Glaucous Gull and Yellow-browed Warbler

Cricklepit Bridge, Exeter Quay, Devon 

In was working in the city and had half day leave planned so it seemed rude not to look for the Glaucous Gull. I had seen pictures and reports that said it can be a very showy bird and they weren't wrong. I soon as I arrived it was right by the Bridge, floating around happily. In fact it was so close I had to move back up the bank to get it in my scope! I did worry whether it was an ill bird but it seemed to be rather happy and well. I always loge seeing this species and this Juvenile didn't disappoint.

Glaucous Gull (Juvenile)

Glaucous Gull (Juvenile)

Ottery Estuary, Devon

Having enjoyed the Glaucous Gull I decided to go closer to home and look for a Yellow-browed Warbler that had been reported by Terry Smith. It was supposed to be in the area of the bend as you just start to go along South Farm Road. I hung around for a while with no joy so I walked up to the White Bridge. At the Bridge was a lovely Grey Wagtail and a Little Grebe. On the way back down there were a few Meadow Pipit. I got back to the bend and bumped into Chris Townsend. It was nice to catch up and have a chinwag. We both separated for a bit in the hope one would pick up on it and after a little while a mixed Tit flock came through. With them was a female Eurasian Blackcap and a cracking Common Firecrest. Soon after Chris spotted the Yellow-browed Warbler in the top of a tree and I just managed a fleeting view of it as it dropped back down. I had to leave not long after but I think it will stick around to have another crack at it. 

On another note I couldn't believe how much the restoration project had come on since my last visit. I am truly excited to see the site finished and equally excited to see it develop and what species that could entice.

Ring Ouzel and Black Redstart

Peak Hill, Sidmouth, Devon 

Due to work and family commitments. I haven't been out as much this October as I would have liked. I had a few hours off this afternoon and not having to be on call for my kids, I took the opportunity to catch a few species. I do like Peak Hill so the chance of a Ring Ouzel was mouthwatering. I headed straight to the north end of the valley and within minutes I was enjoying great views. Shame I was on bins only as I was viewing down to around 30 metres. I also had a distant bird that gave off Ring Ouzel but couldn't confirm or relocate.

Seaton, Devon 

Having not caught up with a Black Redstart this year and news of 5 in the town. I had to pop along to take a look. As luck would have it, I got on to two females in the housing estate behind the Premier Inn. I walked around a bit more and looked at the yacht club but couldn't locate any more individuals. 

Skuas

Berry Head, Devon 

I had the day off so I headed to Torbay in the hope of a decent seawatch. I knew there was little chance of Wednesdays spectacular show of Great Shearwater but having not picked up any Skua species I hoped this place would deliver. And deliver it did with 5 Parasitic Jaeger. One reasonably close in and a very close in Great Skua harassing a Black-legged Kittiwake. A supporting cast of 8 Common Scoter was welcome also.

Red Phalarope

Charmouth, Dorset

I've not seen a Red Phalarope for a few years, so a Juvenile just 30 minutes or so away was too tempting. I arrived at the Bridge near the mouth of the River Char to a crowd of non birders. A lot of questions later (I think I had managed to tell half the people in the area) admirers were aware of what it was, where it was from and where it was going. I didn't mind one bit as it was lovely to get people who were genuinely interested and appreciated the little grey bird. The bird was rather showy and a times was just a few feet away. 

Red Phalarope (Juvenile)

Red Phalarope (Juvenile)

Red Phalarope (Juvenile)

Curlew Sandpiper

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, 

I had some time to kill after lunch, so I decided I would see if I could find the Osprey or a Curlew Sandpiper. I stated off at the viewing platform but the wind had really picked up and I think the Osprey was probably hunckering down. There were a good number of waders on the far left side though. Mainly Eurasian Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Redshank and a few EurasianWhimbrel. I decided to get out of the wind and next popped in to the hide. There was a Red Knot in with the again numerous waders but I was pleased to get a Curlew Sandpiper pottering at the far right back of the reserve. Other notable species wereca Common Redshank and Northern Pintail. I decided to check the viewing platform again before leaving and noted 5 Red Knot with a group of Dunlin but still no sign of the Osprey.

Ruff And Mediterranean Gull

Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, Devon 

I had to pop the Exeter for a check up on my back issues so I thought I would pop in to have a lightening look from the hide. The Ruff was asleep towards the back but a Mediterranean Gull was a bit more showy in front of the hide.

Ruff

Mediterranean Gull

Western Yellow Wagtail

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 

I had a quick lunchtime jaunt around ans it was a bit quiet apart from 5 Western Yellow Wagtail that were with the cows near the coastal path before flying in land due to it being rather busy up there. 

Back out again

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon 

I haven't done much birding over the last month due to severve back and shoulder issues that I need an operation on. But today I felt mobile enough to get out so I opted for this site as its nice and flat and easy. There wasn't anything to talk about from the island hide apart from a fly through Eurasian Sparrowhawk. However, the tower hide was a bit more productive with numerous Common Ringed Plover, a single Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Grebe and a sleepy Common Greenshank.

