Backwater Birding - Seaton, Devon

[Steve Waite]

Oh dear, deny as you may Steve, but you are now a twitcher, a low life of the birding world.
I hang my head in shame..... :gn:

[Simon Wakely]

Hello all, is this the bruckland big-foot. What i corker!

[Roger Boswell]

Both female Widgeon, Roger. My Daughter Also likes your flying Iceland , hope to see you around, Simon and Sue.

Thanks Simon.
The birder in the hide looked confident in his identification and I am still struggling with brown and white jobs!

Roger

[Roger Boswell]

Well away from the Axe - but can anyone help identify this duck I saw at Raddipole today. It was a diving duck but I cannot find any picture remotely like it in my books - hope it isn't a Ruddy x Pintail!

I also witnessed a Great Crested Grebe attempting a rather large meal!

Roger

[Gavin Haig]

EDIT - that's a female Ruddy Duck, Roger.

Joking aside, our Iceland Gull this afternoon has got to be at least the 5th on the estuary this year. Why are we getting so many gulls? A couple of things Phil said today confirmed a suspicion I've had for a while. There seem to be very good numbers of gulls hanging around offshore, so here's the theory: something tasty is leaking out of the Napoli wreck - a few containers of Tesco Finest 'Landfill Flakes' or something, well below the waterline. Instead of passing straight by, the gulls are loitering and feeding, and when they feel like a rest, or a wash and brush-up, where do they go? The Axe estuary. Anyway, it's a theory.

I expect most readers have heard about the recent launch of a new branch of the UK400 Club. Called the 'Listing Cadets', it is aimed at nurturing those fledgling twitchers whose lists have not yet reached the giddy heights of 400+, thereby encouraging them to aspire to full membership of the senior section some day. Steve has been asking me to see if I can find out how one joins. Here are the details: go to www.thetuftyclub.co.uk and click on the link that says 'So You Want to be a Big Lister?'. Then fill in the form, empty your wallet, download the preprinted sick-note template, and you're done.... |=)|

Slippery slope, Steve!!!

After the Iceland Gull (which flew the moment I got the camera out - hope this isn't going to be an ongoing issue) I went up Beer Head with Phil and Bun. Phil had a white-winged gull (probably Iceland) go over, then land down on Branscombe beach, but otherwise nowt to report apart from a couple of Stonechats, great views and glorious sunshine. I finished up at Colyford Common, where I had a go at digiscoping stuff. Decided I must make an effort with it this year, so I mucked about with different shutter speeds, ISOs etc. I don't have an adaptor, so have to just hold the camera to the scope. I've attached a couple of the best shots...

1. The gloom and misery that is birding Beer Head
2. Getting out the Yellow Wagtail bait nice and early
3. Phil giving Bun the 'Twitching ruins your life' spiel
4. Fat-billed Curlew
5. ISO 1600 at 17:40 - not too shabby (well, I'm quite pleased with it)

[bob hastie]

Hi all
Spent a few hours up over the top of Seaton Hole today, mainly trying to get some Kittiwake flight shots. This was a lot harder than it looked, those things move fast and low. I'm sure there were some really rare gulls flying past most of the time, but I didn't see them cos I wasn't looking. ;)
this is a really great spot for close views of common birds, they just aren't scared. A couple of Long Tails were very laid back.
Then went down to Seaton Marshes, as Steve said its looking great. 3 Reed Buntings were doing there best to get to the table but the mallard sat on top had other ideas, the buntings eventually gave up after about 10 minutes, the only time any of them got to the food was when they launched a pincer movement, one distracted the mallard whilst another slipped in under the radar.
Next it ws up to Coly common stopping on route to check out the Little Egrets in the field opposite Gravel Lane, 4 there today (there were 11 on Monday) all chasing the cattle around and acting more like Cattle egrets.
Also seen today Peregrin, Raven, Sparrowhawk,Kestrel plus all the other usual suspects.
P.S. Steve was that you leaving Seaton Marshes at the same time as us in a Peugeot?

[Simon Wakely]

Well, Forum theres no doubt, bird pics posted recently our Wonderful. Well done keep it going. My Daughter thinks Moorhen Best, it only cost a Fiver to convince her. Terry, rang son, and yes 8 Great tits Spotted. Our son told Sue ,Dads bird watching hobby is Brilliant.

[Terry Smith]

Well away from the Axe - but can anyone help identify this duck I saw at Raddipole today. It was a diving duck but I cannot find any picture remotely like it in my books - hope it isn't a Ruddy x Pintail!

I also witnessed a Great Crested Grebe attempting a rather large meal!

Roger

Roger,

I thought you would like to know that the Ruddy Duck that you photographed is a member of a group of ducks collectively known as 'Stiff-tails'! They can have quite pronounced tails when sitting high on the water. Another member of this family also found in Europe is the White-headed Duck. :scribe:

Terry

[Roger Boswell]

Roger,

I thought you would like to know that the Ruddy Duck that you photographed is a member of a group of ducks collectively known as 'Stiff-tails'! They can have quite pronounced tails when sitting high on the water. Another member of this family also found in Europe is the White-headed Duck. :scribe:

Terry

Thanks. There were quite a few male Ruddy Ducks there - bright blue bills, but there were no other ducks with such a pointed tail.

[Steve Waite]

P.S. Steve was that you leaving Seaton Marshes at the same time as us in a Peugeot?
Hi Bob, yep that was me! I also drove past you watching the Egrets.

Nice start to the day today, thanks to a phonecall from my Dad (his first point-scorers!) I went down to the seafront and found myself looking at 5 really smart pale-bellied Brent Geese, along with 1 dark-bellied sat on the sea. Wow did they look sexy!!! They drifted west close in. Proper passage!

Several looks at the Gulls today revealed nothing much, although a decent count of 28 Lesser Black-backs included three very obvious intermedius, as black as you can get!

Just been out this evening, great views of the two Little Owls, Mr and Mrs Eye-Eye.

[Gavin Haig]

Surely overdue a points update, Stevie?? Don't want you walking off with the 'Bonanza' badge without at least a token challenge. Need to know how much work we need to do!
Perhaps you missed this last Thursday, Steve? A fair few points scored in the last 3 weeks I think - but how many? and by whom? and for what? Don't be shy - we don't mind you streaking away (at the moment ;) )

Yours sincerely,

Player in the Dark

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All, We have to mention Rogers Great crested grebe pic, (FANTASTIC). Bobs Fulmar also, well done. We have mentioned about our patch before, its great so please spread out, an investigate more of it, the rewards are there. My Daughter on third thoughs puts our effort of bruckland big foot in last place, but not willing to return our fiver. But best mornings birding ever on our patch.

[Steve Waite]

Oh yeah, sorry, forgot!

Here we have the latest update....it is really really really good to see virtually everyones name on the board, its nice to see we all help in making this place as good as it is!

Everyone don't forget, this first of every spring migrant is worth 5 points! I'd say up for grabs over the next week will be Sandwich Tern (Bun has to be a favourite for this one), Manx Shearwater and Swallow.... then come April, the list is almost endless!

[Jos Stratford]

Copy and paste it Steve, attached file won't open at this end ...and your worldwide fans surely want to see how far ahead you already are, dirty twitches aside

[Steve Waite]

Copy and paste it Steve, attached file won't open at this end ...and your worldwide fans surely want to see how far ahead you already are, dirty twitches aside Ok, just for you Jos!!! It's the lists of birds found that REALLY impresses me, can't believe all of it has been found on our patch this year!! Well done everyone!

Steve Waite 241
Gavin Haig 175
Ian McLean 109
Simon & Sue Wakely 60
Karen Woolley 24
Frazer Rush 20
‘Daddy’ Waite 20
Clive (from Sidmouth!) 12
James McCarthy 8
‘Bun’ 5

Hope others can open the file alright,

Regards,

The dirty low-life twitcher ;)

[Steve Waite]

Hello everyone!!!

Well, not much to report at all! Didn't see anything before work, and saw next to nothing after it! Though it was a very beautiful evening, 145 Wigeon were on the estuary at dusk, and 26 Little Egrets came in to roost.

Have a bit of time in the morning, hopefully will see something!!!!

Just out of interest, the first spring migrants have arrived early for us this year! The years first Wheatear came 7 days before last years, and the first Sand Martin was 10 whole days before the first bird last year!!! Wonder if everything else will be this early....

[bun]

Evening all, had a day off today and slipped off patch again! (but not as far as cornwall this time) went to fernworthy res, on dartmoor looking for crossbills and was rewarded with 3 fly overs, then a cracking male feeding on the pine cones (another lifer for me) also saw 3 redpolls and 15 siskins and a male wheatear, so all in all not a bad day ( will now promise to remain loyal to the patch for the rest of the year!!)

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All, Son rang he lives in Plymouth, Bird watching Amazing, Great tits everywhere mainly in the high street,We think this is a odd place to see them.

[Terry Smith]

Hi All, Son rang he lives in Plymouth, Bird watching Amazing, Great tits everywhere mainly in the high street,We think this is a odd place to see them.

Are you sure about that Simon?

From what I've been told you're more likely to see Bearded Tits down in those parts............... :-O

[Gavin Haig]

A little seawatch this morning was fairly quiet, but nice sea though. Always nice sea....

Driving along the river at midday was quite difficult, but that was eased by stopping, and looking at gulls. Not many but, lo and behold, one was an Iceland Gull. This time it flew before I even got the scope out - it must have known the camera would follow. Downriver and over the town. From what I saw it was probably the blotchy 'white' one. Also nice.

[Steve Waite]

What a beautiful day!!!! Really gorgeous isn't it hey?

With the flat seas, I started at Branscombe today, and was treated to two Black-throated Divers sat on the sea (1 flew in from the west). Very nice, my first for over a month. And I did double check - neither of them showed any obvious features of Pacific Diver!! 4 Canade Geese flew west here and an alba Wagtail came in/off.

Along the river there were only a handful of Gulls, but did include a certain Herring Gull that I have seen on three different occasions in the last week or so (see picture) and 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls including 1 intermedius.

Had a nice little surprise besides Colyford Water Treatment Works with 2 cracking adult male White Wagtails feeding on the 'Water Pipit field', with two Pied Wags.

Pics:
1. A comparison of single intermedius and graellsii Lesser Black-backed Gulls, I couldn't quite fit them in one frame when taking the photo, so had to do a bit of cutting and pasting!
2. An Oystercatcher behaving like an Ostrich!
3. The Herring Gull!
4. A record pic of one of the White Wags.

Can I just mention, whenever opening up a photo, make sure to maximise the window the photo is in, makes the quality better.

[KarenWoolley]

What a beautiful day!!!! Really gorgeous isn't it hey?



Indeed!!!

I popped up Axe cliff this morning, it was sublime!

Took this pic of Yellowhammer ( take a look if only for the sky colour!!)

Beer head looked great from hear too. I'm sure the returning migrants won't be able to resist!

[Gavin Haig]

Great Pics, Karen - I now have a new desktop.... |=)|

[Roger Boswell]

Great day at Seaton hide today - looking inland for a change. Greenfinches, Blue Tits and Chaffinches on the feeders then a Wren on one of the posts. Later a Dunnock chose this place to sing. Two male Reed Buntings and a female - still having problems with the sleeping Mallard on the bird-table. Then a Chiffchaff (or Willow Warbler?) appeared. There were also two very sleek Pipits on the tram lines (Meadow?).

Hope someone will be able to help me with the Warbler and Pipit.

Roger

[Fraser Rush]

Greetings backwater bods, long time no post

Coly Common first thing this morning was just brilliant, the place had a real calm serenity about it, as if it was resting before the onset of all the spring migrants en masse. Mind you there was some evidence of spring migration with about half a dozen chiffchaffs all singing away in the hedges. Also singing were skylark, meadow pipit, reed bunting and Cetti's warbler (probably a couple of the latter).

The peace will be shattered tomorrow with another bout of 'Fraser messing about with diggers and dumpers'. Maybe I didn't have enough Tonka toys when I was a saucepan.

Anyway we will be hopefully completing the new reed bed at Colyford Common. My previous predictions of three to five years for this project to bear fruit have been shortened you will be pleased to hear. Basically the huge amount of rainfall the weekend before last helped us enormously by simulating the effects of a huge tide. This means we can roll out phase two of the work now rather than having to wait another year to collect water level data.

Also, as it's nearly the end of the financial year and I've got a little bit of money left, I can afford to have the machines on site for another day or two which means that not only are we going to sort out the hydrological management but we are also going to complete the reed planting. It'll still take a year or two to grow up and maybe another year or two before it fills in the gaps but I reckon, with luck it should get its first pair of reed warblers in '09.

So if you're at Coly Common in the next three days you'll see us working in the field by the viewing platfrom. Come and have a look at what we're doing and I may even show you the new water control system (is that a threat or a promise you ask).

Hope to see you all there !

Fraser

[Jos Stratford]

Nice stuff there Fraser, I'm deeply envious of your Tonka Toys ...excavating pools on my land costs me a month's wages each time and there is so much I'd like to do ;)

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All,Son reports Terry, Plymouth high street packed out with hopefull Twitchers , looking for Bearded tits. Well, hope they have more luck than us, Estuary am, 50 Widgeon, 2 Redshanks,and a few gull. Farm Gate, our Egyptian Goose,a Chiff calling. Even our Garden quite, Male Blackcap singing with female near by. Goldfinch total 3.Well done Kev on the Crossbills.

[KarenWoolley]

Great Pics, Karen - I now have a new desktop.... |=)|

I'm glad you like it Gav, I have it on my desktop too, only problem is, I'm a bit concerned it will prove distracting in the coming weeks looking as inviting as it does!!! :-O

This morning I went to check on a field full of cattle & mud which I thought may be a good place for Wheatears. Unusually for me my hunch paid off and on my first scan of the field there it was, a gorgeous male Wheatear.

Probably the same one Bun had 6 days ago or possibly a new one?

The field is not far from Beer Head being at the top of Mare Lane to the rear of the large barns.

I managed to get a shot of him, taking the photo whilst standing in the midst of a herd of cattle (including a huge bull) and holding the dog by his lead in one hand. Hence it's a bit shaky but shows what a looker he was!

[Terry Smith]

[QUOTE=KarenWoolley]
Probably the same one Bun had 6 days ago or possibly a new one?

The field is not far from Beer Head being at the top of Mare Lane to the rear of the large barns.

QUOTE]

Great shot Karen, given your circumstances! :hi:

It's more likely to be a different bird to the one Bun had, as migrants are trickling through nicely now, and given the splendid weather, birds will soon move on northwards taking advantage of no adverse winds! I had 5 Sand Martins at Bowling Green on Sunday but these soon moved on through........

Terry :D

[KarenWoolley]

It's more likely to be a different bird to the one Bun had, as migrants are trickling through nicely now, and given the splendid weather, birds will soon move on northwards taking advantage of no adverse winds! Terry :D

Duh! How daft am I ?? :flyaway:

Of course your right Terry, When I think about it, six days is ages to a bird in a hurry!

[Steve Waite]

Yepo Karen, that would defo be a different bird, they won't be hanging about at this time of year!

Anyway, no birding for yesterday, and only a bit this morning after I woke up to thick fog (though it has well and truely cleared now!), Lower Bruckland Ponds were very pleasant this morning - but rather bird-less! 19 Canada Geese, a Chiffchaff and 2 Snipe the only highlights, plus a half-built Coots nest on the top pond.

Am so looking forward to April this year, migrants migrants and migrants!!!! I hear by word and mouth it might be getting cooler again first though....

Keep it up guys and girls, mid to late March is a super time..... as we proved last year!!!!

[Ranger James]

they won't be hanging about at this time of year!


Nope, they've only got one thing on thier mind at this time of year.

Remind me what grassy places look like - I'm living in a world of sand and pebbles, and its not fun. Oh, I do partake in a spot of printer chasing, but this is more frustrating than sporting.

James

[Roger Boswell]

Hi,
I am still having difficulty identifying these birds seen from Seaton hide in the last few days. When I look at the images they get me even more confused.

The first two I hope are female Reed Buntings,

the third a Pipit of sorts ....

and the fourth must be a Chiffchaff?

Could anyone help please?

Roger

[KarenWoolley]

Hi,
I am still having difficulty identifying these birds seen from Seaton hide in the last few days. When I look at the images they get me even more confused.

The first two I hope are female Reed Buntings,

the third a Pipit of sorts ....

and the fourth must be a Chiffchaff?

Could anyone help please?

Roger

Hi Roger, Yes, you are right and the pipit is a meadow pipit.

[Terry Smith]

So who had the Red Kite at Beer then, and which way was it heading?

[Steve Waite]

So who had the Red Kite at Beer then, and which way was it heading?
Hi Terry,

I picked it on my exit from Beer Head, great views for 15mins til I lost it flying east over the bay towards Seaton. Gav then got on to it off Seaton when it came in and flew NE over Axe Cliff Golf Course. Am pleased both Phil and Bun saw it too (both working in Beer - handy!). A nice bit of excitment.

[Terry Smith]

Thanks Steve,

Going in the wrong direction then! At least I know not to drive over this afternoon!

And thanks for the text Phil, having problems with my phone so couldn't text you back!

Cheers

Terry

[Steve Waite]

Worth looking about for another one though mate, Buzzards up all over the place today, even at 10am!

