Devon Birding

[Kev Rylands]

Hi Andrew -Pochard now you're talking - not had one at the Warren for six years!

Surf Scoter still at the Warren but very distant this afternoon, but if the link below is in your favorites you already know that ;)

Cheers
Kev

[Mark]

The female Red-Crested Pochard still at Beesands today with the Gadwall and Pochard flock, no real reason why it is an escape, seems to be fully winged and un-ringed. Also a female Scaup and a Swallow over the Ley.

Nearby at Slapton, 3 Ruddy Duck including 1 male at Torcross, a Kingfisher at the bridge and 2+ Firecrest at Strete Gate at the start to the 'woodland walk'. No sign of the Marsh Harrier.

[Andrew]

No exciting Pochard or Tufty for me today on the Grand Western Canal.

Two Little Egrets flew east over the Tiverton end of the canal. Five Kingfishers were logged. A notable increase in winter thrushes.

Two Canada Geese returned for the winter without bringing some sexy exotica I would unscrupulously tick off! ;)

Had to let a Redpoll go due to bad light, woulda been a canal year tick. There will be more.

[Gavin Haig]

No exciting Pochard or Tufty for me today on the Grand Western Canal.

The 'new Cley' is hosting both Tuftie AND Pochard right now. Quality! ;)

[Ppedro]

[QUOTE=Mark;1051151]The female Red-Crested Pochard still at Beesands today with the Gadwall and Pochard flock, no real reason why it is an escape, seems to be fully winged and un-ringed.

Red-crested Pochard still there, fully winged ? Where did I hide me blunberbuss |})|

[Joe Ray]

Don't suppose this is a tickable individual is it?
*Unscrupulous tick-hungry little b*stard here* ;)

[Kev Rylands]

tut tut Jyothi
Just one day with the Poet and swearing already, it's a slippery slope from here B (:

Re the punk pochard, tick away - can't be any worse than the one on the canal a few years back, eh Andrew? ;)

[Andrew]

Hey Kev, don't slag off that lovely bird, you were asking me to find one again last year when you were desperate for Devon year ticks! ;)

It was good to see it being reported by others for a few days. People actually travelled to see MY bird!

[Mark]

nothing like a good old duck to generate a bit of discussion, that's 6 responses to my original comment tonight...apart from being a bit 'off colour', there is nothing wrong with this one !! ;)

[Joe Ray]

tut tut Jyothi
Just one day with the Poet and swearing already, it's a slippery slope from here B (:

Re the punk pochard, tick away - can't be any worse than the one on the canal a few years back, eh Andrew? ;)
Ahh, it was all locked away before, just a little encouragement and i can do it for Britain ;).
Only problem now is getting from Brixham (school) at 3.45 to Slapton before its dark. Difficult. Mark, how long has the bird been around, and do you think it'll stay until the weekend at least? As in, it's not getting bullied by the local Pochards or anything?
Cheers
J

[Mark]

Ahh, it was all locked away before, just a little encouragement and i can do it for Britain ;).
Only problem now is getting from Brixham (school) at 3.45 to Slapton before its dark. Difficult. Mark, how long has the bird been around, and do you think it'll stay until the weekend at least? As in, it's not getting bullied by the local Pochards or anything?
Cheers
J

don't worry about getting to Slapton, the bird is at Beesands ;)

Think it has been there for 2-3 weeks now and I wouldn't think it is going anywhere quickly, but you never know, everything has got to go sometime..

If I was betting man, I would say it will still be there for you next Saturday.

[Mark]

Did anyone check Exminster this evening to see if the 4 Cranes came back into roost ?

[andy]

Hi Mark

No sign of any Cranes or C Egret today at Exminster Marsh, there until dusk.

Andy

[Mark]

Hi Mark

No sign of any Cranes or C Egret today at Exminster Marsh, there until dusk.

Andy


Hi Andy,

cheers for that, a great shame, just a pity news of either wasn't circulated yesterday.

Hopefully the Cattle Egret is still in the area somewhere.

[Ppedro]

Had a call from David Horton of Woodhouse Farm, West Alvington today. He was driving up his farm track this morning and there was a Glossy Ibis stood in the road. Surely this has to be the same bird that was here in the spring - where`s it been ?
Bird was showing very well this afternoon. Not to wary it was feeding well and hopefully will stick around for a while, maybe even overwinter. All welcome to view from this private farmroad but please park in the village itself and not by the farmroad or in the farm itself. As in the spring, thanks Dave ( a non-birder )for finding the Ibis and letting us know. For directions see post #584 of this thread.

[Joe Ray]

The Glossy Ibis was still showing well in fields on the right of the farm track at 3.55pm at least.

[Andrew]

Red-necked Phalarope is a bit of a bogey bird for me and an evil Crow made sure it stayed one.

Thank goodness I got the second report just before the turn off for Stoodleigh and could turn back towards Tiverton easily enough. Saved a bit of petrol. Rather have seen the bird obviously.

[Mark]

So is this Glossy Ibis the returning bird from the Spring or does it pose an uncanny resemblance to the recent Somerset bird (last seen friday). Any body got any views on the ageing of this bird from Perry's photo's above? It would seem strange for the adult seen over 6 1/2 months ago to return, especially when it was only present for a couple of days and there be no records anywhere in between.. if it is the Somerset bird, it is amazing that 2 ibis's can find the same tiny valley, though i guess what is right for one ibis is right for another.

It was very confiding this afternoon, happily feeding in the field by the lane to the farm. (only a few minutes walk down from the village)

[Ppedro]

Like you say Mark, long odds on it either dissapearing for so long or two different birds appearing at the same locality in such a short space of time. Had a look at some books when i got home and there are a lot of ambiguos statements regarding ageing. Birds with such sheens to their plumage can look very different in photos. Indeed looking at photos of Ibis`s from elsewhere taken on the same day often looks like two completely different individuals. Personally find it hard to comprehend two different Ibis`s could turn up within 200 metres off each others location 6 months apart at what is a standard inland agricultural locality not known as an avian rarity hotspot but i guess stranger things have happened. For my money its the same bird but i stand to be corrected and like you Mark would be interested in other peoples views of its age.

Perry

[Ppedro]

Having looked at the photos of the Somerset bird mentioned by Mark it certainly does bear a good resemblance. Certainly not sure of the same bird theory now. The odds must be great but i guess it looks like two birds are involved.

EDIT: By same bird / two birds I am refering to the sightings at West Alvington in April and November, not Somerset -Devon

[Mark]

any one got any more info on the report of a male pied/black-eared wheatear at Northam Burrows on Friday ?

[Gavin Haig]

any one got any more info on the report of a male pied/black-eared wheatear at Northam Burrows on Friday ?

Have you seen THIS (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1057193#post1057193) thread Mark? You could PM the photographer!

[Roy C]

any one got any more info on the report of a male pied/black-eared wheatear at Northam Burrows on Friday ?
It was actually Saturday that I photographed the bird - pic attached

[Poet For Sale]

tut tut Jyothi
Just one day with the Poet and swearing already, it's a slippery slope from here B (:


Oi! I'm no shady character ;)



Nah I lie, shady as they come.


Easy


x

[Joe Ray]

It was actually Saturday that I photographed the bird - pic attached
Apparently this is still showing well?
I'm feeling lucky, last few twitches have all been successfull (Long-billed Dowitcher, Buff-bellied Pipit, Red-crested Pochard, Glossy Ibis etc), does anybody want to hazard a guess at how long it would take to get to Northam Burrows from Totnes?
Cheers
J

[Roy C]

Wheatear was still showing well 4 pm today. The experts still cannot decide which it is.

[Mark]

Apparently this is still showing well?
I'm feeling lucky, last few twitches have all been successfull (Long-billed Dowitcher, Buff-bellied Pipit, Red-crested Pochard, Glossy Ibis etc), does anybody want to hazard a guess at how long it would take to get to Northam Burrows from Totnes?
Cheers
J


from Exeter Services it took 1 hour and 10 minutes this afternoon, so i suppose you looking 1 hour 45 minutes or so...best to park by the information centre by sandymere pool and walk up between the golf course and beach...bird was ranging over a good half a mile stretch this afternoon and hence dissapearing for fairly long periods before it was relocated each time.

[Steve Waite]

from Exeter Services it took 1 hour and 10 minutes this afternoon, so i suppose you looking 1 hour 45 minutes or so...best to park by the information centre by sandymere pool and walk up between the golf course and beach...bird was ranging over a good half a mile stretch this afternoon and hence dissapearing for fairly long periods before it was relocated each time.

More importantly Mark - what are your thoughts on the ID of the bird? How does it look in the field?

[Poet For Sale]

Thought I should introduce myself properly following my short post earlier,

I'm lisle, in my first year of studying Geography at Plymouth Uni, so living in Plymouth.
Been birding since I was small (and less hairy).

As long as it sticks, I'll be at the Wheatear wednesday, holla if you see me.

Take it easy,


Lisle x

[parttimer]

Anybody Know if the Wheatear still on Northam Burrows?

[Roy C]

Anybody Know if the Wheatear still on Northam Burrows?
No sign of the bird today - looks like its gone.

[parttimer]

Thanks Roy shame didnt hear about it until monday, never mind always plenty to see on the skern.

[Conorbirda2]

Thought I should introduce myself properly following my short post earlier,

I'm lisle, in my first year of studying Geography at Plymouth Uni, so living in Plymouth.
Been birding since I was small (and less hairy).

As long as it sticks, I'll be at the Wheatear wednesday, holla if you see me.

Take it easy,


Lisle x

Hey JUDAS! How about an intro on our thread too!

[Kev Rylands]

A (the?) Glossy Ibis was seen at Bowling Green this afternoon, some other observers said it had been there a couple of days!!

Is the county going a bit Cornish or is just that no-one bothers to report anything any more?;)

[Mark]

A (the?) Glossy Ibis was seen at Bowling Green this afternoon, some other observers said it had been there a couple of days!!

Is the county going a bit Cornish or is just that no-one bothers to report anything any more?;)


''been thinking the same thing Kev, it is getting really bad at the moment !!!

Interesting to see if the Ibis has relocated again, if it has, amazing how the 2 sites it picks are the 2 sites of its predecessors.

[Conorbirda2]

A (the?) Glossy Ibis was seen at Bowling Green this afternoon, some other observers said it had been there a couple of days!!

Is the county going a bit Cornish or is just that no-one bothers to report anything any more?;)

Oi!!! I resemble that comment! Although, keep it up boys, it takes some of the heat off the Cornish for a while!!:t:

[Andrew]

Oi!!! I resemble that comment! Although, keep it up boys, it takes some of the heat off the Cornish for a while!!:t:

For a Yorkshireman, Paul, you do very well to blend in by speaking the Cornishman's poor version of the Queen's English. :t:

A Woodcock flying around the Grand Western Canal in broad daylight yesterday as well as a Little Egret over. A Common Gull in Tiverton, only second one I have seen in the Tiverton environs.

All three long gone now. Does that make me a bit 'Cornish', Kev? 3:-)

[Kev Rylands]

|=(|A Woodcock flying around the Grand Western Canal in broad daylight yesterday as well as a Little Egret over. A Common Gull in Tiverton, only second one I have seen in the Tiverton environs.

All three long gone now. Does that make me a bit 'Cornish', Kev? 3:-)

Not quite, only just beat the 24 hour mark. Should have waited until the Monday at least :t:

The probable first winter Caspian Gull at the Warren today will no doubt be long gone by tomorrow as well.

[Kev Rylands]

As predicted no sign of the gull at DW.

Two Great Northern, a Red-throated and a Black-throated Diver off Babbacombe this evening - no grebes though!

[Ppedro]

Easily 150,000 Starlings roosting at Slapton Ley in Ireland Bay today. Always a nice way to end a still winters day.

[Terry Smith]

A female Brambling with finches at Bowling Green Marsh today. Walk along the lane past the hide, and check finches in the hedgerows before the 'Log Lay-by'.

[parttimer]

Whilst out for a walk around a private local lake yesterday I was supprised and delighted to see a kingfisher. Isn't it amazing how such a small bird can light up a dull day.

Stu

[Conorbirda2]

For a Yorkshireman, Paul, you do very well to blend in by speaking the Cornishman's poor version of the Queen's English. :t:

A Woodcock flying around the Grand Western Canal in broad daylight yesterday as well as a Little Egret over. A Common Gull in Tiverton, only second one I have seen in the Tiverton environs.

