A Devonian's WeBS Patch!

[Andrew]

I perform a Wetland Bird Survey once a month and consider this to be my ‘local patch’. The Wetland Bird Survey is run by the WWT with support from the BTO, RSPB and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. I walk through four sections of the Grand Western Canal in Devon starting at Greenway in Halberton and finishing at The Basin in Tiverton. The aim is to count the number of water birds using the canal. The birds I usually come across are Grey Herons, Mallards, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coots, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Common Kingfishers, Herring Gulls. I have only just begun this survey this year and not experienced the winter birds yet so there is the outside chance of a Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon or Common Pochard. I do count all the birds I see but they do not go forward to the WWT as they are only concerned with the Water Birds. I count all birds as it is a habit and these results go forward to the County Recorder at the end of each month with my other sightings. The other purpose of counting all birds is that I like to have a total for each month and will use these as targets to try and beat each time I go out. The canal is on average twelve metres wide and my stretch is approximately seven and a half kilometres long making for a surface area of 90,000 square metres. It may sound like a large area but there is not a great variety of birds to be seen. The water birds only come from the canal itself and surrounding fields, any flying over and obviously using the canal are counted too. Young chicks and ducklings are only counted if they have become independent and are over two thirds adult size with well developed wings. I cover the first four sections in reverse as a colleague will count the other section away from mine starting at the same time to ensure consistency. My sections shall be broken down into their own below. .

[Andrew]

Section Four : Greenway Bridge (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=300830&y=113220&z=3&sv=300500,113500&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf) to Crownhill Bridge. (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=299750&y=112720&z=3&sv=299500,112500&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf)

This section starts at Greenway Bridge (left) and continues in a huge bend leading to a small straight ending up at Crownhill Bridge. The first straight leading away from Greenway often provides a Common Reed Bunting and some Warblers. There is a golf course on the opposite banks on most of this section separated by a deciduous wood (right) that offers many birds including Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch and Spotted Flycatcher. The fields enclosed by the huge horseshoe bend often provides some Deer and Foxes. This stretch is well populated by many birds but can be really sluggish for water birds with the Moorhen usually being the most numerous. However, recently this section proved good with a family of Kingfishers showing well. The last straight stretch between Tiverton Road Bridge and Crownhill Bridge is usually very boring and I am thankful it is a very short one.

[Andrew]

Section Three : Crownhill Bridge (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=299750&y=112720&z=3&sv=299500,112500&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf) to Manley Bridge. (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=298685&y=112135&z=3&sv=298500,112500&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf)

Here the towpath switches to the other side at Crownhill Bridge (left). This is also a large curved section but not as noticeable as there is lots of good growth and woods so you do not see the whole bend like Section Four. The towpath side is lined by many delicious trees with many parts of the other side dotted with some too. This is another sluggish section for water birds but often provides a Grey Heron and some mobile Mute Swans. The final straight at Manley (right) has a flood pool in a field on the opposite bank in the wetter months and usually holds some Canada Geese. Recently, the first third of this section provided my first ever local Hen Harrier which is a rarity round this part of Devon.

[Andrew]

Section Two : Manley Bridge (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=298685&y=112135&z=3&sv=298500,112500&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf) to Tidcombe Bridge. (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=297370&y=112200&z=3&sv=297500,112500&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf)

I usually have a rest here and some snacks washed down with a drink. This third section is quite twisty and goes through Snake’s Wood (right). The wood surprisingly provides very little in the way of birds. It is just after the wood finishes that more birds show up including a few Warblers and some Woodpeckers with a Buzzard or two thrown in. Goldcrests often show somewhere along this section as well as in Section Three. The section comes to an end at Tidcombe Bridge (left) just as the residential areas begin.

[Andrew]

Section One : Tidcombe Bridge (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=297370&y=112200&z=3&sv=297500,112500&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf) to The Basin. (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=296265&y=112370&z=3&sv=296500,112500&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf)

This section runs from Tidcombe Bridge all the way to the end of The Basin (right). I have to say this is the dullest one of the lot with houses and private gardens on both sides (left). The most interesting bird I ever had here was a Common Kingfisher a while back and that is it really. It is just as beautiful as the rest of the canal but because of the gardens and high human activity there is nothing but Mallards all the way with a few Moorhen and Coots too. One garden provides the majority of the Mallards and the last count produced ninety plus Mallards for this stretch largely attracted by people feeding them.

[Andrew]

The July count was rather much a non event with few birds showing and I was quite surprised not to record a single Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler or Sedge Warbler at all. I counted a total of Thirty Two birds and the WeBS count was . . . .

Grey Herons - 4
Mallards - 138
Common Moorhens - 39
Eurasian Coots - 4
Herring Gull - 2

The other twenty eight birds I recorded were European Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Common Blackbird, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Common Buzzard, Common Magpie, Winter Wren, Eurasian Goldfinch, Willow Warbler, Barn Swallow, Common Chaffinch, Great Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Whitethroat, Common Swift, Common House Martin, Common Linnet, Song Thrush, European Robin, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Common Kestrel and Eurasian Treecreeper.

[Charles Harper]

Sometime you can tell me how you get the photos on the page at all, much less shift their positions! As I said first time around, good, clear presentation, and I look forward to seeing your winter list. Also, I appreciate there being another bird counter out there!

[phyllosc]

A very nice looking patch, Andrew. Do you record - for your own interest - birds without webbed feet?!

Dave

[Charles Harper]

Somewhere in the thread starter he says he does, phyllo... or do you mean ones in spiked heels?

[phyllosc]

Whoops! You're right, Chas!

I just saw all those bushes and thought 'WARBLERS!' I'm a passerine man really, so just my luck to live on an estuary!

Dave

[Andrew]

I record all the birds I see, don't get many with spiked heels as I usually start at 530am before human disturbance scares off good birds. The bushes and trees are good warbler habitat. Problem is seeing them as I can't hear! My fave bird on the canal has to be the Reed Bunting!

Charles, I used full names so you can check them out. Also for other international birding readers.

I have inserted the other birds I saw on the day in the results post.

[Karl J]

Only just seen this, Andrew. I guess the counting makes for a more comprehensive assesment of the days results. I sometimes count the birds - depends what they are - don;t often count the more everyday sightings I have to admit.

Do you record the actual spot you've seen them in also, or is it just X-number in a certain section ?

[Andrew]

I count the water birds in each section of the canal and submit these to the colleague for the Devon Birds and the overall number of water birds are added up for the WWT in Slimbridge on a form. As for the rest of the birds I just submit an overall count to the Devon County Recorder but if there are "good" birds seen such as Spotted Flycatcher, Green Woodpecker then I will note their locations in each section and submit these as separate entries in the Spreadsheet submitted to the recorder.

[k.k.stevenson1]

Hi Andrew .When I go out on my local patch i allways count the birds i see .And eny other patch come to that .Ken

[KCFoggin]

It just occurred to me that I was in the middle of replying to you last week on this thread when my puter got zapped by lightning and I never did return to re-post. I like the idea of keeping a monthly total of the birds you see. Never occurred to me to do this. Good way to compare with the numbers from year to year as well. Looks like mallards are alive and thriving across the pond as much as they are here.

[Andrew]

I would give twenty of these Mallards just for one Eurasian Teal! Sometimes there are some on the canal but I will need to pray one stops here when I do a WeBS this winter!

Hope your 'puter survived?

[Padraig]

Hi Andrew,

Just dropped into this thread to readyour account of your patch.

Note my edited profile-national flag: also that I have pinched your motto and reversed it. I'm sure we could have a different conversation about the ontolgical nicities of choosing the order of the wording.

Can't make the trip to Cornawll unfortuanely. I would love to have gone. i will be in another part of Cornwall at the time visiting friends. Of course I will bring my binoculors.

regards,

Padraig.

[Nina P]

Just picked up on this thread of yours Andrew, some lovely pic's, and enticing walkways, and the best time to bird is definately before the emits and noise makers are up and about. That is a rather neat canal, not like most of them, full to bursting with shopping trollies and junk, would definately entice me out with the wheelchair, as long as it was all like that, then I'd be able to get from start to finish at tortoise pace without bother. Nina.

[Andrew]

There is an improvement plan going on to level all the towpath but as it is it all seems navigable in a wheelchair. Some parts may be hard as it is compacted gravel and has become a bit loose making it hard to get through on a bike so a wheelchair may be hard. I hope they correct it soon.

[Nina P]

Well Andrew, as I'm only half the woman I was, my chariot is able to manage to a certain extent on pretty rough terrain, but it will only cover a maximum of ten miles on one charge so if terrain is rough, then the distance is dramatically reduced, and the more hilly the quicker the charge disperses, so as you see If it is more than 100yds then this body is too unreliable if the terrain is too hummocky then the range can be as little as two miles, so I am always embarrassed to ask people to give as precise information as possible, but the thing is untiol I ended up in one of them, I was as guilty as the rest of people in lacking knowledge, so I have had to overcome the embarrassment to help other people in the same situation. That said roughly how far is this fabulous walk, are there any steep sections, and is the gravel any worse than the average gravel path to peoples houses? Steep over 5% or tricky potholes over 1 inch deep, as that is the spec of my buggy, and if the answer is all OK, I will be there somehow.... Thanks for showing the lovely place. Nina.

[Andrew]

It is level all the way apart from one cross over bridge where the towpath shifts to the other side and even then it is only a 30degree angle slope. The canal has the distinctive accoloade of being a lock free canal. I would say the canal is fifteen miles in all but my section is about six miles and there are several car parks to stop off in so you can choose your distance accordingly.

The path is reasonably navigable with just a few large stones embedded, say about ten cm diameter and sticking out by 2cm at worst. The gravel sections are no worse than a path leading to a house but you are right, they will increase the power usage by say 20%. There are a few paths under bridges with depressions that become pools of water but I can designate a section without these.