Interestingly, it didn't have any wing-tags.....a proper continental migrant...???

[Steve Waite]

Well I think that's me done for today - it's my girlfriend 18th today, so off out this afternoon/evening for some top nosh.

Ok, brief run down of today:

Seawatching first thing was very dull, a very distant male Mallard sat on the sea off Beer was rather out of place to say the least! (and surprisingly hard to identify too...until it flew!). Then a look up the river produced little except for this cracking intermedius Lesser Black-backed Gull - it was probably the biggest Lesser Black-backed Gull I have ever seen! Being larger and bulkier than the surrounding Herring Gulls, striking is the word!

Then it was up to Beer Head. Grounded migrants were few and far between with just 3 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap and 2 Meadow Pipits. Overhead were several Buzzards, 2 Peregrines and 2 Pied Wags flew west. It wasn't til I was walking back off the head that I picked up the Red Kite. I had some wonderful views of it flying around low in the sky for about five minutes til it started to gain height. I watched it for a further 8+ minutes as it soared up with a Buzzard and then headed off east over the bay. Am really glad most people got on to it. This bird is the 9th raptor on my Beer Head list...I'm fairly sure no one else has above 5 (one or two may have 6)....I must be doing something right!!!

Have been down the river and marshes since but haven't seen anything else of note.

[Simon Wakely]

Its Sues Birthday as well, 21 Today. Great to hear about the Kite wish we also had seen it.

[Gavin Haig]

Well - I don't seem to be getting any birding in at the moment, which isn't going to help me pump up the 'Bonanza' total. Can't be helped, though - life just a bit full right now, and likely to remain so until May at least. Still, there are going to be plenty of opportunities for me to accumulate Brownie points, which are arguably FAR more valuable than Bonanza ones ;)

Nevertheless, thanks to a very prompt phone call from Steve (cheers, mate!) I was able to watch a Red Kite come in off the sea this morning, and cruise over Axe Cliff Golf Course. It was rather high, but quite identifiable.


This bird is the 9th raptor on my Beer Head list...I'm fairly sure no one else has above 5 (one or two may have 6)....I must be doing something right!!!
Spending every available minute in the field! That'll do it every time! Make the most of it while you can, Steve, before wedlock/kids/mortgage and other sundry encumbrances cramp your style.......... |=)|

[Fraser Rush]

The Axe Estuary Wetland Project

Coming to an estuary near you.

Well folks, after possibly the longest lead-in time in history, the Axe Estuary Wetland Project is about to start with the appointment of a project officer and lots of subsequent enhancements down on the marshes.

I'll post more details on this thread when I get around to it but for the time being we're holding a couple of public events this coming week to which you are all cordially invited.

The idea is we pitch up in the town hall and the Seaton Marshes hide to show people what the proposals are all about, where we intend to do what, when it will happen and any other details. We'll have a few basic displays with draft layouts, general ideas and concepts plus we'll be there to explain stuff to whoever comes along.

Dates are:

Weds. 21st March, Seaton Town Hall, 10am till 3pm

Fri. 23rd March, Seaton Marshes hide, 10am till 3pm

Please come along to one of these events if you can, it's intended for you birders as much as anyone else.

By way of a further bribe - There's gonna be free tea, coffee and cakes !

Finally, to try to learn how to post pictures I've (hopefully) attached a photo, subject self explanatory.

Cheers

Fraser

[Steve Waite]

Thanks for sharing that one Frazer - I'll be there on the Friday - am working all day Wednesday. Just want to clarify one very important issue though, is the free tea and cake also a feature of the Friday display??? Be nice if you could show off a hot off the press copy of the 2006 Bird Report wouldn't it?!!!

No birding today I'm sad to say....and next to nothing for me tomorrow as well!!! This change in the weather will be interesting. We are down on Geese-ticks this year, this time last year we had both Barnacle and White-front safely under the belt, maybe this blast of cold air will amend this?!

[Steve Waite]

After a day at work I broke free at four and had half an hour of birding time before dining with the Mrs....

Heard Phil had seen a few Sand Martins (10) at Seaton Marshes in the morning, so I toddled along there.... and in the north west corner were a nice little bunch of Sand Martins, now 15 of them (though they were probably all different birds to Phils!). A quick trip up to Lower Bruckland afterwards revealed one here too, along with 22 Fieldfares!!!

I see on birdguides someone has seen the/one of the/another 1st-winter Iceland Gull on the river today....anyone we know???

I will be out for most of tomorrow, I look forward to it... and I have a good feeling about it too....

[Steve Waite]

A fairly quiet day today on the whole, with little action in the cold wind....that is except for one rather pleasant 45 minute period mid-late afternoon.

I tucked myself in a sheltered corner of the Borrow Pit (Seaton Marshes), with a Chiffchaff singing its heart out from the bush next to me. I stood there watching a flock of 25 Sand Martins feeding low over the water, skimming the water feet from me, they were totally oblivious to my presence. While watching these, I heard the distinctive 'yelp' from a Med Gull, and looked up to see a cracking full-hooded second summer Med loafing about in the wind - it joined up with the Black-heads feeding on the sewage works. To cap it all off, soon after this, there appeared a Swallow! It looked absolutely beautiful in the sunlight feeding amongst the Sand Martins, really great to see one again!!! This was probably the most relaxing 45 mins of my life.....

This Swallow comes 7 days earlier than the first one last year (in fact it is my earliest ever!), keeping in tune with the ultra early first Wheatear and Sand Martin this year.

I saw virtually nothing else all day, apart from 2 Peregrines (1 with breakfast!) and a Common Scoter off Seaton. It was so bird-less at one point that I even resorted to taking a photo of this mean looking cloud!

[Steve Waite]

Fourth post in a row!!! Heck!

Not much this morning, but Seaton Marshes was pleasant again with the small flock of Sand Martins still hawking over the Borrow Pit, and at last I've seen a Wheatear! It was making its way (rather hurridly) north along the tramline at about 8am.

I had a wander about the top of Beer too (some super habbo up there): 3 Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap the only rewards though.

Frazer and James, good luck tomorrow with the display at the town hall, sorry I can't be there but I will see you Friday.

[Silvio Davison]

Hi all,

Coul anyone help me identify these birds?

Thanks

Silvio

P.S: My guess was reed bunting (or rustic?) and short-toed lark.

[Steve Waite]

That's a Reed Bunt alright, and as for the other one, yeah looks like a Short-toed Lark, I'm just concerned by the apparant lack of white outer tail feathers, it actually looks Wheatear-like at a push!!

[Silvio Davison]

Thanks Steve!

[Silvio Davison]

The body plus tail looks quite like a short-toed but don't you think it also reminds of a juvenile Temmink's Lark?....

[Gavin Haig]

Well, I've not been TOTALLY inactive these past few days, and now have something almost exciting to report.

Firstly, today's birdies: finally caught up with a genuine summer visitor at lunchtime - Sand Martin - 25 of them, actually, at Seaton Marshes. Very nice. Late afternoon there was an Iceland Gull on the estuary - looked like the pale, blotchy one, though now it is almost white.

Received an email today from gull ringer Peter Stewart, to whom I had reported a colour-ringed Herring Gull that was on the river on Monday. It had a dark blue ring with orange code (102). Ring any bells, you twitchy types?? It was ringed 16 months ago at Gloucester landfill site. That ought to have some significance for you followers of birdy news. That's right - the UK's first Glaucous-winged Gull was ringed with the same blue-with-orange-code combo, also at Gloucester landfill. The Herring Gull has also been seen there since ringing (by one 'JDS' - maybe John Sanders of G-W Gull fame??). Rumour has it that this particular Herring Gull was seen in animated conversation with the Glaucous-winged as the two buddies flew S together, heading towards Devon. There was apparently some kind of tiff over a partially digested piece of shoe leather regurgitated by Blue 102 which resulted in the G-W Gull peeling off and heading towards Wales in a major strop. The rest is history - we got the Herring Gull.

So close........................ |=)|

PS - Hi Silvio. You'll get more eyes looking at your ID queries if you post them here: http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=114

[bun]

Evening folks, day off today so managed to get out and about to see what was about - first stop Beer Beach not very much at all! 3 gannets, 1 razorbill (w) the only birds of note, then went for a walk around Beer quarrys & the surrounding fields, 60+ linnets, 24 goldfinches, 7 bullfinch, 2 green woodpeckers, 2 G.S woodpeckers and 5 chiffchaffs, then took a afternoon walk up to Beer Head - 7 meadow pipits, 6 alba wags, 2 chiffs, and a mega fall of 2 wheatears!! ( both male)...finished off at burrow pit, Seaton Marshes watching the sand martins, skimming around counted 17 when i left, also 1 chiffy calling.

[Silvio Davison]

Cheers Gav! :hi:

[Steve Waite]

Not much for me, kept Frazer and James company in my lunch break, but did sneak in birding time early morning and late afternoon.
I too enjoyed the Sand Martins this evening - they are ever so hard to count, also 4 Chiffs here is a definite increase. This evening I spent an hour sat at the farm gate till absolute dark - it really is amazing how many large Gulls fly down the valley just before dark. I had just over a thousand go down between 18:10 and 18:40....the number of decent Gulls we must miss this way....all those Glaucs that are passing over!?!?! Also two Sand Martins flew over me here looking for somewhere to roost.

I have a fair bit of time tomorrow morning....we shall wait and see....

[Terry Smith]

Silvio,

Where did you photograph your mystery birds mate? I have some thoughts on the second bird but I really do need to know where the bird was................:brains:

Cheers

Terry

[Silvio Davison]

Hi Terry,

These photos are part of a contest in Italy....I don't know where it was taken but the birds in the ID competition must have been reported in Italy at least once. Here's Italy's check-list......
I thought it could be short-toed lark....but then I saw a drawing of the juvenile temminck's which looks just the same: dark tail, light cap with no stripes or specific markings and the light-coloured eyebrow. But there have been reported NO Temminck's in Italy!
Hope you've got the answer,

Silvio

[Silvio Davison]

Sorry Terry,
here's a better checklist:
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/avibase.jsp?region=it&pg=checklist&list=clements

[Colin Bushell]

Well, I've not been TOTALLY inactive these past few days, and now have something almost exciting to report.

Firstly, today's birdies: finally caught up with a genuine summer visitor at lunchtime - Sand Martin - 25 of them, actually, at Seaton Marshes. Very nice. Late afternoon there was an Iceland Gull on the estuary - looked like the pale, blotchy one, though now it is almost white.

Gavin,

Something wrong here. When we lived in London weren't all the Iceland Gulls in the north and the wintering Spotted Red's and Greenshanks in the south-west?

[Terry Smith]

Sorry Terry,
here's a better checklist:
http://www.bsc-eoc.org/avibase/avibase.jsp?region=it&pg=checklist&list=clements


Silvio,

I think the second bird is a female Desert Wheatear!

Not sure about the first though....................................yet!

(o)<

Terry

[Silvio Davison]

Good one Terry! Hadn't thought of that! I'll know the answer in a few days...you're prob right! Thanks...see if you find out what the first is.
If you guys wanted we could (or indeed, you could) do the contest on this thread and then see the final score...a bit like birding bonanza

cheers

Silvio :scribe:

[devon.birder]

Good one Terry! Hadn't thought of that! I'll know the answer in a few days...you're prob right! Thanks...see if you find out what the first is.
If you guys wanted we could (or indeed, you could) do the contest on this thread and then see the final score...a bit like birding bonanza

cheers

Silvio :scribe:



I have been away for a few days and have obviously missed something. What is the connection with Seaton?. Roger

[KarenWoolley]

Dipper on the Coly again today near Heathayne Bridge. Yesterday buzzards “talon grappling” at Trinity Hill was a breathtaking spectacle, which I’ve never seen before. They only let go seconds before disaster!!

My Lesser spotted woodpecker hunt as been continuing, I have regularly been covering six woods all within the local patch and also the area around Fairview Lane Colyford, where I have been reliably informed one has been seen and heard!!
I’ve walked miles but all to no avail, as far as Lesser spots are concerned. I’ve seen more Great spots than you can shake a stick at and found two nest holes in the process of being excavated (but never seen the owners). I’m now going to give up this method and just wait until I jam into one !

There has been one positive side effect however, I’ve lost stacks of weight and a jeans size!

I think it’s time to start on the coast path!|;|

[Simon Wakely]

Hi Forum, Karen same with us, Lesser Spot Count in 25 Years total 0. Keep looking, Yarner woods is the place to see them ,There must be a pair on our Patch, so like us keep looking. Thanks Fraser and team, the new plans our great, good to hear plenty of interest.

[Steve Waite]

Hahaha - nice one Karen, keep it up!!! Well done yet again with the Dipper!

Pretty routine stuff for me today, about a dozen Sand Martins at Seaton Marshes, with half that number over Colyford Marsh, saw our Egyptian Goose and both these sites during today. 4 Common Scoters passed over the sea, with a Great Crested Grebe sat on the sea, also 3 Curlew flew out and 1 Grey Heron flew in! (some proper passage!). That's pretty much the lot!

Enjoyed reading the February bird-list for Seaton Marshes which is on view in Seaton Marshes Hide....2 Great White Egrets, 12 Garganey...(and probably the most amazing record)...80 Grey Plover!!!! Combine this with a monthly peak of no less than 28 Black-headed Gulls (should read 2,800 I guess)...hmmmmmm.... I think I smell a teeny rat!!! I'm sure all these are just typos, I understand this problem has occured in the past.

Yes Simon, it was great to see Frazer and James yesterday and hear all about the plans, but peope, DON'T WORRY if you missed it, make your way to Seaton Marshes bird hide tomorrow late morning/early afternoon for a second viewing....NOT TO BE MISSED!

[Silvio Davison]

I have been away for a few days and have obviously missed something. What is the connection with Seaton?. Roger

Roger,
I'm just trying to make friends with the LOCAL birders. I thought a birding contest could be interesting...something wrong with that?

[devon.birder]

Roger,
I'm just trying to make friends with the LOCAL birders. I thought a birding contest could be interesting...something wrong with that?

Nothing wrong with that at all Silvio but I only asked what the connection was with Seaton as there are over 50 different Forums on Bird Forums and I couldn't see any connection with your photos and Seaton.
I understand that you will be staying in Seaton and I hope you see some good birds while you are over here. Roger

[Terry Smith]

I have been away for a few days and have obviously missed something. What is the connection with Seaton?. Roger

Rog,

Desert Wheatear is the next predicted star rarity to arrive in Seaton.

(On top of Woolworths!). ;)

Cheers'

Ter

[Silvio Davison]

Hope I will....sorry but I just wanted to add more things to this thread. :D

[Gavin Haig]

....sorry but I just wanted to add more things to this thread. :D
Hi Silvio. Roger's comment appropriately reminds us of one of the Birdforum guidelines, which I quote here:

Please stay on topic as far as possible. If you want to discuss a different subject, start a new thread - don't hijack someone else’s thread.
Hint: If your comments don't match the title of the thread, you are probably off topic.

After all, this thread is in the 'Your Local Patch' forum, so posts ought to relate basically to birding in the dismal backwater that is Seaton. We do occasionally wander off-topic, it's true, but I guess most readers tune in because they are curious about the latest antics of the local birders etc...

Incidentally, the full, unexpurgated BF guidelines can be read here: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=29155

Right then - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. This species is officially extinct in E Devon. If you hear one calling or drumming you'll need to track it down before rashly ticking it off, because you will UNDOUBTEDLY find that the noise is coming from a cd and loudspeaker, not a bird, as a would-be LSW spotter gets desperate. No records will be accepted without photographic evidence and corroboration from at least 5 other birders.

Karen - you're right. Forget all this marching about in the woods! Transfer that time and effort to the coast and keep your mobile fully charged!! And when you find a male melanoleuca Black-eared Wheatear please make sure I'm not at the top of a ladder before you tell me what you've got!


Gavin,

Something wrong here. When we lived in London weren't all the Iceland Gulls in the north and the wintering Spotted Red's and Greenshanks in the south-west?Hi Colin. The many hundreds of Iceland Gulls that have been visiting the Axe this winter are only here because they were all issued with faulty GPS units - they actually think this is the Ribble! |=)|

[Steve Waite]

Hi all,

Lazy morning, I confess to a bit of a lie in this morning, I didn't wake from my pit til gone 8! Still, had a nice quarter of an hour seawatching at about half 9. 1 Red-throated Diver was sat on the sea - very close in for a change, and a second one flew distant east, 2 Common Scoters went by west but the biggest highlight....and I mean BIGGEST, was a massive bull Grey Seal eating a fish off the Spot On Kiosk....he was one heck of a big boy, I can't remember ever seeing one as big as he!!!

Then to Seaton Marshes to enjoy a wonderful cake or too.....and an Egyptian Goose and a few Sand Martins!

[bun]

Evening all, i have a cunning plan in trying to track down a lesser spotted woodpecker, only one ive ever seen was at morganhayes wood, stafford cross - which is part of the big wood that runs from southleigh to colyton...friend of mine owns a field on the edge of it, good habitat a few old birch and beech trees, as i got next week off ,im going to go out there tomorrow and put up a few nut baskets, then spend a hour or so next week checking them every afternoon to see what visits them! ( probably tits, nuthatch, and great spotted and no lessers, but its worth a go!!)

