Black-legged Kittiwake and Common Firecrest

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
After work I had a craving to see Black-legged Kittiwake so I popped along the coastal path to view the firing range. There were a nice number of birds returning to the site, which is encouraging. Also a pair of Peregrine Falcon were patrolling the cliffs.

Liverton Copse, Exmouth, Devon 
I moved on to look here for Common Firecrest and after a little search I found 2 birds that showed particularly well. Lots of Primrose about the site too.

No Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Yarner Wood, Bovey Tracey, Devon
I finished work early today so I took an optimist look around a few areas that I normally have luck with Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Luck, sadly wasn’t on my side today though. At the pond hide was a pair of Mandarin Duck that have moved back in after the works that took place last year. On the feeders were Common Chaffinch, Great Tit and Coal Tit. Around the top hide were more of the previously mentioned but in far greater numbers plus a Marsh Tit.

Mandarin Duck (Male)

Common Chaffinch (Male)

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.

Slim Pickings

Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon 
A quick visit after work. The fields from the hide are flooded slightly at the moment and today held a number of Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew and Eurasian Wigeon but no sign of the Water Rail that’s been rather showy of late. Around the crop field were Common Linnet, Eurasian Goldfinch and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull. Nothing else of real note.

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

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.

Temminck’s Stint

Chapel Amble, Cornwall 
I had the day off so me and my mate Pete caught up for a spot of birding. As the Temminck’s Stint has been around for a while now. It seemed rude not to pay it a visit. We got to the village car park and got straight on to the bird in the field directly opposite. The bird showed beautifully although I struggled to get a decent photo. There was unfortunately nothing else special on site, despite recent reports of Water Pipit, Western Cattle Egret, Ruff, Western Barn Owl and Grey Partridge. However, I have to say, that’s the easiest Temminck’s Stint to bag ever!

Temminck’s Stint 

Temminck’s Stint 

Hayle Estuary, Cornwall 
We moved on to look for the reported Ring-billed Gull. Despite there being a good number of Gull species around, a good scan couldn’t locate it. However, there were good numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gull and a couple of smart Mediterranean Gull finally gave themselves up. I’m pretty sure I had a Yellow-legged Gull but this distance was immense, even for my optics! On Ryan’s field was the resident Eurasian Spoonbill, that was fast asleep.

Helston boating lake, Cornwall 
As this wasn’t far away. We thought we would give this site a go as the Ring-billed Gull has visited this site. Our luck wasn’t in but we did see the almost certain plastic Ferruginous Duck.

Aylesbeare Common, Devon 
A quick visit produced really nice views of a Male and Female Dartford Warbler. A nice way to round the day off.  

Common Firecrest

Liverton Copse, Exmouth, Devon 
I was going to pop to Darts Farm after work but I finished later than planned and with traffic lights on the bridge I decided I didn’t have time. However, inspired by Matt Knotts look around a very local copse I decided I could swing by for 20 minutes or so. I’ve never actually birded this area but I was surprised by the variety of species on offer. On the treetops were a few Redwing. Within minutes I had seen Eurasian Treecreeper and Eurasian Nuthatch. I then got on to a Goldcrest and with that the call of a Common Firecrest. After a few minutes I managed to locate and get descent views of one bird. As I watched, I reckon I heard at least 3 individuals but couldn’t locate any others. I think I will be visiting here a bit more often. It’s weird that it’s literally 5 minutes from my house and I hadn’t discovered this tiny piece of land that does have lots of potential. Thanks Matt for the information.

Exton Marsh And Ideford Common

Exton, Devon
Having not had a chance to look for the Glossy Ibis over the weekend I had a very quick look first thing. It was freezing cold and the Marsh was frosted over. There was unfortunately no sign of the bird. Thanks to Dave Stone for the news on Saturday.

Ideford Common, Devon
I had a look around the car park area today for Lesser Redpoll. Plenty of Common Chaffinch were around as were the usual Tit species around the feeders. Including Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit and Coal Tit. A Eurasian Nuthatch and Eurasian Treecreeper put in brief appearances. I was pleasantly surprised to see a single Marsh Tit for a short time too. After a while I was being to give up hope for the target species when a small flock of Eurasian Siskin started feeding in the tops of the trees. I enjoyed watching them for a while when I heard the call of a Lesser Redpoll. After a short search a single bird was seen on the treetops for a while before it flew off and I lost sight of it.

