Ruff And Mediterranean Gull

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 

I had to pop the Exeter for a check up on my back issues so I thought I would pop in to have a lightening look from the hide. The Ruff was asleep towards the back but a Mediterranean Gull was a bit more showy in front of the hide.

Ruff

Mediterranean Gull

Ruff

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 

I visited the hide over the morning high tide. As I turned up I was advised there had just been a Little Gull reported off the goat walk. So I popped along but there was no sign. At the hide, the highlights were 3 Ruff, 1 Common Snipe and circa 20 Common Greenshank. A good number of Dunlin were on offer to scrutinise a single Stock Dove popped in and a few Northern Pintail andBar-tailed Godwit were dotted about.

Common Snipe 

Purple Hairstreak

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon 

A great evening spent on site today. 3 Little Ringed Plover, a Male Ruff, Water Rail, several Mediterranean Gull from the island hide. Best of all though we're 2 Purple Hairstreaks in oak trees near the tower hide. Thank to Steve Waite for the heads up.

Little Ringed Plovers

Mediterranean Gull

Ruff (Male)

Finally A Northern Wheatear, Some Nice Waders And A YL Gull

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 

I was in Exmouth on an errand and had literally 10 minutes to spare. So I popped here for a quick look. Since moving and lockdown, I haven't been here in ages. It felt nice to be back on a familiar site. The target was Northern Wheatear and since a load had been seen at Beer Head. I thought there had to be some here. Anyway, I was able to see a single bird in my 10 minutes there. Amazingly, due to lockdown. This was my first of the year. 

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon 

A quick visit this evening produced the Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper and Ruff from the viewing area before the island hide. Lots of Dunlin and Common Ringed Plover about I also bumped into Steve Waite that let me know of an adult Yellow-legged Gull from the tower hide. I picked it out but the light wouldnt let me get a great photo with my equipment. Also a single Common Greenshank and lots more Dunlin from this hide. 

Little Stint

Yellow-legged Gull 

2 Out Of 3 Ain't Bad

Labrador bay, Devon 
After a dismal week of dips I managed a few hours off family duties and decided to try to make amends. Very windy and choppy seas were the order of the day but I managed to find a sheltered spot and easily picked out the Surf Scoter and Velvet Scoter. PHEW!!

(Left) Surf Scoter and Velvet Scoter 

(Left) Surf Scoter and Velvet Scoter 

Powderham Marsh, Devon 
I moved on for the Green-winged Teal. At the platform I bumped into Dave Boult and we scoped the marsh together. The Snow Goose was present as were, Little Ringed Plover, the male Greater Scaup, a White Wagtail in amongst the many Pied Wagtail, several Sand Martin and the Ruff. Despite hanging around I still didnt get the Green-winged Teal. As Meatloaf said, "two out of three ain't bad". On the walk to the platform and back were, a single male Cirl Bunting, Cetti's Warbler and 2 Common Chiffchaff. 

Greater Scaup And Ruff

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
I popped in at high tide after work in the hope of seeing the Greater Scaup and Ruff. There was a lot of activity and the waders were unsettled. There must have been a raptor nearby but no one in the hide got sight of one. Plenty of the normal species on offer with good numbers of Pier Avocet. The Ruff was picked up by Dave Boult soon after I arrived. He gave me directions on were the Greater Scaup was last seen but it had gone AWOL. I was about to call it a day when I picked it up in the centre of the marsh. The Iong-billed Dowitcher was on sight but couldn't be located.

I also learned that I can now again add Hudsonian Whimbrel to my list as the IOC have split it. I'm glad as I have seen 2 individuals. 1 in Sussex in 2015 and the other in Cornwall in 2016.

Greater Scaup (Male)

Greater Scaup (Male)

Ruff

Spotted Crake

Greylake, Somerset 

I had a day off so me and Pete went to Somerset for the Spotted Crake. Very soon after arriving at the hide the bird showed extremely well very close to the hide. Rob and Steph Murphy arrived as it was showing and we all got superb views. Also on site was a Great Egret and a Eurasian Hobby was around the car park.

Spotted Crake

Spotted Crake

Spotted Crake

Ham Wall, Somerset 

Next stop off to look for the Black-winged Stilt. We made our way to the second viewing platform to stake it out. A Great Egret popped in as did a Western Marsh Harrier. A few Waders kept us entertained with a Green Sandpiper and 2 Ruff. Rob and Steph joined us after a while but relocated to widen the search and up our chances. Unfortunately the bird was nowhere to be seen. 

Another Long-billed Dowitcher

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon.
After not having time to look for the Long-billed Dowitcher yesterday, I had a look off the viewing platform before work as it had been reported. On arrival I bumped into Dave Boult who advised me it had flown further down the estuary and he was trying to relocate it. After a little look, I decided to give up and look over the afternoon high tide. The hide was packed out with a few familiar faces. Keith Birchall said it wasn’t on site but it should be in very soon as the Waders were starting to come in from the estuary. He kindly pointed out a Curlew Sandpiper showing rather nicely in front of the hide.

The long-billed Dowitcher then came in as expected and gave some nice views on the far island and after a little while came even closer. Also on sight was a juvenile Garganey and Ruff. Only armed with bins I couldn’t take any pictures. My 3rd ever Long-billed Dowitcher (2nd this year) and my 1st in Devon.

Long-billed Dowitcher

Lodmoor, Weymouth, Dorset
Me and my mate Pete set off to look at would be only my second Long-billed Dowitcher. My first sighting was also at Lodmoor, as was my only sighting of Short-billed Dowitcher. Finding this bird was so easy. It was asleep just a couple of hundred yards away from the Reserve entrance. It woke up after a few minutes and gave great views. Unfortunately, my phone camera sensor is kaput. So I could only manage this crappy record shot. The only other bird of note was a Ruff.