[Jos Stratford]

I didn't wake from my pit til gone 8! Still, had a nice quarter of an hour seawatching at about half 9.


Pity you overslept, checking historical records for the Seaton area, I couldn't help but to notice how productive the sea had been on this exact day in past years in the quarter hour just before 9.00 ;) Wonder what went past today.

[Simon Wakely]

Quite right Gav, Lesser Spots are very rare in south west, We made a mistake last night its 30 years looking. The Good news, forgot are age. Bad news Dont know 5 Birders.Mind you its always the same, ring and the birds gone, thats are ((Bird ) Pet hate.

[bob hastie]

Just like to say thanks to Fraser and James for a very entertaining afternoon at Seaton hide today. The plans for the new reserve look great, thanks Fraser for explaining them in such detail and for answering all those questions which I'm sure you've answered many times in the last couple of weeks (amazingly it sounded as if you were still interested in what I had to say, don't know how you do it ;) )
P.S. Fraser, don't forget those low level windows in your new hides when you come to design them

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All, Willow Warbler top of Axmouth yesterday. Its good news things are starting to move. 15 Canada Geese on coly common.

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All River am, A very pale Iceland Gull was a great surprise, on coranatoin corner. Our lucks in the first House Martin ,we think was flying around the bungalow on the corner. 23 Canada geese at Farm Gate. Gav somebody has though your cd and loudspeaker, the answer to finding a Lesser Spot.And this guy ment it, we notice massive speakers, well you couldnt miss them stood up on Seaton Beach Faceing out to sea.

[bob hastie]

Ok you lot, there's only been 4 posts in the last 48 hours (and one of those was me.) Don't know whats going on down there, no rare gulls or something?
Anyway because of this you're all going to have to endure another episode of Bob spends the afternoon on the cliffs
Don't all start complianing at once, you asked for it. don't you realise I rely on you lot to keep me entertained in the evening.
Here's what happened...
got up really early and headed down to Brownsea Island in the hope of getting some good shots of early terns or late avocets, by 1.00pm we had about 10 shots of a greenshank, 5 of red squirrel and about 150 of balck headed gulls (yes I was that bored I started photographing gulls.) So it was back on the ferry to the waiting cars and then a quick head scratch to work out what to do next, "I know" says I, lets head over to Seaton, theres always something going on down there.
an hour and a half later we're sat beside a rapidly emptying estuary with nowt in camera range when I come up with another brainwave involving long walks up cliff paths.
2 hours and a few rain showers later this fulmar was the best shot of the day, we were hoping for ravens but they weren't playing ball at all.
Hope someone else had a better day than me, 12 hours out of the house and one decent photo isn't a great return for the effort.

[Gavin Haig]

Well, Bob. Apologies for recent quietness. Haven't been doing any birding really....

However, guilt at my slackness prompted me to, er, get the camera out, and during a little sunny spell this afternoon I managed to snap a few, um, local birds. Here are the results (not as nice as your hard-earned Fulmar though, Bob - that's VERY nice).

1. A couple of gulls on the Seaton Marshes lagoon. The one on the right looked a bit smaller than the other Black-headed Gulls. Just a runt I guess....

2. While watching the gulls I spotted this funny looking Dunlin. I jumped the fence, sneaked up and got a few snaps. It too looked a bit small - another runt I suppose.

3. Finally, got home and discovered the new feeder I had put up was pulling in a few customers.

A good day - if it had happened.

[bun]

Evening all, went down seaton marshes this morning to see what was around, quite a cold wind and murky conditions, counted 13 little egrets, 4 black tailed godwits and about 25 meadow pipits passing through, then i went and checked my nut feeders in the woods for flocks of lesser spotted woodpeckers - all that came to them in a hour was 1 blue tit and a coal tit!( I wont give up yet!)...Then i came home for lunch, and then went up Beer Head from 1.30 -4.00, and at last some signs of a bit of bird movement - 182 meadow pipits, all over apart from 7 grounded, 15 chiffchaffs, 4 wheatear,4 stonechat and 2 blackcaps.

[Steve Waite]

Interesting post that Gavin.....have you been to see the Doctor??!!!!

Spent all morning ringing, and after processing 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 2 Nuthatches (plus a few Great Tits) my hands felt battered to say the least!!!! Also caught a Bullfinch, a few Greenfinches and this Chiffchaff was rather nice. For all the non-ringers, the main difference between Chiffs and Willows in the hand is the wing forumula - note that the 6th primary feather is emarginated (like the 1st-5th), on a Willow Warbler, the 6th primary is not emarginated. (Emarginated means when the top edge of the feather notches in before the tip).

After this I returned home and ate a mammoth bacon roll in the front garden. Whilst munching away I heard a few Meadow Pipits going over....oh, I though, the first Mipit movement of the spring....this means migrants are migrating!!! Knowing Bun was heading up to Beer Head, I marched down to the Marshes.....

Between 13:30 - 16:10 had 115 Meadow Pipits fly north, but nothing much else. 3 Shovelers and 2 Black-tailed Godwits on Seaton Marsh, a few singing Chiffchaffs around the Borrow Pit and lots of Buzzards flying about. Herring Gulls are rather smart aren't they? All the Buzzards were flying about and they didn't give a monkeys, but when a Buzzard came over with a few missing central tail feathers, they went mental! They must have the standard Buzzard jizz imprinted in their tiny brains, and if a big bird doesn't fit that shape, they get up and make loads of noise!!!!

[Gavin Haig]

Interesting post that Gavin.....
Good - that's the main thing.....don't want you all nodding off.

If you can name what, when and where (in the first 2 - just 'what' in the last one) I'll happily let you award yourself 200 Bonanza points! Start with the 'what'....... |=)|

Nicely educational wing pic Steve.

Managed an hour out this evening. A look at the sea produced loads of sea. Followed this with a look at the river. Yes, there was loads of river, but also 16 LBB Gulls, a Common Sandpiper and the Egyptian Goose. Finally, a visit to Seaton Marshes was made delightful by the presence of 7 Wheatears - my first this year. Despite the distance involved, and the dull light (19:00 by now) I had a go at photographing a couple. Rather chuffed with the result. For the technically minded this is ISO 800, 1/400 at f2.8. I was cheerfully thinking how easily I am going to cope with getting a decent hand-held shot when it's a Black-eared instead of a Common, until I remembered how adrenaline works. So what I'll get will actually be a fuzzy black and whitish smear on a blurry green background

[Steve Waite]

Hi all!

Forgot to mention yesterday saw 6 Redwing whilst ringing, first I've seen for a while.

Went up Beer Head this morning, very little grouded (few Chiffs and 7 Song Thrush) but it was good to see some vis mig with: 30 Greenfinches, 26 Chaffinches, 5 Goldfinches, 35 Meadow Pipits, 2 alba Wagtails and 4 Wood Pigeons over.

Then went down to Seaton Marshes, rather surprised to see 2 Green Sandpipers on the Lagoon, the wintering pair I presume from Colyford? 3 Shoveler, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Snipe also here. One of the Snipe was showing fairly well, so I just had to get the camera out for a few snaps, it was a bit distant bit I'm pleased with the results.

[Ranger James]

Well, it does appear to have quietened down considerably in recent days. About time too - I will have some time availible to get into the field in the next few weeks and I would hate for there to be loads of lovely birds to see when I do!

Many thanks to all of you who came along to scruitinise our Wetlands Project plans, it was nice to put faces to names at long last, and it was great to recieve such overwhelming support for what we are planning.

The local patch bird report 2007 is on the verge of delivery, and I will let you all know here as soon as it is availible. Copies will be deliverable via the Mail, so no-one has any reason not to own one.

James

[KarenWoolley]

Self found lifer for me today! |=)|A rare occurrence in itself!!

I went to Seaton Marshes hoping to see the Green Sandpipers Steve had seen earlier. On entering the reserve the first thing I noticed was a wader on the first scrape. I could tell it was a Ringed Plover and could have been a Little Ringed Plover as it didn't look like other ringed plovers I've seen. Like a ninny I had left my scope in the car, big mistake! Luckily it wasn't too far to fetch it. When I had the bird in the scope I was pretty sure it was a little ringed plover, so put out a text. Ian Waite arrived very promptly and confirmed my id.

I took a few photos when it was near enough ...ish? There not too bad (not digiscoped) but I'm sure Steve's will surpass them, I'm looking forward to seeing them Steve!

I returned to Seaton Marshes this evening again hoping to see the Green Sandpiper and it eventually obliged with real close views at the near side of the scrape by the bird table.


A bonus were 3 cracking male wheatears on the island in the estuary immediately to the front of the hide.

Nice sunset as I left! :bounce:

[Simon Wakely]

Hi, still got one male Blackcap in our garden and one female hanging around also.

[bun]

well done with little ringed plover karen, smart little bird - also just after watching L.R.P. walked around borrow pit with ian waite when he spotted a water rail feeding and showing really well, best views ive ever had of one for about 10 minutes - then went up Beer head, pretty quiet 5 wheatears 4(m) (1)f the only birds of note...then back to seaton marshes where i bumped in to phil to see little ringed plover again also 3 snipe and green sandpiper, nice picture of blackcap simon.

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All, Well done Karen, the pics posted latley Brilliant. Gavs long beaked Green Finchs, our Favouite. Nice to see our Egyptian Goose am.

[KarenWoolley]

Hi All, Well done Karen, the pics posted latley Brilliant. Gavs long beaked Green Finchs, our Favouite.

Here's another picci for you. Taken at Jubilee Gardens yesterday. I was pleased with it as they're usually so flighty!

[Steve Waite]

I too enjoyed the LRP, during my lunch break. It was a cracking bird and I managed a few pics, looks like a female to me. Great to see one again, the first in Devon this year??? Thanks for the text Karen |=)|

[KarenWoolley]

I took a few photos when it was near enough ...ish? There not too bad (not digiscoped) but I'm sure Steve's will surpass them, I'm looking forward to seeing them Steve!



I was right Steve. Superb shots of Lrp, showing great detail. Love 'em! |=)|

5 Male Wheatears on the Axe Cliff early this morning.

EDIT: Gavin - Thanks for text about Iceland Gulls. I managed to get down there and see them (gorgeous they were too) and when I got home my cup of tea was still warm!! Perfect!

[Steve Waite]

I was right Steve. Superb shots of Lrp, showing great detail. Love 'em! |=)|Thanks Karen, they are ok.

Started my birding at quarter to 6 this evening, and went to Seaton Marshes. Quite quiet really, but, somewhat of a surprise was a Red-legged Partridge walking south down the tramline in front of the hide....got some great views!!!

Then after a text from Gav, nipped round to the other side to see 2 1st-winter Iceland Gulls, managed some record shots. First pic is of probably a new bird (quite pleased with the pic really!), second pic is of the other bird - which looks like our semi-resident white bird, and the third pic....can you make them both out??

[Gavin Haig]

Another long day at work, but scored big ladder points by spotting and ID-ing a Sparrowhawk by its reflection in a window. Out this evening for an hour. Once again began with a look at the sea. Once again lots of sea. On to the estuary. This time a very pleasant surprise awaited me. As Steve and Karen have already mentioned - 2 Iceland Gulls! Probably high time we had 2 together, but must confess this is the first time in all my years' birding that I've had 2 in a day, let alone together!


First pic is of probably a new bird......Must say, I'm rather pleased to see this in print! Quite abraded tertials and scaps on this bird, though quite strongly marked even so. If it IS one we've had before, it's not one of the recent ones. But, of course, it ISN'T one we've had before - it is (amazingly) our 6th at least, and a big fat Bonanza Points earner!

Glad you didn't have to waste another cup of tea Karen! |=)|

The camera seems to be accompanying me quite regularly now, and I'm gradually getting a little better at using it, so with apologies for yet MORE Iceland Gull shots (especially to Bob), here are my best efforts. Sadly, evening on the estuary means the birds are backlit.

EDIT - especially like your third pic, Steve! I wondered why the arrows though? But I suppose there may be one or two who struggle with pale specks....

...which reminds me - haven't done any seawatching for ages. Need to practice my speck ID ready for those distant Broad-billed Sand flocks....

[bun]

saw my first swallow of the year today, spotted my ian m, as it passed through seaton marshes, also 3 wheatear and a new butterfly tick for the year a speckled wood at borrow pit....Beer head- 14 meadow pipits (over) 4 wheatear, a couple of chiffs and a red legged partridge...spent the early evening sat in the garden listening to a song thrush, blackcap and a few chiffs singing, and 2 buzzards calling and circling over head, very pleasant end to the day.

[cupradude]

Thought i would share with you some of the Treats that can be spotted from seaton hole cliff,as long as you have a east or south blow you will be rewarded for your efforts by a feathered airshow..
All the picture's below where taken from the first view point between seaton hole and beer beach path,it's abit of a trek so be warned..

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All, Sue and i posted Sunday, a very Pale Iceland Gull on Coranation Corner, must the same Bird Bleach white. Out am, seafront a Sandwich Tern close in fishing made our morning, a mirror sea and the tern diving Fantastic. Karen Jenny Wren, is a difficult bird to catch on camera well done.

[Ranger James]

Nice pics Jez - please keep the Axe Estuary and Seaton bay bird report in mind for a spectacular showcase for your images. High res images accepted on CD Rom at the countryside service.

james

[Steve Waite]

Beer Head was quiet first thing, not much overhead or on the land with just a female Wheatear, a few Chiffs, 2 Goldcrest and 2 Redwings.

At Seaton Marshes, 3 fine male Wheatears, 2 Peregrines..... and now I'm struggling.... Just the usual Cetti's, Reed Bunts, etc... all very nice though I must say!

And now to work....

[Gavin Haig]

Just a quick post before I dash out....

Popped out for a 30 minute dash round. Sea. Nowt. Estuary. Not much mud, but a fair few gulls. One was a Glaucous!! Looked like a very worn, and pale 1st winter. Rattled off 3 shots before it was flushed, along with most of the others, by 2 rowers. The white Iceland Gull was visible up at Coronation Corner. This is getting silly.....

Here's the best of the pics. I was in a hurry, so quality not so hot. Note deformed bill.

Stop Press - although it flew before anyone else got to it, Bun has just called to tell me it's on Beer beach!

[Roger Boswell]

I followed the three Wheatears up the path to the Seaton hide. Starting on the bank they then perched on the posts and finally the hide roof before flying off in the Colyford direction.

I met Simon at Coronation Corner who enlightened me that the 'unusual' gull I was looking at was a Lesser Black-backed Gull - at least I had noticed its yellow legs!

Thank you Simon for identification.

Roger

[bun]

Evening all, bit of a excitement this evening to got a txt from gav (cheers mate) to say there was a Glaucous on the Axe, so i put down my cup of tea and made my way down there- saw gav in his car and thought to myself ive missed it, was then told it had been flushed by 2 rowers. nevermind i thought, so i set off first stop seaton seafront. nothing. quick look at seaton hole also drew a blank, only place left to look Beer Beach - almost straight away picked out a large white gull stood on the pier with herring gulls, got out scope- Glaucous!! big one too, bigger than the herring gulls and a nasty looking bill, watched it for about 10 minutes until the Beer insure lifeboat went past sending all the gulls up and out towards Beer head ( at which point i think i uttered a few X- rated words!!) Nice bird though and hope it sticks around for others to see. Also today Beer beach a.m. the 1st winter pale iceland gull. and the female black redstart......Seaton marshes 2 black tailed godwits, and 2 wheatears and a few bursts of cetti,s song.

[Steve Waite]

Nice work lads - a real gripper, really hope it stays! Is that really what its bill looked like (or will look like when I see it tomorrow!!!!)? Surely Gav its worth browsing the net and maybe posting the photos elsewhere to see if you find out if this bird has been seen before!!???

I'll be out searching for it in the morning.

[KarenWoolley]

I was very disappointed yesterday to miss another Glaucous Gull. I was half-way to Seaton when it flew!|:(|

This morning however I have had some consolation. Although the weather was abysmal the dog still needed walking so I went over the cliffs to Beer in the pouring rain.

In Jubilee Gardens I was thrilled to see TWO Firecrests and had stonking good naked eye views of them as they chased each other around in the small bushes by the benches.|=)|

[Gavin Haig]

In Jubilee Gardens I was thrilled to see TWO Firecrests...|=)|
Excellent!! I had a bit of time mid-afternoon and was tempted to go and look for these, but am too much in gull mode, so went to the river and called in briefly at Seaton Marshes. Lots of big gulls, but nothing out of the ordinary (though did I see a TerekSora??). Seaton Marshes produced little, but I was pleasantly diverted by this fat beastie pictured below. I have always known these things as Oil Beetles - I'd be pleased if anyone can tell me if that's right, and something about them....

Early evening I had another look at the river, and found myself sending texts for the third day on the trot. A first-winter Yellow-Legged Gull was floating down the river just N of Axmouth. I tried to photograph it, but it is around 400m away, and the light was poor....anyway, none off the pics came out. Then it flew back upstream to one of the islands and I had a second go. The best result is attached. It is the gull in the centre, with dark eye-mask and heavy bill, with its body mostly hidden by other birds. This time last year I would never have been able to ID a 1st-winter ('cos I'd never been bothered to learn how!), but after the summer's excesses I find them quite do-able.

[Steve Waite]

Hi all,

Had a nice start to the day, driving through town just after dawn I noticed a hirrundine flying around a row of houses, I stopped and got out to watch my first House Martin of the year...wonderful!