All three long gone now. Does that make me a bit 'Cornish', Kev? 3:-)

Thanks Andrew, its a play on words mate, resemble, resent, you know? 8-P

[Terry Smith]

''been thinking the same thing Kev, it is getting really bad at the moment !!!.

My recent thoughts too Mark! Only commented to a mate the other day, not much being reported in our county. Talking of which has anyone reported the Whooper Swan or the Cattle Egret at Budleigh lately? (Perhaps I should find time to look myself!!) :cat:

Incidentally Friday looks like a 'seawatch day'.

[Terry Smith]

Ruddy Duck still on the main pool at Bowling Green Marsh at lunchtime today. Also female Brambling seen again in laneside hedgerow between hide and 'log lay-by'.

Reliably informed that the LB Dowitcher was on the reserve this morning again at high tide.

[Terry Smith]

Long-billed Dowitcher showed well in front of the hide at Bowling Green Marsh, but flew out on to the Clyst, upstream from the stone barge at 1250 today. The Ruddy Duck remains on the main pool. Now 2 Bramblings in finch flock, today in trees around the hide.

[Andrew]

Had a look at the Exe a lot further 'upstream' at Tiverton and there were two Goosanders and a Dipper.

[sooseee]

There is a dipper regularly in the River at Lynmouth, wonderfully visible on the boulders near where the two bridges are close from the pavement . I had never seen one under water before

[Kev Rylands]

Avocet on the Teign today off Passage House, also at least one wintering Common Sandpiper there.

No wind blown seabirds though.

[The Kerreran]

Hi. Yes, I'm still alive! Had my work hours changed for the worse and the clockwork box I call my computer's been particularly recalcitrant, so posting hasn't been coming off for.. :: Checks :: that long?!? :eek!:
I'll have to be brief now [stop cheering! ;) ] and backdate tomorrow [I hope]
Went to Hope's Nose, but the Leach's Petrels seem to have been blown right past us ::Shrugs:: Nice Great Northern Diver, half a dozen ad. and a 3w Gannet fishing quite close in, twenty-odd ad. Kittiwake messing around, lot of Herring and Black-headed Gull but no Mediterranean on the outfall, the usual Rockits, no less than 11 Blackbird, a Song Thrush singing. Three Jay and a female Sparrowhawk in Ilsham valley, 41 Woodpig over S, and a poor li'l rabbit with myxamatosis by the path down to the Nose..

[picknage]

anyone else see the smaller goose with the greylags at bowling green marsh, topsham, yesterday? looks similar but is a fair bit smaller. couldnt really agree what we thought it was in the hide and my experience with grey type geese is limited.

the ruddy duck was still there. as the tide went out lots of waders including golden and grey plover and the avocets (first time ive seen them so i was more then a little happy!)

thanks,

nick

[The Kerreran]

Right then, as promised, the November update.. :: Deep breath ::

2/11 Not in Devon but up to Steart Point, waderlicious and raptor-filled with 3 Merlin the highlight.

4/11 The Bovey and Becka valleys, usual woodland suspects plus 59 Fieldfare and 4 Redwing over S.

10/11 Prawle for an afternoon seawatch as therapy after first week of 4-20am starts |8(|, didn't expect much with the NW wind - goes to show what I know then.. Gannet 34E 105W, Guillemot 197E [Mostly Northern Types] 7W, Razorbill 8E 3W, Kittiwake 17W, Common Scoter 5E, Wader sp. 2E, Storm Petrel 2E, Pomarine Skua 7W [2 single pale phase ad, 3 + 2 juvenile types, incl. one definite dark phase juv.], ad. Sabine's Gull W, G. N. Diver W, Little Auk 2W, Bonxie W, 6+ Harbour Porpoise W. 2 m. Cirl Bunting, 3 Rockit, 2 Stonechat, Wren doing wallcreeper impression, 3 Oystie. Return past Slapton Ley - Bittern S over Upper Ley at 5-14. :eek!: :t:

11/11 Walkham Valley, 1500+ Woodpig, 1-3 ex- Woodpigs around plucking post nr. Hucken Tor

17/11 Vitifer-Sousson's, Brambling [f., lane S. of Wind Tor], 9 Bullfinch [m. lane nr. Challacombe, 8 Vitifer], 18 Redpoll [Sousson's], 3+ Crossbill [Sousson's], 13 Woodpig & Stock Dove S [Vitifer], 1 [yes, 1!] Fieldfare, ringtail Hen Harrier [roosting, Vitifer], Woodcock [Flew through headlights, Ephraim's Pinch]

18/11 Dawlish Warren, Little Gull, m. Eider, 8 f. C. Scoter + ~15 Scoter sp. [presumed incl. Surf Scoter], 3 G. C. Grebe, 5+ ad. Gannet, 5+ ad. Kittiwake, m. R-B Merganser, juv. Sparrowhawk
Cockwood, 30+ R-B Merganser incl. displaying mm., 60+ Brent, 3+ Little Grebe, 2 Goldeneye

20/11 West Alvington, Glossy Ibis [juv. ?]

24/11 Broadsands, 3 B-T Diver, 2 G. N. Diver, juv. R-T Diver, 2 B-N Grebe, 8 G. C. Grebe, 1w f. Velvet Scoter, 2 f. C. Scoter, 15 C. Scoter N to Meadfoot, 2 Razorbill, 5 Gannet N, 2 Fulmar S, 9 Kittiwake S, Curlew S, 7+ R-B Merganser, Ringed Plover, 4 Rockit

25/11 Fernworthy, f. Goosander, m. Tufty, 3 L. Grebe, 15 Teal, 2 Corm, ~40 Common Gull. f. Serin, 4+ Siskin, 3 Redpoll, 10+ Coal Tit incl. at least 1 Continental race, ~40 Fieldfare, ~150 Starling, 2 Lapland Bunting flushed from almost underfoot [flew S], while trying to refind 4 Bunting sp. [2 'm' + 2 'f', not Yellowhammer, Reed, or Cirl, let alone Corn - closest to Little or maybe Rustic, but after much research still very unsure] between reservoir and Thornworthy Tor.

[The Kerreran]

anyone else see the smaller goose with the greylags at bowling green marsh, topsham, yesterday? looks similar but is a fair bit smaller.

Hi Nick,
wasn't there, but I won't let a minor detail like that stop me from taking a stab at it! ;) Grey goose markedly smaller than Greylag.. Did it have white around the bill base? If so probably White-fronted [there have been reports of Lesser White-fronts in the Exe area, though none very recently that I know of], if not, then Pink-footed, as Bean tend to be closer to Greylag in size. Of course it could be a small individual... [Hedge hedge hedge... lol ]

[Mark]

anyone else see the smaller goose with the greylags at bowling green marsh, topsham, yesterday? looks similar but is a fair bit smaller. couldnt really agree what we thought it was in the hide and my experience with grey type geese is limited.

the ruddy duck was still there. as the tide went out lots of waders including golden and grey plover and the avocets (first time ive seen them so i was more then a little happy!)

thanks,

nick


There was a juv White-Fronted Goose with the Greylags there on Sunday, so it was presumably that. Think it was seen 10 days ago as well. Haven't heard anyone else mention it, so not sure if it is always present or not.

[picknage]

thanks Tom and Mark. Steve Waite helped me work through the ID and that was our conclusion too. he also pointed out the report from south devon birds for a juv white front a few days ago (the same as your Mark i assume) so mystery solved. i now know what to look for in the future too!

thanks,

nick

[Terry Smith]

Long-billed Dowitcher showing very well on channel in front of the hide at Bowling Green Marsh this afternoon up to 1450hrs at least. Ruddy Duck still on main pool.

[Mark]

A Cattle Egret at Teigngrace today, between Newton Abbot and Stover feeding at the back of a flooded field with 25 Little Egrets north of the road/west of the railway line. Thank you to the kind person who found it and got the news out so quickly.

[Kev Rylands]

A Cattle Egret at Teigngrace today. Thank you to the kind person who found it

No thanks going to them at all ;)

That was meant to be my find, I have been checking those fields out for weeks just for Cattle Egret - everything until today had looked like a Little...

All I had this morning from the car (c 8.20am) was a distant lone white blob that I assumed was just another Little, could also have been a bucket, but I now know what it was...

So have now driven past and not found Squacco Heron and Cattle Egret in Newton :-C

[Kev Rylands]

In a slightly better mood this evening ;)

People were shooting over the egret field this morning but after a search managed to relocate the Cattle Egret, this time in fields nearer Teigngrace again with a good number of Little Egret (27).

A welcome Newton tick No. 170 B (:

[Joe Ray]

Stover is so under watched, I recon more would turn up there if there was better coverage. Good chance of Crossbill (so I'm told ;)), there was the (thrice dipped) Ring-necked Duck, and it's a decent site as hole in my experience. Do you go to Stover CP itself often Kev?
Crossbill is one of my biggest bogeys ;)

[Kev Rylands]

Stover gets an occasional visit but usually just to year tic woodland stuff that doesn't occur on the Warren, although it has added a few birds to my Newton list (just inside the self imposed 5km boundary!).

Best bet for Crossbill is back of Bellever plantation, Fernworthy or Soussons all on Dartmoor. Tune yourself into the flight call and you should have no trouble.

Nearer Newton Great Plantation is probably a better bet than Stover in a non invasion year.

Cheers
Kev

[da2m]

hi kev
is it the field by the railway crossing by oylimpus recovery?
dazaStover gets an occasional visit but usually just to year tic woodland stuff that doesn't occur on the Warren, although it has added a few birds to my Newton list (just inside the self imposed 5km boundary!).

Best bet for Crossbill is back of Bellever plantation, Fernworthy or Soussons all on Dartmoor. Tune yourself into the flight call and you should have no trouble.

Nearer Newton Great Plantation is probably a better bet than Stover in a non invasion year.

Cheers
Kev

[da2m]

mamhead cross is a great place for xbillsStover is so under watched, I recon more would turn up there if there was better coverage. Good chance of Crossbill (so I'm told ;)), there was the (thrice dipped) Ring-necked Duck, and it's a decent site as hole in my experience. Do you go to Stover CP itself often Kev?
Crossbill is one of my biggest bogeys ;)

[kmonty1950]

hi kev
is it the field by the railway crossing by oylimpus recovery?
daza

Hi Daza,

It was in that field yesterday and in fields on the road to Teigngrace where the pylons cross the lane (with a herd of cows). This morning it was right opposite the entrance to 12 oaks farm (just outside Teigngrace itself).

Good birding

Ken.

[da2m]

cheers ken, i'll pop down 2mrw

[Kev Rylands]

Good Luck tomorrow Daza.

Nearby Grey Plover this evening at Passage House is another very good Newton bird, can't remember my last record there.

Cheers
Kev

[da2m]

cheer mate, lets hope thet the promised weather holds for a few hours!!! Good Luck tomorrow Daza.

Nearby Grey Plover this evening at Passage House is another very good Newton bird, can't remember my last record there.

Cheers
Kev

[The Kerreran]

For Crossbills I agree with all the above. Saw my first on Haldon [the old car park, kids and dogs frolicking below!], had my best at Sousson's. Like Kev says, once you've got the call you're sorted. :t:

Late afternoon strolled down to Oddicombe to see what was sheltering from the wind. Sure enough ~500 Kittiwake on the sea, joined as the light faded by at least as many Herring, with a few Black-headed and G. Black-backed knocking about. Only about 20 of the Kittis were def. juv/1w [ last Dec. a flock of ~600 had ~200 juv.s ], though the light wasn't great and they insisted on sitting in the rough water, the inconsiderate things.. Ahem. So there may have been more.
6+ G-C Grebes with an unexpected and very slippery Red-necked, and 9 Gannet, one of which came close inshore [ over my head where I was on Blackball rocks :-O ]. Also an adorable little Wren creeping mouse-like through the leaves by the road. [ Aww... ]

[The Kerreran]

What do you do when it's wet, windy, and you're feeling just a little too sane for a seawatch?
I went to Topsham. Tide was all wrong, but you never know, right?
Much to my surprise there were waders - 2 Blackwit, 3 Barwit, a lone Golden Plover, and a Redshank, along with good numbers of Lapwing and Starling [ I think Starling are about as wader-y as Lapwing ;) ]. Waterfowl dominated, Wigeon and Teal mainly, with 20+ Shovelor, 6+ Pintail, 4 Tuftie, 2+ Li'l Grebe, a rather brown-looking juv. Grey Heron [ very closely examined.. ], and single Greylag and [ unringed ] Barnacle with the Canada Goose horde. Goldfinch and Chaffinch vocal in the lane.
On the Clyst, Dunlin in the hundreds, Oysties, Redshank, and distant Blackwits in the scores, Li'l Egret and Grey Plover in the handfuls, plus no less than 2 Avocet! [ Gasp! ]
No sightings of Long-billed Dowitcher, Ruddy Duck, Gargany, Brambling, or the Green-winged Teal that was reported in the area.
Stopped at Cockwood crossing on the way back - Pochard and a few distant Merganser, plus another juv. Grey Heron flying upriver. Plenty of Brent and Oysties on Starcross 'golf course', and 23 Oystie upriver over Shaldon bridge.