Long-billed Dowitcher 

Portland Bill, Dorset
We moved on to the quarry in search of the Eurasian Wryneck bit despite a bit of a stakeout, it was nowhere to be seen. It was a similar story for the Lapland Bunting. Around the area though, were double figures of Northern Wheatear and singles of Whinchat and White Wagtail.

Wood Sandpiper And A Nice Selection Of Waders

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
The Wood Sandpiper was reported late morning so after work I thought I would swing by on my way home. I only had my binoculars but obtained really nice views to the left of the hide with a few Green Sandpiper. On the main spit were a few Eurasian Whimbrel and Common Greenshank. A nice finish to the visit was a Ruff moulting out of summer plumage.

Little Ringed Plover

Powderham Marsh, Devon 
After work I had a walk to the viewpoint as I was informed over the weekend by Rob and Steph Murphy that there were 3 Little Ringed Plover on the marsh. I wasn’t able to get out over the weekend so I was itching to have a look for them. As I walked to the viewpoint, the Snow Goose flew over and settled in its current favoured field near the Swans Nest Inn. Small flocks of Common Linnet, Common Chaffinch and Eurasian Goldfinch gave me something to look through on route.

On arriving at the viewpoint, I didn’t have to look too hard for the Little Ringed Plover as I got straight on to one of the birds and very quickly picked up the other 2 all around the base of the pylon. Several Sand Martin were hawking the marsh and after a search I picked up singles of Ruff and Common Sandpiper to the right of the marsh. A group of 20 European Golden Plover were to the left with a few coming into breeding plumage. Due to the distance here are some awful record shots!

Ruff 

Little Ringed Plover 

European Golden Plover 

Pied Avocet And Common Eider

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
A morning visit on Monday didn’t give up the Yellow-browed Warbler but from the hide was a single Ruff and few Dunlin in amongst the many Black-tailed Godwit flock and a nice raft of Pied Avocet.

Pied Avocer

Shelly Beach, Exmouth, Devon 
A quick look after work in the hope of a Black Redstart was unsuccessful. I guess it was hunkered down due to the presence of a Eurasian Sparrowhawk. On the estuary were a few Common Eider, with one individual at rather close range.

Dorset Delivers Again

A cracking “fill your boots” day out in Dorset.

Portland Harbour, Dorset 
First stop off in search of Loons and Grebes. It was rather quiet here but eventually a Black-throated Loon showed distantly. The only other bird of note was a Common Murre.

Sandsfoot Castle, Weymouth, Dorset 
My next stop proved better with a Common Loon, Horned Grebe, 6 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Black-necked Grebe.

Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset 
My main targets here were the Ring-necked Duck and Bearded Reedling. After two circuits of the Buddleia Loop I was giving up hope of the later but just near the visitor centre I heard the distinctive call and there were a Male and Female at real close quarters. They were often slightly obscured and due to the breeze, never ventured right to the top of the reeds. I absolutely adore this species and wish I could see them more often. A quick look of the pontoons along the main road gave me the other target bird. Mission complete! Also on site were good numbers of Common Pochard, Gadwall and Tufted Duck. I was surprised not to get a Mediterranean Gull though!

Bearded Reedling (Male)

Bearded Reedling (Female)

Bearded Reedling (Female)

Bearded Reedling (Female)

Lodmoor, Weymouth, Dorset 
Next stop off was for the Lesser Yellowlegs. I got straight on to this cracking bird and had nice close views for a few minutes but it flew off before a photo opportunity. Also onsite was a Male Western Marsh Harrier, Ruff and good numbers of Common Snipe.

Ruff

Maiden Castle, Dorchester, Dorset
I couldn’t resist stopping off here for Corn Bunting and the place didn’t disappoint as I got straight on to a group of circa 20 birds.

Lyme Regis, Dorset 
A final stop off to look for the apart showy Common Eider and boy is it showy. The bird was outside the harbour and gave nice views. I couldn’t locate any Purple Sandpiper or the earlier reported Black Redstart in the Bowling Green area.

Common Eider (Male)

Winter Wildfowl Spectacle

Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
I had my annual winter visit to the WWT centre today. I do love visiting at this time of year to witness the wildfowl spectacle. My target was the Holden Hide as this gives a good viewpoint of the reserve and you can usually get all the main species the reserve has to offer. From the hide there were large groups of (Bewick’s) Tundra Swan, Whooper Swan, Greater White-fronted Goose, and Greylag Goose, there were a decent number of Barnacle Goose but they were always very distant as were the 7 Common Crane that were on site. 2 Peregrine Falcon were again distant and hunkering on the ground from the wind, From the Martin Smith hide were 2 Ruff. There were also 3 Pink-footed Goose on site and I wasn’t sure if they were captive or not. Either way, they were a welcome site.

Pink-footed Goose 

(Bewick’s) Tundra Swan

Common Moorhen  

Greylag Goose

Greater White-fronted Goose

Whilst onsite it had a look around the captive enclosures so I could brush up on those rarer species that turn up in the UK including some of those mega American diving Ducks.

Ruddy Shelduck (Female)

Goldeneye (Male)

Common Goldeneye (Female)

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Common Eider (Male and Female) 

Red-breasted Goose 

Snow Goose

Smew (Male)

Canvasback (Male)

Redhead (Male)

Cackling Goose

Bufflehead (Male)

Barrow’s Goldeneye (Male)

Greater Scaup (Male)

Lesser Scaup (Male)

Ring-necked Duck (Male)

Westhay Moor, Somerset
On the way home I popped here in the hope of a Bearded Reedling. At first the place seemed devoid of life but things picked up with a Male Western Marsh Harrier and a Merlin. I heard a few Bearded Reedling but I failed to locate any birds.

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