A walk through the woods produced one Woodcock and a lot of Chiffchaffs, with 50+ Fieldfare nearby.

Then to Seaton Marshes, 7 Sand Martins passed through north and a single male Wheatear sat on the posts.

Then I went to work, and now it's the weekend, which means lots of time at work!

[bob hastie]

Hi Gav
Yes these are Oil Bug/Beetle.
I only know 2 things about these things. Firstly on of the best places to see them is on the side of the walkway up to Seaton hide (all of the ones on my website were taken here.) Secondly don't pick them up as they squirt you with an oily liquid which stinks.
According to my Collins guide these big ones are the females, they eat grass, the larvae live in the nests of solitary bees and they shouldn't be out until May.
Great picture by the way, puts all of mine to shame. (Must try harder on the insects this year)

[Gavin Haig]

Re: Oil Beetle - thanks for comments, Bob, and for PM, Karen. What a bizarre life-cycle these beasties have. You couldn't make it up!

Anyway, on to FAR more crucial things. It has just occurred to me (just occurred - ha! ;) ) that fat wads of Bonanza Points keep dropping into my lap like there's no tomorrow. As a result, I find myself pathetically curious to see the latest scores. Sad, isn't it? So, come on Steve, how about an update??

Apparently loads of rare herons and other exotic continental goodies that were having a serious think about overshooting have now stopped thinking about it. Don't blame them. Even so, you can guarantee there will be the odd macho Hoopoe etc, all pumped up with bravado, will head out over the channel, into the cold northerly, going 'Watch this, girls!' Just hope I'm nearby when the idiot makes landfall..... |=)|

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All, Glad to see nights pulling out. Am, Egyptian on common. Kev how many lesser spots, after hanging your nuts up for a week in a tree, give us the low down Cheers. Tried Bruckland 7pm, Hopeing for a little owl, saw 6 mallards, 12 starlings, and a trout.

[bun]

The grand total of zero lesser spots so far simon, havent checked them today- last time i looked a grey squirrel was enjoying them and 3 long tailed tits ( i think tomorrow will be the day or probably not!!)....Bonanza points- mmm, i think i got a wee bit of catching up to do, but as i dont really start to hit my yearly birding peak till about December im not to concerned yet!.....I see they give the weather getting warmer next week that hopefully should send the white storks, purple herons, hoopoes, ect....to East Devon on there Easter holidays......Bob your right about them oily beetles they do eat grass as i found out when i picked one up to move out the way of my lawnmower!

[KarenWoolley]

Around 4.30 today Iceland Gull at Coronation Corner. Looked like the new one from Wednesday ( abraded plumage and speckled).

[Gavin Haig]

A bit more birding today than of late. Started with an early morning visit to Seaton Marshes. Cold northeasterly made it feel very wintry. 11 Teal hanging on, otherwise nothing of note really. Took a photo of the pathetically watery sun rising above the Axmouth hills as I walked towards the hide (below).

That was it until mid-afternoon, when a call from Steve had me popping along to Coronation Corner en route to an errand in Axminster. He'd found an Iceland Gull, which might just be our 7th. Photo comparisons proved otherwise, however - it was our 6th again (last Wednesday's bird). Again, pic below.

Late afternoon I got out in the field again. Straight to the river, drawn by the gulls, and the lure of Bonanza points. I seem to have played the gull card rather often, but I had to pull it out again - a 1st-winter Yellow-legged Gull at Coronation Corner again. I assumed it was yesterday's individual.....until it flew, revealing a missing primary in each wing, and 2 gaps in the tail (yesterday's bird was far better dressed). I'd also thought the tertials looked a bit worn, so - surprisingly - a new bird. No pics of this one, which fairly promptly legged it downriver, but still a points claim, Steve!

Definitely need to see a points update, Steve, before I run out of steam.... :hi:

Where to now? I pondered the weather (cold, blasting NE wind); the geography (deep bay on the south coast); the likelihood of our first Manx Shearwater being anywhere nearer than the Channel Islands (less than nil) and drew the obvious conclusion: seawatching would be a stupid thing to do. A few minutes later I was in the thatched shelter, peering seawards. The lure of possible Bonanza points (however slim) for our first Manxie had caused me to abandon all reason. 50 min from 17:40 surprisingly DID produce some birds - Gannet: 5/14 (W/E), auk sp: /1, Common Scoter: 5/6 + 1 on the sea, Razorbill: 3 on the sea and, best of all, my first Sandwich Terns of the year - 2W. Of course, no Manxies.

That's it then - seawatching is back on the menu........ |=)|

[Roger Boswell]

Can anyone help with the identification of the birds in these two images?

They were foraging on the tram track north of the Seaton hide. The image is not too good, they were rather a long way away and only small. I thought they were Chaffinches but the reddish breast is puzzling.

Roger

[Gavin Haig]

They are male Linnets, Roger. A fairly common sight along the tramway (in the breeding season anyway)

EDIT - PS, if any BF Bingo players were hoping I was going to suggest Roger post these pics in the 'Bird ID' forum......tough!

[Simon Wakely]

Well Forum, Nearly speechless a Cuckoo flew past 11am we were in our garden watching across the axe valley, its march 31st have we gone mad.Answer no it could not be anyting else, Grey, long pointed wings, and long tail, Thanks Kev, we had a funny feeling you would report zero.

[Steve Waite]

Hi all, Gav, so tell the judge why it wasn't yesterdays bird after a punch up with the local lads!???... Will update the forum bonanza scoresheet soon as I can.

Only had an hour spare today, and so to the river. Lots of Gull and then a nice white one flew in (unfortunatly it wasn't a BIG white one, although the re-appearance of this bird has given me a bit of hope he may still be about). After a look at several markings on this bird, returning home, I looked at my pics to confirm it as the same bird. It has a few dark lines half way along the outermost primary on its right wing, has a white round blob on some brown flecks on its tertials, and it has a dark smudging around its neck.....two of these features can be seen on my first photo.

Had a rather excitable phonecall from one of my mates from Spurn this evening, it went something like this...
Him: "hello mate, what a bird, what a bird!!!"
Me: "you what?"(Then I recalled reading a text from Phil about a Red-flanked Bluetail in Yorkshire...)
Me: "no....the bluetail?"
Him: "Hahahaha! I'm watching it now..... Best bird I've ever seen!!!"

I have to say, I'm so pleased for the boys! Despite their ever increasing appearance in the UK, until today, it was a species never recorded at Spurn, and did it arrive in mid October with 20,000 Redwings, 30,000 Fieldfares, 1,000 Goldcrest, 10 Yellow-browed Warblers, 5 Red-breasted Flycatchers and a few Red-backed Shrikes....???.... No, it arrived March 31st with about 10 Goldcrests!!!! Just shows.....you never know....

There is though, a sad end to the tale .... Birders were watching it tonight feeding well, it flew around the corner, they peered their heads around the house and there it was....dead on the ground!!!!! I've been told it was majorily underweight, poor guy!

[Steve Waite]

Came out of work at four greeted by a text from Karen, so I popped along the river to see the two Iceland Gulls again, I could never get bored of them!!!! I spent the following hour out and about....but saw little else.

Day off tomorrow - forecast says it will be nice and sunny, I predict an Osprey or Marsh Harrier.

[Gavin Haig]

By this time last year we had enjoyed a Night Heron, White Stork, Spoonbill and 2 Alpine Swifts. That was because it was spring, when birds move northwards. When spring does eventually kick in this year I'm sure birds will do likewise, with similar spectacular results. Meantime, nothing is going northwards - at best a little sideways, perhaps.

Up early this morning, and out seawatching. Cold NE still blowing hard, but 50 min produced 21 Gannets (2/19 - W/E), a Common Scoter on the sea, 1 auk sp. E, 1 Kittiwake E, and a single Manx Shearwater E (hopefully our first this year ;) ). In addition, a 1st-winter Iceland Gull flew W, fairly close, and headed round towards Beer - a new one, of course.... |=)|

No more antics for me until late afternoon. Knowing there had been 2 Iceland Gulls on the river again this afternoon (ta for text Karen) prompted me to go there first (seems the obvious choice at the moment anyway!). One was by the tram sheds, the other up at Coronation Corner. Same 2 as Wednesday. I've posted a pic below that you can print out and use when your kids get bored with 'Where's Wally?'. This first one is easy, but they will get progressively trickier - just wait until we get a Bonaparte's in a massive BHG flock! There might be a prize for that one!

Finally, an hour with my friend, the sea, proved interesting. Hardly any birds, but one was an Iceland Gull (again heading W round towards Beer), and 4 were Manxies (1W, fairly close, and 3E). I had 6 auk sp. fly E - all singles - and the last one was, VERY frustratingly, a probable Puffin. Thanks to distance, shimmer, and picking it up a little too late, I let a patch mega and LOTS of Bonanza points slip through my fingers. More humdrum were 1 Common Scoter W, and 3 Kittiwakes and 3 Gannets E.

Busy week ahead, but hopefully the occasional bird too........... |=)|

[da2m]

wow it really stands out. i wish we had one of those at the warren or passage house.

[Simon Wakely]

Well, we cant believe theres no Mentoin of are Fantastic spot yesterday. Anyway we dont care, its a hobby we love. It as easy to text each other to see a bird. How about looking for Yourselfs. We dont need 6 People to confirm a bird 30 Years Birding tells me that. The way its Going this forum is very annoying. Nothing to report.

[Steve Waite]

It as easy to text each other to see a bird. How about looking for YourselfsDon't understand this bit Simon...but anyway, I have birds to talk about, I've had an awesome day!!!!

Early morning start seawatching off Branscombe produced my first Sandwich Tern (1W), also 2 Common Scoter along with 20+ Gannets, 8 Kittiwakes, 7 Razorbills and 2 Guillemots.

After a walk over Jubilee Gardens (and saw no Firecrest) went to Seaton Marsh. Wow, Meadow Pipits were moving in force, some decent sized flocks heading north, 7 Wheatears were nice, as was a Swallow and a White Wagtail.

Then I went along the river, lots of Gulls, but no white ones, again here though, stacks of Meadow Pipits moving through north, at a higher rate than over the Marsh. I then went home for lunch, but while stuffing my face outside, Meadow Pipits were again, still moving over....So, I had to return to Seaton Marsh to do some vis mig'ing...this is when it really started!

Just as Karen joined me, there appeared a Little Ringed Plover (it wasn't here when I got there, must have dropped in at about at twenty to 2), a Willow Warbler also gave a brief burst of song from the Borrow Pit. Next thing, Karen says.."oh, look"... the Gulls were up, flying around down by the tramshed, but they began to settle down again so we were starting to think that it must be dogs, or boats....but then....OSPREY!!! Flying fairly low up river was this HUGE beast, I got Karen on it and then it started heading west, towards us! It began circling overhead and I managed to get Dad on it (he had just pulled up to see the LRP), it then started to drift off high north, and it was at this stage that Ian McLean came walking up the path...he saw the back end of a large blob, being mobbed by 2 smaller blobs!!!! What a bird!!! Then Karen had to go, a Swallow (my second today) came flying through, and 7 more Wheatears appeared in the field to the south and slowly worked their way northwards, a White Wag (presumably this morning's bird) joined the LRP. Dad walked up to the hide, and then, the final surprise, in zooms a falcon, its a Merlin! It came in from the south (with the distinctive Merlin wing-beats) and then started to soar about overhead, heading off west, a good spring record.

I then thought I'd give the Gulls a look over, one of the first winter Iceland Gulls was by the tramshed, and up at Coronation Corner I came across a bird, that at first I thought was going to be a Yellow-legged Gull, but a few doubts were creeping in so I gave Gav a ring. He decided to join me and we spent ages studying this thing...which looked very interesting (that's if you're a Gull-freak!!!!)...We will just have to wait and see what the experts reckon....

And that's that! What a day!

Oh, just heard the Otter had an ADULT Iceland Gull today, that would be nice!

[KarenWoolley]

Thanks for persuading me to stay at Seaton Marshes Steve, "there'll be an Osprey soon" you said, what brilliant foresight you have!! |=)|

Windswept dog walking first thing up on the Axe Cliff produced 1 Willow Warbler and 10 Wheatears, 3 on landslip and 7 in a sheltered field behind the golf course.

[Gavin Haig]

...and up at Coronation Corner I came across a bird, that at first I thought was going to be a Yellow-legged Gull, but a few doubts were creeping in so I gave Gav a ring. He decided to join me and we spent ages studying this thing...
Pretty much as soon as I clapped eyes on Steve's gull I thought it didn't look quite right for Yellow-legged, and as soon as it showed a decent profile view I wondered whether I was looking at my first Caspian Gull. Out came the little camera, which worked overtime, clocking up 127 shots! That would be getting on for 4 rolls of film - I love digital! I've attached some to this post, and shall post later in the ID forum too, with one or two additional pics that show other features. After looking over the images I shall stick my neck out and say that my vote goes to Caspian (though I am certainly not a gull expert). I just can't see that this is a YLG or Herring - too many features look wrong to me. That said, Caspian is officially a RACE of Yellow-legged Gull at the moment....

I think I am correct in saying that Devon had its first Caspian Gull only last year, so it is a very rare bird in this neck of the woods. Anyway, enjoy the photos Bob!! ;)

As for the rest of my day, the less said the better! Missed the Osprey (though I could see the gulls all up), and no other birding at all, though I did notice loads of Meadow Pipits going over. Now that Steve is storming off again Bonanza-wise I realise he was just toying with me - letting me think I was getting close and then shifting up a couple of gears....

Ah well..... |8(|

[Steve Waite]

Those pics show the bird well, I love the side by side with the Herring Gull in the water. Make sure you post that one on the Q&A thread - looks mega Caspo-like there! Will be interested to see what the likes of JanJ say!!!

Karen - a pleasure, I'm glad you were there to share the 'show'!!! They are mighty birds!!!!

[Gavin Haig]

Make sure you post that one on the Q&A thread...
Your wish is my command........... ;)

EDIT - Just poking around amongst this afternoon's pics and found this nice comparison shot too...

[Steve Waite]

Hi all!

Went up to Shute first thing to ring some baby Blackbirds, a nice surprise was a singing Lesser Spotted Woodpecker from a line of Oaks running into a wood, it even did a bit of drumming too, first time I've heard this song for years!! Also here a Green Woodpecker, at least 3 Great Spots, 4 Jays and 2 Nuthatches!!!! A rather top start to the day, though I must confess - just out of patch!!!

Then went to Seaton Marsh where 9 Wheatear made their way north onto the reserve - I'm pleased with these two snaps I took. Also here, 4 Sand Martins flew north.

Have also attached my best three of yesterdays star Gull....still waiting for the real experts opinions....

Working this afternoon, but if I get my arse into gear now, and spend my lunch hour in the field, I may still have 2 hours of birding time left!

[Gavin Haig]

Well, the jury's back in. And to the charge of 1st-winter Caspian Gullery the jury finds the defendant Not Guilty. It is, after all, just an innocent Herring Gull, Larus argentatus argenteus, going about its everyday business, nicked by the gull police just because it 'looked funny'. Prosecutor's evidence blown out of the water by expert witnesses. Another sickening example of Local Listers trying-it-on-big-time. Full story, with added outrage, in the Daily Mail....Oh, and here: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=852151#post852151

Actually, it has been an interesting lesson from which all of us sad enough to look (with anything other than contempt) at immature large gulls no doubt gained. Nevertheless, in this case:

D- See me! Must pay more attention to detail.

One nice, easy to identify Iceland Gull (the new one) at the tram sheds late this afternoon. And that is the sum total of my birding today.

[bob hastie]

I know you guys won't believe this, but I don't know much about gulls. (no really ,it's true.) What I do know is that the 2 birds in those photos are completely different, even I would have noticed the difference.
Therefore I hereby create a whole new species named Waites gull or Haigs gull or even Seaton gull.
Ok then Steve, how many points do I get for identifying a new species?

[Larry Wheatland]

[QUOTE=Gavin Haig]Well, the jury's back in. And to the charge of 1st-winter Caspian Gullery the jury finds the defendant Not Guilty. It is, after all, just an innocent Herring Gull, Larus argentatus argenteus, going about its everyday business, nicked by the gull police just because it 'looked funny'. Prosecutor's evidence blown out of the water by expert witnesses. Another sickening example of Local Listers trying-it-on-big-time. Full story, with added outrage, in the Daily Mail....Oh, and here: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=852151#post852151

Actually, it has been an interesting lesson from which all of us sad enough to look (with anything other than contempt) at immature large gulls no doubt gained. Nevertheless, in this case:

D- See me! Must pay more attention to detail.

Unlucky.

The fans in the terraces were stretching in wild anticipation, but rather than the expected euphoric crescendo,ended up issuing a powerful deafening gutted sigh on returning bums to seats. The game's not over, surely the strikers wil pull off a Caspian before the final whistle.

[KarenWoolley]

Axe Cliff this morning was decidedly cold in a biting wind. Unsurprisingly I didn't see any migrants here.

Late afternoon at Seaton Marshes there were at least 4 wheatears on the pathway. A White Wagtail with some Pied Wagtails and best of all 1 Swallow, which is what I was hoping for, my first this year. Delightful!!! |=)|

[Steve Waite]

Hi everyone!!!

