Making The Most Of Lockdown

Butts Road and surrounding area, Ottery St Mary, Devon 
So, I have been in lockdown since Tuesday. I work for Devon County Councils Highways department and I am still working from home. Also juggling home schooling with my wife who also has to work from home.

These are scary times and we are trying to keep a routine and be as normal as possible. My youngest is autistic so this situation is very difficult for her comprehend.

Anyway, we are getting out for an hours exercise and keeping to the social distancing rules. So my birding is confined to these walks and my garden.

So, I have decided to keep a 'Lockdown List". Something to hopefully look back on in the future.

So my list at present consists of the following.

Mallard
Common Pheasant
Indian Peahen (heard only not tickable)
Common Buzzard
Herring Gull
Rock/Feral Pigeon
Common Wood pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
Tawny Owl (heard only)
Great Spotted Woodpecker
European Green Woodpecker
Eurasian Magpie
Western Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Northern Raven
Eurasian Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Common Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Eurasian Wren
Eurasian Nuthatch
Common Starling
Common Blackbird
Song Thrush
European Robin
House Sparrow
Dunnock
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Common Chaffinch
European Greenfinch
Common Linnet
Eurasian Goldfinch

Yesterday I also saw this nice Peacock butterfly. And today I saw a Small White.

Peacock

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.

Some Good Garden Birds

Butts Road, Ottery St Mary, Devon 
Spent some time watching the garden today and had my first Eurasian Jay (also my first of the year surprisingly). A Eurasian Nuthatch pottered about for a moment as did a European Green Woodpecker.

Laughing Gull Dip

Chew Valley Lake
I had a look around for the Laughing Gull. This morning but despite trying several locations around the lake, I failed. Did see a female Western Marsh Harrier, 3 Great Egret, a pair of Common Goldeneye and good numbers of Mew Gull.

Great Egret And Whooper Swan

Greylake, Somerset
A very rare occurrence happened today. I had a few hours to myself. So I popped across the border in hope of the Garganey. After a decent search, I was unable to locate.I did see a few Great Egret, Common Shipe and Northern Pintail.

Curry Moor, Somerset
Despite some closed roads due to flooding I managed to find a spot to look for the Whooper Swans. After a bit of a look I was able to positively ID 2 birds as they were incredibly distant, even for the scope.

Some Decent Stuff On The Otter

St Saviours Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 
After work I explored further along this area taking in Coleridge bridge. A single White-throated Dipper was taking a bath at the waters edge. One flyover Common Merganser and a single Grey Wagtail were the best on offer.

White-throated Dipper 

White-throated Dipper 

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.

Exploring My Surroundings

Cadhay Bridge to Otter Nurseries, Devon
I had more time to check the area out today and rain didnt halter things either. The Common Mergansers were in the same place but the number had increased to 10 (3 males and 7 females). They were joined by a Little Egret. I walked a fair way along the wooden public footpath and whilst I didnt see anything I wouldnt expect to see. It was nice to get a feel for the site. Lots of good habitats that include some great stubble fields that can be viewed easily from the path. I'll be keeping an eye on that area. I'm optimistic that this will prove to be a good site and time will tell I guess.

Common Merganser (males)

Common Merganser (male and females)

It was also nice too a number of Snowdrop dotted around.

Snowdrop

Common Merganser

Cadhay Bridge, Devon 
I've finally started to explore my Ottery surroundings. I have found a number of good habitats to look at but finding suitable parking is a real issue. Especially when your short on time. However, today I managed to park very near to the Otter river near Cadhay House. I was pouring down so I didnt get long here but I did see 5 Common Merganser (2 male and 3 female). It also looks good for the Eurasian Beaver. I'm looking forward to checking this site out more as it has river, grassland and wooded areas. Looks like good potential.

Western Cattle Egret

Cockwood, Devon 
I had a little time this lunchtime, so I popped to look for Western Cattle Egret. I saw an early report so checked out the marsh area between the A379 and Church Road. As the report stated, 27 birds were in the area.

Western Cattle Egret 

Western Cattle Egret 

Powderham Castle, Devon
I then popped here to look at the area as it was flooded. The usual wildfowl (no Egyptian Goose) and a few waders including several Common Greenshank.

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

Birding While Working

Powderham Saw Mills, Devon. 
Whilst on route to inspect a potential resurfacing scheme near Dawlish and as a passenger in the vehicle. I kept an eye out in the fields near Powderham Saw Mills for Red-legged Partridge and as luck would have it circa 12 were in the field just past the turning to the Saw Mills as you are heading to Dawlish. Not too shabby for a work related sighting.