Nightjars

Undisclosed Site, Near Exmouth, Devon

Our local European Nightjars are back on site. Sorry I’m not going to give exact location details due to the sensitivity of the species. All I will say is it’s a common on the outskirts of Exmouth. I guess that was a bit obvious! Tonight was not ideal conditions (cloudy and cool) but 2 birds heard Churring and calling. I do love listening to these birds. It’s such an amazing sound! I think the males haven’t yet arrived (the Females arrive back first) but there are a few Females waiting for them, so hopefully there will be a few territories onsite. If I recall correctly, there were 6 territories last year. Hopefully this year will be equally good and in the next few week or so there will be some good displays on offer.

Shrubby Cinquefoil

Nightingales, Bitterns And Lots Of Cool Stuff

Bridgewater and Taunton Canal near Lower Durston, Somerset
There is a little spot I know of on this canal that holds a few Common Nightingale. I got there to be greeted with the delightful song and encountered stonking views of 2 individuals. Also around the area were a few Eurasian Blackcap and Common Chiffchaff.

Common Chiffchaff

Eurasian Blackcap (Male)

Common Nightingale  

Common Nightingale  

Common Nightingale  

Common Nightingale   

Common Nightingale    

Common Nightingale  

Common Vetch   

Ground Ivy

Chinese Hawthorn  

Greylake, Somerset 
As this was just around the corner, I popped in for a quick look around. I didn’t stay long as I struggle with this reserve. I have only been a few times but I find the reserve hard work as I seem to be looking at head height reed all the time. I did see a few Eurasian Reed Warbler though.

Field Mustard  

Common Comfrey 

Ham Wall, Somerset 
My next stop was just up the road at Ham Wall. I have visited a few times this year but not seen Eurasian Bittern so this species plus Common Cuckoo were my priority birds. It was rather busy today but it didn’t deter the birds. The first bird of note was a Great Egret, I eventually racked up 10 by the time I left. I was treated to a Male Marsh Harrier next and numerous Common Swift were screaming above. In fact there were so many Common Swift I lost count of the numbers. Next I managed to get one of my 2 bogey birds of this year in the form of a Common Kingfisher... phew. Typically (once you see one the flood gates open) I ended up seeing 2 birds. I had heard both my target birds calling by this point so I kept going to the Avalon hide being treated to quite a few Garden Warbler and Eurasian Blackcap. There were no sightings of either species at the hide but I was delighted to see a ball of fluff... I mean Tawny Owl chick. A gorgeous looking thing indeed. I moved back to the Tor View Hide and I was instantly treated in flight views of a Common Cuckoo and within a minute 2 flight views of Eurasian Bittern (its like waiting for a bus). There were a lot of Eurasian Reed Warbler around the Reserve and several Cetti’s Warbler giving it large (as they do).I was surprised not to see a Eurasian Hobby though. With my boots filled I stopped for a coffee and ate my lunch before heading off elsewhere.

Common Kingfisher

Common Kingfisher 

Garden Warbler 

Tawny Owl (Chick)

Greylag Goose 

Common Swift

Great Egret

Great Egret

Maer Rocks, Exmouth, Devon
As I left Ham Wall I decided I would head back to Exmouth and check the sea as conditions looked pretty good. I watched for around an hour and half and managed a few good sightings. First off were 2 Great Skua that were rather distant and didn’t hang about but enjoyable all the same. Tern activity got good at one point with circa 20 Sandwich Tern and a couple of Commic Tern. In amongst this was a Little Tern, this surprised me a little as I though this should be on a breeding ground by now. Then I picked out a bird that looked to have a different jizz to it. It always stayed distant so I couldn’t get a full positive ID but it was looked a tad smaller than Sandwich Tern and looked to have shorter wings and a slower and shallower flight pattern. My only thought is a Roseate Tern. Looking at BirdGuides there have been a couple reported so it’s possible this was indeed one but as I mentioned, I couldn’t get enough on it. During my time there around 20 Manx Shearwater passed through, all heading west and 1 Auk species and a single Northern Fulmar.

When all is said and done, a rather productive and very enjoyable day out.

A Reported Red-backed Shrike

Undisclosed Site, Exmouth, Devon 
I popped back to see if I could pick up on my possible Tree Sparrow before work. No joy but did get a Common Firecrest. It’s an amazing site really as I had a number of species. The best of the bunch were, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Eurasian Blackcap and the first fledged Conmon Chaffinch and Conmon Blackbird but no Spotted Flycatcher today.