My Seaton Marshes totals for today (two visits, 1 early am, 1 early pm - in my lunch break!) include: 11 Wheatears, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Peregrine plus a few Meadow Pipits passing through. Saw little else elsewhere.

Re: the Gull, I totally accept it isn't a Caspian Gull, but (with my rather limited knowledge) it wasn't 'just' a Herring Gull. That bird stood out and looked like no other of the last, say....10,000 first-winter Herring Gulls I've seen.

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All,Sue and I found Steves Singing Lesser Spot, The best April fools Joke ever. Were still crying in Laughter.Your right Bob just to make you feel better we Agree,Gulls drive us mad.

[Ranger James]

The fans in the terraces were stretching in wild anticipation, but rather than the expected euphoric crescendo,ended up issuing a powerful deafening gutted sigh on returning bums to seats. The game's not over, surely the strikers wil pull off a Caspian before the final whistle.

The home Herring fans baited the away supporters into charging the perspex screen put up to seperate these two inflamitory sections. In swept the Larus Police with thier oversized batons and beat seven shades of guano out of the Caspian fans, leaving them breathless and bleeding in the terreces. "Perhaps these gulls aint worth bothering with" one sad and lonely individual was overheard saying as he hobbled off to a rooftop overlooking Co-op.

Keep on trying guys - this is the Axe's year of the gull after all.

James

[Steve Waite]

Hi all.

Brilliant mornings ringing on Seaton Marsh, caught many birds including a Willow Warbler, a few Chiffchaffs and a Cetti's!! Hopefully some in-hand pictures will be along soon. A teneral Large Red Damselfly was my first of the year....that's an early one!!! Other migrants seen include singles of Wheatear and Swallow.

[Ranger James]

Yes indeedy, its the moment you have all been waiting for - the publication of the Axe Estuary And Seaton Bay Bird Report 2006!

Available now by sending a cheque for £5.50p made payable to East Devon District Council, to Diane Berry in the Countryside Service, the Knowle, Sidmouth, EX10 8HL, and in a matter of days you will receive this quality publication through the post.

Packed full of every species note of the last 12 months, the report also has fact-packed articles about local nature reserves within the report area, seawatching and reports from the local WeBS count and local ringing group.

Everything you need to know about birding The Patch is in here, fully illustrated with achingly beautiful bird photography and sharp pen and ink line art.

Grab your limited edition copy while stocks last.

James

[KarenWoolley]

I couldn't get out this morning but just before lunch I popped to Brucklands to see the Tufted Duck Gav had seen and very lonely he looked too!

After this I went up to Beer Head, Ive been itching to get up there for a while but didn't fancy it in that north wind we've been having. It was glorious but a bit late in the day for many migrants, I think? I only saw 4 Wheatears and 1 Blackcap. There were lots of Clouded Yellows flying around and what I think was a Holly Blue.

I still needed to walk the dog, so popped off down the Coly for a bit where I saw 4 Kingfishers but no Dipper today |=(|. Good news is I found some Otter spraints,(which I did smell to make sure!) so Otters are definitely coming up the Coly. I've also attached a photo of my doggy doing what he does best! :eek!: It's a wonder I see any birds at all when with him. Seriously though anything smaller than a pheasant is invisible to him as he's half blind now! He certainly couldn't catch anything!

After tea I visited Colyford Common and saw nowt!

[Gavin Haig]

An exciting day! The Report is here at last, and is superb. It is also brilliant and amazing. And excellent. Seriously, it is a classy publication, and a must-have for any with an interest in the Backwater antics. 84 pages, 23 colour photos, several gorgeous line drawings, 2 double-page full colour maps etc etc. It's worth it just for the Review of the Year! I am not at all biased, but it is probably the best Bird Report in the world.

I went to Beer Head at dawn, and saw the sun rise. It was beautiful. I expected a few migrants to join me in witnessing it's beauty. They were all late. Karen saw them.

Between jobs I detoured very, very slightly so that I could drive past Lower Bruckland Ponds. An absolutely STONKING drake Tuftie was showing BRILLIANTLY in the middle of one of the ponds. When my pulse slowed a little I sent some texts. The poor bird was hounded mercilessly by twitchers for the rest of the day. My fourth patch Tuftie. Local birding is great isn't it? If I was still birding in W London and sent a text saying '275 Tufties showing really well on Staines Res', people would start avoiding eye contact and so on, but down here I get 'Thanks Gav - what a fantastic find. You are a genius'. In fact, I think Tuftie and Common Scoter have reversed roles since I've switched location......

More importantly, that little black and white baby is worth 8 points..... :t:

I spent my lunch break at Seaton Marshes waiting for a Swallow to go over. That was late too. No - it was early - I remember now, Steve saw it!

[Steve Waite]

Hi all!

Just before work yesterday (half 12) managed a de-tour via a drake Tufted Duck at Lower Bruckland Ponds, also one Swallow here, performing very well over the ponds. In my lunch break, after fetching a few copies of the superb Axe Estuary and Seaton Bay Bird Report (which is just that - superb!) I sat at the farm gate, not much happening, 2 Green Sands on a small scrape on Colyford Marsh and it was nice to hear a Swallow singing.

Then to today, felt rubbish last night so stayed in my pit till gone 8, then went out for a little over an hour at 9. Had singing Williow Warblers at Seaton Marsh and below the farm gate, a surprise Wheatear on Seaton cricket pitch (my first here ever!!!!) and a Green Sand at Seaton Marsh. That's probably it for today, though I have an hours lunch later so I can twitch if needed guys....must be a Hoopoe about somewhere.....

[bun]

Evening all, went up Beer Head this morning with phil, quite a a few warblers around we had 10 willow warblers, 6 chiffchaff, 2 wheatear a swallow, and 4 red legged partridge ( a beer head record i think!)....this afternoon i went to Beer Quarries for a look around saw- 5 stock dove, 2 willow warblers, 4 chiffs and 3 blackcaps, then tried seaton marshes 2 wheatear and blk tailed godwit the only birds of note, then i tried Beer Head again hoping for a redstart, didnt get one but did see 12 more wheatears and a few more willow/chiffs a peregrine and 4 buzzards up, but not a lot else.

[Steve Waite]

Good to read you have seen a few more migrants Bun, that Redstart is just days away!! Phil had a Red Kite over town today at 15:30.

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All, No Tufted Drake to be seen at Bruckland 12 o Clock. To many fishermen. 19 Canada Geese, Willow Warbler Singing. Also Farm Gate Willow Singing, Check the hedge opposite Garden Warblers breed there last year. Swallows flying around top Axmouth, Also saw 2 House Martins. Sand Martins at Bridge marsh. Happy Birding its now starting , last years total a Great achievement. We our looking forward to getting our eyes on our Estuary and seafront report.Will we better this in 07 hopeing so but please dont get carried away.Some of the birds seen last year were very rare on our Patch. As Sue and i always mention spread out, our Patch holds more great birds.

[Gavin Haig]

Well, if you were a land-locked accountant from Birmingham, thinking about airing the kids at the seaside, or a Hoopoe from southern France, thinking about quickening English birders' pulses, there could not be a nicer weekend to come to Seaton. I made the time for a walk over Beer Head early afternoon, and it was GLORIOUS! The tourists all stick to the clifftop path, so I could enjoy the rest of it in relative solitude. The honeyed scent of warm gorse was in the air. Fantastic! There were even some birds enjoying the sunshine with me. They too were in shorts and t-shirt - 9 Wheatears and 16 Willow Warblers (my first this year). The Redstarts are booked in tomorrow, apparently.

Not long after getting back home I had a call from Phil, informing me of the Red Kite heading over the town. I couldn't do much about it, though did at least trot up the road from my house to see if it was in view, but drew a blank. With a high pressure system with us for several more days yet I guess we can expect one or two more interesting raptors. I hope so.

In my continuing quest for a Swallow I spent 45 minutes at Seaton Marshes before going out this evening, bumping into Steve and Dave H. Dave mentioned that a very pale Iceland Gull had been on the beach between Branscombe and Weston this morning. A nice gathering of 15 Wheatears was present, but Swallows were not........

[KarenWoolley]

The Redstarts are booked in tomorrow, apparently.


Indeed!!! |=)|

An absolutely stunning male Redstart this morning (9.20ish). Is this the first one or has someone else seen one this AM?

I first saw him at the end of The Sheepwalk near the rickety gate and followed him along the hedgerow until I lost him above the Dell. I left Ian M and Dave H looking for him there.

I also saw 6 Wheatears and 11 Willow Warblers.

[bun]

Went up to Beer Head today between 12 - 1.45, the highlight being the smashing male redstart, that karen found earlier- also seen were 3 wheatear, 7 willows and 4 chiffs, and also 3 swallows in off the sea....cut my lawn this morning, got it looking like a bowling green, all ready for when that hoopoe makes its journey from the south of france!

[Simon Wakely]

Evening All, Sue and i are always asking you to spread out, sit and wait, Barn Owl at Whitford proves our point.Dont keep taking the easy option. Happy Birding to you All.

[bun]

Simon, i think its up to the person who goes birdwatching to choose the method in which they do so, if they want to get up at 6.30 in the morning and go yomping around Beer Head (not what i would call a easy option, i do feel like a lie in sometimes!) thats up to them, if they want to sit watching the sea for 2 hours thats up to them, and if they want to sit in a field for a few hours and see want shows up thats also up to them! the main thing is to enjoy your bird watching in the way you wish to, which i think we all do.

[bun]

Evening folks, a pretty quiet day on the whole - went to colyford common at 10 this morning and was very pleased to see not 1 but 2 Egyptian Geese, our resident one was in front the viewing platform sat down with 3 canada geese, and the other was in front of the hide being hassled by a few crows - also in front the hide was a cetti,s giving a few bursts of song, also nice to see 4 swallows and a orange tip butterfly taking in the sunshine...went home sat in the garden and counted 6 Buzzards drifting up high...Did a afternoon visit to Beer Head and saw hardly anything apart from linnets, chaffinches and greenfinches and a young blackbird that was big enough to look after its self but was still begging for food off its dad...Had 2 badgers on the lawn earlier eating the peanut butter sarnies i put out for them ( But there not having any of my chinese takeaway ive just ordered thats mine!!)

[Simon Wakely]

Kev, We have no problem with your very good comments,and totaly agree. Are remarks were only to Ask, some of us to check out differant areas of our patch. And it pays off, Beer head is the easy option, a great first landing ground for incoming Migrants. Only wish I could get there, Perhaps thats my problem. Must and will continue to check out the local patch areas we can . We are not complaining A Fantastic Barn Owl at whitford last night our first for ages. Happy Easter to you all.

[Steve Waite]

Nice one with Gypo number two Bun, nice fad wad of Bonanza Points for that one mate!!!

Finished work at 4 so spent a few hours out this evening, Lower Bruckland was very beautiful in the evening light, few birds, a singing Willow Warblers and an agressive male Mute Swan charging around after two others, but little else. All Seaton Marshes could offer was a Green Sandpiper, Willow Warbler and Blackcap.

Dad had 7 Wheatears at Beer Head mid-morning. I'm ringing off-patch tomorrow morning, and working the evening, hopefully squeeze something in somewhere....

[Gavin Haig]

Quick update for yesterday - finally caught up with Swallow, and in the best possible way, really - in off the sea. That was around 07:45 at the seafront, where there was also a Great Crested Grebe. Prior to that a dawn raid on Beer Head produced just 6 Willow Warblers. Had no time later on to look for the Redstart, and didn't get out again until late, when Seaton Marshes had 10 Wheatears, 7 Sand Martins, 1 White Wagtail and an Egyptian Goose (talking of which - big points for the new one, Bun....... :t: ).

Fast-forward to today. An early morning half hour seawatch was a good candidate for 'Deadest Seawatch Ever', but a lost Gannet and a very distant, shimmering diver-type-blurry-thing just edged it into 2nd place, after the time when nothing-at-all-whatsoever flew past. On to Seaton Marshes. 8 Teal, 2 Snipe, plus a Common Sand on the river. By now I realised it was VERY cold, but trundled up to Beer Head even so. The sun gradually warmed the land and the wind dropped to almost nothing, and Beer Head became a nice place to be. But where are the birds? Eventually managed 8 Wheatears and 2 Willow Warblers, and a nice singing Stonechat. The lack of action had me counting Shags (looking back along the cliffs towards Beer). I was thrilled to see 11. Actually, irony aside, they are quite sweet with their daft tufts. I even took a few scenic shots. Attached is the view looking W from near the old lookout. You can see the 'Napoli' wreck in the top left, and towards the top right is the tweeside town of Sidmouth, home of Barbour and Burberry. If you look closely you can see a Sidmouth birder on the prom, peering wistfully towards Beer Head and wishing it was on his patch. Shame................... |=)|

Finally, if you are astute enough to realise that the Axe Estuary and Seaton Bay Bird Report 2006 is not only a necessary addition to your birding library, but is also soon going to be a collectors item, and therefore buy one, here's a request: when you see for yourself how brilliant it is would you please post your glowing commendation on here? Joking aside, we are keen to hear readers' comments, including any constructive suggestions. However, anything other than 100% unabashed praise would be FAR more welcome via PM!! Cheers.... |=)|

EDIT - just reminded by your post, Steve. Bonanza update any time soon????

[Terry Smith]

If you look very carefully Gav, you can see me and the missus up on Brandy Head in the extreme left top of the piccy waving to you! It was birdless there too, but had a Swallow over my house this evening, my only migrant of the day.................

[Steve Waite]

Been ringing off patch this morning, just north of Axminster, caught over 70 birds, brilliant!!! A Rook (see attached photo) was a surprise!! Ugly things up close!!! Also 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Bullfinches, at least 12 Goldfinches, 2 Reed Buntings, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Nuthatch to name but a few. Flying overhead were 12+ Sand Martins and 5 Swallows.

Here are two photos of the Rook, third pic: Chiff on left, Willow on right!

[KarenWoolley]

Hi All,

Firstly from yesterday, a Green Sandpiper on the Coly north of Heathayne Bridge is worth a mention.

On the way up to Axe Cliff this morning in the murk I saw 2 Swallows perched on wires near the Axmouth ‘Gateway’. On the Axe Cliff were the usual gang of Yellowhammers and several Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs and also a pair of Stonechats. A couple of Speckled Woods were nice too. Whilst I was up there the weather began to improve with the sun burning through the cloud cover. Beer Head began calling me. I resisted............


Well, until lunchtime anyway!!!

There appeared to be a lot more birds around than yesterday. I was pressed for time so only ventured as far as the Hollow and back but had 9 Willow Warblers, 5 Chiffchaffs and 13 Willowchiffs?


I was absolutely thrilled to bits to see a non-avian lifer too!!!! |=)|

Not one, or two but THREE Adders in the bottom of the hedgerow above the Dell, out catching a few rays of the belated sun. Two were large females and one a smaller and greyer male. I was fortunate enough to get a few photos of one of the females before I was detected and they made for the undergrowth.

Also got a few spring like shots of a Willow Warbler? (I’m happy to be corrected).

And MOST IMPOTANTLY

I got a copy of The Axe Estuary and Seaton Bay Bird Report yesterday and have enjoyed reading it. It’s very informative, well illustrated and entertaining too.

I’m not going to heap superlatives on it for fear of sounding insincere, but suffice to say it is VERY GOOD INDEED, and I highly recommend it to everyone! |=)|

[Gavin Haig]

Glad to hear you have the Beer Head Bug too, Karen! Can't believe I wasn't alone in never having seen an adder (I might be now though!) - nice one, Karen. I know where I shall be checking next time I'm up there in the sunshine....

EDIT - glad you like the report..... :t:

No jaunts until late in the day for me. 2 Common Scoter off the seafront, then little else until Colyford Common, where there were 11 Swallows, 4 Sand Martins and a single Wheatear. 2 Lapwing loitering with intent. I hope one is a male and the other a female. The north end of the reserve is looking very good since Fraser has tinkered with it - very wet, and lots of little patches of infant reedbed. Nice.

Despite lack of sunshine, I had a go at digiscoping a couple of Swallows that were perched on wires, and discovered how hard it is to photgraph a small dark thing against the sky! I've attached just one - 'cos it was such a nice pose. Of the 3 elements that make this a superb shot - (1) in the frame, (2) well lit, and (3) pin-sharp - I got the first one. Use your imagination for the other two..... |=)|

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All, Out am still trying to find a Lesser Spot, And Heard 1 its Drilling, was music to our ears, lesser spots drill, Great spots Drum. It was just back from the rail way bridge at the far end of Whitford, Park by the post box. Go and stand on the bank oppisite and look in the tree in the feild. Black Berry Castle 7 o clock usual woodland birds jays screeming. Garden gone quite all gone to breed still got Male Blackcap no females odd. Nice swallow pic Gav.

[Terry Smith]

Over in Seaton today on a non-birding trip, but did manage to see Gav's 2 Common Scoters off the front, and had 3 Sandwich Terns flying west close in at 1300hrs. Nothing worth mentioning at Seaton Marshes though, apart from a Sandwich Tern heard calling overhead from the hide..................

[bob hastie]

Hi all
Been off patch all weekend but it looks like I should have been at Beer Head this morning. Karen I envy you your adder shots, I missed one at Arne yesterday by about 2 minutes.
Gav, further to our chat the other night I had a quick play with your Swallow, hope you don't mind. Couldn't quite get rid of that purple fringing on the wire and swallows head but thats digiscoping!