[davercox]

Late afternoon strolled down to Oddicombe to see what was sheltering from the wind.
6+ G-C Grebes with an unexpected and very slippery Red-necked, and 9 Gannet, one of which came close inshore [ over my head where I was on Blackball rocks :-O ]. Also an adorable little Wren creeping mouse-like through the leaves by the road. [ Aww... ]

Tom, if you haven't already, could you please make sure these get into the Atlas (via Birdtrack if you like) ? SX96 needs grebes ! Thanks, Dave.

[Kev Rylands]

No sightings of Long-billed Dowitcher, Ruddy Duck, Gargany, Brambling, or the Green-winged Teal that was reported in the area.

BGM strikes again - did anyone else hear of this report?

In case people haven't heard of it ;) , there are things called Birdline and pagers, you can report sightings on 0845 4567938.

This internet and forum thingy is great but if bird news only ever gets posted online (or not at all!) we might as well go back to postcards and telegrams ;)

...and SX86 needs grebes and lots more besides!!

Cheers
Kev

[Andrew]

Not heard of it at all Kev, could be the bird from last winter?

Paid a visit to the Grand Western Canal out at Sampford Peverell to Burlescombe. A Water Rail, a male Kingfisher, a Meadow Pipit, two Little Grebes and a Siskin were good fare but in a local context an increase from two summering Coots to five wintering birds was heartening.

Still need Redpoll (for the canal year) before the end of the month so will pay a few more visits this week.

[parttimer]

Spotted Redshank in the brook running down to Fremington Quay today along with the other usual suspects Redshank, Greenshank, Curlew, And Little Eggret.

Stu

[Joe Ray]

Off school with a bad cold, so after the morning in a bed, dragged myself up for a quick walk round my patch. Little Grebe at the Berry Pomeroy Castle lake (it's a big pond to be honest) which was nice, this bird turned up 13th October, stayed until the 27th then disappeared, first sighting of it back this morning, it wasn't there yesterday!
Otherwise little of note, 2 Siskins and a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits over, 9 Goldcrests, and large numbers of tits despite the lack of winter thrushes.

[Andrew]

Grand Western Canal from 'near Halberton' to Tiverton produced two Skylarks, a Kingfisher, thirty eight Siskins, two Woodcock, a Treecreeper, two Sparrowhawks and a Coal Tit with two male Blackcaps sen later back home in the garden.

[Joe Ray]

Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, 6 Goldcrests, 15 LT Tits, a couple of Buzzards and 9 Siskins on the patch today.

[Cudyll Bach]

Little Grebe, Sparrowhawk, 6 Goldcrests, 15 LT Tits, a couple of Buzzards and 9 Siskins on the patch today.

Six lifers in day, I'm impressed. ;)

[Mark]

The Cattle Egret still showing very well today in with the cattle viewable from the road south of Teigngrace. Only about 8 Little Egrets in the same field today. Also a large flock of Fieldfare in the area.

[The Kerreran]

Tom, if you haven't already, could you please make sure these get into the Atlas (via Birdtrack if you like) ? SX96 needs grebes ! Thanks, Dave.

They'll be going in my Roving Records, worry not! ;)

[The Kerreran]

BGM strikes again - did anyone else hear of this report?

In case people haven't heard of it ;) , there are things called Birdline and pagers, you can report sightings on 0845 4567938.

This internet and forum thingy is great but if bird news only ever gets posted online (or not at all!) we might as well go back to postcards and telegrams ;)

...and SX86 needs grebes and lots more besides!!

Cheers
Kev


Sorry for the delay in replying, I've been busy with work, tetrads, and trying not to kill myself on black ice [ arg.. ] ;)
I got the G-W T report from a visiting birder [not a local] in the Bowling Green Hide. We chatted about the elusiveness of last winter's G-W, especially its annoying habit of hiding in plain sight [by sitting by a tussock at just the right angle to hide its id features]. This chap didn't seem Cornish [ though you never know.. ;) ], and I assumed he'd got his news from a pager [ don't have one myself - I'd never be able to withstand the temptation! ].

To defend our hosts, this forum gives next-day service, that's better than the Post Office these days ;)
Slightly more seriously - I see a twitchable rarity, I call Birdline.
:: Pause :: Sorry, if I ever see a twitchable rarity, I will call Birdline!

....getting in on the fun, SX85 needs Treecreepers, Woodcock, and salt! Especially on its stiles..

[Terry Smith]

Today, an adult Mediterranean Gull in the gull flock in fields opposite the Clyst Estuary viewing platform, early afternoon, east of the railway line near the white-railed bridge. Also one female Brambling in the laneside hedgerow near the Bowling Green hide briefly.

(Apparently the Long-billed Dowitcher was seen again on Bowling Green this morning).

[Andrew]

Two Dippers were roosting on a grassy reed raft next to the bridge at Bickleigh about half past four and I thought "Oooh, better phone that in to Birdline!". Upon seeing I only had £2.15p left on my mobile I decided to use BF.

Okay, I admit I was worried about the Birdline chaps telling me to "**** off!". ;)

Seriously, if anyone is in the area when the Exe is running high then visit Bickleigh if you fancy seeing Dipper. Look both sides of the upstream side of the bridge. Should be okay for seeing one.

[devon.birder]

As I had to go to Chudleigh Knighton this morning I popped around to Teigngrace early afternoon and saw the Cattle Egret in the usual field. Another good bird in the Newton Abbot area to add to my "seen after attending a funeral" list!!! The best is still the Sora at Stover though. Roger

[Joe Ray]

The Cattle Egret was still showing at Teigngrace with a dozen or so Little Egrets at 3.30pm. A decent flock of Pied Wagtails around as well (c40) as well as 80+ Redwings.

[soareyes]

Black Brant on the Kingsbridge Estuary today!! bit of a rubbish piccy but you get the idea. viewed from lincombe boatyard or W Charleton marsh hide:t:117858

[The Kerreran]

Now there's a sight! ;)

Can't have a go before Weds, if it's still around, of course..
Ah well,

Went up to Roadford on Sunday, missed the monthly count guys due to inability to get up that early without the use of explosives, and the sun duly came out a little before 2pm. Before that there were some good duck numbers from the hide, and more from the viaduct, while the fringes were rewarding [ when not concentrating on the eclectic mix of ice and deep mud - first you slip over, then sink without trace! ;) ], as was waiting by the visitor centre 'til sunset.

In vague chronological order; Tawny Owl [ dead by road nr. Spinsters' Rock ], ~50 Tuftie, ~100 Teal, 9 Goldeneye [ 5m 4f ], 2 Marsh Tit, 2 Jay, 3 Snipe, 180+ Wigeon, 13+ Redwing with ~500 Starling, 4 G C Grebe, 6 Li'l Grebe, Bullfinch [ f ], Grey Wag., 2 Cormorant, ~40 Coot, 23 Shovelor, 280+ Canada incl. 3 'Farm Goose', 1500++ gull roost incl. ~800 Common & 70+ G B-B, 17 Goosander [ 7m 10f ].

[Mark]

Dissapointingly no sign of the Black Brant today on the Kingsbridge Estuary. Surprisingly though and considering that it is only the 2nd for Devon (the first being 19 years ago), there was less than 6 people looking today, so it could well still be tucked away on the estuary somewhere.
The main flock of around 70 Brents were off the boatyard at Lincombe but some of these dispersed to the north of West Charleton Bay and off Frogmore Creek (where 31 had congregated by late afternoon). However, there could well be a small group that was missed, so hopefully it could still be there.
A dropping or low tide seems favourite.
Other than the geese, a Great Northern Diver off Frogmore, and a Kingfisher and Greenshank at Lincombe were present.

[Terry Smith]

Seems to have been mentioned on Birdguides, but as I am not a subscriber it might have been negative news, but there was no sad-face smiley by the entry. Anybody able to shed light on this?

Couldn't find the Dowitcher at Bowling Green at lunchtime but the tide wasn't particularly high, and the bird may have been on Goose Moor again. Still one female Brambling outside the hide again. Main pool 75% iced over.

[Terry Smith]

Just seen it is negative news on Birdguides!

[Terry Smith]

Long-billed Dowitcher was present on the main pool at Bowling Green Marsh at 1315hrs today in a tightly-packed Redshank flock, but did show well at times. Also female Brambling again with the mixed finch flock around the lane just past the hide.

Also, in case anyone hasn't heard, a report of a possible Great Blue Heron in a field by Hartland Forest Golf Club, opposite Trew's Plantation. Hopefully more on this later!!

[soareyes]

no sign Black Brant kingsbridge estuary today despite extensive search. any latest on the Hartland GB HERON

[The Kerreran]

Disappointingly no sign of the Black Brant today on the Kingsbridge Estuary. Surprisingly though and considering that it is only the 2nd for Devon (the first being 19 years ago), there was less than 6 people looking today, so it could well still be tucked away on the estuary somewhere.

Still hope, then; as you say, the estuary is a maze of little creeks and inlets, full of weed for Brants to eat, and overhanging trees to hide them!

Maybe if we get Steve Waite to wave his mystical doughnuts, he can entice it into hanging around on the Axe? [ :: Whispers :: Or maybe even that heron....?? ] ;)

[The Kerreran]

Or maybe not..
Trying to be positive, it might have moved to the Exe? :: Ponders trip to Cockwood ::

[Mark]

I have been told that there is a Female Scaup on Stover today and present for the last few days. Also 3 fem/imm Velvet Scoter's in Torbay today off Preston Seafront and the female Eider still in Torquay Harbour but not much else in choppy conditions.

[The Kerreran]

I have been told that there is a Female Scaup on Stover today and present for the last few days. Also 3 fem/imm Velvet Scoter's in Torbay today off Preston Seafront and the female Eider still in Torquay Harbour but not much else in choppy conditions.

Female Eider? I did a loop from Princess Pier to Corbyn Head and back, late yesterday afternoon, and the Eider hanging around the harbour entrance was a 1w male.. Also 3 Turnstone and a Rockit on the Pier, single Black-necked and G C Grebes off Torre Abbey sands, with a gull roost of ~500 Black-heads, ~100 Herring, a dozen GBBs, and 6 Common. 7 Dark-bellied Brent close in to Corbyn Head, with the usual horde of Mallard, but no sign of any Blackstarts-

-At least, not by the sea; my Mum had a female Blackstart scoffing grapes on her garden shed roof this morning!

[Steve Waite]

my Mum had a female Blackstart scoffing grapes on her garden shed roof this morning!

That is a sensational record - a first for the UK I think! Did your mum get any pictures????

[Ppedro]

Al`s Black Brant still on the Kingsbridge Estuary this morning. At about 10:00 hrs it was with a loose flock of 40 dark-bellied Brent`s not far off the small South West Water pumping station off Embankment Road, Kingsbridge where the Laughing Gull was in November 2005, ( SX 738432 ). There is room for a few cars here else ample parking on the hill back across the main road. By late morning as the tide fell it had wandered quite a way down the estuary to the mudflats between Curlew Drive and Park Bay sewage works (SX 743423 ).Best viewed here by walking down Curlew Drive ( first right on entering West Charleton village from Kingsbridge ) and taking grass path on right of drive where it levels out which takes you down to the foreshore. Then head left out to first point and view. Note there is no parking in Curlew Drive. Best to drive past entrance and turn left at next junction ( c 100 metres ) park somewhere near church (SX 750427 ) then walk back along main road to Curlew Drive.
My hunch would be that as soon as enough mud is exposed in the morning it will be off Embankment road and then start heading down the estuary. If not here then it should be where Al found it last week off Lincombe or in Charleton Bay where it may well be in the afternoons anyhow.
An Avocet, scarce on this estuary , also off Curlew Drive.

