Buntings And A Cattle Egret

Stantywell Farm, Otterton, Devon 

I had the day off today so I decided to venture outside of Ottery. I haven't visited Statywell Farm for some time and was so pleased to be back here. The main target was of course Cirl Bunting and I managed 6 individuals. Numbers are down from previous visits but the species is spreading further east, so its a good thing in my book. Other Bunting species also on site were a single Female Yellowhammer and Male Common Reed Bunting. A nice group of circa 30 Common Linnet, several Eurasian Skylark and 2 Stock Dove made the supporting cast. I was disappointed not to see Red-legged Partridge but a nice Brown Hare made me smile before I left.

Common Reed Bunting (Male)

Brown Hare 

Cirl Bunting (Male)

White Bridge, Budleigh Salterton, Devon 

I couldn't resist the lure of a long staying Western Cattle Egret, so I popped here to take a look. The bird showed very nicely in the first field with the cattle along with several Little Egret. Best views were from the path heading north of the White Bridge. Not much else of note but a Little Grebe from the Bridge was a welcome sight.

Western Cattle Egret 

Common Merganser

Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I took a walk along the wooded area and bridge area after work. In the wooded area were a pair of Eurasian Nuthatch, lots of Goldcrest and Coal Tit. In the adjacent field was a pair of Stock Dove but best of all were 2 pairs of Common Merganser.

Common Merganser (2 pairs)

Common Merganser (Female)

Brambling

East Hill Strips, Devon 

I took a walk around this area this afternoon. Not a lot of species seen to be honest. I did get nice views of Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper and Redwing. Best of all was a Brambling. My first of the year. 

White Stork

Feniton, Devon

I was asked not to blog about this at the time in case it created unwanted attention. I was made aware of a White Stork in Feniton on the 7th February, so I cycled the few miles to take a look. The bird showed fantastically and I enjoyed for a few minutes before carrying on with my bike ride. I assume its from the Knepp release project. Last I heard it has moved on from Feniton but is still in East Devon. Again, I'm best off keeping it quiet in case the locals don't want it advertised.

White Stork 

Unusual Urban Birding 2

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

The family did the same walk around our part of Ottery St Mary as I did yesterday lunchtime. The female Indian Peafowl was in the same location  but has a male friend. I feel amazed to see them in this setting. I'm used to seeing them in places like Trago Mills and Escot etc, not on someone's front garden.

Indian Peafowl (Male)

Indian Peafowl (Female)

Unusual Urban Birding

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I haven't blogged for a while. In fact, I haven't birded for a while either. Work commitments and illness have gotten in my way. 

I have only been on few walks around my estate. I have of course been watching the garden and the main order of the last few weeks have been. Redwing, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a flyover Little Egret. 

On today's lunchtime walk though I came across something that I have heard calling of late. A few streets away I came across an usual site. An Indian Peafowl. This female was rather at home wandering the street and pottering about in gardens. Not quite what you would expect from urban birding.  

Indian Peafowl (Female)

Common Merganser

Cadhay Bridge, Ottery St Mary, Devon

After work today, I took a walk out to Cadhay Bridge. I've been here a few times over lockdown this winter in search of Common Merganser with no luck. There were several birds here last winter so I was starting to get a bit worried this year. However, todays visit proved productive with 3 birds. A Male and 2 Females. A poor picture in poor light. Also a few Redwing in the area.

Common Merganser (Male and 2 Females)

Marsh Tit

Knapp Copse, Putts Corner, Devon

I thought I would get some exercise today so I cycled to this close nature reserve. It a few miles east of Ottery St Mary. Just passed the Hare and Hounds cross roads on the road to Seaton. Lots of the usual suspects with highlight being Goldcrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker. However, the best was at the carpark feeders with a lovely Marsh Tit.

Lockdown 3 Birding

 Ottery St Mary, Devon

I'm quite lucky that I can easily walk to a few places near me to get my daily exercise and birding fix. Here are the hghlights from the last week.

The garden has produced some good entertainment whilst I'm working in the kitchen / diner. With Goldcrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, European Greenfinch and Long-tailed Tit. Fieldfare and Redwing have been very prominent too. Plus a brief Tawny Owl the other evening. 

A walk along the Otter near St Saviours Bridge allowed me to get good views of White-throated Dipper and Grey Wagtail. 

Slightly further north on the Otter near Cadhay House gave me Eurasian Treecreeper, 8 Stock Dove, Grey Heron and Little Egret. Disappointingly, no Common Kingfisher which I normally see along here.

I've only been carrying my binoculars but did manage a half decent photo of this White-throated Dipper in very overcast conditions.

White-throated Dipper

2020 Review And New Year Listing

2020 Review

Last year was a tough one for all. I did far less birding than other years. Mainly due to home working. My normal routine means I bird before and after work on both commutes. Since I'm not commuting, that wasn't possible add to that to 3 months of home schooling and..... 