[Roger Boswell]

Quite quiet at Lower Bruckland this morning - mainly Goldfinches, a Kestrel and a Willowchaff (even with yesterday's picture I cannot tell one from the other).
At Colyton the hoverflies and mosquitos were in evidence - must take my midge repellent next time.
There was a Black-tailed Godwit at Seaton hide with a Grey Heron and Little Egret fishing in the scape. Two Canada Geese were swimming on Borrow Pit and a Mallard was taking her brood of 21 for a first outing.

[bun]

Evening all, just thought i would mention there was a pair of oystercatcher mating on the the rocks at the west end of Beer Beach this morning, in 2005 they were unsuccessful in trying to breed on poundspool beach ( The little beach between beer beach and beer head) hope they get better luck this year.....Spent a hour out after work at mare lane, Beer, and surrounding fields, saw 6 willows and 5 chiffs, 2 swallows, 2 house martins and a pair of yellow hammers...just picked up a copy of the axe estuary & seaton bay bird report that im going to enjoy reading with my coffee and a toasted tea cake or two!

[Simon Wakely]

Hi Roger, Great pic of Mallards,we are glad you found brucklands. 21 is the most we have ever seen well done. we found a adder in our kitchen, it was our daughters calculater.

[Terry Smith]

Why couldn't the viper viper nose?

Cuz the adder adder ankerchief!

On topic as usual.............:-C

[KarenWoolley]

Why couldn't the viper viper nose?

Cuz the adder adder ankerchief!

On topic as usual.............:-C

Very good Terry!! ;)

Staying with the adder theme, the male Adder was dutifully waiting to have his photo taken this morning!

Only birds of note on Beer Head were 7 Swallows 1 Wheatear and a couple of Willow Warblers.

I was very pleased to see my first House Martin of the year whilst walking along the River Umbourn this afternoon.

[Jos Stratford]

Very good Terry!! ;)

Staying with the adder theme, the male Adder was dutifully waiting to have his photo taken this morning!


Very nice picture there Karen, best I could do last year was fairly appalling - they just wouldn't pose like that!

[Simon Wakely]

Well Team thats a new heading, Sue and I have Spotted this year some great birds. Male hen Harrier,Fly over Cuckoo, Lesser spot Drilling.But Egyptian Geese mating in the in the Axe Valley, Thats Fantastic. Hoping to post pics tomorrow.5,000000000 POINTS to us. Nice to read Forum Fun, Trying to Adder up the points for the best Joke.

[Steve Waite]

Spent a couple of hours out in the field this morning, mostly around the estuary: little around, 2 Wheatear and a few more Swallows, but a single Whimbrel west over the beach was a nice highlight!

Driving home from my girlfriends tonight, a Tawny Owl was sat on the 'Scalwell Park' street sign! Great views!!!

[Simon Wakely]

An estuary first but couldn't find them this evening.

[Simon Wakely]

Well Gang members, 30 mins at Farm gate 6.30pm. 12 Canada geese ,3 teal on scrape. Steve, how many points for our mating Egyptian Geese, First pic in the history of Birding in the Axe. Still like Gav, Waiting for points update.

[Gavin Haig]

Still like Gav, Waiting for points update.
So I'm not the only Bonanza player wondering what's going on! In most other games I've ever played an up-to-date tally is all part of the fun, and keeps the players interested, eg. golf, darts, snooker, basketball, football, cricket, squash, tennis, badminton, scrabble, boggle, bridge, nomination whist, etc, etc.......hmm - seems I've played a few. How can we plan our 'finding' strategy if we can't see the scoresheet??

Anyway, on to less important stuff. I have actually been out in the field a bit over the last couple of days. Yesterday first: early morning visit to Beer Head was pretty dire - 2 Swallows, 6 Willow Warblers. When the sun came up I had a look for adders, but realised there was a lot of hedge to check, and failed dismally. Karen - if you read this could you PM me with location please? I've adder nuff of failing to see them. Ta. At 12 I saw the 2 Egyptian Geese on the estuary by the tramsheds. No naughtiness at the time, but Simon has since proved they are a pair! We await the patter of tiny webbed feet. Also at the tramsheds was an Iceland Gull - I only had bins, so couldn't say for sure which one it was, but I think probably the 'new' one. Late evening it was flat calm off the seafront, where there were 2 Common Scoters (the same 2 I think), 3 Guillemots and an extremely distant diver sp. Not a single bird passed while I scanned.

On to today. A slightly-later-in-the-morning visit to Beer Head resulted in 5 Wheatears, 2 Swallows, 7 Willow Warblers and 4 Chiffs. A Clouded Yellow was the highlight. The migrants aren't exactly pouring in right now, are they? Well, not here anyway. A lunchtime gull check drew a blank - 3 Common Gulls the best I could muster, though the Egyptian Geese were at the tramsheds again - looking worn out. An evening visit to Colyford was interesting. 2 littoralis Rock Pipits gave me my best ever views of the subspecies, and I've attached 3 photos that I'm well pleased with. A few Swallows and Sand Martins over the marshes, but still no House Martin for me yet! 2 different singing Cetti's was nice, which along with the one on territory on the Borrow Pit at Seaton Marshes gives us at least 3 males. Finally, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing just N of the viewing platform. Is that the first, and therefore yet more points for my humungous total Steve? Will we ever know? ;)

[cupradude]

Just to let you know gavin i have had Adders on the estuary,on the hedgerow by the campsite at axmouth,mightbe worth a look!!

[Steve Waite]

Mental!!!

Heard Ian M had a few migrants down in the undercliff this morning- so I thought Seaton Marshes was an obvious port of call after I dropped my girlfriend off at work at 10. Walking half way out to my hide, just casually raised my bins towards the most water filled scrape and I virtually dropped down dead on the spot!!! The front half of a Stone Curlew was sat down facing me - close, too. Then followed the usual hurried phonecalls to all the locals but this stopped when the blighter got up and flew!!! Enjoyed the flight views - but was more concerned about where it was going to fly to!!!! LUCKILY it landed again in the field to the south of the marsh where it showed well for the next 15 minutes. It has now walked probably down into a ditch - so it has been invisible for the past hour or so...still there somewhere though!

If this wasn't enough - 2 more great highlights. Just as I came off the phone from Gav when he had just clapped eyes on it, an LRP noisily flew low north over the reserve, and later on, on the way back from the hide, a female Red-breasted Merganser flew high north over the reserve - heading for Axmouth....our first of the year I think.

Here are my two best of the Stone Curlew after it had gone for a little fly around - it was very misty, raining and the bird was distant - so pictures are crap!

EDIT: It has just flown low north over the reserve....maybe Colyford Common? Maybe even Colyford WTW field........
EDIT EDIT: It is still on Seaton Marshes, it flew as far as the northern most scrape!
EDIT EDIT EDIT: Ooops!!! - just found out female Red-Breasted Merganser is a female Goosander!!!

[Tav94]

Mental!!!

Heard Ian M had a few migrants down in the undercliff this morning- so I thought Seaton Marshes was an obvious port of call after I dropped my girlfriend off at work at 10. Walking half way out to my hide, just casually raised my bins towards the most water filled scrape and I virtually dropped down dead on the spot!!! The front half of a Stone Curlew was sat down facing me - close, too. Then followed the usual hurried phonecalls to all the locals but this stopped when the blighter got up and flew!!! Enjoyed the flight views - but was more concerned about where it was going to fly to!!!! LUCKILY it landed again in the field to the south of the marsh where it showed well for the next 15 minutes. It has now walked probably down into a ditch - so it has been invisible for the past hour or so...still there somewhere though!

If this wasn't enough - 2 more great highlights. Just as I came off the phone from Gav when he had just clapped eyes on it, an LRP noisily flew low north over the reserve, and later on, on the way back from the hide, a female Red-breasted Merganser flew high north over the reserve - heading for Axmouth....our first of the year I think.

Here are my two best of the Stone Curlew after it had gone for a little fly around - it was very misty, raining and the bird was distant - so pictures are crap!

EDIT: It has just flown low north over the reserve....maybe Colyford Common? Maybe even Colyford WTW field........
EDIT EDIT: It is still on Seaton Marshes, it flew as far as the northern most scrape!
Nice find well done.

[Gavin Haig]

A stonking find by Steve this morning! Apparently the first twitchable Stone Curlew in Devon for about 20 years, it certainly didn't give itself up easily. It flew N for a while and disappeared, then back again, hiding itself amongst the vegetation by the scrapes, then showed superbly for a few moments out in the open, before flying up the river, onto the mud N of Coronation Corner. During the brief close views you could it was colour-ringed - hopefully investigation will prove it was hatched somewhere OTHER than Paignton Zoo..... |=)|

Attached is probably my best photographic effort, taken while it was trying to be invisible - you can just make out a blue colour-ring (which was just above the left 'knee').

Steve thoroughly deserves the points for that, but I am putting a claim in for the female Goosander up at Coronation Corner a little later! ;)

[Larry Wheatland]

Well done again you jammy lot !

[Ranger James]

Cracking bird Steve, well done as ever. Made itself fittingly awkward to see, but got terrific views in the end. What a place this is!
James

[KarenWoolley]

What a stunning bird!! It was certainly worth sprinting up all those steps from Under Hooken to see. Another lifer for me!|=)|

Boy do I need a rest and a cup of tea!!

I'm now going to go and pay the mechanic who fixed my car this morning with a smile on my face for a change!! If it wasn't for him I'd have probably missed it, although I'd most likely have walked it to Seaton!! ;)

I got a couple of photos too. This one of it squaring up to a pheasant being the best of 'em.

[bun]

Pictures speak for themselves stone curlew at seaton marshes!! thanks for the call steve, i think thats the quickest my mopeds ever gone from Beer to Seaton..Great stuff!

[Steve Waite]

And I hear it is still here....

Thanks for earning me 2 more belated points Gav!!! ;) But you are definitely entitled to those points as well, for the correct ID of the GooseMerganser!!!

First whispers have it that it is a Wessex bird.

[Gavin Haig]

Thanks for earning me 2 more belated points Gav!!! ;) But you are definitely entitled to those points as well, for the correct ID of the GooseMerganser!!!
Perhaps you saw a different bird, Steve? In which case I would keep the 2 extra points, which I may need later! OK, perhaps not.......

As the working day was already severely compromised by good birds, I thought I may as well mess it up totally by traipsing up Beer Head mid-afternoon. 35+ Willow Warblers (mostly at the top of the undercliff), 3 Wheatears, and a spanking male Redstart made it worthwhile. The icing on the cake, though, was my first adder - seen where Karen told me to look (thanks Karen :t: ). It was a bit too wary to photograph, but a minute or two later I came across another, which was very obliging. Excellent!

Later, it was all action at Coronation Corner, where I was too late to see the adult Little Gull, but did see the Stone Curlew once more. I was just getting my scope on what I was told were 2 LRPs when they flew. There were at least 2, perhaps 3, but all I can say was that they were small waders without obvious wingbars - UTVs for me (UnTickable Views!)

Finally, got rapid confirmation of the provenance of our Stone Curlew - and it isn't from Paignton Zoo.....or Wessex for that matter. Here's the email that the project leader sent:

Gavin

Thanks for this. In that case, you saw ET44595, ringed as a chick at Elveden near Thetford (Breckland) on 27 May 2005. It and its sibling were seen to fledge, but whereas the sibling has been seen since, this one has not (though all the records for last year are not computerised yet, so I might be wrong). Most stone curlews breed for the first time aged two years, but it is a bit late if it is coming to Breckland to breed this year. We will let you know if it turns up. Thanks again for the record and please let me know if you see it, or others, again.

Rhys

[Kev Rylands]

Great find Steve and thanks for the call - glad so many people have been unblocked!

Was about the confirm that it wasn't a Wessex bird but I see Gavin and Mr Green have already finished the job.

Shame I managed to miss everything else there today bar a few swallows but good to be back in the east.

Cheers
Kev

[Andrew]

Top bird and top bit of cod from Frydays afterwards as usual!

[bun]

Well what a day for the patch, stone curlew, summer plummaged little gull, goosander, redstarts, pied flycatcher, ring ouzel, and maybe 2 or 3 L.R.P,s( one was definate saw its gold eye ring, shame the others were distant) also 60+ swallows, martins, at coly common this evening and 5 wheatears.

[Simon Wakely]

Sue and I saw the Stone Curlew at 7.30 pm. Not much light Thanks Kev for telling us were it was.Friday 13th is now classified as lucky. whilst watching curlew, 3 Ringed plovers made a apperance running around to the left of it. A Swift was seen at Berry head today.

[Simon Wakely]

Kev, by the way the three plovers we had at 7.30. Were ringed Large black breast band the give away. Well done on Little ringed. Well will tomorrow bring more forum Luck lets hope so.

[tereksora]

Well done Steve on a great find, and many thanks Gav for sticking with it while I impersonated a sick headless chicken! and thanks for getting news out so quick.
Brilliant
Bri

[Terry Smith]

I finally made it over for the Stone Curlew at 1930hrs! I had been busy ferrying elderly parents around all day, and when I returned home I was surprised to hear of the bird. I ate a hasty tea, dropped my parents back to their accommodation, kissed the wife and hurtled towards Seaton Marshes as fast as the traffic would allow. I got to S.M. carpark to find it deserted. Holy Cow, I thought (or words to that effect), the darned things gorn. I jogged out to the hide just in case but could find no Stoner. I scanned over the estuary and was pleased to see a small knot of birders gathered at Coronation Corner. I was even more pleased when I recognised a friendly face amongst them. A quick phone call confirmed they were watching the bird, and Martin was even good enough to wait for me to arrive to put me onto the bird, thanks mate. I sprinted back to the car (not something one should be doing in their 50's!), jumped in and it was pedal to the metal all the way to CC!

I was kindly put on to the beast and enjoyed views of it until at least 1950hrs. By this time it was getting rather active and feeding quite a bit. I last saw it walking fast round the bend of the river. So that brings you all up to date with the final sighting of today.

A quick look at Brucklands pools last thing only produced a male Tuftie and a male Sparrowhawk with prey sat on a rusty gate.

But thanks for the Devon Tick Steve, keep up the good work!

[Steve Waite]

A quick look at Brucklands pools last thing only produced a male TuftieInteresting record that one - maybe the male from last week, but it hasn't been seen at all.....so, quite possibly a new bird. Thanks for that.
Im super glad everyone who wanted to, got to see the bird, always makes it that little bit nicer...

Now, lets see what tomorrow brings....

[Gavin Haig]

A quick look at Brucklands pools last thing only produced a male Tuftie......
In this neck of the woods the word 'only' cannot be linked with 'Tuftie' unless an even rarer beast is included in the same sentence, eg. 'The Ring-necked Duck had done a bunk, leaving only the Tuftie'.


Im super glad everyone who wanted to, got to see the bird......I'm sure Phil is having a lovely time in the Canaries...... ;)

So glad you got it in the end, Bri - I won't tell anyone about all the stamping and swearing when it wouldn't behave at first............... |=)|

EDIT - thanks to all the visitors for your +ve comments. It's great to get a bird that warrants a bit of a twitch. Hopefully we'll need to see you all again soon. Cheers. And, from the proprietors of Frydays, special thanks to Andrew for keeping them in business!

A good day.

[Terry Smith]

Is the Axe Estuary & Seaton Bay Bird Report available from any shops? Perhaps the RSPB would be kind enough to sell them at their new shop at Darts Farm in Topsham? Or is this expecting too much? Regrettably I've only found them too willing to sell their own goods, but when it comes to promoting some other good local cause, then a blind eye is turned...........

I speak from years of experience...............honest!

Sorry about the 'only' factor regarding your patch Tuftie, Gav, didn't realise they are unusual on yer patch - take them for granted around the Exe!

[bob hastie]

Two visits to Beer Head today, first one at about 7.30 fairly quiet, one wheatear and a couple of swallows.
Second visit just after lunch, also fairly quiet bird wise but I finally got to see an adder (thanks alot for the directions Karen)
First shot is as taken, second is a crop of the first
The third one has me completely stumped, I saw this fly past but have no idea what it is, any ideas?

[Andrew]

The third one has me completely stumped, I saw this fly past but have no idea what it is, any ideas?
Ah, that picture brings it back. I recognise them easily as Brummie Grockles (Homo moronius), quite common on the coast as they often leave the dull boredom of their existences in the Black Country and it's environs to leap off our cliffs in desperate attempts to seek a minor thrill. You should try Berry Head as it is swarming with them.

[Simon Wakely]

Terry, Sue and i Wish we introduced ourselfs to you.Your Owl hunt turned up a Tuftie, Great stuff rare on our patch.River am Iceland Gull on C.Corner. Out 6.30 pm, 3 Ringed plovers and a Little ringed, a great spot running in and out behind a grass bank well up river at C. Corner.20 mins at Farm Gate, Swallows, Canada Geese, Mistle Thursh Wonderful bird. And Bobs pic of Phil Fantastic stuff. Spain has nothing on our patch, the Stone Curlew must have been proved irresistible. Just hoping he didnt land on a Adder.