Perry

[Mark]

Well done Perry for persevering with the Brant and relocating it this morning. The bird was showing well though fairly distantly in the middle of the estuary mid/late morning. An excellant bird to finish the year with.

[Mark]

Also, in Torbay, now 5 Velvet Scoters off Preston and 3 Eider there just off the rocks (1 female and 2 first winter males).

[The Kerreran]

Nice one, Perry!

a first for the UK I think!

Never mind the UK, if the BGRC accept it, it'll be a garden first!

Ahem. At Hope's Nose early this morning - 74 Guillemot on the sea in the lee of the Ore Stone, as it got lighter all but 3 [ 2 ad 1 juv ] flew off, mostly N. 4 Cormorant N, 3 Song Thrush, a dozen Greenfinch, couple of Stonechat, and the usual pipits, Oysties, and Raven along with the standard gulls.
Next to Teigngrace, where I did not see the Cattle Egret, but I did see a Brambling and half a dozen Fieldfare in Greycoat Lane.
To Stover, where the reported f. Scaup was not only there but spent no more than 5 seconds at a stretch surfaced, which made things really interesting as it appeared to have a bit more black on the bill tip than it should... After much looking and speculating, I think it's a 1w f Scaup with a Tuftie as grand- or great-grandparent. Maybe. [ The bill has a black nail, dark grey tip with pale band, the tip appears all blackish from the side, especially in pics. ] I freely admit my lack of experience with Aythya crosses and immature Scaup. Very little else - pair of Tufties and 15 odd Pochard. Also met birders who showed me a pic of the Cattle Egret balancing on a pile of hay right by the gate opposite 12 Oaks Farm, taken maybe 10 mins after I'd left. I'd done the old 'look right past it' routine.. :-O
Back via Teigngrace. Cattle, yes. Little Egrets, yes. Cattle Egret, no. Ah well.

[Ppedro]

Black Brant viewable from Embankment Road this morning but very distant,
would have been better viewed from off Curlew Drive. Nice collection of wildfowl in Charleton Bay this afternoon included 25 Mergansers, 21 Pintails and 9 Shovelers. Also 85 Brent Geese but not the Brant so perhaps it likes to keep towards the northern end of the estuary. 60+ Teal on Charleton Marsh.
Have a good christmas everyone and good luck next year.

Perry

B (:B (:B (:B (:B (:B (:

[devon.birder]

The Pager reported a Bewick Swan this monring in " Devon at Bampton with Mute Swans along road leading off Bampton to Buckland road before Trout Inn". I wasn't able to go to see it even though I only live about 8 miles from Bampton. However I didn't recognise any of the details and I have now looked up other Bamptons in the atlas and it would appear that the sighting refers to a Bampton in Oxfordshire not Devon. Hope not too many keen Devon listers had a wasted trip.
Happy Christmas to everybody. Roger

[bun]

Ahh! that could explain why we couldnt find a Buckland road in Bampton, Devon nor a Trout inn?? but found a Trout inn in Bickleigh! and no Bewick Swan!! cheers Roger - merry xmas all...B (:

[The Kerreran]

Spent today scouring the upper Kingsbridge estuary for the Black Brant. After checking Embankment Road and Curlew Drive with no success, I went to West Charleton Marsh and sat in the hide [ and, more significantly, out of the wind ] until the tide came in enough to fill all the pesky channels... Revealing no Brant there, either. The chap in the hide with me had had enough, but out of sheer stubborness I walked back to Curlew Drive to check again. It was gone 3pm, and the tide was well in, but along the far shore was a line of Brent, Wigeon, Oysties, and, yes - the Brant. I had it! :-O I got my phone out to call Birdline - I lost it. :-C 5 mins later, I had it! :-O I quickly took my eye off it to check the map reference - I lost it. :-C Finally at about 1535 I got it back again and kept on it until I left at 1630. :t: And yes Kev, I called Birdline. It was loosely associating with a Brent, and very loosely hanging about with a group of Wigeon, just north of the sewage works [ SX739425 ] From where I was at the bottom of the grassy path off Curlew Drive, it was roughly in line with the red and white pole; mostly on the waterline, sometimes wandering on the shore, twice it seemed to be moving off, but changed it's mind and went back to the same spot.

While looking for the Brant, I saw 73+ Brent, 3 Slavonian Grebe, 5 G C Grebe, 2 Common Sand, 3 Greenshank, Avocet, Grey Plover, 15+ R-B Merganser, 2 Pintail [ pair ], Tawny Owl [ called, Curlew Drive 1635 ], Kestrel, Buzzard, Raven, plus numbers of Greenfinch, Dunlin [ one flock of ~250 ], Curlew, Redshank, Oystie, Shelduck, Wigeon [ counts of ~180 and ~100 ], Teal, Cormorant, Mute Swan.

Merry Christmas everyone!

B (:

[da2m]

just a quick merry christmas to everyone.

[Kev Rylands]

Again no sign of the Cattle Egret around Teigngrace. I last saw it on the 23rd - perhaps it is the same one now at Powderham and found originally on Exminster Marshes?

[Joe Ray]

Internet is down at the moment, so typing this from a friend's PC.
Not kept up with whats around recently, so a spur of the moment Christmas Eve trip to Stover paid off with the Scaup, (rather distant views and continually diving, so have nothing to add to Tom's theory that it may have some Tuftie ancestry). The lake was 80% frozen over, and the bird was huddling with a Tuftie and 18 Pochard at one side. The ice was dominated by gulls, masses of Black-headed, a handful of Herring as well as 5 Common Gulls (yes I was bored! ;)). 2 Siskins and a Marsh Tit at the feeders.

Today a walk along the river Dart at Staverton produced a pair of Goosanders, 2 Grey Wags, and a Siskin.

[Joe Ray]

Bowling Green Marsh had the usual wildfowl and waders plus the Long-billed Dowitcher, a Kingfisher, a couple of RB Mergansers, and a Peregrine.

The Scaup was still at Stover, with 9 Tufties and 13 Pochard.

No sign of the Cattle Egret at Teigngrace, but 7 Little Egrets.

[The Kerreran]

Missed the Cattle Egret at Powderham this afternoon [ Again.. ] Usual waders and wildfowl on the Exe; spent a happy hour or so sat in the lee of the levee watching 71 Avocet feeding their way downstream |:d| Decided not to go all the way up to Turf, and am now kicking myself as there were apparently 2 Scaup up there! :eek!:

Boxing Day stroll from Meadfoot Beach to Babbacombe Downs produced very little for such good conditions - total of 30 Gannet, loitering and fishing, all ad. but for a 4w and a 2w, a Jay by the Place Hotel, and a good size tit band, incl. Long-tailed, in the Ilsham valley.

[Kev Rylands]

Two Eider off Preston this afternoon - female and 1st winter drake, also Guillemot to add to my SX86 list! Still no Black-necked or even Great-crested Grebe yet though.

Also added Common Sandpiper off Vire Island, Totnes, but still no Mute Swan. Hectad total now 67 species.

A second hand report of a Cattle Egret somewhere near South Zeal on 25th had me redoubling my efforts and checking fields around south Devon and failing to find many Cattle let alone egrets!

Cheers
Kev

[Terry Smith]

Black Brant again this morning, on the Kingsbridge Estuary, off Curlew Drive. Bird was a little apart from the Brent flock, slightly further downstream. Also female Scaup was at Stover CP lake at midday, but typically elusive.

[Ian.B]

Several Bramblings feeding on beech mast flew up from roadside while driving past at
ST052-140 2 miles south of Dunkeswell near the Wolford Chapel sign

[Mark]

Again no sign of the Cattle Egret around Teigngrace. I last saw it on the 23rd - perhaps it is the same one now at Powderham and found originally on Exminster Marshes?

if one was brave, you could even potentially trace it further back
Axe 14-21/10(when flew west), Exminster 13/11, Otter 20-21/11, Teigngrace 06-23/12 and now Powderham from 24/12.

Having been away for a few days, is the Powderham bird always there or does it go missing/out of sight ?

And the flock of Scaup ? anyone seen them...males/females ?

[Mark]

Unless anyone knows differently, it appears that there aren't 7 Scaup off Turf today. The message phoned into one of the Information Services at 9.30 this morning was that the Cattle Egret was still present and that there were 2 Scaup off Turf yesterday...this then came out as 7 scaup today !!

In any event there was no sign of yesterday's pair of Scaup mid/late morning.

[Gavin Haig]

if one was brave, you could even potentially trace it further back
Axe 14-21/10(when flew west), Exminster 13/11, Otter 20-21/11, Teigngrace 06-23/12 and now Powderham from 24/12.

According to a reliable source there is still (or certainly was very recently) a Cattle Egret near Otterton - at the same time as the Teigngrace/Powderham bird/s. Not sure why this isn't general knowledge (maybe it is?), but I was told that it's hanging about in the same general area as last winter's bird. That's pretty much the extent of my gen, so perhaps someone else can add some details?

[Mark]

According to a reliable source there is still (or certainly was very recently) a Cattle Egret near Otterton - at the same time as the Teigngrace/Powderham bird/s. Not sure why this isn't general knowledge (maybe it is?), but I was told that it's hanging about in the same general area as last winter's bird. That's pretty much the extent of my gen, so perhaps someone else can add some details?

In all honesty, they probably all relate to different birds anyway. The Powderham bird was showing well today commuting between a couple of sheep fields west of the road between the first and second bends west of the church. Also, apparently no sign again of any Scaup at Turf.

[Mark]

I have just been informed that the Cattle Egret is currently being watched at Otterton (c3pm), in the pig field viewable from the old railway line with 4 Little Egrets. (exactly the same directions as last winter). The Powderham bird is still being reported this afternoon as well, and along with the Bideford bird, means there are at least 3 in the county at the moment.

[Steve Waite]

I wonder how many Cattle Egrets are actually in Devon??? More than ten surely!? But how many more, 20, 30? It's just too bigger county!!!

[The Kerreran]

Went with the folks to watch the tide go out at West Charleton Marsh today. There were also a few birds. ;)
In addition to the usual Kingsbridge estuary birdlife; a high count of 89 Brent [ no Brant, but it'll have been further north ], a Great Northern Diver in the channel, Shags outnumbering Cormorants by about 5 : 3, 3 Slavonian, 6 G. C., and 2 Li'l Grebe, 2 Greenshank in close, a party of 15+ R-B Merganser consisting entirely of f. and imm., 3 Pintail, 2 Chiffchaff a Goldcrest and a m. Blackcap by the sewage farm, no less than 5 Black Pheasant of Doom :eek!:, a Grey Seal in the mouth of Charleton Bay [ near the Salt Stone ], and a surprised Fox in the field north of Geese Quarries.
In other news, my Mum's back garden count for the winter now includes 3 Blackcaps - 2 m. and a f.

[parttimer]

Getting reports of a Cattle Egret on my patch up here in North Devon (Bideford area). Hopefilly going to pop out this afternoon, when the wife brings the car home and she can look after the kids.
Stu

[Kev Rylands]

Now 3 Eider off Preston beach plus a distant GN Diver. No sign of any Velvet Scoter or grebes again though.

A Black Redstart at the northern end of the beach was a welcome SX86 tick though!

[Janep]

Whilst driving across Dartmoor we truly believed we were back in the Hebrides. Female Hen Harrier accompanying us for a quarter mile before crossing road in front of car and disappearing towards Bellever exhibiting bright white rump and barring on tail. Magnificent sighting.

[da2m]

happy new year one and all.

[The Kerreran]

Happy New Year!

