Big Garden Birdwatch

 Ottery St Mary, Devon

As I now live in an area with decent bird activity I decided I would take part in the RSPB big garden birdwatch. I opted for early morning on Saturday. I have seen all of these species at different times since moving in but I've been so busy with the house and work that I haven't really spent a good amount of time simply sat enjoying the wildlife. So it was really nice to fully appreciate what's on offer. This is my full list of birds just in the boundary of my garden in an hours watch. 

• Common Wood Pigeon (31)
• Eurasian Collared Dove (1)
• European Herring Gull (1 in the garden and 28 in adjacent field)
• Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1)
• Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
• European Green Woodpecker (1)
• Eurasian Jay (1)
• Eurasian Magpie (1)
• Carrion Crow (2 plus 16 flyovers)
• Coal Tit (5)
• Eurasian Blue Tit (5)
• Great Tit (3)
• Long-tailed Tit (6)
• Eurasian Nuthatch (1)
• Eurasian Treecreeper (1)
• Common Goldcrest (1)
• Common Chiffchaff (1)
• Eurasian Wren (1)
• Common Starling (11)
• Common Blackbird (3 male and 2 female)
• Redwing (6)
• Fieldfare (2 plus 3 in adjacent field)
• Song Thrush (1)
• European Robin (2)
• House Sparrow (6 male and 7 female)
• Dunnock (3)
• Common Chaffinch (10 male and 6 female)
• Eurasian Bullfinch (2 male and a female)
• European Greenfinch (1)
• Eurasian Goldfinch (5)

Not on the British list 

• Indian Peahen (2 male and a female)

Not counted as they were flyovers 

• Canada Goose
• Northern Raven

Brambling

East Hill Strips, Devon 

I took a walk around this area this afternoon. Not a lot of species seen to be honest. I did get nice views of Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper and Redwing. Best of all was a Brambling. My first of the year. 

Unusual Urban Birding

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I haven't blogged for a while. In fact, I haven't birded for a while either. Work commitments and illness have gotten in my way. 

I have only been on few walks around my estate. I have of course been watching the garden and the main order of the last few weeks have been. Redwing, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a flyover Little Egret. 

On today's lunchtime walk though I came across something that I have heard calling of late. A few streets away I came across an usual site. An Indian Peafowl. This female was rather at home wandering the street and pottering about in gardens. Not quite what you would expect from urban birding.  

Indian Peafowl (Female)

Common Merganser

Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon

After work today, I took a walk out to Cadhay Bridge. I've been here a few times over lockdown this winter in search of Common Merganser with no luck. There were several birds here last winter so I was starting to get a bit worried this year. However, todays visit proved productive with 3 birds. A Male and 2 Females. A poor picture in poor light. Also a few Redwing in the area.

Common Merganser (Male and 2 Females)

Trushes Galore

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I walked around the farmland areas near my house this afternoon. Sticking to the PROW's.  The order of the day was Thrushes. Plenty of Common Blackbird about, Several Song Thrush, and 4 Mistle Thrush. However, the main event was a mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare. The flock was circa 250 birds. Mainly Redwing but good numbers of Fieldfare. 

One of my photos captured 3 species and it's a shame I couldn't get both nearby Song Thrush and Common Blackbird in the shot. Well, I could of but they would have been dots.

Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare 

Mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare 

Fieldfare 

Lack of time

Colaton Common, Devon
I dont seen to be able to get out in the field much at the moment with workloads and preparing to move house. In a few weeks time I will be in Ottery St Mary. I will still visit many of the Exmouth and Exeter sites I currently do but will need to figure out some new local patches as well.

Anyway, I visited this area the commons today and started at the Warren car park. I worked my way down hill and immediately got on to a small flock of Fieldfare and Redwing. A few Meadow Pipits and Common Linnet were dotted about. To the north of the grenade range I managed the briefest of views of a Short-eared Owl. I was also pleased to get my first Eurasian Woodcock of the winter  with 2 flyovers. I was starting to get worried that none were in the location this year so it was a sigh of relief to finally see some.

All About The Thrushes

Emsworthy Mire, Near Haytor, Devon
I had the afternoon and despite having pretty bad sciatica, I made the effort to go and have a little look around. Most of my time was spent sitting on walls to ease the pain. This worked rather well actually as I was able to watch a flock of around 60 Fieldfare and in amongst them were 2 Male Ring Ouzel and around 10 Redwing. I couldn't chase them down for a photo and they always remained distant. To back up the other Thrush species a few Song Thrush and Common Blackbird were on site. A Grey Wagtail was a nice surprise too. Also of note on site were 2 Eurasian Jay, Northern Raven and a Male Eurasian Bullfinch. A few Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Magpie and Carrion Crow made up the supporting cast.