[Gavin Haig]

Just to let you know gavin i have had Adders on the estuary,on the hedgerow by the campsite at axmouth,mightbe worth a look!!
Sorry Jez - meant to respond to this before. Thanks for the tip. Think I'll be looking for adders a bit more often now that I know for sure they exist.... |=)|

A rapid whizz round the valley first thing was fairly quiet, though a Green Sandpiper at Colyford Common was a year tick. The Lesser Whitethroat was in good voice there too.

An early afternoon walk on Beer Head was hot, still and bird-free, but other creatures compensated nicely. 2 adders (one was very fat), 2 Clouded Yellows and several Holly Blues, plus my first Orange Tip and Speckled Wood (2) of the year. Home via seafront and estuary, where there were, respectively, a Sandwich Tern on a buoy and an intermedius LBB Gull.

Finally, a late evening look at the estuary revealed a little wader passage - 4 Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin, along with a couple of points-earners - 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. They may only be worth 3 points (each, Steve??), but I need all I can get after the Golden Child's monster scoring yesterday. How far in the lead are you now Steve?

[Steve Waite]

Cracking pic of an adder that Bob!!!!

Beer Head was quiet this morning - though my first male Redstart of the year brightened things up a tad - a very vocal one too!!! 16 Willow Warblers were the supporting cast. Apart from this, and the white Iceland Gull off Coronation Corner - not much to report from me.

Best moment of the day occured this evening - I went off to ring 3 gorgeous baby Tawny Owls!!

[Steve Waite]

And at last I've updated Bonanza - hope I haven't missed anything out. Gav, just 3 points for the Barwits.

Also of interest Clive (from Sidmouth) had an LRP briefly on Colyford Scrape late morning.

[bun]

Bobs third picture is of me looking for the pound coin i dropped up Beer Head earlier in the morning ( i never found it)

[Gavin Haig]

Didn't get out until this evening, so missed out on the little flurry of activity at Beer Head this morning - hopefully the details will be posted later. Very quiet at Colyford Common - just a single Wheatear and a small feeding gang of Swallows and Sand Martins. Still haven't seen a House Martin.

As far as I know Little Egrets have not been proven to breed locally. Definitely getting a little closer to that almost inevitable event though - a pair was mating this evening, and yanking away at twigs as if checking out their nest-building suitability. We'll see..........

[Andrew]

Now, now, Gavin, don't tease inland county patch workers like this convert by using the words "only" and "Wheatear" in the same sentence!

Still searching hard for a local Wheatear for the third year running. Looks a forlorn hope now. Switching my attention to those common Stone-curlews!

(BTW, thanks for the report, read it all now and liked it.)

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All, Grasshopper warbler at Farm Gate heard it last night not Reeling its Cricket call was great and agian at 7oclock this evening, Steve drove past, popped to Bruckland,the call of Cuckoo, Steve saw your car there did you hear it. We are praying you did. I took my hat off to your Fantastic find, and got Bitternd by six Million Nats.

[bun]

Evening all, managed to spend a very pleasant 13 hours out and about today, first stop at 6.00 was Beer Head, which turned out to be a very good choice - saw 3 Redstarts, 2 females and a suberb male ( ian w had another male on a different part of the headland at the same time, so there must have been 4, smashing!) also saw 14 willows, 6 chiffs, 5 wheatears, 2 red legged partridge and 3 blackcaps and strangely 5 shelduck sat on castle rocks at under hooken!....then just as i was leaving 9.30ish i heard the reeling of a Grasshopper Warbler, got some very good views of it too as it sat in the middle of the hedge quivering its wings and still reeling! ( only the second one ive ever seen)......after this i went to a few scrub/ bramble patch fields opposite Beer Quarry ( which was quiet bar a few chiffs).. luckily the fields were not 18 willows, 10 chiffs, 5 blackcaps and my first whitethroat of the year, Then i went over to seaton marshes which was quiet apart from 2 Bar Tailed Godwits on the river, a cetti,s warbler singing and showing at borrow pit and 3 wheatear, then took my self off to coly common saw the 2 Egyptian geese looking very happy together and 2 Lapwing, finished up sat on the seafront saw me first sandwich tern (w) 2 gannets(w) 1 common scoter sat on the sea and 8 swallows in off....also logged 1 clouded yellow, 2 speckled wood, 2 orange tips, 1 brimstone and a Holly Blue when out and about today.... sounds promising with the little egrets who would have thought that 15 or even 10 years ago..

[Steve Waite]

Still haven't seen a House Martin.

There's a few flying around in Colyford - opposite the Wheelright, they've been there a couple of days now.

Yeah, had a bit of time out this evening - no Cuckoo heard by me Simon, which direction did the sound come from? Infact saw nowt, although Willow Warblers seem a lot more numerous.

[Gavin Haig]

Now, now, Gavin, don't tease inland county patch workers like this convert by using the words "only" and "Wheatear" in the same sentence!

Still searching hard for a local Wheatear for the third year running......

If only a Wheatear would visit the Grand Western Canal.... ;)

Glad you like the report, Andrew. Any constructive comments very welcome (via PM). Don't hold back!

I'm sure a GWC Wheatear is only days away....... 3:-)


There's a few flying around in Colyford - opposite the Wheelright, they've been there a couple of days now.Ha ha! Ok - thanks Steve. I wasn't really appealing for House Martin gen, though! I'm sure I'll see one or two soon. Now it looks like I drive around with blinkers on......actually I probably do...

[KarenWoolley]

I've been away most of the weekend, arrived back around two o'clock and was up on Beer Head by three! After getting Bun's texts this morning I was hoping to see at least one Redstart but no such luck! I did see 12 Willow Warblers, 2 Wheatears and another Adder. Plenty of butterflies around too. Very Nice indeed! I was glad to be back! |=)|

Bob, I'm glad you caught up with one of the adders (and could follow my directions!)

[Simon Wakely]

Steve, we are very dissapointed you didnt hear it , We parked in the car park hoping, you would of heard it, up in the lane behind us. Saw your car parked up.

[Terry Smith]

[QUOTE=Simon Wakely]Terry, Sue and i Wish we introduced ourselfs to you.Your Owl hunt turned up a Tuftie, Great stuff rare on our patch.
/QUOTE]

Simon & Sue,

Never mind at least we know what each other looks like! Will know next time I'm over on your patch. Happy you're happy with the Tuftie! :D

Terry

[Kev Rylands]

White Stork west over Abbotsbury this evening, so next stop your patch!

[Steve Waite]

White Stork west over Abbotsbury this evening, so next stop your patch!
Yeah I noticed that one Kev, finished work at 6, came home and checked birdguides, read this, dinner went down in three mouth fulls, and I was off!!!! It had probably gone over by this time though, unless it went to gound before it got to us, it was quite hazy along the coast, so maybe tomorrow will be the day??

Beer Head this morning, nothing outstanding from me - my first Whitethroat of the year, along with 16+ Wheatear and a few Willows and Chiffs. Just before work I had a look over Seaton Marshes and saw 5 Wheatear and 2 Whimbrel.

After work and my three mouth fulls of dinner, I had a little seawatch - 9 Black-headed Gulls passed west...oh, I thought, some movement, then... 2 duck came in to view, Gadwall!! A pair flew west - the male leading the way, a nice surprise, it was looking good!! And then.....nothing else passed at all!! So I gave up!!!!

Another look over Seaton Marshes showed 6 Wheatear and a very smart White Wagtail. I then went for a slow wander up the river - joined half way through by Gav. 2 Sedge Warblers were singing well, 6 Whimbrel were on the saltmarsh, a Wheatear flicked along in front of us, and was pleased to confirm our fifth singing male Cetti's Warbler, I wonder how many of these have females?? (I know for sure one of them hasn't). As the sky darkened around 80 Sand Martins flew around low looking for a place to roost, and a rather large Bat hawked over us....it was a very pleasent indeed. And Simon, I did wave to you, did you see me??? Then visited Lower Bruckland (in the dark!) to hear my third Sedge Warbler of the day.

[Simon Wakely]

Thanks Terry, We hope to see you soon. A trip to our Favorite patch Top of Axmouth is always a joy, Garden Warbler our first of the year wonderful.Goldfinches with nesting material. Its the year of the chiffchaff, there everywhere. Happy Birding.

[KarenWoolley]

All I had time for today - On the estuary early afternoon 2 Egyptian Geese 2 Barwits, 4 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plovers.

[bob hastie]

A quick after work trip around Beer Head today.
One Wheatear, 2 Ravens and this obliging Rock Pipit was about all there was to comment about, still, a lovely evening stroll though.

[Simon Wakely]

Steve sorry, didnt see you wave back, reminds us of last night when you didnt hear the Cuckoo, But thats birding. Please by yourself a pair of cricket keeping gloves my eyesight terrible that would help. dont forget to wear them when waving at Sue and I. keep the bird total rolling 203 could be beaten.

[Steve Waite]

Just had an hour and half out this morning - am working this afternoon but will make the best use of my lunch hour!

On the river, 8 Dunlin and 2 Barwits. Nothing at Lower Bruckland, but a nice highlight at Seaton Marshes - a stunning male Whinchat with c7 Wheatears (on path to hide). Did you see it, Bob? I went back to the car to get my scope and camera, but when I returned it was being a little blighter and only showed with half its boby hidden behind a fence post....hence the first photo.... the second utterly crap photo is just to prove it did have a huge white stripe above its eye!!!! Just as my Dad arrived it vanished!! Again 2 singing male Cetti's - confirming the confirmation of yesterdays five!!!

Forgot to mention yesterday, lots of Large Red Damselfly tenerals on Seaton Marshes mid morning.

[bun]

Managed a hour out after work, and went to some fields and thickets, west of the top cemetery at Beer, saw 4 willows, 2 chiffs, 1 female blackcap and 2 smashing male Redstarts sat on a fence only 3 posts apart! certainly seems to be a excellent spring for them so far.

[Roger Boswell]

Just shows I am a beginner - totally missed the Whinchat. The Wheatears were stunning - and posed superbly on the posts. At Colyton Hide the Egyptian Geese were grazing just infront of the hide - not in their usual position on the river bank.

[Roger Boswell]

Just had an hour and half out this morning - am working this afternoon but will make the best use of my lunch hour!

On the river, 8 Dunlin and 2 Barwits. Nothing at Lower Bruckland, but a nice highlight at Seaton Marshes - a stunning male Whinchat with c7 Wheatears (on path to hide). Did you see it, Bob? I went back to the car to get my scope and camera, but when I returned it was being a little blighter and only showed with half its boby hidden behind a fence post....hence the first photo.... the second utterly crap photo is just to prove it did have a huge white stripe above its eye!!!! Just as my Dad arrived it vanished!! Again 2 singing male Cetti's - confirming the confirmation of yesterdays five!!!

Forgot to mention yesterday, lots of Large Red Damselfly tenerals on Seaton Marshes mid morning.



Just looked through my images and found out that I did see the male Whinchat - sitting on the next post down!

Roger

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All,Top of Axmouth pm. Tawny owl flew across in front of our car. Spent a hour lisening to bird song,never saw a person. But then realised we were being Watch by a male. He reminded me of a night i couldnt Remember, Pic on the way ............... The white storks in Fridge, great on bread.

[Simon Wakely]

Sorry about the picture quality. Rodger can we borrow your camera!?! Your egyptian flying goose pic...excellent!

[Steve Waite]

Whinchat was still there at half 5 this evening. Also watched a Peregrine take out a feral Pigeon, the speed was just awesome, it came in like a bullet!!!

I have a day off tomorrow...I look forward to it!!

[Gavin Haig]

The lovely, but reluctant, Whinchat and its camera avoidance technique reminded me of the other day when I was staking out the odd-looking Water Rail at the Borrow Pit. It just would not behave. Attached is one of my best efforts.......

I didn't get any birding in at all today, so here is a belated account of yesterday's momentary elation, followed by a monumental deflation. |=(|

Started out well - a 6:00am visit to Lower Bruckland Ponds revealed what I hoped was the patch's first Sedge Warbler (at 06:07 precisely, I noted, in case of subsequent wrangling over the five desperately-needed Bonanza Points). Decided to go and look at the sea next, so headed down the riverside road from Axmouth. Towards the southern end of the road I spied 2 birds ambling across the tarmac, from right to left, and thought they looked suspiciously like partridges. I stopped some distance away and checked them out through the windscreen. Despite the total lack of garishness around the head it still took several moments before the penny dropped - they were GREY Partridges!! They completed their journey and proceeded to climb the steep embankment on the E side of the road. I jumped out and followed them, whereupon they flew over a clump of bushes into the field beyond. Steve was up and about, so came and joined me in scouring the field - to no avail. Grey Partridges are a bit like unicorns - their pictures are in books but they're only ever seen by people who live in a land far, far away. So obviously I though I was lined up for MASSIVE points. Imagine my horror when Steve told me they were worth nothing. Nil. Zip. I fear this game is seriously rigged........

Lots of other lovely migrants later in the day could not dispel the gloom.

That evening I also discovered that certain birding 'venues' where I have to climb locked gates like a naughty, er, 'pioneering' birder, Steve has a KEY to! I have had to come to the reluctant conclusion that there are at least 2 classes of Backwater Birders:
1. The Haves - with keys, and all sorts of other passports to BIG points (extra eyes, and so on)
2. The Have-nots - without keys; just the TWO eyes (elderly ones at that); have to graft and toil for every point....

EDIT - PS. Nice pics, Roger!

[Brian Egan]

The lovely, but reluctant, Whinchat and its camera avoidance technique reminded me of the other day when I was staking out the odd-looking Water Rail at the Borrow Pit. It just would not behave. Attached is one of my best efforts.......

I didn't get any birding in at all today, so here is a belated account of yesterday's momentary elation, followed by a monumental deflation. |=(|

Started out well - a 6:00am visit to Lower Bruckland Ponds revealed what I hoped was the patch's first Sedge Warbler (at 06:07 precisely, I noted, in case of subsequent wrangling over the five desperately-needed Bonanza Points). Decided to go and look at the sea next, so headed down the riverside road from Axmouth. Towards the southern end of the road I spied 2 birds ambling across the tarmac, from right to left, and thought they looked suspiciously like partridges. I stopped some distance away and checked them out through the windscreen. Despite the total lack of garishness around the head it still took several moments before the penny dropped - they were GREY Partridges!! They completed their journey and proceeded to climb the steep embankment on the E side of the road. I jumped out and followed them, whereupon they flew over a clump of bushes into the field beyond. Steve was up and about, so came and joined me in scouring the field - to no avail. Grey Partridges are a bit like unicorns - their pictures are in books but they're only ever seen by people who live in a land far, far away. So obviously I though I was lined up for MASSIVE points. Imagine my horror when Steve told me they were worth nothing. Nil. Zip. I fear this game is seriously rigged........

Lots of other lovely migrants later in the day could not dispel the gloom.

That evening I also discovered that certain birding 'venues' where I have to climb locked gates like a naughty, er, 'pioneering' birder, Steve has a KEY to! I have had to come to the reluctant conclusion that there are at least 2 classes of Backwater Birders:
1. The Haves - with keys, and all sorts of other passports to BIG points (extra eyes, and so on)
2. The Have-nots - without keys; just the TWO eyes (elderly ones at that); have to graft and toil for every point....

EDIT - PS. Nice pics, Roger!


Hi Gavin
Your photo you posted looks to me like a Little Crake not a Water Rail.

Cheers
Brian

[Gavin Haig]

Hi Gavin
Your photo you posted looks to me like a Little Crake not a Water Rail.

Cheers
Brian
Uh-oh! They're on to me! ;)

Sent you a PM Brian.

I really must behave..............

[Steven Astley]

Uh-oh! They're on to me! ;)

Sent you a PM Brian.

I really must behave..............

Oops didn't know it was a wind up thought I would save you from being branded a suppressor and called the birdlines. Looks like there will be a lot of angry twitchers in Devon today.
I would go into hiding if I was you Gavin ;)

[Gavin Haig]

Oops didn't know it was a wind up thought I would save you from being branded a suppressor.......
Thanks Steven, but it's too late. I'm already in serious trouble with the Devon Listing Massive.....

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=843942&#post843942

[Ranger James]

Some mouth-watering birds and photos recently. Keep it up everyone! I am looking forward to the tustle which will ensue at this year's bird report picture choosing meeting!

For a little sport for those of us unable to get a foot in the birding bonanza this year with the ubiquitous wonder boy and his side-kick window-man, who would like to make a punt at the next rarity to be seen this year?

No need to be vagrant, just the next genuine noteworthy bird for the sleepy backwater. I'm going to ruminate on this for a couple of hours and get back to you...

Walking the undercliffs with the new Natural England bod this afternoon, so will keep my eyes peeled for a goodie. Graham Garden I reckon.

James

[Gavin Haig]

and his side-kick....
Oi!!!

That is very cruel....very.

A little autonomy, please!

Hardly novel, but here we go anyway - Marsh Harrier, Hoopoe, Black Tern, Pomarine Skua. All to fall in next fortnight.

[KarenWoolley]

This morning I've been visiting a land far, far away............

Well, Axe Cliff and the Undercliff actually but I did flush two of the mythical Grey Partridge in a field there, same two Gav saw? Or are they like buses!?

There were also stacks of Chiffs, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, several Stonechats, a female Redstart and best of all a Grasshopper Warbler.