Went to Dawlish Warren today to see if I could see the Spotshank there yesterday and any of the up to 8 Velvet Scoters reported recently. Naturally I saw neither [ they must have the same pager supplier as that Cattle Egret.. ;) ]. I did get some excellent views of the 1w f. Surf Scoter; diving, preening, and juggling an unfortunate crab! Also offshore, a Red-throated Diver flew S, 2 Great Northern Divers resting over the outer banks late afternoon, 2 very pretty Slavonian Grebe close in to the mouth of the Exe, 3 GC Grebe, 5+ Gannet, and a horde of Shag - one 'school' of 17 in a close mass. Across the spit, the Bight was full of waders and wildfowl - a good 5000 at least, mainly Oysties and Dunlin, but with 300+ Barwit, ~70 Brent including the Pale-bellied, and 200+ Wigeon, as well as good numbers of Curlew, Redshank, Grey and Ringed Plover, Turnstone, and least one Sanderling was in with the Dunlin. Shag, Cormorant, 25+ R-B Merganser, a f. Goosander, and a Great Northern Diver were on the Exe.
Story time! Four birders and myself, returning from the hide at about 1500, came across 35 Linnet loosely accompanied by 5 'interesting' passerines - big bulky bunting structure, a lot less twitchy than the Linnet, they crouched and ran when you weren't looking at them [ ie. when you tried to draw them ]. Well streaked, slightly rufous buffy uppers, very white unders, with strongly marked breasts - almost a breast band, and on the one I got a good scope on, broad buffy fringes to the coverts, forming two wing bars. Clearest head marking by far was a strong creamy supercilium. When they did finally fly [ the Linnet had flown and landed half a dozen times by then ] they went, and the only birder who got a good look reported no obvious white as they flew.
After all that... I think they were 1w Skylark. :-C
On a brighter note, a Dunlin came right up to the pool in front of the hide - Message & Taylor illustration close. Gorgeous. :t:

[Ppedro]

Black Brant still on Kingsbridge Estuary off Curlew Drive. Also a Slavonian Grebe.

[Mark]

Par for the course with Devon - Apparently the Long-Billed Dowitcher was seen again this morning on Bowling Green Marsh by an assembled crowd of 25-30 birders and then again on the River Clyst mid afternoon, with not one of them choosing to call any of the information services to let others know of its continued presence. Incredible that so many rely on their pagers, websites or birdlines for information for their birding days but then don't think twice to put news out themselves. Similarly,the Lapland Bunting was apparently still at Orcombe on and off all morning but once again not phoned out by anyone in daylight hours.

[devon.birder]

Cattle Egret was still at Otterton in the field next to the pig field. I phoned that to RBA at 1.45.
I was at BGM mid afternoon and nobody had seen the Long-billed Dowitcher from the viewing platform whilst I was there.
I must admit I didn't phone out the news of the Lapland Bunting but it was "old news" when I finally found the stubble field as I wrongly went to Orcombe Point. Many Birders had seen it and left by the time I finally saw it around 11.30am. If anybody else doesn't know where the field is then you drive along Maer Lane and Gore Lane leads off to the right. It is the field that backs on to the camping field which you walk past if you walk to Orcombe Point. Care is needed when parking in Gore Lane as my wife had to move my car to let a very large tractor get by. Roger

[Andrew]

Roger, do you reckon I could easily walk from Exmouth town centre along the front then up to Orcombe Point to get to Gore Lane in about an hour or less?

Easier than a long canal walk, say?

[Terry Smith]

Not had the chance to get to see the bird myself yet, but yes, it can be walked in about 35 minutes fast pace, Andrew!! If it's in the field that backs on to the campsite, then be warned, it's private!!

Off Goodrington beach this afternoon 2 Black-necked Grebes and one Velvet Scoter. Also 2 female Blackcaps out the back of my house this morning.

[devon.birder]

Andrew don't go to Orcombe Point but at the mini roundabout at the bottom of Foxholes Hill walk along Maer Lane and then you will see Gore Lane. When I mentioned the camping field it is the field used by the School for camping not a general campsite and the stubble field is inland from this field.
Whilst all the Birders were lined up along the perimeter of the stubble field the farmer came in to the field in his tractor and didn't seem to mind us all being there, I think you would have great difficulty seeing the Lapland Bunting without going in to the field. It is only visible for a few seconds at a time and it is mostly out of sight in the stubble unlike the Skylarks and Pied Wagtails!!! Roger

[Andrew]

Cheers both of you, may get down there for a walk in the next few days.

[Joe Ray]

No sign of the Scaup yesterday at Stover, and not many Tufties and Pochards either in the mild weather. 7 Siskins at Berry Pomeroy Castle, + a Sparrowhawk, that's about it.
The Little Grebe on Berry Pomeroy Castle lake/pond appears to have been shot by the Duke of Somerset, who lives nearby.

[Roy C]

Two Cattle Egret at Bideford this morning (4 reported yesterday afternoon, but I did not see myself).

[Terry Smith]

Cattle Egret at Otterton at 1430 today. With gulls west of old railway track, 2 fields nearer the village than last winter! But elusive in high winds.

4 Purple Sandpipers at Sidmouth late morning on nearest rockpile to west end of the beach. Also Great Northern Diver and 17 Common Scoters off there.

Female Blackcaps in my back garden and Sidmouth churchyard.

[The Kerreran]

Little Gull [ ad. ] off Corbyn Head about 3-00 this afternoon, also 4+ surfers at Hollicombe.
New Year's Day Perambulation around Hay Tor [ Saddle Tor - Black Hill - Haytor Quarry ] produced no end of walkers and a great variety of dogs [ an Alsation x Greyhound was the gallumphing highlight for canine spotters! ;) ]. Birds were unsurprisingly thin on the ground; 93 Jackdaw, 6 Fieldfare and x Redwing [ flew past on the other side of the hill, the inconsiderate things ] all flyovers, 3 Skylark and a Stonechat [ fly-offs ], a Wren, 2 Carrion Crow harrassing a Raven, and a late f. Kestrel. Yup, big day! :t:

[Mark]

Anyone have any more information on the swift sp. over the A38 in Plymouth this afternoon ?

[da2m]

managed a pom at the warren today.

[Darrell Clegg]

Anyone have any more information on the swift sp. over the A38 in Plymouth this afternoon ?

A Swift (Common type) flew in front of me as I was driving along the A38 this lunchtime. Can't really add any more than that as I saw no details on the bird. I couldn't stop or turn around as I was doing 70mph at the time and had a Police car behind me.

Darrell

[Andrew]

So Conorbirda was hot on the heels of the news release Darrell? ;)

[parttimer]

Hi Roy
I got lucky went there at 11am nothing so went to the Skern for a couple of hours. When I returned there were 5 Cattle Egret present great start to the new year.
Stu

[Terry Smith]

Had stunning 'scope views of the Lapland Bunting in the stubble field at the High Land of Orcombe this morning. It was at the top end of the field with a huge number of Skylarks. There were at least 2 Woodlarks with them as well. Loads of other stuff in the field as well, Chaffinches, Linnets, Stonechats, Redwings, Fieldfares and 2 Common Snipe.

Off Orcombe Point were a Red-throated Diver, Guillemots, Razorbills and loads of Gannets.

The Surf Scoter was off Exmouth lifeboat station with a Velvet Scoter.

[Joe Ray]

A (sadly) incredibly unproductive day at Slapton, where there was no sign of any Goldeneye, Scaup, or anything else of interest in the howling east winds.
Beesands was equally drab, with no sign of the Red-crested Pochard in spite of an hour or so of scanning the Gadwall and Pochard flock.
7 year list additions.

[Kev Rylands]

Late news from the 1st Jan of a Cattle Egret in east Devon.

One was just south of Lympstone barracks at SX992857 at 3.30 pm. The site is almost directly opposite Powderham so could explain where that bird was on Tuesday.

Could be worth checking though might be more than one around ;)

[Terry Smith]

Just a quick word of warning if anyone feels like poking around for the Cattle Egret Kev has mentioned at Lympstone. It will be in sight of the security cameras at CTCRM Lympstone, and the military police WILL investigate without delay ANYONE who is sporting a pair of bins, a 'scope, camera or any other paraphenalia. This will result in about an hour's valuable birding time being wasted whilst answering many seemingly melodramatic questions about their lives and what they are up to near the barracks. With terrorist threats being treated with understandable probing investigation (and I have to agree with it 100%), birders need to be a little circumspect when birding within easy view of this highly sensitive military establishment. I impart these words of wisdom as I work at CTCRM and security is taken very seriously indeed!

[Terry Smith]

Spotted Redshank and Greenshank in channel on Exe estuary, off Mudabank Lane, Exmouth late this morning.

[Andrew]

The Lapland Bunting was still present in the stubble field at Exmouth today just before noon.

I went down to the lifeboat station afterwards to look for the Scoters but a Cormorant broke my scope and ruined the day!

The said Cormorant was flying past so I wedged the scope/tripod between my legs to squint at it with the bins. Needless to say, I dropped the lot and the central holding thing snapped in half. Good old Swarovski have said they will repair it so it ain't too bad.

[devon.birder]

As I was close by I decided to see if the Great Grey Shrike was still on Molland Common. I don't know what the weather was like in other parts of Devon today but on the Devon/Somerset border the mist hung around all day and late afternoon it was replaced by rain. If the bird is still there I didn't see it in about an hour and half of looking from the car but if anybody knows if it is still there news would be welcome. Roger

[Terry Smith]

Was at Bowling Green Marsh this afternoon until it became pitch black. I did NOT see the Long-billed Dowitcher, and neither did anyone else that I met. How come it's been reported on Birdguides??

There was a Spotted Redshank at the back of the main pool, which moved out on to the miniscule piece of visible mud on the Clyst off the viewing platform, late pm. There was also a first-winter Med Gull off the viewing platform. Kingfisher over ditch by the gate next to the viewing platform, and a male Goldeneye on the main pool, otherwise all quiet!

[Terry Smith]

No sign of the Powderham Corner Firecrest this morning. A very brief visit to Dawlish Warren produced 2 Red-throated Divers off the amusement arcade, and the tristis Chiffchaff showing well in bushes behind the information centre.

[Kev Rylands]

Also missed the Powderham Firecrest but was there late in the day. Also no sign of the Cattle Egret in a brief search.

At least 47 Little egret came into the roost, but could not see most of the birds arriving from the north.

Highlight of the day - Eygptian Goose on Stover Golf Course, have not seen one for there for over a year.

Cheers
Kev

[Joe Ray]

I have persuaded my dad to take me to Exmouth briefly tomorrow morning, I take it the Lapland Bunting is still favouring the stubble field at the end of the point?

[devon.birder]

I have persuaded my dad to take me to Exmouth briefly tomorrow morning, I take it the Lapland Bunting is still favouring the stubble field at the end of the point?

If it is still in the same stubble field that it was on the 1st then the answer is no. See the directions I gave to Andrew on this thread a few days ago. Best of luck. Roger

[Dartmoor Birders]

Great Grey Shrike showing on Dartmoor - it was by Golden Dagger Mine last week and this morning below the Warren House Inn but moving down into the valley beside Soussons.

[The Kerreran]

Went to Exmouth today to see if I could see the Lapland Bunting, and try to get a good look at the Spotshank that's been seen thereabouts [ all my Spotshanks have been brief and/or distant ]. Heading up Gore Lane, I found a knot of birders in the stubble field with the metal double gates playing 'Hunt the Lapland'. It was a difficult but rewarding little game; the Lapland's very slippery, running low and fast, with stubble and 200-odd Skylark as cover. Also in the flock were ~40 Pied Wagtail, 25+ Chaffinch, 1+ Yellowhammer, and 2+ Woodlark, with 3 Sparrowhawk attacks in the hour I was there livening things up a little too! A snipe was flushed by one of the Sparrowhawk forays, flying off high to the SW.
Then went up to Mudbanks to look for the Spotshank, but to no avail. Did see a whole heap of the usual Exe suspects, most notably ~50 Pintail, and a pair of Slavvies from Exmouth seafront.
Came back via Bowling Green - no Spotshank there either, or Dowitcher for that matter, but ~900 Blackwit right up on the grass made up for it. A male Goldeneye was just a bonus :-O Also 2 Snipe, 8 Pochard, 2 Tuftie, 21 Shovelor, 12 Pintail, 3 Li'l Grebe, 2 Knot, and numbers of Lapwing, Golden Plover, Redshank, Wigeon, Teal, Dunlin, Sanderling, plus a Shelduck and a Greylag.
2 of the Blackwit had colour rings [ L - Blue over Orange R - Nothing over Orange and L - Red over Yellow R - Orange over Orange all rings above the 'knee' ]

[Joe Ray]

Went to Exmouth today to see if I could see the Lapland Bunting, and try to get a good look at the Spotshank that's been seen thereabouts [ all my Spotshanks have been brief and/or distant ]. Heading up Gore Lane, I found a knot of birders in the stubble field with the metal double gates playing 'Hunt the Lapland'. It was a difficult but rewarding little game; the Lapland's very slippery, running low and fast, with stubble and 200-odd Skylark as cover. Also in the flock were ~40 Pied Wagtail, 25+ Chaffinch, 1+ Yellowhammer, and 2+ Woodlark, with 3 Sparrowhawk attacks in the hour I was there livening things up a little too! A snipe was flushed by one of the Sparrowhawk forays, flying off high to the SW.
Hi Tom.
What time were you there?
I was present from about 10.30 until 12.00, and when I left there had apparently been no sign. Which end of the field were you at?

