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. 

A Week Of Dipping Ducks And A Surprise

16th March - Labrador Bay, Devon 
I popped here first thing. Bad idea as the sum was low and directly shining on the mussel beds. It was so bright I couldnt look through my bins. I was obviously hoping for the Surf Scoter, Velvet Scoter and Long-tailed Duck. But I managed to dip all three species. A nice amount of Cirl Bunting around the car park area and a number of Great Crested Grebe in the parts of the bay I could scan without being blinded.

Cirl Bunting (Male)

Cirl Bunting (Male)

Orcombe point, Exmouth, Devon 
I popped here after work in the hope of a Northern Wheatear. None on site as it was a nice day so they perhaps just carried on through. Bumped into Matt Knott and as always, it was nice to have a quick chin wag. I did catch up with the Black-legged Kittiwake colony though.

17th March- Powderham Marsh, Devon 
I made a flying lunchtime visit to see the Green-winged Teal. It didnt show whilst I was there. Another dipped Duck. I did catch up with the Snow Goose and a couple of Cirl Bunting.

Butts Road, Ottery St Mary, Devon 
I couldnt sleep so I was in the back garden having a cigarette at 02:30 and heard a sistant strange call. I get Tawny Owl here most nights but this was different. After a few moments the call got nearer and I quickly realised it was a Little Owl. I'm going to have to check a few places in the area.

Today - Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 
Due to be advised to work from home and will be having the kids at home from Monday. I took a look here after work as I may not be out for a while. On the river were 2 White-throated Dipper, a Common  Kingfisher and Little Egret. No sign of any Common Merganser.

Around the trees in the area were a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Chiffchaff and Eurasian Nuthatch.

Snow Goose and Finches

Exminster Marsh, Devon
I had the afternoon off so popped her for a look around. The place was still frozen so all the wildfowl and waders were in amongst the grass. I was along the railway path when the Snow Goose flew in with some Canada Goose from Powderham. It landed over by the canal so I drove over to the fisherman's car park. Just past the (now falling apart) viewing platform was the bird in question. Also on site was several Common Snipe, good numbers of Northern Lapwing and the usual other species.

Snow Goose 

Snow Goose

Cockwood, Devon
A quick look from here produced the Common Goldeneye and Horned Grebe. There was not much else on offer.

Aylesbeare Common, Devon
My last stop off. I spent most of my time watching a finch flock. Many Common Chaffinch but I soon located a single Brambling and Lesser Redpoll.

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 

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.

Snow Goose And Egyptian Goose

Powderham Castle, Devon 
An early morning look into the grounds from the estuary road gave distant views of 3 Egyptian Goose near the lake. Not much else of note but I also enjoyed watching the Fallow Dear.

Egyptian Goose 

Fallow Dear

Exminster Marsh, Devon
I moved onto look for the Snow Goose and I didn’t have to look very hard at all as it was in the field just before the Swans nest (coming from the roundabout). It was hanging out with a few Canada Goose.

Snow Goose

Snow Goose In The Sun!

Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon

I was passing Darts Farm on my commute to work when I noticed an obvious white bird in the field. So I stopped by the cycle bridge to have a look and discovered it was a Snow Goose. I guess one of the 2 birds of unknown origin that were around Powderham earlier in the year.

Snow Goose 

Snow Goose 

Snow Goose 

Snow Goose

All About The Littles

Exminster Marsh, Exminster, Devon 
I had a few hours out this afternoon so firstly I decided to walk Along Station Road from the main RSPB car park to the middle car park. Not a great deal around to be honest so I ambled back. On the way bank I bumped in to my mate Pete. He had been to Powderham Marsh this morning and seen the Little Gull that’s been hanging about. Time was a bit short to I headed off (upping the pace) to take a look. As I was near the main car park, I heard a calling Eurasian Reed Warbler but decided I couldn’t spend the time looking for it.

Powderham Marsh, Powderham, Devon
Pete had warned me that it was muddy so I was glad I had my wellies on as I slugged my way to the viewing platform. Muddy is an understatement!! As I was walking at pace through the mud I was pretty tired on arriving at the platform. Age is definitely catching up with me lately! Anyway, the first birds that stuck out were the dodgy Snow Geese (equally dodgy photos below) I spent some time scanning the scrapes but had no joy with the Little Gull. I was however pleased to come across my first Little Ringed Plover of the year. Far too distant for a photo. Also around the scrape were a few Little Egret, 3 Greylag Goose, a few Northern Lapwing and a smart Common Sandpiper. As the theme of the day was species starting with Little, its ironic that I was also a little late home for tea!

Snow Goose

Common Sandpiper 

Great Crested Grebe And Western Cattle Egret

Imperial Ground, Exmouth, Devon
Due to the high winds first thing this morning. I decided to take a look off the Imperial ground that looks into Exmouth Nature Reserve. I was hoping that things may have been seeking refuge. Not a lot about except for a group of Great Crested Grebe. They came in close on a few occasions. A very overlooked bird but I personally enjoy watching them.

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Exminster Marsh, Exminster, Devon 
After work I aimed to have a look on Powderham Marsh but on route an alert came out about 3 Western Cattle Egret on Exminster Marsh. So I popped there and was treated to nice views of the birds from Station Road, just up from the industrial estate. Also around the marsh were the 2 Snow Goose and my first Barn Swallow of the year, flying through with some Sand Martin. A small group had assembled to view the Egrets and it was nice to catch up with Terry Smith and Dave Stone. I’m not sure what it is about Western Cattle Egrets but I just can’t seem to ever get a decent picture.

Western Cattle Egret

Western Cattle Egret

Western Cattle Egret

Snow Goose (In The Snow) And A Well Earned Bonaparte’s Gull

Powderham, Devon
I managed to get a few hours out (or should I say off family duties) so I could have a look at the Snow Geese at Powderham Corner. I arrived just as a bit of a snow shower kicked off (appropriate I guess) after the flurry easied off the 2 Snow Geese decided to come out of the ditch they were hiding in. I found myself wondering if these were the same 2 birds that I saw with my mate Pete at Maer Lake, St Ives, Cornwall last November. I’m not sure what the final thoughts on those where. Well no matter what the origin of these birds, they were nice to observe. I managed a couple of aweful record shots.

Snow Goose

Snow Goose

Exmouth quay, Devon
I then decided to give the Bonaparte’s Gull another go and was only at the quay for 10 minutes and my luck was in as it flew past the quay and in to Shelley Beach. A very quick look off Shelley Beach was fruitless. I’ve tried for this bird countless times this year so I’m pleased I had (brief) but close views of the bird in flight.