Budleigh Common, Devon
After work, I received a message about a Red-backed Shrike that had been reported early in the day. I was at the Otter at the time but quickly got back to the car in hot pursuit. I met up with Matt Knott and we both scoured the area with no success. The only birds of note were a couple of Sand Martin, European Stonechat and Common Linnet. Still I enjoyed catching up with Matt and it’s always worth a look. At the end of the day, if your not out there looking your not going to see bugger all. I was only at the Otter for 10 minutes when I got the message so not much to report apart from a calling Cetti’s Warbler at White Bridge.

Some more flower pictures..... Yawn!

Hairy Bittercress 

Uncertain of this species

Pink Campion   

Common Chickweed       

Creeping Buttercup       

Bothriospermum Chinense

Wild Geranium

Missed Lifer But Some Great News

Davidstow Airfield, Cornwall 
Having heard news of 4 Eurasian Dotterel on the runway first thing. I decided to take a look as (weird as this sounds) I am yet to see one. I spent a few hours there with no joy and there were several other birders all doing their best not to see them too. A few birds of note though were, several Northern Wheatear, Northern Raven and Eurasian Skylark.

Undisclosed site, Exmouth, Devon 
Later in the day I popped to a local site (twice) that has Common Firecrest and Spotted Flycatcher. I didn’t have my equipment on me to take photos but 2 Common Firecrest and a single Spotted Flycatcher showed beautifully. Both species bred here last year too so it’s great to see them return. I also picked out a Sparrow call at close range. It’s not the sort of habitat I would expect to see a Sparrow in so the call stopped me in my tracks. Now here’s the interesting part as the call sounded as though it was a Tree Sparrow. I doubled checked the calls of all the other species in the area (just in case I was just hearing an odd call of another species) and at one point, walked away so I could double check the call on my Collins app without disturbing the bird. After all this, everything still pointed to Tree Sparrow! Try as I might I couldn’t locate the bird for a view of any sort. I will need to keep an eye on this area I think.

I seem to be taking an interest in wild flowers this year and snapped a few photos with my phone today.

Three-cornered Leak

Ivy-leaved Toadflax

Common Grape Hyacinth

House Martins And Flowers

Byron Way, Exmouth, Devon 
Our nesting Common House Martins have made their perilous migration trek back to the nest. There are several nests dotted around my street but last year was the first time a pair had built a nest on my house. Ive only lived in my current house a few years and after seeing a few nests around I was planning on putting up a box for them at the end last years breeding season ready for this year but they beat me to the job (or saved me the job) last year by building one from scratch whilst I was on holiday. Last years brood produced 2 successful fledglings. Let’s hope this year is a good year for them too.

The whole family felt a tad ill today but we did manage a little walk from my mum in laws along the footpath that leads from Pound Lane to Partridge Road. The kids enjoyed the flowers and butterflies and messing around in the stream. Butterfly species included Large White, Small White, Speckled Wood and Peacock. On the bird front the only notable bird species were a few vocal Common Chiffchaff. Whenever I walk along here I always think “This should be a great place for Spotted Flycatcher” but it never is. To keep me occupied. I took a few flower pictures but my wildflower ID skills aren’t terribly great so feel free to correct me.

Lesser Celandine  

Birds-eye Speedwell

English Daisy 

Common Bluebell

Dandelion

Cow Parsley 

Wild Garlic

Refreshments And Red Kite

Halfway Inn, Aylesbeare, Devon
A refreshment stop off after a family day out to the beach was quite good on the wildlife front. From the pub garden was a fly over Eurasian Jay, the song of a Garden Warbler but didn’t see it and a distant call of a Conmon Whitethroat. A few butterflies on offer in the form of Brimstone, Speckled Wood and several Orange Tip. Driving across the common back to Exmouth I spotted a Red Kite that was sat on one on the dead trees in the area that suffered a fire a few years ago.

Helmeted Guineafowl

Near Lympstone Common, Exmouth, Devon
Whilst driving on the road from the B3179 that leads to Bystock Pools (meadow car park) I heard the unmistakable racket of some Helmeted Guinefowl. The birds were getting ready to roost and I see these birds quite often here but I couldn't resist stopping and taking a look. They aren't on the official list but I still like to stop and see them from time to time.