[Kev Rylands]

Tried a winter bird race today starting around Seaton and finshing up at high tide at Bowling Green. Despite the cold start and then rain later on managed a reasonable total of 111 species.

Highlights were Barn owl in East devon, Egyptian Goose, Common and Green Sand on the Axe, a Velvet Scoter off Seaton, two Purple sand at Sidmouth, the Cattle Egret at Otterton, Surf Scoter off Exmouth, Water Pipits on Exminster and the Long-billed Dowitcher showing well at Bowling Green, feeding on the grass with the godwits.

Missed a load of 'easy' species though including Grey Wagtail, Stock Dove, Green Woodpecker, GN Diver, Eider, Knot, Treecreeper, LBB Gull and RL Partridge. Also missed a few twitchable ones, failed at three sites to see Black Redstart and no sign of the Lapland up to 13.15 at least.

So failed to beat the 114 I managed in 2006 but with three owls, three scoters and two BB rares shouldn't really be complaining!

[The Kerreran]

Hi Tom.
What time were you there?
I was present from about 10.30 until 12.00, and when I left there had apparently been no sign. Which end of the field were you at?

Hi Joe,
Sorry you missed the Lapland.. I was there on Saturday between 11-15 and 12-15. I joined a small group at the SW [ Exmouth ] end of the field - ie. following the righthand hedge from the gateway about 2/3 of the way to the next corner. The Lapland was mostly between us and the gap in the trees on the skyline, 40 to 100 feet away. The larks it was with moved to the grassy stubble field across Gore Lane after the 3rd Sparrowhawk attack [ then moved back just as I'd refound the Lapland, the irritating little bleepers! ;)], and were pretty mobile, so they might have been elsewhere nearby?

[Andrew]

That is some going Kev, well done!

[cwpbirder]

I am thinking of trying for the Dowitcher, is it strictly tidal at Bowling Green or does it roost in the afternoons regardless of the tide - mostly reported late afternoons? Any info gratefully received!

[Terry Smith]

5 Bramblings including 4 males at Topsham Rec' early afternoon today, walk up towards the motorway bridge, where the path squeezes between the tiny reedbed and the gardens, look for the birds in the reeds or in bushes/trees near the wall. Also 2 Common Sandpipers there.

[Kev Rylands]

I am thinking of trying for the Dowitcher, is it strictly tidal at Bowling Green or does it roost in the afternoons regardless of the tide - mostly reported late afternoons? Any info gratefully received!

The bird following the tides and is only seen around Bowling Green at high tide or from the Clyst viewpoint on a falling or rising tide.

Good luck.

[Greysands boy]

Hi all,

I'm from North Devon, Me and my fiancee are planning on driving down to seaton area for a spot of birding where would the best places to visit for wintering birds etc for a good variety. also we would like to stay overnight saturday possibly in a nice old inn (Roaring fire,real beer, good food etc) any reccomendations for both these requests.

Cheers

Darryl

[Kev Rylands]

Hi Darryl,

Best off posting on the Backwater thread http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1096736#post1096736

The locals should be able to help you out.

Second hand report of another recent Cattle Egret in Devon, this time near Holsworthy.

Cheers
Kev

[da2m]

still managed to dip the surf today!!!

used a new camera phone to take photos, i'm impressed.

[Joe Ray]

I notice the Surf Scoter reported off Dawlish Warren again. Is it still viewable from Exmouth seafront?
J
PS. Anyone going for the Sparrow?

[Roy C]

Still 3 Cattle Egret at the Bideford site today.

[da2m]

[quote

Highlight of the day - Eygptian Goose on Stover Golf Course, have not seen one for there for over a year.

Cheers
Kev[/quote]
hi kev
something has been niggling at me for a week now(no not the new baby)i took this picture 26.10.07 at trago. as far as i know they don't have eg there, could this be the same one???

[Terry Smith]

Scaup was reported again today on Birdguides at Stover. Anyone confirm this??

Me? I visited Hayes Barton to check out the finches. c. 250 Chaffinches, but surprisingly no Brambling and only one Yellowhammer (feeding with House Sparrows). 12 Red-legged Partridges there as well. Just up the road on East Budleigh Common a flock of at least 40 Lesser Redpolls. Seem to be plenty in this area this winter.

[Kev Rylands]

Hi Daz,

More than likely the same one. Not sure where the original Newton birds came from but after a few years of successful breeding (including some off colour offspring) they seem to have been reduced to just this one...

Terry - Have failed to see the Scaup on my last two visits - but was always elusive or may have gone elsewhere only to return this week.

Cheers
Kev

[Terry Smith]

Terry - Have failed to see the Scaup on my last two visits - but was always elusive or may have gone elsewhere only to return this week.
Cheers
Kev

Reported again today Kev on Birdguides, so it probably moved off to another pond in the area for a few days. Decoy, Rackerhayes and that other pond where the BW Teal was a few years back spring to mind!

Today the weather was so appalling my visit to Ladram Bay was exceptionally brief, it eased off a little when I got out of the car, I rushed down to the beach, saw the obligatory Fulmar, and raced back when the heavens opened yet again. I made my way to Budleigh Salterton seafront shelter, where there was an exceptional passage of auks taking place. Had over 1000 auks passing SW on a split of 60/40 to Guillemots/Razorbills. Also one Great Northern Diver zoomed by!

[Terry Smith]

Long-billed Dowitcher showing well again today ('til 2pm at least) from the hide at Bowling Green Marsh. Also 2 Spotted Redshanks there.

[Kev Rylands]

so it (Scaup) probably moved off to another pond in the area for a few days. Decoy, Rackerhayes and that other pond where the BW Teal was a few years back spring to mind!

First two probably - the other pond, New Cross, is very sadly no more. The whole area has been clear-felled, the pond drained and filled in with clay waste. :C

[Joe Ray]

The Scaup reported again today at the North end of Stover lake.
Need to connect with that for the yearlist ASAP, not possible tomorrow as I will be in Norfolk for one certain Sparrow sp. ;)
With any luck I will be able to catch up with Lapland Bunting as well, not impressed with dipping the bird at Exmouth (is it still around, incidently? Not reported for a couple of days).

[Terry Smith]

With any luck I will be able to catch up with Lapland Bunting as well, not impressed with dipping the bird at Exmouth (is it still around, incidently? Not reported for a couple of days).

Joe,

Unfortunately as you are aware the High Land of Orcombe, where the Lap Bunting resides is VERY exposed. The way the weather's been around here the last couple of days, no-one who is remotely sane would dare venture out across that field! :eek!:

Drier day forecast tomorrow, someone will probably look for it then, (but not me I'm afraid - will be birding elsewhere).

Terry

[da2m]

2 egyptian geese today at stover golf course.

[Mark]

Eventually caught up with the female Scaup this afternoon at Stover, showing very well in the small bay by the boardwalk. Also a Marsh Tit on the feeders and 15 Siskin in trees at the north end.

[Ppedro]

Black Brant still present midday off Charleton Point. 2 first winter Med Gulls and 30 + Pintail in Frogmore Creek.

[The Kerreran]

Went to Bowling Green for the high tide this morning [ that's Saturday, Joe ;) ] RSPB Day, so plenty of sets of eyes to look for Dowitcher and 2 Spotshank that were apparently present. The Dowitcher didn't seem to be about... then it wandered out from dead ground and went to sleep in full view of the hide :-O At least, until it flushed and didn't come back down with the Blackwits. The 2 Spotshanks turned out to have been hiding in plain sight - among the main group of resting Blackwits [ which also contained ~150 Barwit ] One proved very obliging, showing well until it too pulled a Houdini. The Avocets were in in force - a head count gave 425, and there were good numbers of all the regulars, including 4 Snipe, plus 2 Oysties briefly at 0930. Much interest was also given to the 'Marsh Harrier' Buzzard, which [ clearly acting in character ;) ] spent a lot of time standing in the water, while fencing with 2 Carrion Crow over a dead duck sp., and to a very smart m. Stonechat.
A check from both platform and Goatwalk produced nothing new, and neither Dowitcher or Spotshank.
After a detour, walked up from Powderham Bend to the Turf to have a late lunch watching the Avocets - en route a very nice f. Grey Wagtail and a Littoralis-type Rockit [ flushed by a cyclist.. ]. The Exe had all you'd expect, and the Avocets were their usual spectacular selves [ just love 'em, I do |:d| ], though a pair of R-B Mergansers were the only diving birds on the river, apart from a Kingfisher. As the tide went right out, the Blackwit flock reached the far bank opposite, and careful checking paid dividends with the Dowitcher - near but not with the Blackwits, staying among the lumps of weedy 'stuff' by the channel instead of out on the open flats - at 1515, briefly lost, then refound until I left at 1540.
Flock counts to finish - flying; Knot 7, Lapwing 300, Redshank 150, Blackwit 200, Dunlin 200 - resting; Lapwing 500

[Joe Ray]

A very painful dip yesterday. Went for the sparrow, and the car broke down in Slough. Took 4 hours to fix. Then got lost, drove all round East Anglia, and arrived at the site in complete black. Absolutely gutted.
Going to try for the Scaup later today.

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

RFI in Devon here (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1102086#post1102086) all help appreicated!

[Terry Smith]

Scaup still at Stover CP early afternoon at least today, with 40+ Siskins in the boardwalk area.

[Joe Ray]

The Scaup was showing up until dark at Stover, with 15 Tufties and 9 Pochard.
The Teigngrace Cattle Egret is well and truly gone! 7 Little Egrets and a Stonechat instead.

[Mark]

Seawatching at Hopes Nose this afternoon was very productive. An adult light phase Pom Skua south, a Bonxie south very close inshore, a Red-Throated Diver south and a personal highlight was both a Black-Throated and Great-Northern Diver sheltering in the bay west of the point. Hundreds of Fulmar, Kittiwake, Gannets and Auks were also passing offshore.

[Terry Smith]

Surf Scoter off Groyne 10, Dawlish Warren early this afternoon. Also a Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. A Pale-bellied Brent Goose present near the hide, and a Water Rail on the first pond.

[da2m]

is there a problem with the car park at northam burrows, i heard it was closed?

[socksitis]

Sorry to but in but please can you help, I know there is a day coming up or I may have missed it where a company was dsplaying optics at Dawlish Warren. I cannot remember who or when and I cannot find where I have written it down... Please?

[Joe Ray]

Sorry to but in but please can you help, I know there is a day coming up or I may have missed it where a company was dsplaying optics at Dawlish Warren. I cannot remember who or when and I cannot find where I have written it down... Please?
Hi socksitis.
Bad luck, it was on the 13th, the company is London Camera Exchange. They hold regular events, so there will be another.
Joe

[socksitis]

Thankyou Joe
I will keep on eye on the website.

[da2m]

had a flying trip to the warren today. found the surf scoter at last. took this picture with my mobile and scope.

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Will I need a scope for the surf scoter? Where is best to look - place/time of day?
I know this is a slightly stupid question - just wondered on the typical distances. Is it in a com/vel flock?

[da2m]

Will I need a scope for the surf scoter? Where is best to look - place/time of day?
I know this is a slightly stupid question - just wondered on the typical distances. Is it in a com/vel flock?
you might not need a scope but to get the best views, i would take it along. it has been off groyne 10-13 and if choppy further over towards exmouth, today it was on it's own.

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

you might not need a scope but to get the best views, i would take it along. it has been off groyne 10-13 and if choppy further over towards exmouth, today it was on it's own.