The best spot is to be at Tiverton Road Bridge car park where there is a new bridge linking the car park to the towpath on the other side and that is very flat too.

If you ever find yourself down here I will gladly accompany you should you wish to have me to tell you about the canal. If I can not be there just tell me in advance and I will note the ease of travel a lot better for you and give you directions.

[Nina P]

Thank you Andew, I often go west for a couple of times a year, to visit my hubby's parents, and we are due to come your way in September, for my birthday, so we plan to lookin on your canal perhaps we can meet up there, I'll let you know nearer the time exactly what day, as it would be nice to meet fellow bird enthusiasts, and I could be your ears, to hear the birds you can spot and point out. Is this section just off the M5 at junction 27 ? We have had a quick look for the area, so hopefully we can meet up end Aug early Sept. Nina.

[Andrew]

16-08-03
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey) , Devon.

SECTION FOUR
There were a few interesting moments during my monthly Wetland Bird Survey. Firstly at Greenway I watched two dark red Foxes running away from me on the opposite bank. At the Old Dam I had a close view of a Common Buzzard plucking at it’s kill in a field on the other side of the canal. It was only about thirty metres away at most and it did not seem to mind me at all. There was a high number of Winter Wrens throughout the four sections. A bit further past the Golf Course I saw at least two Spotted Flycatchers with a group of European Goldfinches. Somewhere along the straight towards the road bridge there was a single Common Whitethroat. A Song Thrush took off from the towpath as I approached it. The fields enclosed by the curving canal held lots of corvids including Carrion Crows, Western Jackdaws and Rooks. At Tiverton Road Bridge I watched a party of Common Linnets feeding on the canal towpath with some Common Chaffinches and House Sparrows joining in too. The rest of the birds from section four were Common Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Common Magpies, a Chiffchaff, Wood Pigeons and a Blue Tit. The contribution to the WeBS survey from this section were some Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coots and Mallards. I hoped the WeBS counts for the remaining three sections would prove to be more colourful than this.

SECTION THREE
I carried on into section three from Crownhill Bridge to Manley Bridge without pausing after section four. As I crossed the bridge to the towpath on the other side a Common Kingfisher darted up the canal under the bridge. I was not sure which section to include it in. I had begun section three and it had flown into that one so I included in that section. At Crownhill I looked over the hedge into a recently harvested stubble field and surprisingly I found a huge flock of forty four Mallards feeding on loose grain. I scanned them for any unusual ducks like Teal or Wigeon but they were all just Mallards. Near the Aqueduct I was impressed by a bold male Eurasian Sparrowhawk chasing six Common Magpies and landing in the dirt field to claim it‘s prize, some dropped carrion. A Common Pheasant watched all this too. Further on at Manley Straight I saw another flock of twenty eight in another stubble field with a huge cloud of Barn Swallows and some Common House Martins in the sky above. I picked out at least one Sand Martin among them. The birds counted for the WeBS were the same as the previous section with the Common Kingfisher and a single Herring Gull.

SECTION TWO
I paused at my usual halfway resting spot on a bench just beyond Manley Bridge and this provided some bonuses as in the brambles opposite I watched a Marsh Tit picking out brambles and feasting on them as well as an Eurasian Nuthatch flying from one Oak tree to another. I caught up with another Common Kingfisher that I was confident of being a different one to the last because it had overtaken me whereas the first one had not been seen going back up the canal. I walked quietly to gain excellent views of the bird after it came back up with small fry in it’s bill. This was rudely spoiled by some loud stomping dog walkers. I was annoyed to see dog walkers as we start these WeBS surveys at six in the morning in order to avoid them. At Warnicombe bridge I spotted a Great Tit and a Coal Tit. As soon as I hit the residential belt a huge flock of Common Starlings passed over. A second Common Buzzard perched on a fence post in the field behind the old Marie Curie home marked the end of this section at Tidcombe Bridge. The WeBS birds were oddly devoid of an Eurasian Coot and included just Common Moorhen, Mallards and the second Common Kingfisher.

SECTION ONE
Now I was on the last section of the survey from Tidcombe to the Basin and I expected some gulls as well as an Egyptian Goose that Ray had informed me about. There was quite little bird activity in this section as usual with it being residential. The common urban birds were in evidence like House Sparrows, Feral Pigeons and some corvids. At the Basin end near the slipway I noticed a Grey Heron gently flapping over to the south. An early morning angler was battling with a big carp. I scanned the horse paddock on the opposite bank and found the Egyptian Goose which is a great tick for the WeBS and my local list. It was nibbling away at the grass along with some Mallards. The WeBS birds from this section were the Egyptian Goose, Mallards, Moorhen, a single Coot, the Grey Heron, three Black-headed Gulls and two Herring Gulls. I had enjoyed this monthly ritual and can not wait for the next one. The final WeBS count read as Common Moorhen (44), Eurasian Coot (7), Mallard (187), Grey Heron (2), Black-headed Gull (3), Herring Gull (3), Egyptian Goose (1) & Common Kingfisher (2).

[Nina P]

Another brilliant session then Andrew, An Egyptian goose was another new one to me, well done!! Nina.

[Andrew]

20-09-03
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey) , Devon.

SECTION FOUR
My colleague had not been in touch and it was really late enough to do this month’s WeBS survey so I went ahead. The first bus in the morning took me to Halberton and I began the survey at seven in the morning which is an hour later than usual. The first section from Greenway to Crownhill provided some interesting moments. First off a COMMON KINGFISHER sped up the canal in a red and blue flash. Around the recently harvested corn fields on the opposite bank I could see lots of Deer. I rued not having enough knowledge to identify them but they were a plain warm brown all over. The decaying bank side growth threw up plenty of WINTER WRENS and occasional DUNNOCKS from here all the way to the Basin. At the large oak tree I flushed one of two COMMON BUZZARDS as I walked under it. It was amazing that I had not noticed the big raptor until it flew off, it joined it’s sibling at the edge of the field. It could possibly have been a parent but hey looked quite pale. Up until the big horseshoe bend forming the ‘Golf Course’ section I had registered a pair of STOCK DOVES, some BLUE TITS and one or two EUROPEAN ROBINS. My eyebrows still jump up at the sight of a Robin with the thought of a possible warbler! The fields within the bend had the usual corvids, a few WESTERN JACKDAWS, nine COMMON MAGPIES, plenty of CARRION CROWS and some ROOKS. The birds counted for the WeBS in this section were 10 COMMON MOORHEN, 22 MALLARDS, a GREY HERON, 7 MUTE SWANS and the Common Kingfisher. I was a bit surprised not to see one Eurasian Coot at all.

SECTION THREE
Crownhill to Manley Bridge provided very little change to the WeBS count. The new birds to go in the book were some HOUSE SPARROWS, COMMON STARLINGS, GREAT TITS, COMMON CHAFFINCHES, a much appreciated EURASIAN TREECREEPER and some COMMON HOUSE MARTINS. Earlier I had seen a skein of six geese but could not identify them, I found them settled into a stubble field feeding with 89 Mallards and they were CANADA GEESE. Needless to say, these counted towards the WeBS count for this section along with 16 Common Moorhens, 119 Mallards, a Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swans and the second Common Kingfisher of the day. Again there were no Coots and I was getting a bit worried about that. I stopped at Manley Bridge for a rest and some grapes washed down with blackcurrant drink.

SECTION TWO
The highlights of section two ending at Crownhill Bridge were limited but of a better quality. A pair of GOLDCRESTS flitted through the many branches of an oak tree and I finally saw a CHIFFCHAFF in Snakes Wood. A family of 20+ LONG TAILED TITS passed across the canal at Warnicombe. Two PIED WAGTAILS danced in the air up the canal and the residential gardens were filled with EUROPEAN GREENFINCHES. The contributions to the WeBS were shockingly poor with only 6 Common Moorhen and 38 Mallards present. Yet again there were no Coots at all. I was beginning to think they might winter elsewhere. I found it strange that in all the years I had fished this canal, I had never noticed them going missing in winter before.

SECTION ONE
The final section from Crownhill to the Basin mirrored last months count as the Egyptian Goose was still present around the horse paddock and counted towards the WeBS along with 8 Common Moorhen, 45 Mallard and finally a single Eurasian Coot. On some wires I clocked a pair of COLLARED which took the day’s count to thirty two species.

The final WeBS total was 40 Common Moorhen, only one Eurasian Coot, 224 Mallards, 2 Grey Herons, 9 Mute Swans, 6 Canada Geese, 2 Common Kingfishers and the Egyptian Goose. The Mute Swans were the highest recorded so far indicating they may be moving closer to humans for free food. The Geese were the first after a three month absence. The number of Mallards were at a record high with last month’s hundred and eighty seven the next highest. It goes without saying the Coots were at an all time low, well below the average of seven birds. Surprisingly there were no gulls seen at all. It was another interesting monthly ritual that I always enjoy as much for the walk as the birds themselves.

[Karl J]

Thats the sort of stuff I like reading - comparing one month to another.

[Andrew]

It is interesting to learn the changing face of a local patch.

[Nina P]

Andrew, The description you give of the deer I am fairly certain is the roe deer, smallish grey (at this time of year) soon have a glow about them when the rut begins, but in a herd shows that it in nearly time, and the male is gathering his harem, they have a very distinctive white Bottom which shows clearly when they start leaping away in a panic, but if you see them rear-on then you will see what I mean, that way you can tell they are roe-deer. Fallow deer are a good bit larger, and have white spots over their backs, but the Red deer are Huge and though they are grey in summer in winter they turn red, for their rutting season. Any help Andrew? Nina.

[Andrew]

After what you say it does seem they were Roe Deer. I did not notice their white rears as it was a bit foggy (early morning) and they did not run away from me as I was quiet and dressed in greens. There was nothing around for size comparison but I would say they were about a foot shorter (height) than a cow. Thanks for the info I am making a note in my book for my next WeBS count next month.