However, I did manage 202 species with a number of lifers in the mix. The Sociable Lapwing had to be the stand out bird. I did however feel slightly sad when I saw it. Why? Because its endangered in its natural habitat and who knows if one will ever grace our shores again. A sobering reminder of how fragile life is. I have seen European Bee-eater abroad on several occasions but to see not one but 13 for the first time in the UK was a special moment. The Tundra Bean Goose in Somerset was also a lifer (seen Tiaga) and I was amazed by how tame it seemed. I guess that its not used to humans and therefore doesn't fear us?

Other notable species were the Blue-winged Teal at Mandands, Long-billed Dowitcher at Bowling Green Marsh and Surf Scoter at Labrador Bay (before Covid-19 kicked off). A lesser Yellowlegs at Averton Gifford and 10 Ring Ouzel at Avon Dam were also very memorable. Superb views of Western Yellow Wagtail and Eurasian Penduline Tit at Steart Marsh were very enjoyable. On the Warbler front the Marsh Warbler at Tipton St John and Melodious Warbler at Dawlish Warren were great to see. Others great bits and bobs include American Wigeon (Exmouth) and Green-winged Teal (Matford). I didn't do much sea watching but did manage Great Shearwater, Pomerine Jaeger and Parasitic Jaeger from Berry Head and a Sooty Shearwater, European Storm Petrel and a Leach's Storm Petrel off Otterton.

Species I missed that I would normally expect to see were Eurasian Bittern, Common Cuckoo, Water Rail, Common Crane, Bewick's Swan, Barnacle Goose, Egyptian Goose, Arctic Tern, Roseate Tern, Red Kite and Sanderling! What a strange year it has been. 

I also added a few Butterfly lifers with Long-tailed Blue, Grizzled Skipper and Wood White at Seaton and Lulworth Skipper at Portland.

2021 New Year List 

I didn't have time to put in a full day so no magical 100 for me. 

My first bird was a European Goldfinch on the feeders in my garden and by the end of my Coffee I had logged the 5 commoner Thrush species. 

We had a family walk from Budleigh Salterton beach to the White Bridge this morning. Highlights were a Common Loon, a flock of Common Scoter that included a Velvet Scoter and Water Pipit.

Late afternoon I took a walk around my estate and the farmland behind my house and added a number of species. I finished the day on 70 species. Not too shabby for little effort. 

Here's hoping that 2021 will be a better year for all. 

Siberian Chiffchaff

 Exwick, Exeter, Devon 

I popped to the flood relief area to look for the Dusky Warbler. It was a no show unfortunately. I did pick up on the Siberian Chiffchaff though. First one I've seen in a while. Also a Grey Wagtail and White-throated Dipper were on site. 

Eastern Yellow Wagtail

 Steart Marsh, Somerset

I had the day off so I popped here for the morning. I first went to Stockland Marsh in search of the Eurasian Penduline Tits. When they say Wellies are essential, they mean it. The trudge there and back though was worth it for views of male and females birds. On route I also had a fly over Female Hen Harrier and on site a Male Western Marsh Harrier.

I then moved on to Steart Gate and after a bit of a search the Eastern Yellow Wagtail showed at very close range.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail 

Eastern Yellow Wagtail 

Sociable Lapwing

Crows an Wra, Cornwall (4th December)

I had the day off and the lure of a mega lifer was too great. I know some will say I shouldn't have gone but you if you read the guidance it clearly says you can travel from tier 2 to tier 1 as long as you still abide by tier 2 restrictions. The only ones that cannot travel are unfortunately tier 3 residents. I didn't stop anywhere on the journey there and back and I socially distanced from all on site. In fact, social distancing was adhered to by all of the small ensemble there. 

Anyway, the bird showed superbly straight on arrival. I couldn't believe I was seeing such a class bird and I totally enjoyed the views. Also on site were numerous Northern Lapwing and European Golden Plover.

I stayed for 30 minutes and left for home. 

Sociable Lapwing

Tundra Bean Goose

Apex leisure park, Burnham on sea, Somerset 

A belated post from Wednesday (2nd December). I have been desperate to see the Tundra Bean Goose as it was a lifer bird for me. I have see Tiaga Bean Goose. 

I have been waiting for the national lock down to be over to travel. And as guidance says you can travel within tier 2 areas, I thought I would go for it. Due to the location I wore a face mask at all times (even though it was outside) as there were a number of people on site so I played it safe.

The bird shows ridiculously close, almost tame and I was able to enjoy great views of the bird. The two juvenile Greater White-fronted Geese (of Russian origins) showed and behaved equally as well.

Tundra Bean Goose

White-fronted Goose (Russian)