Thanks - I am on a work trip so no scope. Not knowing the area too well, but I think yo are talking about looking from Exmouth not Dawlish or is there no difference?

PS high tide tomorrow is 11ish where is a good spot if I get chance was thinking maybe BGMarsh??

[da2m]

Thanks - I am on a work trip so no scope. Not knowing the area too well, but I think yo are talking about looking from Exmouth not Dawlish or is there no difference?

PS high tide tomorrow is 11ish where is a good spot if I get chance was thinking maybe BGMarsh??
dawlish is not dawlish warren, exmouth is a good spot but it might be a struggle with no scope. BGM is a great spot too if stuff is close.

check the links DEVON (http://www.wildlifeindevon.org.uk/index.html) DAWLISH WARREN (http://www.dawlishwarren.co.uk)

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

dawlish is not dawlish warren, exmouth is a good spot but it might be a struggle with no scope. BGM is a great spot too if stuff is close.

check the links DEVON (http://www.wildlifeindevon.org.uk/index.html) DAWLISH WARREN (http://www.dawlishwarren.co.uk)

Thanks. Sorry for being a tourist! :t:

Will let you all know how it goes tomorrow

[da2m]

Thanks. Sorry for being a tourist! :t:

that how we make our money down here, so feel free and spend, spend, spend. ;)

[The Kerreran]

Hi Marcus,

don't know if you'll see this in time, but here's my tuppence worth anyway! ;)
If the sea's rough, then your chances of the Surf Scoter are pretty slim, and the high tide at Bowling Green is probably your best bet - the wet weather means a good chance of the Long-Billed Dowitcher showing well, plus 400 odd Avocet and lots of other stuff, often very close. If its not rough, then at the high tide the Surf Scoter may be surprisingly close in [ groynes 10 - 13 are the last 4 groynes you reach walking out along the warren ], when I saw it, it was off groyne 13, and close enough to spot with the naked eye. The estuary on the inland side also has good birds at high tide, though most'll move out of comfy bin range, you do get the odd wader come right up to the pools in front of the hide. There's also plenty to look at in the interior of the warren.

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Hi Marcus,

don't know if you'll see this in time, but here's my tuppence worth anyway! ;)
If the sea's rough, then your chances of the Surf Scoter are pretty slim, and the high tide at Bowling Green is probably your best bet - the wet weather means a good chance of the Long-Billed Dowitcher showing well, plus 400 odd Avocet and lots of other stuff, often very close. If its not rough, then at the high tide the Surf Scoter may be surprisingly close in [ groynes 10 - 13 are the last 4 groynes you reach walking out along the warren ], when I saw it, it was off groyne 13, and close enough to spot with the naked eye. The estuary on the inland side also has good birds at high tide, though most'll move out of comfy bin range, you do get the odd wader come right up to the pools in front of the hide. There's also plenty to look at in the interior of the warren.

Thanks Tom - not sure which to choose now! :t:

[Terry Smith]

Anyone know anything about the reported White-fronted Goose at Topsham yesterday?
Also exact location of the Firecrest at "Powderham church"?

[da2m]

Also exact location of the Firecrest at "Powderham church"?part of the fun is in the chase!

[Roy C]

7 Spoonbill showing well at Isley Marsh this morniing (top of the tide)

[Terry Smith]

Long-billed Dowitcher showing well from the hide at Bowling Green Marsh early afternoon. Also a Spotted Redshank there. No sign of any White-fronts! The Firecrest showed very well at Powderham church in bright sunshine at 12:45. It was at the south-east corner of the churchyard in low bushes below the fir trees. I also had 3 Green Sandpipers on Matford Pools just after midday.

[da2m]

Long-billed Dowitcher showing well from the hide at Bowling Green Marsh early afternoon. Also a Spotted Redshank there.
seconded terry, good views of the LBD and spotshank.

does anyone know who was sat inside the buoy filming off the viewing platform on the river clyst today?

[Terry Smith]

does anyone know who was sat inside the buoy filming off the viewing platform on the river clyst today?


I have it on good (ie) authority that it was Bill Oddie and his 25-man film crew! :-O

[Terry Smith]

2 Cattle Egrets with Little Egrets feeding around the red cattle in fields west of the A376 speed camera, on the approach to Exmouth, (known locally as 'Rivermead Dip') (the road that is, not the non-sightings of these birds!).

Also this morning Woodcock and 3 Common Crossbills near the top end of Squabmoor Reservoir (adjacent to East Budleigh Common).

[Ranger James]

Hi Guys,

I popped in on the Exminster woodlark field earlier today, as I was in the area, it looked like a nice lunchtime and I had nothing to rush off to.

As I entered the field I noticed the crows were going CRAZY and I saw what I thought to be a female spawk and blackbird, on the deck.

On closer look, and I had the following hour and a half to look, I witnessed the most increadible wrestle between a female peregrine and a young rook. They scrapped for over an hour and then fell silent for 15 minutes before starting up again!

Held my rapt attention for nearly two hours before I realised it was beginning to rain and I only had a polo shirt on (as well as trousers etc etc). I had to watch my fingers open the car door as my hands were so cold I could not feel a thing! But wow! I am still shaking with excitement now, shame I didn't see the stoop though...

Peregrine was left on the kill, feeding busily while the rook put in a few last struggles.

James

[Terry Smith]

Hi Guys,

I popped in on the Exminster woodlark field earlier today, as I was in the area, it looked like a nice lunchtime and I had nothing to rush off to.

As I entered the field I noticed the crows were going CRAZY and I saw what I thought to be a female spawk and blackbird, on the deck.

On closer look, and I had the following hour and a half to look, I witnessed the most increadible wrestle between a female peregrine and a young rook. They scrapped for over an hour and then fell silent for 15 minutes before starting up again!

Held my rapt attention for nearly two hours before I realised it was beginning to rain and I only had a polo shirt on (as well as trousers etc etc). I had to watch my fingers open the car door as my hands were so cold I could not feel a thing! But wow! I am still shaking with excitement now, shame I didn't see the stoop though...

Peregrine was left on the kill, feeding busily while the rook put in a few last struggles.

James

James,

Don't know whether you've seen the January issue of Birdwatch, but there are some brilliant photos of a Peregrine having a similar tussle with a Common Gull. The final photo is somewhat shocking!!

Terry

PS Did you see the Water Pipits?

[Ranger James]

James,


PS Did you see the Water Pipits?

The only other birds in the vicinity were a pair of buzzards circling ominously, and a bunch of chaffinches braved it out in the hedgerow. Everything else had long since scarpered.

James

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Thanks for all the help on the recent trip to Devon. A full trip report is on my blog

http://www.freewebs.com/ebirder/blog.htm

Thank you all so much!

[Ranger James]

Nice and easy Cattle Egret to be seen in fields west of the road into Exmouth, opposite the speed camera.
Also a spotted redshank at mudbank lane today - the new cycle path is very useful for peering over the estuary, catch it on an incoming tide and it will be great for whimbrel in a few months time.

Cheers, James

[da2m]

Thanks for all the help on the recent trip to Devon. A full trip report is on my blog

http://www.freewebs.com/ebirder/blog.htm

Thank you all so much!
i take it from your report that you din't get the LDB?

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

i take it from your report that you din't get the LDB?

No, I didn't have my scope though...

[Kev Rylands]

According to the BirdAtlas website a Whooper Swan has been in east Devon this winter

http://blx1.bto.org/atlas-results/allocdevn.html

Does anyone know about this or have i missed the news?

[Steve Waite]

Looks like it's just west of us.....phew!!!!!

I for one know nothing about this one anyway.

EDIT: Thinking again, could it be the Otter bird? That was seen in Oct at least wasn't it?

[da2m]

According to the BirdAtlas website a Whooper Swan has been in east Devon this winter

http://blx1.bto.org/atlas-results/allocdevn.html

Does anyone know about this or have i missed the news?hi mate, wasn't there a WS on the otter in july 07. i didn't go for it myself. but i'm dead sure it was there!
daz

[Kev Rylands]

Otter bird was there for a long while - but not recently ie since Oct - and that square has only appeared in the last week or so!

If it is still there it has not otherwise been reported and that sort of thing doesn't happen in Devon surely...

[The Kerreran]

Was seawatching at Hope's Nose today from 0900 to 1400. I'd narrowly decided not to go last Sunday and do assorted jobs I'd not done on Saturday instead, and have been duly kicking myself [ that Pom was gloriously spooned, I'm sure! ;) ]. The weather turned out better than the forecast had looked; with nice squall lines coming through but with only drizzle in them so I didn't get soggy. If anything it was a bit too good - there were auks everywhere! 1000+, 90% Guillemot, all over the sea and passing in groups of up to 30 [ 3/4 going S ] A count between 0945 and 1000 gave 71 S, but this was after the peak numbers [ I have but one pair of hands, and had too much to look at to dig my clicker out any earlier.. :-C ] and I did get interrupted twice.. At 1145 there were 222 on the Ore Stone [ at the same time 247 G. Black-backed were also on the Stone ] at 1345 143 were still huddled together there. That's the limit of my auk-tallying, I'm afraid!
In my defence, as well as the numbers, [ not a binocular field auk-less when I got there ] I was a little distracted by the Balearic Shearwaters that kept flying around... :-O 9 of them. As soon as I arrived, I saw a Gannet heading S in the middle channel, bins up, a nice adult-it got overtaken by a Balearic, with another one following! :t: 2 more S at 0910, one with dark underwings at 0950 that changed its mind and went back N, an all dark one S at 0955, one S at 1007 that came back N at 1015 and circled so close that I could id it without optics :eek!: , than just to cap it - 2 S at 1055, one of which circled a couple of times before landing on the water :eek!: :-O , it got harrassed by a 2w Black-headed Gull, took off and easily outpaced the gull, then settled again for about 30 seconds, posing wonderfully, before continuing S. Wow. I mean, wow. You see pics of shearwaters sitting by fishing boats and pelagics way out at sea, but less than 100' from the shore?!? B (:
Also - 2 Grey Seal, single Black-throated and Great Northen Divers on the sea to the N, a 1w Red-throated Diver S, an ad. Little Gull N, 2 Skua sp. S, a Puffin on the sea to the N, 2 G C Grebes N, 2 Med Gull S [ ad. and 1w ], 50+ Gannet [ a 2w and a 4w, the rest ad ] S, 150+ Kittiwake [ only half a dozen 1w - though nicely worn and good practice ], 30+ Fulmar S, 3+ Rockit incl. a Littoralis type keeping a close eye on my lunch.
Good day.

[da2m]

Otter bird was there for a long while - but not recently ie since Oct - and that square has only appeared in the last week or so!

If it is still there it has not otherwise been reported and that sort of thing doesn't happen in Devon surely...don't you believe it!!

[Ppedro]

Did the WeBS count at Beesands Ley this morning. 120 Pochard was a good count. Also saw 44 Gadwall and a couple Teal. Just 3 Tufted Duck on the ley. Unusual was a Coot on the sea. Oh, almost forgot, puke-crested Pochard still there !
In Start Bay off the midway car park along Torcross Line were single Common Scoter and Eider with a flock of 8 Velvet Scoter nearby.

[Mark]

Lucky enough to catch up with the female Marsh Harrier today at Slapton. Initially watched at very close range for 10 minutes in Stokeley Bay and then later for 25 minutes up and down the Higher Ley giving fantastic views. Also the 8 Velvet Scoters offshore and a female Ruddy Duck on the ley.

[The Kerreran]

At Bowling Green this afternoon. Plenty of ducks about - especially Wigeon and Teal - also 12 Pintail, 17 Shovelor, 7 Pochard, 2 Tuftie, and 11 Shelduck. The Greylag and a Farm Goose were with the Canade horde, a Cormorant fished briefly, 2 Little Grebe bobbed about, and 100+ Brent flew over S. As the tide came in, wader numbers increased nicely, the large Blackwit and small Dunlin flocks being joined by 300+ Avocet, 100+ Barwit, 40+ Redshank, 3 Curlew, 4 Greenshank, and a Knot. The Long-billed Dowitcher showed briefly, before being pecked by a Redshank and scurrying out of view. A Spotshank was more obliging, showing very well on the far shore, then around the small pools to the right of the hide. Several minutes of jitters verging on panic among the flocks were explained when 2 Peregrine were spotted, cruising over high, heading S. A paleish Buzzard spent most of the afternoon sat in an oak tree on the right, causing nowhere near as much fear. Finally leaving when the light went, much to my surprise a medium-sized Bat sp. flew past me down Bowling Green Lane. They were saying on the weather forecast that it was as warm as the April average, and I guess the bats agree! ;)

[Mark]

Still 4 Green Sands today on the far side of Matford Pool early afternoon.