[James Armstrong]

Only just come across this thread Andrew. It's great - what a lovely patch to have. I shall follow it with much interest.
:t:
james

[Charles Harper]

These monthly survey reports are damn good, Andrew. ....Can I say that?

[Andrew]

Say what you like, thanks to both of you for the good comments. I certainly do love walking this patch and doing some good for the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) and some other bodies who use the data. The main draw is that one day I will stumble across a goody like a simple Eurasian Teal which will be a good rarity for this patch despite seeing hundreds close by at Bowling Green Marsh easily. I suppose a way of putting it across is to imagine walking past gardens full of wonder Cosmos flowers but when you get home you marvel at the sinlge one in your garden.

[Andrew]

Just discovered something bizzare, my colleague did his survey and recorded 46 Coots! I struggle to understand why I only saw one! Maybe they have headed further out to the country.

[Nina P]

Andrew, don't worry, as they were probably hiding from you, I found that typical of river/canal birds, they are somewhat fickle at being noticed regularly, as on the river Stour at Throop, one time there'd be dozens and next time zero, so perhaps next time they will be there in force! Nina.

[sue webster]

hi I do the WEBS COUNT too and have doing it for 5 years. I do itin Walsall Arboretum and count the waterfowl on the 2 lakesthere . It is great even though at times the weather is awful and dont feel like going! I do enjoy it very much --you never know what might turn up! from sue webster

[Andrew]

I hope you have got an easy going WeBS patch not one of those wader filled places that I read about in the annual WeBS report! Some places have thousands of birds that would take forever to count!!!

Are you doing your count this weekend, mine is scheduled for the 18th, not sure if it is a designated weekend. It is just that the other counter and I like to co-ordinate our counts on the same days and it is hard getting that day to be the designated WeBS day.

[Andrew]

Here is the account for today's count, apologies for going on a bit . . . . .

18-10-03
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey) , Devon.

We had started off too early at quarter to seven as it was still dark and furthermore, it was freezing cold. We stalled for a while in Greenway car park until it got just a bit light before setting off. I took my time in section four from Greenway Bridge to Crownhill bridge. Section four provided a good start as usual as many birds are recorded first here with it being the first section. I had some good moments as WINTER WRENS flitted about in the bank side scrub and darted across the canal. I flushed a young GREY HERON, with it being a young one I hoped for some parents nearby but it was the only one seen in all four sections. At Old Dam a flash of blue shot down towards Greenway and it was an ever amazing COMMON KINGFISHER that I thought I had seen earlier in the poor light. It got even better as, when I reached the Golf Course stretch, I could see a pale breasted dark adult COMMON BUZZARD on the closely cut fairway. It was no more than twenty metres away from me. It skimped around the dew soaked lawn looking for worms occasionally looking up to see what my concern was. A surprised COMMON PHEASANT ran away from me on the towpath before flying off into the fields. The third section from Crownhill Bridge to Manley Bridge was to be one to remember. To begin with the second Common Buzzard was perched on a fence post overlooking the pens of the free range chicken farm. That bird knew it’s territory for sure. As I approached the aqueduct I was delighted to see my second Common Kingfisher of the morning speeding up and perching in a tree overlooking the water. I scanned the trees and water around it and saw two others. I could not believe I was looking at a group of three Kingfishers. One shot off to a tree next to the aqueduct then two zoomed off back towards Crownhill Bridge and the other went further up into a large tree out of view. Just before the end of the section a female GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER showed well. Migration seemed to be occurring too as there were several large flocks of forked tailed passerines moving about all along the canal. In this section I did manage to identify some decent flocks of COMMON LINNETS. Section two from Manley Bridge to Tidcombe Bridge had it’s moments too after a brief rest and some refreshments. I was lucky enough to see at least two more Common Kingfishers at different locations. A stretch of berry laden Hawthorn trees was quite busy and I noted some GOLDCRESTS and, just as I suspected, the first few REDWINGS of the winter. I was really glad to see these thrushes back again and look forward to seeing the Fieldfares. A female EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK glided over with steady wing beats and a third Common Buzzard was searching for worms in a ploughed field earlier. It was bitterly cold so I was glad to reach the final section from Tidcombe Bridge to the Basin which was quite uneventful as I only added two common birds to the tally. The supporting cast recorded from the whole walk were COMMON BLACKBIRD, COMMON WOOD PIGEON, EUROPEAN ROBIN, WESTERN JACKDAW, COMMON MAGPIE, CARRION CROW, SONG THRUSH, BLUE TIT, COMMON GREENFINCH, ROOK, COAL TIT, STOCK DOVE, EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH, DUNNOCK, GREAT TIT, COMMON CHAFFINCH and COMMON STARLING. The overall WeBS count included a GREY HERON, 3 MUTE SWANS, 279 MALLARDS, 37 COMMON MOORHENS, 6 KINGFISHERS, 12 BLACK-HEADED GULLS and 6 HERRING GULLS.

[Andrew]

Apologies for the last one being a bit long, I hope this one is a lot easier. . . .

15-11-03 Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey) . Devon.

Early this morning we pulled into Greenway car park to find a flock of about fifteen Common Pheasants in it. We had timed it better this month and it was light enough to begin a proper count this morning. Many common species were registered but the best came at Old Dam where I had stunning close views of two Common Kingfishers. They kept staying ahead of me and were as much as twenty yards close to me. While watching one of them a bird passed by in my field of view. It perched on the top of a bramble twig. I thought to myself "That can't be a Chat, can it?". Sure enough it was a female Common Stonechat which is a fantastic tick for the canal and my first local patch bird. I doubted my eyes after it disappeared but ten minutes later it resurfaced a bit further down and there was no doubt about it now. I carried on, picking out a Mistle Thrush, some Canada Geese a Chiffchaff and Fieldfares. Just past the lined section I spotted a small light bird on the water looking like a Moorhen chick. When I got close enough I was amazed to see a Little Grebe. It was only just on the opposite bank of the narrow canal diving for seconds at most. This was the first time I had ever seen one on the canal. It got better as I only just briefly managed to spot a shy second a lot further along the same section. By the end of section four at Crownhill I had a healthy total of birds. Section three was almost as good, I managed to add more common species and watched huge flocks of Redwings sporting smart head patterns. Also present was a great family of Long Tailed Tits. I had been informed of a Brambling at the chicken farm last month. I did not see one knowingly but there was a healthy mix of finches feeding on the weedy patches. I was also pleased to tick Stock Dove as they are standard fare here but need looking out for among hundreds of Wood Pigeons. The second section from Manley Bridge to Tidcombe Bridge was quite lacklustre with the best being a few Redwings, Fieldfares and a Mistle Thrush. It was, however, brightened up by a Common Kingfisher. The final section from Tidcombe to the Basin was equally dull for most parts except for School Bay. Here I saw a large bird being chased out of a garden by a dog. It landed in the canal and flapped about wildly before reaching the safety of some red Willow branches. I soon realised I was looking at the first Water Rail I had ever seen on the canal. What a way to find one. That was a nice way to round off a great walk. The final WeBS counts were 48 Common Moorhen, 317 Mallard, 5 Mute Swans, a Water Rail, 20 Black-headed Gull, 3 Common Kingfishers, 4 Canada Geese and 2 Little Grebes. The final tally came to thirty six birds which is about average. Again there were no Eurasian Coots at all which puzzles me. Surprisingly I saw no Common Buzzards or Grey Herons at all. I really enjoyed this morning's monthly ritual very much.

[Andrew]

Sorry it's a bit long....


12-02-05
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.


Early this morning Ray and I pulled into Greenway car park and felt the high winds thrashing through the air and saw it's power in the trees. Suspecting something good could have been displaced onto the canal I suggested to him that he would get a good bird on his patch, most likely at the far end, near Westleigh. Not wishing to tempt fate, Ray dismissed it out of hand. Secretly, I was minutely expectant of something in my sections myself but very concerned that any early dog walkers would move them on.

Early, on the Greenway Straight, an inspiring line of ten Canada Geese flew over. It was pretty standard fare until Old Dam where I was disappointed as an elderly lady who is a regular walker with an annoying grey poodle that is scared of people. I suppose the ones that are scared of people are the best as they won't jump all over you excitedly. She stopped in front of me and turned to head back with a brisk trot so it was a waste of time trying to keep ahead of her. I thought she would damage prospects of maximising my bird count so I decided to let her walk on and held back for a while.

Up to now in section four I had logged Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Common Blackbird, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Jackdaw, Redwing, Magpie and Song Thrush. At Sellake Bay I had super views of what I suspect were Roe Deer on account of their creamy rumps. I scrutinised the willows at Old Dam where I had hoped for Chiffchaffs, none showed but a Little Grebe was sulking tight to the far bank in the willows. A nourishing tick I thought. In the ploughed fields behind me there was a white 'blob' and I struggled to make anything out of it armed with just my bins and it being so far away. I suspected it could be a Barn Owl but it would be unusual for it to be in a field unless it was injured. The 'blob' did not move at all so I lost interest in it after dismissing it as a plastic bag or something along those lines.

Having given the aforementioned lady time to get well ahead I resumed my walk starting off with European Robin, Chaffinch and Great Tit before reaching the Golf Course section and noticing a duck a hundred yards ahead that was slightly different from the Mallards close by. Adrenalin started to build gently as the Mallards swam away from it, meaning it was possibly not a Mallard. My heart rate jumped two fold when the mystery duck leapt into the water and dived under a few times. I had never before recorded a diving duck on the WeBS surveys or ever on the canal so it was clearly a WeBS patch lifer.