Common Firecrest

Liverton Copse, Exmouth, Devon 
I was going to pop to Darts Farm after work but I finished later than planned and with traffic lights on the bridge I decided I didn’t have time. However, inspired by Matt Knotts look around a very local copse I decided I could swing by for 20 minutes or so. I’ve never actually birded this area but I was surprised by the variety of species on offer. On the treetops were a few Redwing. Within minutes I had seen Eurasian Treecreeper and Eurasian Nuthatch. I then got on to a Goldcrest and with that the call of a Common Firecrest. After a few minutes I managed to locate and get descent views of one bird. As I watched, I reckon I heard at least 3 individuals but couldn’t locate any others. I think I will be visiting here a bit more often. It’s weird that it’s literally 5 minutes from my house and I hadn’t discovered this tiny piece of land that does have lots of potential. Thanks Matt for the information.

A Decent Selection At The Farm

Hayes Pig Farm, Yettington, Devon
A walk along the road and the public footpath at the farm after work. The place was quiet busy with bird activity. I guess the earlier dusting of snow in the area and the cold had brought them in towards the farm in search of food. There were circa 150 Common Chaffinch, a Female Brambling, several Common Reed Bunting, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Cirl Bunting, Circa 30 Redwing, several Fieldfare, 1 Grey Wagtail, a few Meadow Pipit, European Green Woodpecker and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Some Somerset Stuff

Oathe, Somerset
I had a work meeting in Somerset today and after it finished I popped to this area for half an hour as it was around the corner. The reason for the visit was that I had heard there were Whooper Swans here. I couldn’t find any but I was impressed by the amount of Northern Lapwing in the area. I didn’t do an accurate count but it was was in the several hundreds. I walked along the road and flushed a Common Kingfisher and best of all a Jack Snipe. There were also a decent amount of Redwing and Fieldfare.

Fieldfare 

Swell Wood, Somerset
I also popped into this RSPB reserve for 10 minutes. I didn’t leave the car park as someone had dropped Seed all over the place and there was a real feeding frenzy of woodland birds. Lots of Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit and Great Tit with a couple of Marsh Tit mixed in. Also a Eurasian Nuthatch and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker. This seemed like a really nice reserve and has a Heronry lookout hide.

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.

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)

Hawfinch (Female) 

Hawfinch (Female)  

Hawfinch (Female)

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.

Black Redstart (Male)

Black Redstart (Male) 

Black Redstart (Male)    

Eurasian Goldfinch 

Red Knot 

Red Knot 

Song Thrush 

White (Pied) Wagtail 

More Snow

Exnouth, Devon
I didn’t get out birding but did walk to my mum in law and then my Sister in laws. There were a fair few birds on the move west mid morning, obviously aware of what was coming our way. The numbers weren’t anywhere near the last snow event but of note were Redwing, Fieldfare and Common Starling.

I put out extra food and had a flock of 15 Eurasian Goldfinch gladly scoffing away. I don’t get too many of them around me so this flock was a welcome sight. I do hope they all make it.

I feel for the migrating species at the moment. Can you imagine travelling hundreds (if not into the thousands) of miles, being absolutely exhausted then having to face this? It will no doubt take its toll. Then there’s the early breeders like Common Blackbird that will also suffer from this. We’ve had no serious snow for around 8 years and then we are blasted with 2 major events a few weeks apart. I just hope the losses aren’t too bad this time.

The Little Guys Made It

County Hall, Exeter, Devon
Whilst having a cigarette break in work, I watched a large party of mixed birds feeding. In the flock were, 5 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Great Tit, 3 Eurasian Blue Tit, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Eurasian Wren. So it was very encouraging to see that the smaller species in that area had made it through the rough weather. Also around the site throughout the day were, 8 Common Blackbird, 2 Redwing, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 European Green Woodpecker, 1 Eurasian Jay and a few Eurasian Goldfinch.

Snow Day

Exmouth, Devon

We’ve been hit by snow so I have done my bit and put out extra food to help our feathered friends in their time of need. The kids have obviously enjoyed the events and I do enjoy the amazing bird movements but no doubt many species will really struggle in these conditions and it’s sad to know that many will lose the battle to survive. 

Snow!!!

Looking for food in the garden first thing was a Redwing. I’ve seen Redwing in the fields up the road from me but never in my garden! I hope that guys makes it through this snow period! There were actually quite a number around the area all frantically looking for some nourishment! This one was on the way to the in laws on Marley Road.

Redwing

Also visiting the garden very briefly were 6 Fieldfare. There is a tree up the road bearing berries (forgive me as I’m not great with trees so don’t know what type) that they were desperately feeding from. Also 2 Common Snipe flew low over the house. This proved to me that things were tough out there for the birds.

I had a text off Matt Knott that I didn’t see straight away about a group of Woodlark on the beach but by that time I couldn’t make the trek.

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.