[da2m]

redpoll at yarner wood this afternoon

[Terry Smith]

2 Cattle Egrets still present at Exmouth at 1617hrs. They were in the field with the red Devon cattle (and 17 Little Egrets) west of the A376, opposite the speed camera.

[da2m]

2 water rail at matford pools this morning.

[Joe Ray]

Does anyone have any more information on the 2nd winter Glacous Gull at South Huish yesterday?

[parttimer]

I am hopefuuly going to be down on the Bowling Green at Topsham on Monday, does anybody know if the Long Billed Dowitcher still there. With my luck it will probably leave on sunday.

Stu

[da2m]

LDB still there stu.

does anyone know anyting about the barn owl at powderham this morning?

[Terry Smith]

I am hopefuuly going to be down on the Bowling Green at Topsham on Monday, does anybody know if the Long Billed Dowitcher still there. With my luck it will probably leave on sunday.

Stu

Stu,

Apparently it was seen from the viewing platform, looking over the Clyst Estuary today. Also one Spotted Redshank there too. High Tide will be at a fairly reasonable hour so check from the hide first. Don't forget the Surf Scoter off Dawlish warren/ Exmouth too!

Terry

[parttimer]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for the help just keep my fingers crossed now,

Terry
Had luck with the Spotted Redshank they are in and around Fremington Quay /Isley Marsh area although not on year list yet.
Cheers Stu

[andy]

Firecrest at Squabmoor yesterday by the paking area amongst the trees.Bird was at the entrance on opposite side of road in and around the big Holly tree/bush and it was a stonking bird also 20+ Lesser Redpol in area.

Andy

[parttimer]

Been out this morning down onto the Skern met up with Greysands Boy. Nothing out of the ordinary a good number of Brent Geese, Grey Plover, Sanderling, Turnstone Showing well feeding at waters edge 5 Bar-Tailed Godwit. Thanks to Greysands Boy I moved on to Westward Ho! and saw Common Scoter a first for me.

Stu

[Joe Ray]

4+ Slavonian Grebe, the Surf Scoter, 25 GC Grebes, 40+ Common Scoter and 2 Red-breasted Merganser were personal highlights at the Warren this morning.
I was told by a birder who was sat seawatching that he had 3 Whooper Swans fly towards Langstone Rock 5 mins before I asked him if he'd had anything. I raced down towards Dawlish, scoped the swans only to find they were young Mute's.
Other than that, a few waders at the hide as usual, and apparently I missed 2 Velvet Scoter.
On the way back home, the Scaup was still showing well at Stover, with 14 Pochard and 28 Tufties, + 30 Siskin around the feeders.

[Kev Rylands]

I was told by a birder who was sat seawatching that he had 3 Whooper Swans fly towards Langstone Rock 5 mins before I asked him if he'd had anything. I raced down towards Dawlish, scoped the swans only to find they were young Mute's.

I assume the same person also had the Red-necked Grebe and Black-throated Diver ;)

Several off us spent the day checking DW and Dawlish for a second Surf Scoter. A probable has been seen a couple of times in flight distantly in the bay whilst the long stayer has remained close in..possibly the Torbay bird from December?

Away from DW a Firecrest in gardens at Rockstone, Dawlish.

[Joe Ray]

I assume the same person also had the Red-necked Grebe and Black-throated Diver ;)
I was wondering how he managed to get a positive ID with tiny compacts and a Mighty Midget.. Being juveniles I assume the flat profile of the bill at range had led him to think.. never mind :t:

Earlier today I posted on this thread ''4+ Slavonian Grebe, the Surf Scoter, 25 GC Grebes, 40+ Common Scoter and 2 Red-breasted Merganser were personal highlights at the Warren this morning''. Miraculously, half an hour later the very same sightings and details were on RBA, as was my report of the Scaup as Stover..

Intriguing stuff.
Joe

[The Kerreran]

Spent a lovely sunny day down Slapton way. Started at the Memorial car park - GC Grebe S and 5 more on the sea off Torcross, and the Velvets that are so elusive at Dawlish Warrren were less so here - 8 present and accounted for. :t: Heading inland towards Ireland Bay, I was surprised to be flown over by a GN Diver at an altitude of maybe 40', heading N and evidently unimpressed with the Ley! The bay proved to be Marsh Harrier and Firecrest-less, though a f. Blackcap, Treecreeper with a 20-strong tit band [ mostly Long-tails too ] and 5+ singing Cettis made the trip interesting. On the north end of the Ley, loads [ that's a technical term, by the way ;) ] of Tufties and Coot, plus a dozen pairs of Gadwall, but no grebes or Pochard. Having heard all the reports of Scaup, and after careful scanning, I found only a f. Tufty with substantial white around the bill base, but also a black bill tip with pale band, and a small crest..
Stokely Bay, and the southern end of the Ley had all the Pochard - 20+ and GC Grebe - 16+. Also 13 Goldeneye [ 6 m. ], 3 very dark-looking LBB with the bathing gulls, a Water Rail right in front of the hide, more Cettis, and, count 'em, 4 Scaup. :-O m. and 3 f., 2 of which looked immature, with pale ear coverts and reduced white on one, and a hint of pale ear coverts on the other.
Round the hill to Beesands, with 8 GC Grebe on the sea, a Raven patrolling the area, and ~500 gulls and 15+ Gannet in a feeding frenzy well out in Start Bay. Off Hallsands were the 8 Velvets, and further out were ~75 Common Scoter, with a GC Grebe N. No sign of the reported f. Long-tailed Duck off the Cricket Inn, and to add insult to injury, I spotted a colour-ringed wagtail, but the little blighter pulled a Houdini before I could get a good enough look :-C. On the Ley, 150 Pochard [ 117 m. ], 52 Gadwall, 2 Tuftie, 2 GC Grebe, 1 Beast of Beesands! After all the stories of the horror and loathing it's struck into even the doughtiest birder's heart, I have to say.. Huh?!? It's not that bad - yes, a purple and neon pink bill isn't the prettiest thing I've ever seen, but the poor lass is still easier on the eye then the eclipse male of the species. :bounce:
Time pressed and the tide was coming in, but I had to have another look and, yup, you guessed it, close in by the low protruding rocks of Tinsey Head [ about half a mile south of the pub, though standing outside the pub was a good vantage point - coincidence? ;) ] was the Long-tailed. B (:
After handily beating the tide to get back unsoggified, it was back up to the bridge for dusk - no Bittern, but 2 large bat sp. S - Greater Horseshoe maybe? - and 10+ Snipe S.

[Mark]

Started the day at Beesands where the female Red-Crested Pochard on the ley and female Long-Tailed Duck on sea were both in position A. At South Huish the Black Redstart was showing well, the Bar-Headed Goose was on the marsh and there was a flock of 40 Wigeon on the sea. And then the highlight of the day was jamming in on 2 'just found' (by Perry and Alan) seperate CATTLE EGRETS about a mile apart on the west side of the Kingsbridge Estuary.

[Ppedro]

What a beautiful day, and not bad for birding either. Went down to Charleton Marsh this morning. All very quiet so headed around the estuary towards Curlew Drive as i never tire of seeing the Black Brant. Rounding Charleton Point got a call from Alan Doidge ( aka Soareyes ) telling me he had found a Cattle Egret at Woolston Farm across the other side of the estuary - at long last we had one around here. Since the influx of Cattle Egrets into Cornwall started i have had a good look at the promising looking fields across the estuary when going towards Curlew Drive but too many hills were in the way to see Alan`s. I decided to head on to Curlew Drive and go for the Egret in the afternoon. About 5 minutes later i checked the cattle field at Park Farm and lo and behold there was a good looking candidate in a sheep field. As this was over a mile away however i could not be 100% sure and so gave Al a ring and he kindly left his bird and within minutes was on site to confirm the second one. The two Egrets are about a mile apart and if anyone needs Grid References they are SX 721415 ( Woolston ) and SX 732427 ( Park Farm ). It is over 21 years since there has been a Cattle Egret in the Kingsbridge area. This was in 1986 behind Gerston Sewage Works a stone`s throw from Park Farm. The Water Board workers saw it and thought it was a Little Egret ( this when Little Egrets were still very rare ). They got hold of Tony Soper who lived nearby and he reidentified it. This was only the 2nd Devon record, the first at South Allington near Start Point in 1805 was a first for Britain. If Alan remembers we were 2 of only about 5 people to see it and it remained a Devon blocker for many years. A Great Northern Diver was the only decent bird on the estuary.
In the afternoon went to Beesands to look for the Long-tailed Duck. On arriving picked up a flock of about 30 Common Scoter heading south. I checked for any Velvets and taging on the back was a Long-tailed. I was surprised therefore to then check the sea towards Hallsands and see another Long-tailed fairly close to the rocks at the Southern end off the village. Also had another 60 Common Soter on the sea, one Velvet flying north and 2 settled Eider.

[Joe Ray]

A Great Northern Diver (East) + numerous Cirls were the only birds of interest at Prawle this afternoon.

[Terry Smith]

Whooper Swan off Dawlish Warren/Exmouth seafront yesterday just after midday. It gradually drifted south-east with the outgoing tide. Had it myself from the road near Maer Rocks, Exmouth. See Dawlish Warren website for further details.

[Ranger James]

Whooper Swan off Dawlish Warren/Exmouth seafront yesterday just after midday. It gradually drifted south-east with the outgoing tide. Had it myself from the road near Maer Rocks, Exmouth. See Dawlish Warren website for further details.


Noooo! I should have spent more time looking out to sea and less time fussing with my puppy! Ruddy thing is a complete distraction from birding, and therefor highly welcome.

James

[Joe Ray]

Whooper Swan off Dawlish Warren/Exmouth seafront yesterday just after midday. It gradually drifted south-east with the outgoing tide. Had it myself from the road near Maer Rocks, Exmouth. See Dawlish Warren website for further details.
Strange thing, one day after the false alarm of 3 misidentified Mutes..

[Kev Rylands]

Strange thing, one day after the false alarm of 3 misidentified Mutes..

indeed - next time a tattler is claimed must remember to go down the day after...

[soareyes]

proof there is life west of Seaton!! 2 of the 3 birds around the Kingsbridge Estuary today and ofcourse the Black Brant still aboutB (:

[da2m]

proof there is life west of Seaton!! 2 of the 3 birds around the Kingsbridge Estuary today and ofcourse the Black Brant still aboutB (: i managed 2 at exminster marsh today too.( these are both the same bird)

[soareyes]

hope they stick around get some nice breeding plum.

[Terry Smith]

Black Redstart at Exmouth Marina (old docks area), this morning. It was around the Spinnakers portacabin and the mauve (!) apartment block at 1050hrs.

Later edit:

The following were seen this afternoon in Exmouth -

3 Bramblings - Gorse Lane, off Dinan Way
40 Siskins - Higher Marley Road
Blackcap - Knappe Cross

[parttimer]

My visit to Bowling Green went off well managed to pick up the LBD. Thanks to everyone with the pointers, it turned up on the Bowling green.
I would also like to thank the Gentleman that pointed out the Water Pipits to me on the Exminster Marshes in the same field as the Cattle Egret a first for me, I'm lucky we have got Cattle Egret on our doorstep.

[parttimer]

I was stopped having my lunch today in the laybye on the road by harepie woods (Bishops Tawton, Barnstaple area) and saw what i thought was a Willow Tit, is there any other N.Devon Birders out there with more experience that could either comfirm or deny this.It looks good in the Collins

[socksitis]

Hope you don't mind thought I would add a small bit. My patch would be moorland above Ivybridge, have too many children to get out as much as I like but today I was able to go up and have a little look around, lovely day, saw a couple of ravens, a stonechat and about 30 golden plovers. I am still of the stage of book in one hand but getting better??

[Ppedro]

Nice to see everybodys contributions on here Socksitis. Still 5 Cattle Egrets at Park Farm this morning with a couple Little Egrets.