As I got closer it became clear to me that it was possibly a female Red-crested Pochard. Wary of the possibility of a hybrid I did an impressive sketch of the bird noting the dark brown crown and nape with paler cheeks and throat leading to a brown body, darker on the upper parts and paler on the flanks. Her red eye rested on the border between the dark crown and pale cheeks. The bill was quite long and thinner than a typical duck such as a Mallard's, it was black right down to the tip where it was flanked on either side by two small light reddish pink patches. The detail was quite simple yet exquisite.

I watched it for a while and noted some behavioural traits to possibly dismiss a corn fed escaped bird. It was quite wary when there was heightened towpath disturbance such as new walkers coming along. It did get used to me but always remained over on the far side. She dived regularly and came back up with weed so it fed on natural food and probably came from a large park. There were three or four mallards close by and they often came over to see if I had food for them. Sometimes the Red-crested Pochard would hang around with them and come over as far as a third of the way with them towards me before backing off. This shows it is quite wary and suspicious of people yet hangs around with the ducks to insure against being a ‘lone target’.

Fairly convinced it was not a formerly pinioned bird and not a hybrid I carried on with my walk with great confidence having got a WeBS lifer. The luck continued as a Great Spotted Woodpecker made a brief appearance in the wooded section of the Golf Course followed by a superb display from a Wood Nuthatch. After adding a Winter Wren as I emerged from the Wood I was amazed to see a superb Peregrine Falcon pass right overhead. It was a very brief affair yet packed with tension and excitement as it was another WeBS lifer! Close to the footbridge, I was impressed at the sight of hundreds of Fieldfares feeding in a ploughed field and failed to find a single Pied Wagtail. It was somewhat average for the rest of section four up to Crownhill Bridge with just Dunnock, Common Starling and Eurasian Collared Dove being the additions. The WeBS count for section four ran as 14 Moorhen, 24 Mallards, 10 Canada Geese, the Red-crested Pochard and the Little Grebe.

Section three from here to Manley Bridge had a few decent moments. the first was the surprising discovery of three Common Coots so I was hopeful they were gradually coming back in numbers. Next to East Manley Bridge there was a huge horde of Redwings running into at least a hundred birds and it was an arresting spectacle. Behind the hedgerow here I was suspicious I had seen Linnets. My persistent exploration of the area did not find them but turned up a cheerful Grey Wagtail in the field. The supporting cast included European Greenfinch, Common Pheasant and Stock Dove. The WeBS figures for this section were 12 Common Moorhen, 26 Mallards, the Coots, a Black-headed Gull and 2 Mute Swans.

There was only one interesting bird in section two up to Tidcombe Bridge which was a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk that I unintentionally disturbed from her roost on a far side tree. I only saw it as it took off. That made it three raptors this morning which is a rare event. Two other additions were Feral Pigeon and Rook. The WeBS count was 12 Common Moorhen and 26 Mallards, uncannily the exact same numbers as in the last section.

So far there were no Kingfishers, I suspect due to the high winds and the last section being very urbanised gave me no hope. Only one new bird came from section one to the end of The Basin which was the reliable House Sparrow. For the WeBS, this section provided 4 Common Moorhen, 43 Mallards, 6 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Mute Swans.

I did not care how many I had recorded as the fact that I had two lifers for the WeBS patch list was enough to please me enormously especially considering the unlikelihood of both species turning up. The final tally ran to thirty seven birds, surprisingly three less than last February but I can not complain really having scored the best ever bird on the list.

I put out the news of the Red-crested Pochard on Birdguides. Later after lunch I returned with my camera and scope to try for some decent pictures and found a birder from Taunton had come to see it. The sun kept appearing out of the clouds and retreating quickly so it kept switching from being too bright to too dull to frustrate my efforts. I did manage a few though with one pin sharp picture. As I write this report the day after I see that the bird is still present as it has been reported thrice on Birdguides. It really makes me feel proud to have people twitching my bird. One report showed there was no sign of any rings on it's legs as it dived. I now notice this in hindsight which supports my case of it not being an escapee from a corn fed collection.

(An old thread on my patch can be seen HERE (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=6526).)

[Geoff Pain]

Nice read Andrew and congrats on the two lifers. :t:

[Andrew]

Cheers Geoff.

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

Nice one Andrew!

Did it look like this?

[StevieEvans]

Sounds like you had a great day out Andrew.
Puts it all into perspective, a local day like that.
Nice 1.
SE

[DKR]

I enjoyed reading that. Thanks for sharing.

[Andrew]

Steve,
It gave me a real buzz as despite the 'plastic' tag these birds attract it is a really exciting find for a real local patch where even a Dunlin or a Common Sandpiper is a very exciting tick.

Hi Darren,

Here's a pic I took, just like the one in yours.

[Andrew]

Thanks DKR, glad you enjoyed it.

[birdman]

Been waiting for this, Andrew, and a good read too.

Never (as far as I know) had anyone twitch my Birdguides submissions!

[Andrew]

Cheers Birdman!

[Andrew]

14-03-05
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.


With atypical reluctance I caught an early bus to Halberton for the monthly WeBS count but soon as I clocked the first birds, a flock of Common Starlings, the customary enthusiasm flooded back and I was away. Section four from Greenway to Crownhill started the list with a surge of thirty species and some quality including no less than eight contributions to the WeBS survey which surely must be a record. As usual the first bird of note was the reliable Common Buzzard, in fact there were two of them and one more in each subsequent section all the way to the Basin. Just after Sellake the wintering Little Grebe was in the middle of the canal before retreating into the bank side growth where it was admirably lost from view for those unwise to her presence. Soon after that, it was good to see some Long-tailed Tits as they never fail to charm. Hot on the heels of these diminutive jewels was a exquisite Eurasian Treecreeper which I rightly consider a bonus bird. I was soon enthralled by two pocket-sized Goldcrests feeding close by. Despite my best efforts I could not turn one of them into the first Firecrest of the WeBS list. Small flocks of Redwings passed over now and then but it was obvious numbers were down with many probably retreating to their summer quarters. A Grey Heron took off from the golf course and flew along the canal towards Tiverton, it has been seven months since the last one so that was a good addition. Along the straight leading to Tiverton Road Bridge I was elated to see the female Red-crested Pochard was still present and in fine health. She seemed more tolerant of people now and preened away while I watched from ten metres away. Hopefully I will be able to depend on her for a tick next month. Between the Tiverton Road and Crownhill bridges I was surprised to see a female Mallard on the near bank shielding a small family of ducklings so early in the year after coming out of a severely cold snap. She was vociferously defensive of her family under her wings, I could imagine the loudness of her threatening cries and took the message by leaving right away. The WeBS figures for this section were 39 Common Moorhen, 34 Mallards, 2 Mute Swans, the Little Grebe, 2 Herring Gulls, the Grey Heron, the Red-crested Pochard and a single Common Coot. The rest of the contributions to the tally included Eurasian Jackdaw, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Carrion Crow, European Greenfinch, Dunnock, Common Blackbird, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeon, European Robin, Magpie, Winter Wren, Song Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Rook and European Goldfinch. With so many birds in this section I was worried that the other sections may suffer with meagre offerings. Crownhill to Manley boosted the list with five contributions. Near the Aqueduct a pair of Mute Swans were building a nest with the female actually sitting on the nest as the work was in progress. Luckily, at East Manley Bridge I walked up to a hedge to peer into a field in the umpteenth look for a Pheasant and a pair of Common Bullfinches showed well for a few seconds. Mistle Thrushes were very much in evidence with at least three birds on Manley Straight which is a high number for these. The other two birds were Fieldfare with a large flock in a ploughed field, Great Tit and Stock Dove. For the WeBS count this section had 26 Common Moorhen, 18 Mallard and the two Mute Swans. Section two from Manley to Tidcombe bridges had just three additions but they were pure quality with one WeBS patch lifer. At Warnicombe I was admiring a rare sight of three Meadow Pipits in a tree on the opposite bank and then a few seconds later a Great Cormorant circled overhead. It may sound odd to include the Cormorant as one of the quality birds but it was actually the lifer for the patch list. It did not really take me by surprise at all as it is very much long overdue along with Lesser-black backed Gull and a few other birds. It was a real confidence booster and minutes later the hoped for sight of at least one Coal Tit near the first lot of houses was a delight too. The WeBS numbers were 23 Mallards, 13 Common Moorhen and the Cormorant. The final section between Tidcombe Bridge and The Basin simply provided the two banker birds, Eurasian Collared Dove and Black-headed Gull, unfortunately nothing more. The WeBS contribution from the final section was 8 Common Moorhen, 27 Mallards, 5 Black-headed Gulls and just one Herring Gull. It was wonderful to add up and see that I had hit forty species but surprisingly, back home I saw that I had three more species last March.

[Ppedro]

Hello Andrew,
enjoyed reading about your WeBS count. Plenty of variety there, good that your Red-crested Pochard stuck around. Did the Webs count for Beesands Ley on Sunday. Had been fairly dead all winter due to algal blooms on the water last year strangling the aquatic life. Could'nt even manage Coot on one count. A few more wildfowl on Sunday however including the recently found Lesser Scaup and the Long-tailed Duck which has been wintering at nearby Slapton Ley or occasionally at Beesands. Those 2 will make the Webs form look better !

Good luck,Perry.

[Andrew]

Perry,

I finished up at Beesands this afternoon after coming all the way from Branscombe and it saved the day from being a total wash out by providing the Lesser Scaup and the Long-tailed Duck. Couldn't find any Wheatear though. It was too windy for Cetti's at Slapton too, seems to be a bogey bird for me this year!

Cheers,
Andrew.

[Benjismum]

Great report Andrew, sounds an utterly wonderful day, there would have been a few lifers in there for me.

Sorry to show my ignorance but what is a WeBs count?

[John N]

Congratulations Andrew, and thanks for a great read.

[Al livsey]

Yes, well done Andrew a lot of different species sighted, some i've never seen. I saw 9 Grey Heron on the river Tamar estuary on Sunday, one of them had a huge eel, there was no way it could have eaten it.
Sorry to say i'm a bit ignorant aswell - what is a WeBS count? (do you look for spiders aswell? ha ha.)

