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.

Eurasian Dotterel

Dawlish Warren, Devon 

I've been on a family visit to Wales this weekend so when news broke yesterday of a Eurasian Dotterel I was gutted. Gutted, because despite the many species I've seen. I've never seen this species. It's a species I remember seeing in my first bird book as a young lad and saying to myself "I really want to see one of those!' Despite several attempts at this species I've never got the opportunity. So, I was gutted as this is a species that never tend to stick around and I resigned myself to that fact I'd missed a cracking opportunity. Imagine my face when I heard it was still there today. Hmmm, there's still a chance. 

I left Wales as planned after lunch and it took 3 hours to get back to Ottery. I was tired to say the least but knew I couldn't miss this chance. Due to other family things we had to do on returning home I didn't set off until 5:45pm. However, that did coincide with the tide being right. I walked (rather fast) to the bight and was put straight on to the bird by a helpful chap. To say I was giddy would be an understatement as the views were incredible. I enjoyed the views for a while (pinching myself). Now I've seen much rarer birds but this as I've mentioned this was special as its been years of waiting to see. I walked back along the beach and was treated to a lovely group of Sanderling. I do love watching these birds dart in and out around the surf. They are comical at times.

One knackered but extremely happy chap. 

Eurasian Dotterel 

Eurasian Dotterel 

Sanderling 

Sanderling 

Arctic Tern

Exmouth Quay, Devon
A quick evening look before dusk on a dropping tide. On Great Bull Hill, in amongst good numbers of Sandwich Tern were around 10 Common Tern and a single Arctic Tern. On Warren Point were around 20 Common Ringed Plover, similar numbers of Dunlin and 4 Sanderling.

First Sand Martins And Western Cattle Egret

Exminster Marsh, Devon 
A quick look from the viewing platform first thing for yesterday’s reported female Red-crested Pochard was unsuccessful. However, I was pleased to see my first Sand Martin of the year. Around 4 birds were going over the canal from the estuary to the marsh and back. The best of the wildfowl on the lagoon were 2 Nothern Pintail, several Gadwall and several Tufted Duck. The Snow Goose was in exactly the same place I saw it a week ago in the field near the Swans Nest.

Cockwood, Devon 
After work, I decided to look for the 4 Western Cattle Egret reported on Twitter by local birder Dave Boult. They were apparently in a field at the rear of Cofton garage. The garage is just off the main Dawlish Road just past Cockwood (opposite the entrance to Cofton holiday park). I couldn’t locate any in the field but after a very brief search I located them with some Little Egret in a tree near the rear of the garage. I didn’t have my scope (left it in the car) but I could clearly make out 2 birds but I suspect that the others were there too.

I moved on to have a look off the railway steps in the hope of seeing Sanderling. Strangely a species I’ve not yet seen this year. No luck with the Sanderling but there were a few Mew Gull and the Horned Grebe. In the blight was a single Common Greenshank and towards Starcross, a small flock of Dunlin.

Rosy Starling

Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve. Devon
I couldn’t resist an evening walk out to the hide to look for the adult Rosy Starling. On arrival there was no sign but a Common Whitethroat, a Sanderling, several Common Ringed Plover and a large flock of Dunlin kept me entertained whilst I waited. Then a few Common Starling flew into the trees on the golf course and I prayed it would follow. I’m not a religious guy but my prayers must of been heard as it duly dropped in. A lot of the time it was obscured but I did manage some great views. Weird thing is, this is my first UK adult. I’ve seen numerous juvenile birds over the years but this one was special.

Short video clip of Rosy Starling 

Rosy Starling

Rosy Starling

Rosy Starling

Common Whitethroat (Male)

Bladder Campion

Birds-foot Trefoil

Small-flower Lupin

Purple Foxglove

Southern Marsh Orchid

American Horned Lark

Staines Reservoir, Surrey
I Don’t usually do twitches that far away but I had the day off and decided to scratch an itch I’ve had for a while now and go for the American Horned Lark. I wasn’t sure if the weather was going to be on my side but I threw caution to the wind and made the trek up to Surrey. On the way up I was stuck at 15MPH behind a tractor (cursing as you do) on the A303 about 10 miles from Stonehenge but I soon changed my tune when I noticed a group of Partridge pottering about at the edge of a field/ road and was able to pick out a Grey Partridge. I managed to stop a bit further up the road and walk back. The Partridges had moved further in to the field but I managed to scope them and there were 3 Grey Partridge.

During the rest of the journey I was treated to 5 Red Kite at various locations on the A303 and M3. As I was on the M3 I noted quite a bit of snow around and wondered what Staines would be like. The  roads were clear of snow so I soldiered on.

I arrived at Staines in good time and was surprised how easy parking was and how easy it was to access the reservoir. I bumped into a local birder who told me the Lark had just been here (yes, I thought. No lengthy walk) but he continued to tell me it flew over to it’s favourite spot (the opposite side of the reservoir (which is a bit of a walk). Anyway, off I trod in the thin covering of snow. There were a few species to keep me occupied on route. Double figures of Common Pochard, several Great Crested Grebe and a few Meadow Pipit.

I finally made it to the location the nice local birder had pointed out and BAM! There it was! Now this may sound strange but this is my 400th species. Yes a lifer, as I’ve never seen a normal one! However, what a species to get for your 400th. It’s also special as as far as I have read it was once on the British list but got disproved and duly removed. There have been a few other not accepted claims. So if the BOU accepts this it would be a UK first. There’s then also the chance of an armchair tick if the IOC split it. It’s been muted that there could be around 6 full species of Horned Lark.

Viewing the bird was a little tricky at times due to the fence but I did manage a few snaps.

American Horned Lark

American Horned Lark

American Horned Lark

American Horned Lark

  

On the way back to the car, the nice local birder pointed out this bonus Water Pipit

Water Pipit

On the M3 on the way home I was treated to 2 more Red Kite.

Enford, Wiltshire 
I made a nature stop conveniently at a spot that I know can be good for Corn Bunting and I was in luck as there was a distant flock of around 20 birds.

Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon
I got home with enough time to catch the rising tide. Good numbers of Dunlin were on view plus a few Grey Plover and Common Ringed Plover. There was also a Knott of the Matt variety (sorry I couldn’t resist). Matt’s company was welcomed in the cold conditions and I do enjoy our conversations. Matts beady eyes got me on to a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull and a few distant Sanderling. Also of note were reasonable numbers of Ruddy Turnstone and a Mew Gull.