Greater Scaup And Ruff

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
I popped in at high tide after work in the hope of seeing the Greater Scaup and Ruff. There was a lot of activity and the waders were unsettled. There must have been a raptor nearby but no one in the hide got sight of one. Plenty of the normal species on offer with good numbers of Pier Avocet. The Ruff was picked up by Dave Boult soon after I arrived. He gave me directions on were the Greater Scaup was last seen but it had gone AWOL. I was about to call it a day when I picked it up in the centre of the marsh. The Iong-billed Dowitcher was on sight but couldn't be located.

I also learned that I can now again add Hudsonian Whimbrel to my list as the IOC have split it. I'm glad as I have seen 2 individuals. 1 in Sussex in 2015 and the other in Cornwall in 2016.

Greater Scaup (Male)

Greater Scaup (Male)

Ruff

Smew

Chard Reservoir, Somerset 
I popped here again this morning with the youngest to see the Smew. Distant views as last time but again  enjoyed seeing the bird. Other bits and Bobs included, Eurasian Bullfinch, Great Creasted Grebe, Eurasian Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Great Creasted Grebe 

New Year

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon
I managed to get 2 hours out whilst the rest of the family went to watch Frozen 2 in the cinema at Exmouth. It was nice to be on familiar turf. I popped here first as it's a good place to start your new year list. The highlight was the Long-billed Dowitcher that was rather showy at times. Also of note were Pied Avocet, Bar-tailed Godwit, Northern Pintail and Common Pochard.

Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon
On the fields were decent numbers of Brant Goose and a good sized finch flock that included many Conmon Linnet and a Common Reed Bunting

Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon
Not too much on offer apart from the expected species.

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I bumped into Matt Knott here but I literally only had 10 minutes before I had to pick the family up from the cinema. Matt informed me that the Cirl Bunting was in the dung heap but it failed to show for me.

Not the haul I hoped for but ended the few hours with 60 species.

Smew

Chard reservoir, Somerset 
I have a few hours to spare this afternoon so it seemed rude not to make the short journey to see the female Smew. It was hanging around with the Tufted Ducks but always stayed too distant for a photo. Still, decent scope views were obtained and a nice to see bird.

New Home, New House List

Butts Road, Ottery St Mary, Devon 
So we moved to Ottery a week ago and with Christmas, the only birding I've done is from the garden. So I have concentrated on my new house list. 33 species so far
Mallard
Common Buzzard
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Black-headed Gull
European Herring Gull
Common Wood Pigeon
Tawny Owl
Great Spotted Woodpecker
European Green Woodpecker
Eurasian Magpie
Western Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Northern Raven
Coal Tit
Eurasian Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Goldcrest
Eurasian Wren
Eurasian Nuthatch
Common Starling
European Robin
Common Blackbird
Fieldfare
Redwing
Song Thrush
House Sparrow
Dunnock
Pied Wagtail
Common Chaffinch
European Greenfinch
European Goldfinch

Merlin

Darts Farm, Topsham, Devon - 2nd December
A quick visit after work at sunset. I looked around the ponds and hide area. First bird I saw was a Common Kingfisher. My first one at this site for quite some time. From the hide were decent numbers of Brant Goose but the best bird was a Merlin hunting the pond area briefly.

Lack of time

Colaton Common, Devon
I dont seen to be able to get out in the field much at the moment with workloads and preparing to move house. In a few weeks time I will be in Ottery St Mary. I will still visit many of the Exmouth and Exeter sites I currently do but will need to figure out some new local patches as well.

Anyway, I visited this area the commons today and started at the Warren car park. I worked my way down hill and immediately got on to a small flock of Fieldfare and Redwing. A few Meadow Pipits and Common Linnet were dotted about. To the north of the grenade range I managed the briefest of views of a Short-eared Owl. I was also pleased to get my first Eurasian Woodcock of the winter  with 2 flyovers. I was starting to get worried that none were in the location this year so it was a sigh of relief to finally see some.

