Part-time Birding: Song Thrush

Showing posts with label Song Thrush. Show all posts

Exploring My Surroundings 3

St Saviours Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon
After work I explored the footpaths around this bridge. South of the bridge were 2 Little Grebe. A few Song Thrush were dotted about but nothing else of note. However, just north of the bridge was a single White-throated Dipper. The bird showed beautifully but I only had my bins on me.

Exploring My Surroundings 2

Cadhay Bridge to Taleford, Devon
I had a walk along this public footpath that takes in some of the river Tale. A Common Kingfisher seen from Cadhay Bridge was my first of the year. The Common Merganser were in their usual place. Along the river Tale path was a single Grey Wagtail. In one of the fields were 3 Stock Dove. Not much else to brag about but I see this as a great spot for White-throated Dipper.

Biking And Birding

Budleigh Salterton to Exmouth cycle path, Exmouth, Devon
Took the kids for a bike ride today from Castle Lane to Littleham and back. As ever, I was noting the bird species. On the route were Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Common Buzzard, Song Thrush, Goldcrest and Eurasian Bullfinch. Around a third of the way along are a number of feeders. I’m not sure who keeps these stocked up by they were attracting a number of species including Eurasian Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit and House Sparrow. Also of note were 2 Fallow Deer in one of the fields.

Another Missed Yellow-browed Warbler

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
After work I decided to take a look around the viewing platform area for the earlier reported Yellow-browed Warbler. After a decent look I drew a blank. Around the area though was a Male and Female Eurasian Bullfinch, 2 Eurasian Jay, 3 Somg Thrush and a Common Kestrel. I seem unable to connect with a Yellow-browed Warbler after missing Matts Exmouth bird and a bird in Exeter. There’s still some time left though.

Looking For Butterflies And Other Winged Critters

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon
I had to pop to the recycling centre this afternoon so I decided to do a quick circuit of both the Meadow area and Pool areas of the reserve. I was hoping for a selection of Butterflies and Dragonflies. There were only Small White and Large White on the wing in the Meadow so I drove around to the pool area. It was rather busy so I knew my chances would be slim on seeing much but I continued to walk to the end of the boardwalk. None of the Butterflies settled so no pictures but did see a Brimstone and best of all large Fritillary species. As it was a flight view I couldn’t make out which one. The likely species here is High Brown or Dark Green but both aren’t usually on the wing until mid June. So is this something else or are they simply making the most of the nice weather? I also spied a ???? that rested on the boardwalk.

I also spotted a Terrapin. Now most people would say WOW! but not me. There must have been pet ones realised there a few years ago and as much as I like them, they cause severe damage to the ecosystem. I know the warden tries to eradicate them when discovered. The reason for this is they love to eat the dragonfly larva. With quite a number of important species breeding there, this can be devastating.

On the bird front it was rather quiet. A Common Buzzard was sat in the Meadow on arrival and a few Song Thrush were singing away. In the trees around the Meadow were a few Great Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit and European Robin and a European Green Woodpecker flew over.

Iceland Poppy

Gorse

Fairy Primrose

Dog Violet

Creeping Cinquefoil

Wild Strawberry

Common Sowthistle

Small Red Damselfly (Female)

Terrapin

The Commons

Woodbury Castle and Surrounding Commons, Devon
It’s been very busy in work this week so I’ve not been able to get but after I had time for an hours birding. I couldn’t decide where to go so I had reached Woodbury without knowing where to go. I opted for the commons and stopped at Woodbury Castle. In the Woods were a Song Thrush, Goldcrest and the usual Tit species. A quick look around the surrounding heathland gave 2 Willow Warbler And a probably Garden Warbler.

Model Airplane Car Park, Woodbury Common, Devon.
Just a 20 minute look around the car park area produced several Eurasian Siskin, a pair of Eurasian Bullfinch and a few Common Linnet. Not much else of note

Cetti’s Warbler

Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon
After a rough day at work I had a walk along the Otter. I started at the white bridge and headed north.
On arrival I was treated to a Common Kestrel sat on the wires. It’s not that often I really get to appreciate this species as I normally see them in flight or hovering. So I enjoyed watching it for a while. Then I heard the unmistakable call of the Cetti’s Warbler. No matter how many times I hear it, the call still amazes me. It’s so powerful and loud for such a small bird. I have often jumped out of my skin when one calls right beside me.

The Cetti’s Warbler showed beautifully in the reeds by the bridge but in typical Warbler fashion it nipped into the undergrowth as soon as I was about to get a picture. Needless to say it never called or showed again.

I headed off up the path. Secretly hoping for a Common Whitethroat to start singing from the bushes. This is bizarre but I have yet to see a Common Kingfisher or Water Rail this year. So I also had high hopes of both these species today. Unfortunately my luck was out with all the mentioned species. It’s early days yet thought. There wasn’t much else of note apart from the sound of a few Common Chiffchaff and Song Thrush but it was nice to be out in the sunshine and it was a lovely walk.

Common Kestrel (Female)

Northern Wheatear

Exton, Devon
I decided to see if there were any Northern Wheatear around the field near Exton station before work. I soon got on to a Male and was only there 20 minutes and had seen 3 Males. My first Northern Wheatear of the year and I always enjoy watching these birds bounce about.

Northern Wheatear (Male) m

Northern Wheatear (Male)

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon

I had an hour look after work. On arrival at the gate that leads to the viewing platform. I was greeted by a Male and Female Eurasian Bullfinch. The Male posed nicely but the Female didn’t want to play ball. In the field there were 2 Mistle Thrush that were rather showy. The other best birds of note were a solitary Common Snipe, 4 Northern Pintail and several Common Chiffchaff in the hedges.

Mistle Thrush

Eurasian Bullfinch (Male)

Song Thrush

Common Blackbird (Female)

Northern Shoveler (Female)

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)

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.