridge by the barn near the entrance gate and nice views of a European Green Woodpecker. 

I will definitely be spending more time here now that I live nearer the site than I was in Exmouth. 

European Stom Petrel

Otterton, Devon
I went for my daily exercise from Stantywell Farm to the coastal path near the sewage works this evening. In one of the fields just down from the farm were, 2 Red-legged Partridge and 2 Brown Hare.

A further 2 Brown Hare were seen further along. At the feeder at the sewage works was a stunning male Cirl Bunting and along the path to the coastal path was a nice female Common Whitethroat.

At the coastal path I scanned the sea. A few Northern Gannet and Northern Fulmar were far out and then whilst tracking a Black-legged Kittiwake, I picked up a small black bird just above the surface. It was initially heading straight towards me so my initial thought was Common Murre. However, the jizz was all wrong. The bird then tracked west and it because immediately obvious I was watching a European Storm Petrel. Not too shabby for a lockdown tick.

Birding While Working

Powderham Saw Mills, Devon. 
Whilst on route to inspect a potential resurfacing scheme near Dawlish and as a passenger in the vehicle. I kept an eye out in the fields near Powderham Saw Mills for Red-legged Partridge and as luck would have it circa 12 were in the field just past the turning to the Saw Mills as you are heading to Dawlish. Not too shabby for a work related sighting.

Summer Migrants

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I checked the dung field and immediate area very quickly first thing but it was rather misty and there wasn't much about apart from a few Willow Warbler.

Exminster Marsh, Devon
As the roads are quiet due to half term, the lure of yesterdays Garganey got the better of me so I popped here before heading to the office. I walked from the middle car park to the fisherman's car park and back. The first bird of note was a singing Sedge Warbler that also showed itself briefly at close range. This was followed by cracking views of a Cetti's Warbler. Near the fisherman's car park were 2 Barnacle Goose, a Eurasuan Whimbrel in among the Eurasian Curlew and a Male Common Reed Bunting but alas, no Garganey. As I arrived back at the middle car park, a number of Sand Martins were feeding and a single Common House Martin was in amongst them.

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I went for another look around after work and was rewarded with a Male Northern Wheatear along the coastal path. A few Willow Warbler were dotted about but I was surprised to see a Red-legged Partridge whilst checking out the dung field before leaving. It was sat on the fence to the left of the field but dropped down into the old dung field to quickly for a photo. I checked the other field without success. Also a few Barn Swallow were pottering about.

A New Year

A new year and a fresh list to complete. 1 popped to a few sites and managed 82 species. I won’t mention them all but the highlights were.

Matford Marsh, Exeter 
I thought I would pop here in the hope of last years boggie bird (Yellow-browed Warbler). No joy but there was a Common Chiffchaff that got me excited for a second or so. Around the marsh were Black-tailed Godwit, Tufted Duck, Little Egret, Peregrine Falcon, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Common Snipe.

Powderham Sawmill
Another go at last years boggie bird but again there was no Yellow-browed Warbler on offer but a group of 6 Red-legged Partridge were close by.

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham
A Little Gull off the Goat Walk was a welcome sight, also here were Pied Avocet, Red Knot, Grey Plover and Dunlin. Around the marsh were Redwing, Northern Pintail, Bar-tailed Godwit and Cetti’s Warbler. I didn’t stay long as it was far too overcrowded for my liking. I felt almost claustrophobic.

Orcombe Point, Exmouth 
A quick visit produced Cirl Bunting, Northern Raven and Meadow Pipit.

The Seafront, Exmouth
What is it about “We must all go for a walk on New Year’s Day?!” As again this place was far too busy (it was busier than I have ever seen it in the summer) so I didn’t hang about but did manage a distant Red-throated Loon

The Quay and Imperial Grounds, Exmouth 
Black Redstart, Common Eider, Mew Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Horned Grebe, Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser were the best on offer here.

Hayes Pig Farm, Yettington 
A quick visit got me a Brambling at the farm and a European Green Woodpecker nearby. A quick return visit to a site near the farm at dusk got me a Eurasian Woodcock.

Fallow Deer

Powderham, Devon
I had a look around Powderham before work in the hope of seeing the Yellow-browed Warbler Matt Knott found yesterday. I couldn’t locate it but enjoyed some nice views of a large flock of Red-legged Partridge and the resident Fallow Deer.

Fallow Deer

Woodlark

Stantywell Farm, Otterton, Devon

Today’s after work yomp was a walk along the road from the farm to the Sewage treatment plant. Just down from the farm was a decent sized group of House Sparrow. I checked through the flock in the hope of a Bunting. No Bunting but I noted a call I hadn’t heard for a while and with that I scanned and got onto a Woodlark! No sooner as I had got onto it the bird took of and flew over me towards the football pitch. I watched it until it was out of sight and a later search to relocate the bird was unsuccessful. 

The next field held a group of 6 Red-legged Partridge. I assume the same group I saw there last week. They pottered about at rather close range and I enjoyed watching them for quite a while. The same field held circa 300 Common Linnet that kept flying off in large groups then coming back to perch on the overhead wires that go through the field. Again I carefully scanned the flock for anything unusual but nothing jumped out as being anything other than Common Linnet. There was not much else of note apart from the White Common Pheasant and a Common Kestrel but I came away pleased to see a Woodlark. My first sighting for well over a year. 

Red-legged Partridge 

Common Linnet (flock)

Common Pheasant (Female)

On the way home I stopped to say hello to Sir Raleigh 

Sir Walter Raleigh statue East Budleigh 

Partridges, White Pheasant And Hares

Stantywell Farm, Otterton, Devon
I decided to walk along the road from the farm to the entrance track to the Sewage works in search of any Finches or Buntings. There were no Buntings and only a handful of Common Chaffinch but I hope numbers will increase the deeper we get in to Autumn and move into Winter. There were decent numbers of House Sparrow. That wouldn’t be unusual a number of years ago but these days a very nice and encouraging sight.

As I moved down the road I came across a nice group of Red-legged Partridge. Some of the bird’s showed at decent range and it was a joy to watch them potter about. The next field held several Common Pheasant with a couple of odd variations, including a lovely White form and a few European Rabbit. Also flying overhead were a few Eurasian Skylark and Meadow Pipit but the best was yet to come as I walked back up to the farm I noted 2 large looking Rabbits. I got the scope on them and quickly realised that these were not your normal European Rabbit but were Brown Hare. The 2 individuals sat there nicely and seemed oblivious to me watching them. Hard to believe but this was my first sighting of this species in Devon.

Red-legged Partridge 

Red-legged Partridg

Red-legged Partridge

Red-legged Partridge (Group)

Common Pheasant (White variation)

Common Pheasant (White variation)

Brown Hare

Brown Hares

Brown Hare

Brown Hare

Red-legged Partridges and European Rabbit

Red-legged Partridge

Hayes Barton Farm, Yettington, Devon
A dawn visit to the pig farm near Yettington produced 6 Red-legged Partridge in the field directly behind the farm house. It was good to see healthy numbers of House Sparrow around the farm buildings, I would guess c40. Numerous Corvids with a mix of Carrion Crow, Rook and Western Jackdaw. A few Common Pheasant and a calling European Green Woodpecker.