[Andrew]

WeBS stands for Wetland Bird Survey. It is a vast survey of many wetlands of various kinds in Britain carried out by volunteers on a monthly basis. Run by the BTO, WWT, RSPB and The Joint Nature Conservation Comittee.

Here's a link . . . http://www.bto.org/survey/webs/

[Al livsey]

It's a wetland bird survey! i'm not ignorant after all! It's on similar threads at the bottom of this page.

[Eagle]

Andrew swop you a Red Crested Pochard for a Rough Legged Buzzard!!!

[Andrew]

Fair swop!

[Andrew]

09-04-05

Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.



I was able to join Ray on the WeBS count this morning. There had been a run of gloriously warm weather but yesterday saw a marked drop in temperatures so my hopes of an influx of migrants was not as optimistic now. Last April I had managed forty four species but many of them were returning birds so I could not really count on these birds today. Section four from Greenway to Crownhill bridges was notable for an amazing fall of Willow Warblers, I was baffled as I encountered them all the way from Sellake to Tiverton Road Bridge. No less than twenty four birds with only three Common Chiffchaffs out of all of them. This was rivalled by the sight of two male Blackcaps with one singing high up an oak tree on the Golf Course stretch, a year tick sorted. Close to Greenway Bridge when I started there was a comforting sight of a pair of Reed Buntings with another pair much further on at the start of the Golf Course stretch. Hopefully these will settle there and continue to provide for me throughout the summer. Between the woods at the Golf Course again I was delighted to see a pair of Eurasian Treecreepers following each other around. The WeBS count had only three species, 23 Common Moorhens, 19 Mallards and 2 Canada Geese. Section four provided the bulk of the list today with Magpie, European Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Winter Wren, Blue Tit, Eurasian Collared Dove, European Robin, Eurasian Jackdaw, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Common Blackbird and European Greenfinch. Sadly the Red-crested Pochard was nowhere to be seen, probably returned to the Cotswolds to breed. The bird of section three up to Manley Bridge was evidently Barn Swallow as for one thing it was a year tick and they had arrived in numbers with many decent flocks working different fields. I could not find any Sand or House Martins among them, I suppose on next month's count I should be able to rely on the Swifts being present too. One Long-tailed Tit had settled on a branch a few feet above my head and seemed unconcerned about me despite knowing I was there. It was great to see one up so close with the orange eye ring's wrinkles clearly discernable in my bins. Other birds seen were Common Pheasant, Common Buzzard with the WeBS count being 15 Common Moorhen, 15 Mallards, 1 Common Coot, 3 Herring Gulls and 7 Canada Geese. Section three up to Tidcombe Bridge had performed below par, throwing up just five new birds. Considering the law of diminishing returns section two outperformed section three by offering four additions. During a snack break at Manley Bridge I had a look into the field behind as usual and found large flocks of Common Linnets and a pair of Stock Doves. At Snake's Wood I thought I had seen a Kestrel but it was so fleeting a sighting that it never went in my book, shame really as Kestrels are worth their weight in gold on the canal. Just past Warnicombe the productive clump of bushes and trees provided a single Great Spotted Woodpecker. In the whole section there were at least four Treecreepers which is the most I have ever seen on one of these walks. Suburbia provided the expected Rooks and the WeBS count was 9 Common Moorhen and 11 Mallards. The final section up to The Basin was reasonably productive with three additions including a WeBS lifer. Close to the wooden footbridge a group of Herring Gulls were flying around the canal and one of them had dark upper wings and yellow legs to give me my first ever Lesser Black-backed Gull on the WeBS list and it actually landed on the water for a few seconds. I have never before examined and appreciated a Lesser Black-backed Gull so much. A pair of Mute Swans were nesting a few hundred yards further on. The last new bird was a couple of Common Starlings and the WeBS count was 4 Common Moorhen, 25 Mallards, 4 Herring Gulls, the Lesser Black-backed Gull and the Mute Swans. There was no trace of a Black-headed Gull at all as they had obviously left for their breeding grounds elsewhere. This morning I had managed thirty nine species, a large difference from last April but a good haul considering the cold weather.

[Bluetail]

Nice read, Andrew. Good to see the patch ticks are still coming.

[david2004]

Sounds great Andrew. Especially the Peregrine Falcon!

[Al livsey]

You have been busy! Some nice birds there Andrew, well done.

[Andrew]

Cheers guys, nice thing about a local patch is even commonplace birds become rarities especially if the ticks only qualify once a month on the offical WeBS counts. I have seen a few others that would be lifers but they meant nothing as it was not on an offical WeBS count walk. Yellowhammer is an example, only ever seen one on the canal and that was cruelly two days before a WeBS count, never found it again!

[Andrew]

04-05-05
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.

Today I had no choice but to do my WeBS count this evening as opposed to the usual early morning starts. Earlier in the day I was fortunate enough to see and photograph an Angle Shades moth found in the garden. While popping into Exeter to return a coat for reproofing I could see the Peregrine Falcons nesting on the church from The Guildhall's car park. One came back with a half eaten carcass for the young.

As soon as we got home I was off for the bus to Halberton. When I started section four at Greenway Bridge a group of kids on bikes passed by two dog walkers were approaching, I knew it would be tough to ensure a high count with a lot of evening disturbance but I still felt content as usual being on my local patch. The wind was a very light and discreet breeze and the clouds were struggling to keep all the sun's rays out with a slight threat of rain.

The first section was a bit muted with the best being a few nesting Reed Buntings, a pair of Stock Doves near the barn and a small gathering of Common Swifts over Halberton. The rest of section one's contributions were Winter Wren, Pied Wagtail, Great Tit, Common Blackbird, Blue Tit, Common Starling, Chaffinch, Wood Pigeon, European Greenfinch, Barn Swallow, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Eurasian Jackdaw with the WeBS count being 16 Common Moorhen, 17 Mallard and just one Common Coot. Considering last month's large fall of over twenty Willow Warblers here I was bemused by the lack of any warblers at all, maybe they had gone to roost for the night. Likewise, no Buzzards were seen at all in this reliable section. A few super Early Purple Orchids were out in force along the canal towpath though.

In section three between Crownhill and Manley Bridges there were two notable sightings. A pair of Coots had returned to nest again for the second year running near the aqueduct, hopefully they will be more successful this year. While checking a flock of nine Canada Geese in a field at the start of Manley Straight, a spectacular Common Kingfisher shot past over the fields and returned to the canal further up. The WeBS count here was 13 Common Moorhen, 14 Mallard, the two Coots, the Kingfisher and the Canada Geese with additions to the overall tally of Magpie, House Martin, Long-tailed Tit, Common Pheasant, European Robin, Dunnock and European Goldfinch.

Section two from Manley to Tidcombe had some nice birds including a patch lifer. After I had finished the usual half time refreshments at Manley Bridge I got up on the bench to peer into a field behind the hedge. This usually provides some quality ticks and really came up trumps tonight. There were very few birds in the ploughed field but one stood out. I knew instantly what I was looking at and could not believe it. The pale breast and undersides, black eye stripe and bill, light orange wash on the throat, brown upper sides with a dark edge to the closed wings gave me my first ever Northern Wheatear on my WeBS list. It was a female and resting on the soil with little movement other than looking around itself, it seemed to be settle for the night. I would never in a million years have thought of finding a Wheatear on my inland patch. Another highlight at Snake's Wood was two Eurasian Treecreepers fighting for territorial rights of a tree with one showing it's wings in threatening fashion revealing fantastic wing bars following the curves of the wing edges. One or two more were seen further along. Close to Tidcombe it was good to see a Sedge Warbler feeding in some far bank brambles before an Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew over. Up to that point I had seen no Warblers or Raptors and both were provided in one swoop! The WeBS birds were 2 Common Moorhen, 17 Mallard and 4 Herring Gulls. One other new bird on the score sheet was Song Thrush.

The final section (one) up to the end of The Basin was very predictable with just 7 Moorhen, 16 Mallard, a Herring Gull and a pair of nesting Mute Swans for the WeBS count with Eurasian Collared Dove and Rook the final embellishments to the tally to finish on thirty seven birds altogether.

Surprisingly the total was one more than last May. With fresh migrants I had hoped for a count of over forty but if that is the price I had to pay for the Wheatear then I am not grumbling!

[Andrew]

No lifer this month but a nice walk nevertheless.......

25-06-05
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.

Last June I set a WeBS best of forty five birds with a lot of bonus birds so I was not expecting to get anywhere near that and guessed I would see about forty birds during this mornings count. Ray and I set off on our stretches just before six in the morning. Early into the section four from Greenway to Crownhill, I was delighted to see a super Sedge Warbler that looked to be attending to a nest. A long pause to study the trees on the opposite bank at Old Dam was good for a few Common Chiffchaff, some fledgling Blackcaps, a fly over Pied Wagtail and various common birds but more importantly a Common Kingfisher that flew past towards Greenway. At the start of the Golf Course woods, I started looking for Spotted Flycatchers but was surprised to see a scruffy Marsh Tit foraging in the hedgerow, the first for seventeen months so a real bonus bird. The rest of the Golf Course section provided five of at least six Spotted Flycatchers I counted in section four. I only counted two close to each other so it is possible they were all nesting birds or dispersed fledglings. I think they were nesting as they had competent fly catching skills and looked to be in perfect adult plumage as well as it being June. At the start of the straight leading to Tiverton Road Bridge a couple of Grey Herons flew over towards Old Dam with one missing a few wing feathers. A single Willow Warbler showed near the footbridge. This section's WeBS count included 10 Common Moorhen, 7 Mallard, the Kingfisher and the Grey Herons. Section four provided twenty nine birds with the rest being European Robin, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Common Starling, European Greenfinch, Common Swift, Winter Wren, Goldcrest, Dunnock, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Stock Dove, Barn Swallow, Blue Tit, House Martin and Magpie. I was disappointed not to see any of the probable breeding Reed Buntings from last month but the extensive bank side growth may have contributed to that. I had taken an hour and twenty five minutes to search from Greenway to Crownhill and enjoyed it immensely but feared the sudden high total may deprive the rest of the sections of providing new birds.


