Garganey

Lower Otter Restoration Project, Devon 

I have been suffering with anxiety and depression for a few weeks but Ben Rowland got me out of the house for a few hours this morning. We were after yesterday's reported Male Garganey. We walked up the footpath from the White Bridge with no sign. Several others had also not see the bird. Whilst looking We spotted a few Water Pipit, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank and Common Snipe. Whilst up near the new viewing platforms a few people said that there were a few birders on the Garganey and they had been asked to let us know. So we promptly made our way back towards the White Bridge to be put straight on to the bird sleeping close to the path. 

And awesome morning as it really helped my mental health to be out in nature with great company. The Road to recovery is tough but I'm getting there. 

Garganey (Male)

Water Pipits

Lower Otter, Budleigh Salterton, Devon 

I had the day off and had big plans to go bird watching but the rain spoiled my plans. So I spent the day with my wife and her mother in Exmouth. However, I did manage a brief visit to the lower Otter restoration project. I've not been here for a while and it's changed a bit. My target species was the Water Pipits that have been onsite a little while. I looked in the first field from the path heading north of the White Bridge  At first all I could pick out were numerous Pied Wagtail but after a short wait, I managed to find the Water Pipits on the opposite side of the field. I located 6 birds before it started raining again and I called it a day. 

Common Eider And Water Pipit

Lyme Regis, Dorset
A late post from yesterday. I was in the area so it seemed rude not to have a quick look at the Common Eider. The bird showed at very close range.

Common Eider (Male)

 Common Eider (Male)

Otter estuary, Devon 
Today I managed a lightening quick walk from the white bridge to the hide. The usual suspects were on offer but I was pleased to nab a Water Pipit on the

Possible Water Pipit And A Mystery Stint

Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon 
I was alerted to a possible Stint species that was spotted very distantly from the hide so I couldn’t resist calling in on the way home. After a search I couldn’t locate a wader that resembled a Stint but I did get what I am 95% sure was a Water Pipit. The bird was always at the far end of the channel, light wasn’t great and the tussocks obscured view a lot. However, the bird was a plumper looking bird, it had a purple tone, a very bright breast and very little streaking. I couldn’t make out a supercilium though, which I would have liked to help clinch the ID. Also on site were a good number of Common Reed Bunting and Common Chaffinch.

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.

Water Pipit

Cricket pitch, Budleigh Salterton, Devon

After work, Matt Knott alerted me to a Water Pipit that he had viewed earlier in the day. I happened to be up the road looking for the Italian Sparrow at the time. Having already seen the Sparrow a few times, I thought I would give it a miss and decided to head over and have look for the Pipit.

On arrival there were a number of Eurasian Rock Pipit and White (Pied) Wagtail feeding on the Cricket pitch but I couldn’t locate the Water Pipit. Around 30 Common Linnet and a single European Greenfinch were chattering away in the hedges / trees around me.

I then moved to the scrape in the hope it was feeding there. Again no sign but had nice views of 2 Common Snipe. There were good numbers of Gulls comprising of Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, European Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull. A few Northern Lapwing and a single Eurasian Curlew were busy pottering about. I didn’t see any Common Ringed Plover, which I half expected to see on the scrape. 

After a short while, I decided to locate back to the pitch and on the first scan I picked out the Water Pipit. It was rather distant and I tried to get a picture but (I know my photos aren’t great) none are worthy of posting. Nevertheless a nice bird that I don’t get to see that often. So it was great to have had the opportunity. Thanks to Matt for the info.