James - my guess is Nightingale, got to be one in the Undercliff, must get down there one evening, (if you don't bag it this afternoon!) Also couldn't we guess the finder of the next rarity instead? That would be MUCH easier .....How about Steve Waite!?? ;)

[Roger Boswell]

I was lucky with the Egyptian Geese. Something disturbed them and both took off, but they circled and landed even nearer. Both geese were in the original image.

I was at the Lyme end of the Undercliff at Ware Cliff this morning where two pairs of Bullfinches were busy stripping the flowers from an oak tree; can't complain about lack of colour!

Roger

[Steve Waite]

Hi all.

Beer Head rather quiet this morning (though Daddy Waite went up a little later a scored with 2 Redstarts - plus Karens makes 16 so far this spring I reckon!)

Nice point scorer waiting for me on Colyford Marsh - a Greylag Goose!!! Add to this the 2 Gypos and a small gathering of Canadas, I felt like I was at Slimbridge!!!

Spent ages sky watching - but nothing flew up our valley today...visibly anyway!!! On the river, 4 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-wits and a Ringed Plover. Lots of House Martins around today (Gav?) - over 30 north of Colyford Common.

Nice end to the day with Karen at Axmouth, a singing Lesser Whitethroat, my first this year.

Predictions James (good idea): Marsh Harrier, Wood Sandpiper and White Stork.

[Gavin Haig]

Not much time out today, but squeezed in a walk over Beer Head before work. Light WSW and a cloudless blue sky made for pretty scenery, but not for loitering migrants. A single Wheatear, 2 or 3 Swallows and a handful of Willow Warblers would have been about it, but for a nice fly-past. A noisy Pied Wagtail made me look round - it was mobbing a Cuckoo! It didn't hang around though, flying straight through from the west, out over the bay, then high towards Seaton. The first Cuckoo I've actually seen in over four years living here (and I've only heard two others!)

[Roger Boswell]

Thanks to the ringers at Borrow Pit for identifying the Whimbrels for me - a bird I have not seen before.

Made a hasty retreat from Colyton hide when I realised the tide was still coming in - had to leap across the water on the return.

There was a deer moving across the meadows - the image was taken from the Seaton hide.

Last picture taken at Lower Bruckland Ponds - could it be the Sedge Warbler?

[da2m]

Thanks to the ringers at Borrow Pit for identifying the Whimbrels for me - a bird I have not seen before.

Made a hasty retreat from Colyton hide when I realised the tide was still coming in - had to leap across the water on the return.

There was a deer moving across the meadows - the image was taken from the Seaton hide.

Last picture taken at Lower Bruckland Ponds - could it be the Sedge Warbler? did you hear it call cos that would give it way. willow warbs and chiffs sound nothing like sedges! this is from last year at exminster.

[Gavin Haig]

Last picture taken at Lower Bruckland Ponds - could it be the Sedge Warbler?
Hello Roger - nice to see your pics, as always. The last one shows a warbler with rather plain upperparts, and a distinctly greenish tone (especially if you lighten the image a bit) - so it's a Willow or Chiff. From what's visible - strong supercilium, 'long' looking lores, what appears to be quite long primary projection, plus a pale foot (where it's not in shadow) - I would plump for Willow Warbler.

[da2m]

Hello Roger - nice to see your pics, as always. The last one shows a warbler with rather plain upperparts, and a distinctly greenish tone (especially if you lighten the image a bit) - so it's a Willow or Chiff. From what's visible - strong supercilium, 'long' looking lores, what appears to be quite long primary projection, plus a pale foot (where it's not in shadow) - I would plump for Willow Warbler.2nded

[Doug Rudge]

Quite a good ringing session at the Borrow Pit this morning produced 18 birds in total with three new species ringed at this location: House Sparrow, Blackcap and Goldfinch.

The full tally was

Chaffinch 3 (1 retrap)
Blackbird 1 (retrap)
Blue Tit 1
House Sparrow 5
Cetti's Warbler 1 (retrap)
Blackcap 1
Great Tit 1
Greenfinch 1
Chiffchaff 1
Song Thrush 1 (retrap)
Willow Warbler 1
Goldfinch 1

Some photos attached (I'm sure Steve will be awarding bonus bonanza points if anyone can identify the other ringers involved from these photos!).

It was good to meet you Roger (I was the guy wearing the hat). Always happy to help a fellow birder - there were a total of 6 Whimbrel in the field just north of the borrow pit.

[Ranger James]

Nice piccies Doug. I'd guess at, Neil with the clack cap, Mike T with the Goldie, and Fraser with the chiffy - but I thought he was on holiday. How did I do with the fingertip ID?

My prediction for the next biggie for the patch is... RR swallow, surely long overdue? Although the smart money is on another gull species as this is obviously the year of the gull. Laugher on Fraser's wet patch I reckon - how's that for specific. Now, where did I put my string...

james

[Steve Waite]

How did I do with the fingertip ID?
Rubbish, all but Goldfinch me!!!!

Seawatch this morning was quiet, a Whimbrel flew in then west and a Red-throated Diver was sat close in, before taking to the air and flying south, there were also a few Gannets and Kits passing....but miles out!!!

Other birds this morning include 5 Dunlin and a Sedge Warbler at Colyford Marsh, a Sedge Warbler at Lower Bruckland and millions of Willow Warblers at Trinity Hill!!!

[Terry Smith]

Last picture taken at Lower Bruckland Ponds - could it be the Sedge Warbler?

Hi Rog,

I concur with the above, the bird is a Willow Warbler!

Cheers

Terry :D

[Simon Wakely]

What's all this about, look carefully...
Wonderful!!! ;)

[Simon Wakely]

Gav, Well done on Cuckoo, at last another local birder has spotted this Giant Swift. Mr and Mrs Egyptian Goose on Coly common tonight. Fingers Crossed.

[Doug Rudge]

Mike T with the Goldie
Come on Steve - surely James deserves some bonus points for getting one right ...


Rubbish, all but Goldfinch me!!!!
... and don't go awarding yourself any bonus points for this either!!

[Gavin Haig]

It struck me just the other day that if I were the competitive type (if...) there could be one or two strategic gambits that I might employ to increase my chances of racking up those all-important Bonanza Points (if I viewed them in that light, of course, which I don't).

For example:

Seawatching
If the wind is from the W, most passing birds tend to fly into it, meaning that positioning yourself towards the eastern end of the patch is going to mean that the birds will pass your vantage point first. In the event of another player seawatching further W you will be able to say "I saw it first - the points are MINE". If you found yourself in the unhappy position of sharing the shelter with other players, simply sit on the left and point your scope as far to the E as you can see. If you cannot get the left hand seat, just irritate everybody by pointing your scope to the E anyway. Conversely, if the wind has any E in it, chances are that the birds will be flying E, so seawatching from Branscombe would be a good ruse.

Early migrants
Still several of these to go. Carefully check which are the most overdue, and therefore about to arrive any second, and visit their most likely haunt - early in the morning.

Anyway, there you have a couple of the tactics which a competitive Bonanza player might find useful. I'm off to a wedding later, so hopefully the biggies won't arrive today.

Managed to pop out early this morning, and got a seawatching fix at Branscombe. Due to the wind having some E in it everything was heading E, though there wasn't much to see - 5 Sandwich Terns, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Common Scoter and a Razorbill. However, I was just zooming in on a swimming auk (a Guillemot, as it turned out) when a very nice flock of duck went by - 22 Eider (9 drakes). Biggest Eider flock (by 13) that I've seen off the patch. I was just congratulating myself on 3 well deserved points when I realised they'd flown WEST, and therefore would have been visible off Seaton first. When the palpitations eased I remembered that I am not concerned by such issues. At all.

Reed Warbler is overdue and, entirely coincidentally, my next port of call was the very spot where the first of the year might reasonably turn up - Colyford Common. A Wheatear was out on the marsh, but little else. I walked to the viewing platform. Lesser Whitethroat rattling away. Nice. What looked suspiciously like a Tree Pipit was flitting about in the bushes just to the N, but I couldn't clinch it. But what's that singing? Well, well - a Reed Warbler. With all the reed available in the valley it was surprising to hear it singing from a Blackthorn thicket. I walked over and had nice views too. Would it be presumptuous to add another 5 points to my tally, Steve? As if I cared...... |=)|

[bun]

Evening folks, went up Beer Head this morning 8.00-10, quite a quiet couple of hours saw 6 willows, 2 chiffs, 4 wheatear, 3 blackcap and a whitethroat singing and showing well, 5 swallow, and 3 house martin, 2 pairs of stonechat and 2 peregrine.....then went to seaton marshes also pretty quiet, 3 wheatear, 1 singing cetti's and a common sandpiper the only noteworthy birds....Then i must confess i returned home and loafed around in the garden for the rest of the day!! but did see 5 Buzzards up at one point and heard a few blackcap's singing.

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All, Bun stop Loafing about, YOU need the points. Sorry All, We should of mentoined Second pic of Mating Egyptian Geese, Also taken on April IIth. Steve they where on bridge marsh tonight.

[Steve Waite]

Evening all, looked hard for a good raptor today, just Buzzards and Buzzards for me though....I notice Exmouth had a Red Kite ....Terry???

Seaton Marshes mid morning was quiet - 8 Whimbrel were in the field to the north (see pici), and 2 Sedge Warblers sang, along with the two resident Cetti's.

Haven't seen much on the river all day, about 30 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Egyptian Geese! A singing Lesser Whitethroat at Colyton WTW was rather nice - my second of the year, and out fourth....which is miles better than this time last year! Late evening I had a drive around the back lanes of Axmouth, a couple of Whitethroats and stacks of Yellowhammers. I got out of my car at one place and could hear this constant tapping noise...It was two Red-legged Partridge tapping their bills against their reflections in a dumped oven! Comical!! Saw about 8 more of these snazy Partridges elsewhere along the lanes.

Absolutle magic event late in the day though, probably one of the best things I've seen this year (up there with Stone Curlew, Laughing Gull etc...). I was enjoying a rather poor seawatch at about 19:00, a small flock of Manxies flew east, and other than a feeding flock of Gulls it was quiet. Whilst watching this flock I suddenly saw fins! WOW! A pod of at least 10 Common Dolphins (my first of this species here) showed superbly! They were obviously busy fishing, up and down, up and down....wow it was amazing!!!! Felt rather privilaged to say the least!

Working till four tomorrow...I hear there is cloud coming over....it could be a good day!!

[Andrew]

Hey Steve, I like your canny ploy of three mouthfuls at a time but I have a tip for you. Switch to a lard diet and you can use the old 'one mouthful' ploy and spend more time in the field bagging those common migrants yet to come to shut up Gav.

Gav knows I will stick to my tried and trusted method of wading into the Seaton area and seeing all your BB rares then bunking off to Frydays. If I am a bit flush I shall carry on to Sidford for a special treat from Bloaters!

[Simon Wakely]

Hi All, Farm Gate am 3 whimbrel. But most important our two Egyptian Cuddled up on Coly Common. Swift, Hobby, Spotted Fly, Our Guess for the three next Patch Spots.

[bun]

Managed to get out and about early this morning, first stop Beer Head- saw 3 willow warblers, 1 chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 4 wheatear and 1 Lesser whitethroat....next i went to Beer Quarry - saw and heard 3 willows singing and 2 chiffchaff, but best of all 2 Grasshopper Warblers both reeling, even managed to get a brief but decent view of one of them, then went to fields opposite and saw more willows and chiffs singing, and also had good views of a couple of Jays, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

[Steve Waite]

Thanks to Bun, came out of work at four and straight to Beer Quarry where two Grasshopper Warblers were reeling....it's just the best sound made by a bird ever!!!! Also a Sedge Warbler here would have been a migrant.

After dinner a walk up the river with Bun showed an Iceland Gull! A very white first-summer bird, could be either of the two from earlier in the month, great that at least one is still around! Also 2 Sedge Warblers, 3 Cetti's, 3 Stonechats, 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Dunlin, 4 Whimbrel and lots of hirrundines.

[Steve Waite]

Great to be back!!!! It's changed quite a bit hasn't it!?!

Ok, quick run down of the last two days:

Yesterday: Beer Head very early, but it was very very foggy! Noted four migrants, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Yellow Wag (calling from the fog) and 1 cracking male Redstart - equalling last springs total, 17. In the afternoon, a 1st-summer Med Gull was on the river, picture attached.

Today: Again, Beer Head early morning, but it was even more foggy than yesterday!!! Still, broke the spring record for Redstarts, with our 18th in the Sheepwalk. Then had a bit of a sea watch - which turned out to be great, with 118 Whimbrel W (biggest flock 37), 3 Curlew W, 16 Sandwich Tern W, 10 Gannets, 2 drake Common Scoters sat on the sea, 2 1st-summer Med Gulls loafing about close in with 2 Wheatears in-off.

Had a rather gripping text from Karen an hour after I started work..."3 Little Terns off the seafront"....the last record of Little Tern here was in the mid 60's I think.....(though obviously many would have occured since, just not seen). It was a painful 3 and half hour wait till me lunch break, then straight to the seafront, and with the first scan there they were. SUPERB! After a while, they came really close in - lovely little things, made a million times better by being here, in our bay! Well done Karen!!! :clap:

[Gavin Haig]

Having had an enforced abstinence from BF while it has been upgraded I will have to compress 3 days into one post.....

Sunday 22/4
A points claim, Steve - a very pale, grey Bar-tailed Godwit on the estuary in the evening. A new bird, I think, and a monster 3 points. Best of all, though, an Axe first - the definite pair of Little Egrets have a definite nest, and there is definite 'sitting' going on, implying the presence of a definite egg or 2. I hope so. The first successful breeding in Devon was as recent as 2002, with 19 active nests recorded in 2005. It seems slightly unreal that Little Egret was still a rare bird only 20 years ago.

Monday 23/4
The Spring Curse struck today, ie. a nice onshore breeze combined with a thick blanket of fog. Seawatching plans were therefore shelved..... Had a very late lunch today, and used it to check the river - 2 first-summer Med Gulls were my first since early March, and very welcome (we didn't see any Meds at all last April). Visited Colyford Common in the evening, where Bonanza points were waiting in abundance - another Bar-tailed Godwit was accompanying 11 Whimbrel as they flew off NW. Then a Hobby flew through W, scattering hirundines in all directions, and finally a Swift headed S towards Seaton. The last 2 were (hopefully) the first of the year. A walk down the river with Steve produced 6 Ringed Plover and another 16 Whimbrel.

Today 24/4
No birding for me today.....well, that was the plan. Mid-afternoon, though, and I found myself HAVING to respond to a text from Karen. Hopefully she'll post later, detailing her finding of a patch mega - THREE of them, in fact. Up until just recently believed to be a very surprising gap on the Seaton list, until the discovery of 2 records from 1962, Little Tern now finds its way onto a few contemporary Seaton lists.......|:D| Nice one Karen!! :t:

Finally, an early evening look at the river - a first-summer Med Gull (presumably one of yesterday's two) was nice, and there was yet another mini-points earner - yes, a Bar-tailed Godwit - this time a nice brown one just beginning to show some summer colour. Unfortunately it headed off S with 6 Whimbrel when I tried to sneak up and snap it. Another 12 Whimbrel were flying around N of Coronation Corner.

[bun]

Smashing birds them little terns (wish i could of stayed all afternoon and watched them feed, superb!) another lifer, nice one karen,....think i might have to give up my routine of celebrating every lifer with a chinese takeaway and a few tins of guinness, or i will probably weigh about 25 stone by the end of the year!! 7 wheatear up Beer Head this evening but not much else of note...stacks of swallows on seaton marshes tonight and 6 sandwich terns on seafront.

[KarenWoolley]

37 hours without Birdforum seemed like ages!! ...........

Still less time on birdforum means more time out birding!

On Monday Axe Cliff was thick with fog but I did see my first Whitethroat of the year. Apart from that I had a rather unproductive day.


Today started better with a Hobby over Cownhayne Farm Colyton and later in the morning, a female Redstart, just South of Boshill Cross narrowly missed a rather close encounter with my car radiator grill!! I had to break hard to miss it! :eek!:

At lunchtime I decided to take the dog down the beach. After a quick walk with him I sat in the car and watched some Sandwich Terns fishing off the river mouth. After a while I heard an unfamiliar high-pitched chattering and then I saw them........... TINY TERNS!!! 3 of them, hovering briefly before diving and very dainty!

Having never seen Little Terns before I wasn't sure at first what they were, but they were terns and they were very little, so Duh! Little Terns they must be. Palpitations ensued! Had I spotted a patch MEGA!?? I put out a text and was very happy to quickly hear from Gavin who confirmed my ID over the phone. They had moved out of sight of me by now, but were relocated further west where we had some more great close views of them. Brilliant! |=)|

I got a second look at them in the evening when they dutifully reappeared for Steve to see, they were still off the front at 6 o' clock.

Wonder if they will be around tomorrow ? I know I will! |=)|

[Roger Boswell]

First - thanks for all those who helped with my last bird pic identification. Having been out with some keen birding friends over the last two days I realise that not being able to hear anything but Gulls and Crows puts me at a distinct disadvantage! Especially so when walking round Raddipole when they kept hearing Cetti's Warblers. One did eventually show itself so I had to believe them about the others.

Tuesday there were 4 Whimbrels at Colyton and another couple at Seaton. Also 10 Wheatears at Seaton (9 on the estuary islands and one on the power cables near Borroe Pit).

Roger