Common Greenshank 

Mediterranean Gull

Mudbank Lane, Exmouth, Devon 

I had to drop one of the daughters off to stage school in Exmouth so I had a few hours to kill before needing to pick her up. I had a look off Mudbank Lane and was pleased to get what I hoped for in the form of a Mediterranean Gull.

Mediterranean Gull 

Bystock Pools, Exmouth, Devon 

Despite having seen 10 species of Butterfly in my garden, I have missed seeing a few species so I popped here. It didn't fail as I spotted White Admiral, Marbled White, Silver-washed Fritillary, Small Skipper, Large Heath, Gatekeeper, Ringlet and Common Blue. Dragonfies where great too with Common Blue Damselfly, Small Red Damselfly, Emperor Dragonfly, Migrant Hawker, Golden-ringed Dragonfly and Common Darter. 

Large Skipper 

Keeled Skimmer 

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Ottery St Mary, Devon 

I had heard from a local birder of a Rose-ringed Parakeet literally round the Corner from me. So I decided to take a stroll around and sure enough, a single bird was happily sitting on the telephone cables on Chineway Road. Also a few Common Swift overhead. Bad photo as I only had binoculars and phone.

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Sooty Shearwater

Otterton Coastal path, Devon 

I had the afternoon off for a hospital appointment that was cancelled so I had the urge to do some sea watching. No this place will never compare with the likes of Start Point, Berry Head and Porthgwarra but I was pleased to get 74 Manx Shearwater plus extremely delighted with a Sooty Shearwater. 

Tundra Bean Goose

Darts farm, Topsham, Devon 

I saw a report of an unseasonal Tundra Bean Goose and as I needed to pop to Exmouth I thought I would drop by. The bird showed from the main viewing area within a few minutes of me being on site. I wonder where this bird has originated from as it shouldn't be here right now! 

Tundra Bean Goose

Manx Shearwater

Otterton Sewage works, Devon 

As the weather seemed like a possible good seawatch was on the cards I headed to my go to site at the coastal path near the Sewage works. It wasn't a bad shout as after 10 minutes had seen a steady flow of 50 Manx Shearwater. The Weather dipped in and out of good and bad visibility but I stuck with it for 1 and a half hours. I was glad I did as my final count was c 150 Manx Shearwater, 3 Razorbill, 4 Common Murre, 8 unidentified Auk and 7 Black-legged Kittiwake. As I was leaving there were singles of Yellowhammer and Cirl Bunting at the Sewage works.

Family Holiday

Mamaris, Turkey 23rd May to 6th June 

It seems like an eternity since our last family holiday. Covid put a stop to them since our last on in 2019. So we were all excited to get back to our favourite family holiday County of Turkey for our 6th time. We arrived at dusk and the first birds I saw was 2 Sand Martins followed by a flyby Purple Heron.

Sat at the balcony was often very productive. And throughout the stay I saw Hooded Crow, Red-rumped Swallow, Alpine Swift, Pallid Swift, Eurasian Jay (sub species), Common Swift, Barn Swallow, Common House Martin, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Eurasian Collared Dove, Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Eurasian Blue Tit, European Robin, Song Thrush and Eurasian Goldfinch simply having a morning coffee. And one evening I was treated to a Tawny Owl.

The pool area produced much the same except one day whilst taking a break from swimming and sat around the pool an Eleanor's Falcon flew low over the resort.

We spent a few days around the beach and the only species of note were Yellow-legged Gull.

A boat trip during the first week produced OK numbers of Yellow-legged Gull plus singles of Great Cormorant and Pygmy Cormorant as we were leaving Marmaris. We stopped at Turunc there was a pair each of Eurasian Crag Martin and Red-rumped Swallow and there were good numbers of Sand Martin and Barn Swallow. Also noted were a few possible Spanish Sparrow but I am aware that there are many hybrids with House Sparrow so they could have been a mishmash. 2 Rock Dove, more Eurasian Collared Dove a single Laughing Dove and a Mallard.

I had a few walks around some farmland lanes near the hotel a various times during the trip. This produced a Helmeted Guineafowl, Sardinian Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Eastern Orphean Warbler plus a Sombre Tit.

We spent one day at a Water park and the only new species added to the trip was White Wagtail

On our second week we took a Jeep safari.  And at our meet up point with other jeeps were lots of Alpine Swift and 1 Little Ringed Plover. We had lunch at Turgut Selalesi Waterfall and I saw 2 Common Nightingale, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Wren, Grey Wagtail and a Monarch Butterfly.

Towards the end of the holiday I wanted to check out the Mills Park at Günnücek as its a good wooden area and part of the National nature reserve. For some unknown reason it was closed but not deterred I took a walk along the road out of Marmaris and then back down to the marina and managed to get me my target bird a Krupers Nuthatch. Also Eurasian Jay, Common Blackbird, Eurasian Blue Tit, Eurasian Goldfinch and House Sparrow.

A 2 hour coach transfer from the hotel to the airport forced a bathroom stop off for several other travellers. We stopped at a remote service station that overlooked farmland and orchards. It was a productive 30 minutes stop as I saw Calendra Lark and European Bee-eater plus more Red-rumped Swallow.

Moth species 

Helmeted Guineafowl 

Barn Swallow (Young)

Blue-tailed Damselfly