Long-tailed Duck and Short-eared Owl

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 
A flying visit before work found me on site with just enough daylight to see. I got on to the 2nd winter Long-tailed Duck straight away. It was at the far end of the reserve from the hide, so couldn't get any better pictures than this.

Long-tailed Duck

Woodbury Common, Devon
I had a walk around after work until dusk. I have been on site a number of times over the last few weeks but have not come across much. Today however, I was lucky enough to catch up with a Short-eared Owl hunting east of Warren Car

Blue-winged Teal

Man Sands, Devon
I have wanted to see a Blue-winged Teal since I was a teenager. I have never had the opportunity so I couldn't let this one slip by. I arrived at 08:15 and within minutes I was on to the bird. It showed nicely at times but equally it can go missing for periods. So glad it has stuck around as the last few days have been hell waiting to get the time to see it. In my mind it looks to be an immature Male. I only base this on the dark rear end plumage. Also, a Female should have a darker cap and eyeline. The head on this bird also looks greyish in certain light but I'm no expert on this species so I'm happy to be corrected.

I was also very pleased to see a bonus Grey Partridge walk out on the road a few miles away from Man Sands on my return journey.

Blue-winged Teal (Juvenile Male?)

Blue-winged Teal (Juvenile Male?)

 Blue-winged Teal (Juvenile Male?)

Paddyfield Pipit

Sennen, Cornwall 
I managed a day off to head to Cornwall for the apparent Paddyfield Pipit. My good pal Pete and I set off early and were onsite in good time. It was rather windy but it was only a very short walk to the location. We waited patiently with the gathered group of expectant birders. Pete had done his homework on the expected call and had it to the left of us in the cut maize field. However, it didn't show for a further 15 minutes or so but when it did, it showed at extremely good range. Due to the wind however, these are the best phone scoped pictures I could get. Whatever is made of this bird and regardless of whether it will be accepted as a UK first. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it. Sadly the Buff-breasted Pipit seems to have vanished since yesterday morning.

Paddyfield Pipit 

Paddyfield Pipit 

Paddyfield Pipit 

Paddyfield Pipit 

We moved on to see the male Lesser Scaup. One route, a report came out that there was also a female on site. It was pouring down on arrival but we easily saw both birds. I thought I had got pictures of both birds but the female ones are too blurred (even for my standards) to post. UPDATE - The female from open wing photos (not mine) seems to be a hybrid.

Lesser Scaup (Male)

All About The Thrushes

Emsworthy Mire, Near Haytor, Devon
I had the afternoon and despite having pretty bad sciatica, I made the effort to go and have a little look around. Most of my time was spent sitting on walls to ease the pain. This worked rather well actually as I was able to watch a flock of around 60 Fieldfare and in amongst them were 2 Male Ring Ouzel and around 10 Redwing. I couldn't chase them down for a photo and they always remained distant. To back up the other Thrush species a few Song Thrush and Common Blackbird were on site. A Grey Wagtail was a nice surprise too. Also of note on site were 2 Eurasian Jay, Northern Raven and a Male Eurasian Bullfinch. A few Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Magpie and Carrion Crow made up the supporting cast.

Long-eared Owl

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon
I haven't done any birding for ages due to work and family commitments. So I was excited when Matt Knott texted me with news of a Long-eared Owl on Orcombe Point. I managed an early finish and got there to see it roosting in an Ash Tree in the field left of the entrance gate to the permissive path. This is only my second sighting of this species so it was great to get some decent views.

Long-eared Owl

Northern Wheatear

Woodbury Common, Devon 
I had a walk around the model aircraft field and surrounding area after work. A single Female Northern Wheatear was feeding on the main field. A few Meadow Pilots around and a European Stonechat were the best on offer

Dartford Warbler

Woodbury Common, Devon
After work I took advantage of the fact the rain had stopped and had a wander around Woodbury Castle and surrounding common. Not a great deal around but a nice Male Dartford Warbler making the most of the sun was a welcome sight. Circa 60 Meadow Pipit were about and a similar number of Barn Swallow came through.