Helmeted Guineafowl

Bonaparte’s Gull And Black Swans

Topsham Rec, Topsham, Devon
I’ve been a bit under the weather the last few days and felt dreadful leaving work but decided to have a quick stop off on the way home. Luckily the Bonaparte’s Gull was showing rather nicely and I managed to enjoy some great views. Also 2 Black Swan were busy feeding.

Bonaparte’s Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Black Swans

The Commons

Woodbury Castle and Surrounding Commons, Devon 
It’s been very busy in work this week so I’ve not been able to get but after I had time for an hours birding. I couldn’t decide where to go so I had reached Woodbury without knowing where to go. I opted for the commons and stopped at Woodbury Castle. In the Woods were a Song Thrush, Goldcrest and the usual Tit species. A quick look around the surrounding heathland gave 2 Willow Warbler And a probably Garden Warbler.

Model Airplane Car Park, Woodbury Common, Devon. 
Just a 20 minute look around the car park area produced several Eurasian Siskin, a pair of Eurasian Bullfinch and a few Common Linnet. Not much else of note

No Stilt

Exminster Marsh, Exminster, Devon

Having missed the Black-winged Stilt yesterday (however I think the Green Heron was worth missing it for) I decided to have a look pre work. Unfortunately but unsurprisingly it seemed to have done a bunk overnight. There were a lot more Eurasian Reed Warbler on site since my last visit and I did manage to see this very vocal and showy Sedge Warbler.

Sedge Warbler

Green Heron And A Possible Black Kite

Llan Mill, Pembrokeshire
My boss was kind enough to let me have a last minute day off so that I could go and see a bird I have longed to see for some time. I missed out on the Cornwall bird in 2010 so I was determined not too miss out on this one. My mate Pete has never seen one of these either so he meet me and we headed off early. The drive up was nerve racking and we had got passed the Severn bridge and still not got news of a sighting. As with any long trip, there's always the chance of a no show so we started wondered if this was going to be a hell of a dip. We finally got the news it had been seen and you could feel the tension ease immediately. Now it was just a case of getting there and hoping it shows in the time I had there as I needed to be back in Exmouth for 5:30pm so time was of the essence.

On route, near Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire. Our minds were distracted for a few moments as we were treated to excellent low views of a Red Kite. The traffic had been more than kind to us and we arrived in good time. The bird in question is in a private garden pond on the property of local MP Simon Hart. There was the obligatory charity bucket which we gladly added to and we set up along with 40 - 50 other eager birders. I was impressed with the garden, it was a large pond and the garden looked more like a wildlife reserve. We didn't have to wait long to get our first glimpse of the bird. Phew, pressure off and job done. As my pictures show, it never came fully out in the open and the several views obtained were of it peeking through the reeds. With our boots filled we headed off and were treated to another great Red Kite near the Pembrokeshire / Carmarthenshire border.

Green Heron

Green Heron

Green Heron (Butt view)

We have even made the local paper (Left hand with Green coat)

Ham Wall, Somerset 
On the way back we both needed to stretch our legs for an hour. So we decided here would be as good a place as any to stop. We only walked up to the first viewing platform and back. On the way to the platform we were treated to views of a Eurasian Hobby (first of the year) and several Common Swift. Around the platform and surrounding trees were 2 Great Egret, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Eurasian Reed Warbler and several Eurasian Blackcap. Disappointingly, there was no sign of yesterday’s Mealy Redpoll. We left feeling a bit refreshed and on the way back (a few miles back into Devon) we encountered another Kite species. I say Kite species as this was no Red Kite. We knew straightaway from the jizz that it was Kite but the fork in the tail was small and the bird mainly dark underneath. So we think this was a Black Kite

What a cracking day! The Green Heron was a stunner of a bird and as knackered as I am writing this, it was well worth the trip. The only downside was that my folks live in Swansea that I had to pass twice on the trip and I didn't have time to even call in for a quick cuppa.

A Decent Fall And I Was Late To The Party

Crealy Adventure Park, Devon
The usual outing with the kids during which I managed to escape and walk around the pond. Quite a few Barn Swallow about.

Barn Swallow 

Barn Swallow 

Barn Swallow

Orcombe Point, Exmouth, Devon 
I was busy all day but hearing from Matt this morning meant I really wanted to have a look around. However, I wasn’t able to until late evening. There was still some evidence of this mornings fall in migrants in the form of several Northern Wheatear. Not a lot else so it seems I was very late for the party.

Northern Wheatear (Female)

Northern Wheatear (Female)

Bluebells