A Nice Surprise

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
I popped to the hide first thing before work in the hope of catching up with the reported Glossy Ibis. Fellow birder Dave Stone was already in the hide and I soon discovered that there was no sign of the bird. Dave kindly updated me on a few highlights on the reserve which included circa 150 Bar-tailed Godwit and 4 Pied Avocet. Dave was still in the hide when I left, so he may have added to that list. As we were chatting I could see that Dave had clocked something over my shoulder, so I turned to look in the direction he was looking (left of the hide). We both saw a large white bird flying out of the tree line and head towards Darts Farm. At first I simply thought “Swan” but within a couple of seconds we both realised we were watching a Great Egret! It flew over the railway line and dropped out of site. A very good record for the reserve and I went to work a happy chappy!

Powderham Marsh, Devon
After work I done a super quick walk to the viewing platform and back. I was hoping for the Snow Goose. I know the bird is of questionable origin but I still enjoy seeing it. No joy but I spotted my first Peregrine Falcon of the year, sat on one of the pylons. Nothing much else of real note, just the usual suspects you would expect there.

A Couple Of Bits Ands Bobs

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
My first day back in the office after a lengthy time working from home was a shock to the system, so I decided to have an early finish. I headed for Bowling Green Marsh in case the reported Gloosy Ibis had dropped in on the main lagoon but I was unsuccessful. There were 2 Pied Avocet on the furthest island. A sleeping Common Pochard with the also sleepy Tufted Ducks. A few Northern Pintail were dotted about too. From the viewing platform were more Pied Avocet and good numbers of Dunlin. 2 Mistle Thrush were in the field on the approach to the platform. A quick look from Goosemoor produced 10 Common Greenshank, surpringly my first of the year!

Back In The Field

Sewerage Works, Otterton, Devon 
The sciatica got the better of me and I have been near enough housebound for a week. I’ve been going stir crazy, so as I felt a bit better today, I decided to venture out. I popped to the sewage works as it is flat and easy going. I was rewarded with a Female Cirl Bunting, a Male Yellowhammer and a Male Common Reed Bunting. They were all seen near the car park area.

Cirl Bunting (Female)

Hayes Barton Pig Farm, Yettington, Devon
On the way to the farm there were 2 Helmeted Guineafowl at Bicton. Around the farm were a decent number of Common Chaffinch. It was difficult to count the Common Chaffinch as they were very flighty. Also on site were a single Female Brambling and 1 Grey Wagtail. Just along the road I was stopped by a group of 3 Eurasian Bullfinch (1 Male and 2 Females) and I could resist a photo opportunity.

Eurasian Bullfinch (Male)

Eurasian Bullfinch (Female)

An OK Reward For Zero Effort

Otter Estuary, Budleigh Salterton, Devon 
I’m a very outdoorsy person and being house bound has been driving me insane! So after I had finished what I could do work wise at home I decided to pop to Lime Kiln Car Park in the hope of an easy Common Ringed Plover and I wasn’t disappointed as one was feeding in a channel near the car park. There were a few Eurasian Rock Pipit but nothing else of note.

Woodbury Common, Devon
I moved to the model airplane car park and just hung around in the hope that something good would come to me. It was actually a good decision as there was a Female Brambling in with the Common Chaffinch. I was super chuffed when 2 Female Red Crossbill landed briefly on a tree next to the car park. I finished off with circa 100 Fieldfare overhead 6 of which dropped in on the car park trees. So my sciatica isn’t stopping me from seeing some good stuff and I’m able to do it with virtually no  effort. I’m just pleased to be able to get out even if it is extremely gentle birding and for a very short period.

Birding With Sciatica

Shelley Beach, Exmouth, Devon 
I haven’t been birding for a number of days as I have a severe case of sciatica. I’ve never suffered with this condition before but I can now honestly say I understand what it feels like and appreciate the excruciating pain that comes with it. I’m still working but at home as I can do things instantly to ease the pain and I am working sporadic hours. My GP said I should try to keep to normal activities but at a slower pace (hence my wanting to try to keep working). However, I’ve been too nervous that the pain would get the better of me if I went out until today. So I made the decision that I felt the pain relief was working enough for me to try some gentle birding, so I popped to Shelley Beach. I wanted to catch up with the Black Redstart and I didn’t have to look too hard to find the cracking Male hanging about on its favoured rooftop location in Windjammer Court. After the last few days, I can tell you that it brought a nice smile to face.

Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon 
I then drove the short distance to the rocks and had a very gentle walk to the tide line. There were 3 Purple Sandpiper right near the waves at the far end of the rock. The tide was coming in so they were trying to avoid the waves whilst feeding. Several Ruddy Turnstone were also pottering about in the same general area. Feeling pleased to finally be out and see some nice stuff, I slowly walked back to the car to head home.