In section three, from Crownhill to Manley, I was held up by a sulking bird in the far bank vegetation at the Chicken Farm and after a ten minute vigil it showed itself shyly as a juvenile Common Whitethroat. Not much further on the Common Coot pair were at their usual nest site but something was wrong. They were together on a bulrush root with no young chicks close by and not on their nest. It was saddening to see the reason, the weed cutter barge had dumped it's load of weed right on top of the nest site. I have never been so disgusted by the stupidity of mankind before. The only breeding pair of Coots for many miles and they destroy it! At the Pig Farm a splendid Mistle Thrush showed well on the lawns with a second bird next to Manley Bridge accompanied by a Song Thrush and some Blackbirds. A Common Pheasant I saw has to be the jammiest tick on my WeBS counts as I peered through a gap in the hedge to look at a large cornfield and it jumped out of the middle for just a second. That was the only one I saw the whole walk! A seventh Spotted Flycatcher showed well by East Manley Bridge. The WeBS figures were 9 Common Moorhen, the two Coots, 6 Mallard and a two adult Mute Swans with seven young cygnets. Other new birds included House Sparrow, Eurasian Jackdaw, Rook and European Goldfinch.



Section two from Manley to Tidcombe was full of bonus birds starting with a real lucky sighting. As I refuelled at the usual bench by Manley Bridge an Eurasian Treecreeper showed briefly up the trunk of the oak on the opposite bank. Normally I can rely on this section to rescue me if I have not seen a Buzzard so I scanned the skyline keenly and this earned me a pair of Eurasian Jays at the usually unproductive Horse Paddock. One had a large lump of bread with the other giving chase. Close to Tidcombe I was sure I glimpsed a 'tail less' bird with a longish bill for it's size, a possible Nuthatch in flight. This made me stop to check the trees it should have landed in but no luck. A short distance later, by the first set of manicured garden hedges, I had reason to think again as the bird flew into a garden and back to an oak tree. Stopping to watch the trees yielded a stunner of a Wood Nuthatch coming back from a garden with food for it's young somewhere in the oak tree. Stopping was a stroke of luck too as I spied a Common Buzzard soaring over some distant woods. About a hundred yards before Tidcombe Bridge it usually begins to deteriorate into the final unproductive and urbanised section up to The Basin so I was surprised to see a Great Spotted Woodpecker fly out of a garden and alight on a tree trunk. All the new birds from Section three were bonus birds which is more than I would have asked for. Only 3 Common Moorhen and 18 Mallard were seen for the WeBS count.



I knew I could rely on Herring Gull in section one but hoped for a Lesser Black-backed as I had seen one on a few reconnaissance trips on my bike recently. Only the Herring Gull showed in this section. I even cheated a bit by scanning St Peter’s church distantly hoping to see one of the breeding pair of Peregrines or even a Feral Pigeon over town. The final section’s WeBS contribution was 4 Common Moorhen, 47 Mallard and 2 Herring Gulls. When I counted up my birds at The Basin I thought I had set a new record of forty six birds. Back at home I realised that was not the case as Reed Bunting was written in my book to remind me of the lack of the breeding birds I saw last month. Still, equalling my best ever total was an exceptional confidence booster. Next Sunday I shall be walking from Tiverton Parkway back to The Basin with two friends. No mean feat at all but I look forward to it as the canal in summer has one of the most enjoyable settings with a fine line up of avian delights to boot.

[Andrew]

Yet another WeBS lifer.........


23-07-05
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.

This morning I was aghast to find it had rained during the night meaning some water had entered my moth trap. There was no time to sort the mess out as I had to meet Ray at the end of the road to go on our WeBS counts. Just after six this morning the weather at Greenway came under four C's, cloudy, calm, cool and crisp, just right!

At Sellake bay I was absolutely delighted to spot a Lesser Whitethroat as it was a WeBS lifer and a year tick too. It showed very well and even dropped onto the towpath a few metres in front of me once.

The Willows at Old Dam was scrutinised keenly as usual and this rewarded me with a female type Blackcap and a young Common Whitethroat but no Willow Warblers or Chiffchaffs. Whilst I was watching the Whitethroat, a male Common Kingfisher flew past and alighted on the willows a few metres down the canal. The Kingfisher then went on to scan the water and dive for fry regularly. I was able to inch closer to it a few times and enjoy intimate views. At one stage a Song Thrush was in the same binocular view. It watched the Kingfisher with interest before the Kingfisher turned towards it, shivered it’s wings and scolded it away.

Spotted Flycatchers were elusive in the woods of the Golf Course section, only two showed fleetingly. Close to Tiverton Road Bridge a Common Chiffchaff was in the far bank willows. The WeBS count for section four between Greenway to Crownhill was 13 Common Moorhen, 4 Mallards, 3 Mute Swans and the Kingfisher. Other birds counted in this section were Mistle Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Common Buzzard, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Pheasant, Chaffinch, Winter Wren, Great Tit, Pied Wagtail, Blue Tit, Barn Swallow, European Goldfinch and Rook.

In section three I was relieved to find the female Red-crested Pochard at Crownhill but disappointed to fins the Coots had not returned for another nesting attempt. A total of two Grey Herons were counted along this section. One was in a ploughed field with the other taking off from the towpath. Apart from these two birds, the walk from Crownhill to Manley was a bit of a non-event. The WeBS count included 20 Common Moorhen, 28 Mallards, the Red-crested Pochard and Grey Herons. The list was also boosted by House Sparrow, Stock Dove, Dunnock, Common Starling, House Martin and European Greenfinch.

Section two from Manley to Tidcombe was not much more exciting with just a single Willow Warbler and an unseasonable Canada Goose being the new additions. I was also pleased to see a male Blackcap and another Spotted Flycatcher in this section. The WeBS count was 8 Common Moorhen, 26 Mallards, the Canada Goose and a Grey Heron.

The final section from Tidcombe to The Basin was quite predictable with Eurasian Jackdaw, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Swift and Herring Gull being the last of the new birds recorded. The WeBS tally for the final section was 9 Common Moorhen, 80 Mallards and the Herring Gull.

Totting up the bird came to forty which is exactly the same as last July but the Lesser Whitethroat ensured I was well chuffed with how this morning went.

[Padraig]

Nice outing there Andrew. I've only got one Lesser Whitethroat ever at Dawlish Warren last year. There was one this year too but I didnt go for it. I tried last year in Colyford Common but had no luck. All in all a very nice bird to locate on your local patch!

regards,

P.

[Andrew]

Saw the Dawlish bird last year too. I think it wintered a bit too due to a damaged leg.

[Andrew]

24-08-05
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.

With time at a premium I dashed out this evening to do my WeBS count and it was a big mistake. With the light fading most of the birds had retired for the night and despite getting some good birds for the WeBS tally I could only muster an overall count of twenty three birds. The best on offer were four Common Kingfishers in sections four and three, a Grey Heron, a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk, a Common Buzzard and two young Goldcrests. I have decided to try and shift things about to get a free morning or afternoon to repeat the walk and get a better count. This should also result in a more precise water bird count.


26-08-05
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.

I was back on the bus to Halberton this afternoon for another crack at the WeBS count hoping to get a more respectable and correct set of figures. Section four close to Greenway bridge started off spectacularly with a Common Kingfisher followed by four more up to Old Dam and another at Snake's Wood. Three Common Buzzards were soaring over the valley circled by the canal at Halberton. A female Eurasian Sparrowhawk gave excitingly close overhead views at Crownhill. The WeBS count for section four included 18 Common Moorhen, 18 Mallards, 2 Mute Swans and the five Kingfishers. Section four provided just seventeen birds to start the list with. The lack of some banker birds had me worried. Section three from Crownhill to Manley bridges was very poor with a young Grey Heron on the towpath being the only bird of interest out of three additions. The WeBS count received 14 Common Moorhen, 17 Mallards and the Grey Heron. Section Two up to Tidcombe Bridge was only slightly healthier with the aforementioned Kingfisher at Snake's Wood livening things up. A Common Pheasant in a recently harvested cornfield was a tick I did not have on Wednesday. The WeBS count struggled here with 4 Common Moorhen, 17 Mallards and the Kingfisher were included. The final section up to the end of The Basin offered just three additions including 2 Herring Gulls, a few Eurasian Jackdaws and some late House Sparrows. For the WeBS this section provided 2 Common Moorhen, 69 Mallards and the Herring Gulls. I had cobbled together just twenty six species. This was the worst August total and proved that Wednesday's poor return was in fact a truthful assessment of the canal's bird life at the moment. I reckon we are in between the departures and arrivals. So I look forward to the return of the wintering birds. One improvement on this afternoon's count is that the Canal Tea Rooms were open and this Devon Boy could indulge in a cream tea!

[Andrew]

Bit of a gap since the last one..............


10-11-05
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.

Once again I could not join Ray on Saturday (5th) having gone for the Laughing Gull so I took the first decent opportunity provided by the weather and took the bus this morning to Halberton. Section four from Greenway to Crownhill Bridges started off strongly with no less than twenty nine species. The first goody of the section was one of two Wood Nuthatches. Strictly speaking it was seen before the beginning of the section. It showed extremely well overhead by the road up the hill to Greenway. The next quality birds were fresh influxes of Redwings and Fieldfares everywhere. A Common Buzzard put in a majestic thermal riding performance at High Bank and was, oddly, the only one seen in the whole walk. Between Sellake Bridge and Old Dam there were several passerines including Long-tailed Tits, a Goldcrest or two, two female type Common Bullfinches and a Pied Wagtail. The final 'bonus' bird was a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk passing over at the start of the long straight towards Tivvy Road Bridge. I had a female here last month so it could possibly be the same bird. Sadly the ploughed fields did not provide any flocks of Linnets as I had hoped for. An early bonus bird in section three (Crownhill to Manley bridges) was a Common Kingfisher staying ahead of me near the Chicken Farm followed quickly by two of three Eurasian Jays passing over the canal. While walking away from the Chicken Farm my 'sixth sense' made me look back and it paid off as a Coal Tit showed very well, always a good tick on these walks. Just past the Aqueduct, a Grey Heron was in a brassica field in between rows of poly-tunnels. It did not seem happy with it's lot. Another Grey Heron was in the same section in fields adjoining Manley Straight. Peering through a gap in the hedge at Manley Bend was accidentally propitious for the list as a Great Spotted Woodpecker bounced overhead and as soon as I retreated from the gap, a Mistle Thrush alighted on a telegraph wire on the other side of the canal. As I had my hot drink near Manley Bridge inside section two a flock of four Canada Geese flew overhead to provide an instant addition. A little way past Snake's Wood the second Kingfisher showed well but the highlight of the whole walk came at the edge of the suburbs in Tidcombe. As usual of late, I was getting desperate to add the increasingly scarce Pheasant to the list and scanned everywhere I could. I thought I had bagged one when I spotted a reddish brown bird fly up from a grassy field. In a split second I recognised it as a Common Kestrel which is the only second one I have ever recorded in well over two years of WeBS counts. A real bonus bird worth it's weight in gold. Section one from Tidcombe Bridge to The Basin was a dull affair with just two additions as expected, a Herring Gull and four Black-headed Gulls. The overall WeBS tally stood as 148 Mallards, 60 Common Moorhen, 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 5 Mute Swans, the two Common Kingfishers, the two Grey Herons, the four Canada Geese, the Herring Gull and the four Black-headed Gulls. The backing cast for the whole walk included Eurasian Jackdaw, Eurasian Collared Dove, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Common Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Common Starling, European Greenfinch, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Winter Wren, Dunnock, Carrion Crow, Rook, Magpie, European Robin, European Goldfinch, Stock Dove and Feral Pigeon. I was delighted to add up all the birds at the end and find I had done well with forty two species. The last two November totals were thirty five and thirty six respectively so today's haul is pretty satisfying. It is also the second highest total this year. Ray has suggested we swap patches for one count. I am happy and not happy about this as I would like to experience the riches of his sections as well as to have a complete record of my section. My solution is to do his sections as planned and then do my walk unofficially to provide continuity in my records.

[Al livsey]

Well done on another successful survey Andrew, they must take up a lot of time and effort to complete (even more so, if you're considering Rays' patch aswell!) Good luck and keep up the hard work.

Alan.

[Andrew]

Well done on another successful survey Andrew, they must take up a lot of time and effort to complete (even more so, if you're considering Rays' patch aswell!) Good luck and keep up the hard work.

Alan.
Hi Alan,

It does take a bit of writing up at the end with a personal spreadheet to fill in, a WeBS form to fill in, county records to compile and the same data in a different format to Ray. It is a labour of love though.

As for doing ray's section. he suggested we swap sections one day to provide a change and give me a chance of topping fifty species which is hard on my section with it being popular with dog walkers, joggers and strollers as well as being a third suburban.

I think Lapwing is going to be my next lifer this winter. Long overdue!

Cheers,
Andrew.

[Andrew]

10-12-05
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.

Recently I felt I was losing touch with Devon so it was good to be doing my beloved WeBS patch this morning. For a rare change I started off at the same time as Ray early this morning as the sun was starting to rise. This affected my start as many birds had not yet woken up. All the Common Blackbirds seemed to be up first. Just past the Oak Tree Bend in section four I was surprised by a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk flying across the canal in front of me and alighting in the scrubby trees on the opposite bank sending all the thrushes into a panic. Another Sparrowhawk, a male, was also seen just past the Golf Course woods.

On the other side of Sellake Bay a Red Fox was passing by unsuspicious of me until I clicked my tongue to produce exciting eye contact for a good few seconds. It then rushed up the hill and stopped to give me a second look before disappearing along the hedgerow.

At Sellake Bridge, I was enjoying good views of a pair of Common Bullfinches and a shadow zooming up the canal urged me to look up from the back of the bridge to see a speedy Common Kingfisher coming back down close to the water and continuing on it's way. It was lucky I saw the shadow as it was the only one seen this morning.

Large flocks of Fieldfares and Redwings were moving about and I managed a few close views of some small flocks in trees throughout the walk. Between Sellake Bridge and Old Dam I had eye contact with another early rising mammal, a Roe Deer. It was on the ridge of the higher ground about a hundred and fifty yards away and kept it’s eye on me throughout. A Mistle Thrush flew over at this point too.

Half way into the Golf Course woods I stopped to study the dead tree and it paid off as I had no less than two Eurasian Treecreepers and a super Wood Nuthatch at the same time. Two quality birds at the same time is a sight to treasure. I suspect the Nuthatch was a male as it appeared to have reddish flanks and belly. A large flock of Long-tailed Tits between Tiverton Road Bridge and Crownhill carried nothing more than a female Goldcrest and a Coal Tit, hopefully one day I will find a Firecrest. Section four between Greenway and Crownhill had produced twenty six species so a solid start indeed.

Section three from Crownhill to Manley Bridges had one or two noteworthy moments starting with a Common Buzzard foraging for worms in a ploughed field but close to it was what I suspected to be a Ringed Plover. This would have been a stunning WeBS first for me but it was too far away for me to be sure of. It did not move much either so I could not guess it’s identification from it’s jizz. Near the Aqueduct, I was relieved to see a male Common Pheasant as this was the first one since August. A couple of Pied Wagtails flew overhead as I watched the Pheasant. In the alders around Pig Farm bay was a sizeable flock of superb Eurasian Siskins. Hopefully these will remain and become a feature of my winter WeBS counts. A few European Goldfinches were also feeding on alders the other side of East Manley Bridge.

Section two up to Tidcombe Bridge produced just three new additions, all common birds but there was a few repeats of notable birds including a tight flock of sixteen Pied Wagtails in a ploughed field at Manley Bridge. Two more Treecreepers were seen together at Snake’s Wood. Another pair of Bullfinches were seen just before Warnicombe Bridge. A second Buzzard was very close and well lit by the sunshine just past the bridge. The Buzzard scanned the grass from a low oak branch and swooped down to a grassy clump. I was fascinated as the bird tugged away at the grass with both feet then one foot but came away empty handed and flew up to the nearest tree opposite me. These regularly close encounters with wildlife on the canal make me feel wonderful.

The final section produced three new birds including a pair of Mute Swans and a higher number of gulls than of late. A fifth Bullfinch, a male, was showing well at the final bay before the end of the Basin which I have not come up with a name for yet.

The WeBS totals for today stood as 77 Common Moorhen, 68 Mallards, the Kingfisher, the Mute Swans, 18 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Herring Gulls. Other birds recorded during the whole walk were Carrion Crow, Eurasian Jackdaw, Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Winter Wren, European Greenfinch, Rook, Stock Dove, House Sparrow, Eurasian Collared Dove and Common Starling.

The final tally came to thirty nine species which equalled the December best set in 2003. Another great walk enjoyed to the maximum. I love working my local WeBS patch and trying to eke out every possible tick I can to amass a respectable total at the end. I am seriously considering concentrating on a full canal list next year.

Back home I studied the birds I had seen this year and saw that I had amassed sixty eight species with six firsts for the canal list. Amazingly I had not seen some common species such as Green Woodpecker, Skylark, Sand Martin, Reed Warbler and Raven at all this year. That surely demonstrates the difficulty of doing a strict routine only once a month which is why I love this walk as it is quite challenging. If I do a canal list next year I am sure that hitting a hundred species is quite a daunting task to set myself but I shall give it a go.

[Andrew]

07-01-06
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.

Ray and I did our first WeBS counts of the year early this morning. It was a very enjoyable walk as I managed a decent total and a few quality birds.

The first section between Greenway and Crownhill bridges proved to be a slow starter this time due to the cold early morning gloom. Not many birds were up and about. One of the early birds was a Great Cormorant circling the canal half way between Greenway and Oak Tree Bend which was a quality tick as it is not often they are seen on the canal. In fact, Ray saw one today too and it proved to be the first he had ever recorded on a WeBS count.

Fieldfare numbers were noticeably lower with just thirteen at the Golf Course. An Eurasian Jay was a nice addition in the Golf Course Woods as was a diminutive Eurasian Treecreeper at Tiverton Road Bridge. By the time I had reached Crownhill Bridge I had only registered a paltry eighteen species.

Section three up to Manley Bridge had it's fair share of highlights including a WeBS first. Just before the aqueduct, a small party of four Common Bullfinches showed well with just one being a male. On the southern end of the aqueduct, I stopped to scan the fields as usual and was rewarded with a small flock of nine Northern Lapwings feeding. That was a long overdue WeBS list addition and they put a spring back in my step for the rest of the walk.

Close to the end of Manley Straight, I was amused to see a Common Buzzard land in the field opposite and be mobbed by Fieldfares and Redwings. Close by I noticed a few active birds in an alder and suspecting them to be Siskins, I thought of a Redpoll being a possibility. The first bird I clapped my bins on was amazingly a female Lesser Redpoll with the rest being European Goldfinches. The Redpoll was a Devon year tick for me sorted. At the half way stage I had pushed up to a more respectable thirty three species.

Between Manley and Tidcombe Bridges there were six additions to the tally with the best being a confiding male Common Kingfisher at Warnicombe Bridge and two Coal Tits & a Mistle Thrush at Tidcombe. I had hoped I would see the Common Gull at the Basin but it was not to be and the final section provided just two common additions to end the day on forty one species. That made it the highest January total with thirty nine in 2003 and just thirty one last year.

The final WeBS figures included 175 Mallards, 71 Common Moorhen, the Cormorant, 87 Black-headed Gulls, the Lapwings, the Kingfisher, 3 Herring Gulls and 2 Mute Swans. The backing cast making up the numbers included Dunnock, Winter Wren, Song Thrush, Eurasian Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Magpie, Great Tit, European Robin, Carrion Crow, Common Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Pied Wagtail, Common Pheasant, European Greenfinch, Stock Dove, Long-tailed Tit, Rook, House Sparrow, Common Starling and Eurasian Collared Dove.

As usual I had enjoyed the walk. Ray had a good walk too and scored some similar species in higher numbers such as nearly a hundred Lapwings and forty seven Redpolls plus a calling Water Rail.

[Andrew]

11-02-06
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey). Devon.

As Ray and I set off to do our WeBS counts early this morning, we looked out to the canal and found it frozen solid. Some might think that it would mean a poor return for our efforts but I thought it would mean some exceptional cold weather displaced birds and I was correct to an extent.

Section four was very interesting with some quality birds. The first of several Redwings was perched in the trees by Greenway Bridge which was to be expected but nevertheless a good start. Just before Oak Tree Bend, I spotted a possible Reed Bunting and stopped to wait for it to show again. It didn't but the first of several Common Bullfinches seen today was identified as it flew past courtesy of it's white rump. Large flocks of Fieldfares were on the move near Sellake Bay. Not as numerous as when they first arrived though. A Goldcrest was foraging in the far bank willows at Old Dam but I could not rustle up a Chiffchaff. A couple of Eurasian Jays were moving through the trees in the golf course wood with a small flock of Long-tailed Tits higher up.

A Mistle Thrush flew over towards Sellake that drew my attention to a disturbance in the fields inside the bend of the canal. A decent flock of thirty two European Golden Plovers had been put up into the air as well as five Northern Lapwings. These were worth their weight in gold with the plovers being canal year ticks and the third ever recorded on the canal. The Lapwings were the second straight after being a lifer bird last month. That was a perfect morale booster.

Half way along the straight from the golf course wood to Tiverton Road Bridge a Common Buzzard was roosting not far above my head and paid no attention to me whatsoever. I wished I had my camera as it was a brilliant photo opportunity. Section four had gone well with twenty nine species.

After an unscheduled early cuppa at Crownhill Bridge, I carried on into section three with enthusiasm after clocking another flock of seven Lapwings in the fields by the bridge. By the chicken farm, I was surprised to see a Common Coot in a small patch of unfrozen water. One of those cold weather displacements no doubt. Just past the aqueduct a couple of Common Pheasants were clumsily moving through the far bank scrub. These are surprisingly hard to find on my WeBS counts.

The alders between the Aqueduct and Pig Farm Bay provided fourteen Eurasian Siskins and at least thirty Common Linnets. Just past Manley Bend, I was pleased to see a Common Kestrel heading over the canal to settle in an oak tree. These used to be scarce but I think I have recorded them three times on the trot now. They must all be the same bird that has settled in the area.

Section two started brightly just past Manley Bridge before Snakes Wood with two Wood Nuthatches showing well. On towpath side of Snakes Wood, there is a small fenced off wood that has always been a temptation to me. Today it was too strong and I climbed over two fences into it. Thrashing about the scrub down to a boggy area at the bottom soon flushed two Eurasian Woodcocks. These birds were a canal, WeBS and Devon lifer so unsurprisingly I was on a high for the rest of the walk. A Coal Tit was in a garden at Tidcombe just before an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull flew overhead, two more good ticks at a stroke.

Section one from Tidcombe Bridge up to the end of The Basin was a bit of a non event with just WeBS qualifying birds logged including two Mute Swans struggling to break through the thin ice. I was pleased to find I had finished on forty two birds which was the highest February count by two birds despite it being the first time I had done the count with the canal frozen.

The WeBS figures were 35 Common Moorhen, 98 Mallards, 50 Black-headed Gulls, the Mute Swans, 5 Herring Gulls, the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the Woodcock, the Lapwings, the Coot and the Golden Plovers. The common birds forming the backbone of the numbers included Pied Wagtail, Common Blackbird, Winter Wren, European Robin, Dunnock, Great Tit, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Magpie, Eurasian Jackdaw, Rook, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Common Starling and Eurasian Collared Dove.

I had missed some simple species such as Stock Dove and Goldfinch so the total could realistically have been much higher but it was not for want of trying. Another enjoyable count and all the more so for the Woodcocks.

[Andrew]

18-03-06
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey) & Seaton. Devon.

Today, Ray and I swapped sections for the first time to provide a change of scenery for our WeBS counts. There was a strong cold east wind blowing so I was not too hopeful of seeing our first Sand Martins or even clocking a decent tally. I was covering sections six to thirteen from Greenway Bridge to the Sluice beyond Ebear Bridge and hopeful of a few canal year ticks. The first bird of note was a small flock of Stock Doves in a recently drilled field past the cattle bridge after Rock House. This was soon followed by a very confiding Common Chiffchaff working the short decayed reed stems in the margins. That was the first canal year tick of the day. I was able to enjoy the novelty of logging several Common Coots along the whole stretch with the first soon after the Chiffchaff. Near the back of The Globe in Sampford Peverell, a Coal Tit showed very well with an Eurasian Collared Dove flying over. As I was passing through the outskirts of Sampford Peverell I was delighted to see at least one male Eurasian Siskin mixing with a few European Goldfinches in some alders. Between Boehill and Ayshford bridges there were a few decent birds including a Common Kestrel, a female Eurasian Sparrowhawk, a single Fieldfare among a flock of over a hundred and fifty Redwings as well as a large Mistle Thrush. Beyond the little church at Ayshford a trio of Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew east. The fields close to the pond had several birds feeding, mainly Redwings but also a Meadow Pipit and nine Pied Wagtails. The pipit was the second canal year tick of the day. A large flock of Common Linnets were feeding in a set-a-side near the woods at Westcott. As I was walking through these woods, I thought to myself that it was the last chance of logging Nuthatch or Treecreeper. A Goldcrest was feeding at the base of a tree on the far bank. When I got my bins on to it a Wood Nuthatch came round the left hand side and a second or two later an Eurasian Treecreeper alighted on the right hand side. That was an unbelievable stroke of luck. I think I will never have such an extraordinary combination in the same binocular view again. The final birds of note were logged between Ebear Bridge and the Sluice which were a Common Buzzard, a Common Raven and a Great Cormorant. The Raven was the third and final canal year tick of the walk. I had struggled to clock forty three species but Ray still managed to trump me by one more. The WeBS count read as 62 Common Moorhen, 84 Mallards, 19 Common Coots, 2 Mute Swans, 7 Herring Gulls, 45 Black-headed Gulls, the Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the Cormorant. The other species that built up the final tally included Carrion Crow, Wood Pigeon, Rook, Eurasian Jackdaw, Winter Wren, Dunnock, Common Blackbird, Magpie, Blue Tit, European Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Common Starling, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Great Tit and European Robin. Another enjoyable walk despite the cold.

[Andrew]

08-04-06
Location : Grand Western Canal (WeBS Survey) & Exminster Marshes. Devon.

Ray and I set off on our respective WeBS patches early this morning and I was mindful of the correct sections so I was starting in section five from Greenway to Holly Dam. A canal year tick came in the form of two Willow Warblers associating with some Long-tailed Tits in the far bank trees at Holly Dam closely followed by excellent views of two Roe Deer in the fields. I was to see nineteen Willow Warblers in all throughout the walk with not one single Chiffchaff at all.

Section four from Holly Dam to Crownhill Bridge started well as a Common Raven passed over the fields behind the golf course. Just after the golf course a couple of Eurasian Jays caught my attention before a bird bounded over high. I followed the bird until it landed in the top of a tree and revealed itself to be a Great Spotted Woodpecker. That was a long overdue canal year tick in the bag. I was doing a thousand yard stare across the horse paddock and it paid off as a Wood Nuthatch showed distantly and two Common Linnets flew over into a tree close by.

As I approached the footbridge at Tiverton Road Bridge I spotted the diagnostic flight of a well known small wader. I was so taken aback by it and thought "Can it be?" before speeding up quietly to catch up with a Common Sandpiper on the base of the footbridge. I had never expected to see a Common Sandpiper on the canal despite some other people having previously had the privilege. That was a stunning canal lifer for me. It kept ahead of me all the way to School Bay in Tiverton so I often had good views of it on the canal banks and on the towpath.

Section three from Crownhill to Manley Bridges had some notable birds including a dark Grey Heron, a Coal Tit, an Eurasian Treecreeper, two European Goldfinches, a pair of Canada Geese and amazingly a Common Coot.

Section two up to Tidcombe Bridge produced standard fare with the best being a Mistle Thrush bounding over, two Common Buzzards and a Goldcrest shooting across the canal.

Section one down to the Basin offered two birds to the tally including a pair of sub-adult Mute Swans and just one Eurasian Collared Dove.

I had finished on thirty nine species which was nowhere near the best of forty four set in April 2004. The WeBS figures stood as fifty eight Common Moorhen, fifty one Mallards, the Common Sandpiper, the Coot, the Grey Heron, the two Canada Geese and the two Mute Swans.

The final tally was backed up with Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, European Robin, Eurasian Jackdaw, Great Tit, Common Pheasant, Carrion Crow, Common Blackbird, Pied Wagtail, Rook, Winter Wren, European Greenfinch, Magpie, Common Starling and House Sparrow.

As usual I had enjoyed the walk if only for the superb Common Sandpiper that accompanied me throughout most of it.