Eden Estuary News (1 Viewer)

edenwatcher · Feb 27, 2005

Another cracking day today with 52 spp. Actually more like afternoon as I spent the morning birding elsewhere. This afternoon there were stunning viewing conditions for looking out towards the estuary mouth - flat calm with no heat haze.
Yesterday's 3 red-throated divers were present again today, they even indulged in a bit of display. We also saw 3 slavonian grebes (unprecedented count), 2 of which came much further upstream than yesterday's bird. Several auks included 2 guillemots and 2 razorbills (76 for the year). Today there were 3 long-tailed ducks (1m2f) which gave very good views, well upstream and close in. A pair of pintail were right out towards the estuary mouth however.
Other titbits - a greenshank, 15 bar-tailed godwits, plenty of black-tailed godwits (some starting to show orange), 4 tree sparrows ...

Might write up my morning outing elsewhere.

Rob

edenwatcher · Mar 2, 2005

Cold weather continues to deliver good birds.
The drake long-tailed duck was a long way upstream this morning, then a slav grebe came even further - as far as the mouth of the Motray. Best views I've had of the species from the house. Glad both birds were visible from indoors - north wind and snow showers here at the moment ...

Rob

edenwatcher · Mar 5, 2005

A brutal north wind today, flattened our decorative arch (sounds a bit twee, but it's alright really!), though fortunately without damaging plants.

Thursday morning produced a great crested grebe (seen again today) and the drake long-tailed duck (also seen again today), whilst Friday's highlights were a single knot and a male yellowhammer.
Today we also saw a little grebe, a pair of pintail, a record count of 57 bar-tailed godwits, great spotted woodpecker and an interesting gathering on the saltmarsh of 4 pied wagtails, 5 rock pipits and a single meadow pipit (77).

Rob

edenwatcher · Mar 10, 2005

A few titbits from this week:
Monday produced a gathering of eiders well upstream, with some nice display (unfortunately not audible from the house). A pair of long-tailed ducks appeared on Tuesday morning, continuing the recent run of records. Yellowhammers have appeared in the garden a few times, though still much scarcer than last winter. Black-tailed godwits are beginning to turn orange and numbers are starting to build.

This morning produced 3 rock pipits on the saltmarsh. A scan across the estuary for singing skylark (successful) gave a bonus in the form of a male reed bunting - only our 4th record (78) for the year). The best was yet to come, however. As I cycled up the drive a small olive green bird flitted ahead of me - a chiffchaff. A garden first (136 total, 79 for the year) it gave quite nice views and called a few times. I assume it had wintered locally as they don't seem to be being reported in any number darn sarf yet. Makes me feel very virtuous for cycling as I probably would have missed it if I'd been in the car.

Rob

John o'Sullivan · Mar 12, 2005

Doing well there, still keping a regular eye on progress. I used to regularly follow two websites one about birding the nothe (weymouth) and another on severnside birds. Both Very high quality local patch sites. Now I get my vicarious pleasures via bird forum. Of to see if anythings happening in blackpool next.

edenwatcher · Mar 12, 2005

Thanks John,
Monster tide this afternoon, unfortunately we were out for the peak! We were getting our WeBS count in early, there being an SWT outing to our garden tomorrow (seems only polite to be at home!)!
There was a red-throated diver well upstream when we got back and the drake long-tailed duck once more. A pair of yellowhammers in the garden this morning, but tree sparrows are down to 1 or 2 now. Equalled the record buzzard count with 6 this morning. I guess if all the local buzzards are up at once it should be possible to get double figures. What a change from only 10 years ago.

Rob

edenwatcher · Mar 14, 2005

A few goodies for the SWT people, though the best moments came before and after they were with us. 3 red-throated divers were seen, but the best was the full summer plumage bird which showed at close range after everyone had left - an absolute stunner. 4 long-tailed ducks (2 drakes, 2 ducks) were a bit more obliging and everyone enjoyed the views of what are our common species such as black-tailed godwit and wigeon. Those of us that went to the Fife Bird Club hide had excellent close views of 5 greenshanks.
The event of the day happened over lunch however. A female peregrine hit a duck wigeon and knocked it on to the mud, where it was able to walk but not fly. This caused the peregrine some confusion - she would fly in and hover over the wigeon without really knowing what to do, or try to get it to fly (which of course it couldn't). She appeared to lose interest and it looked as though the crows would get it. One crow pulled the wigeon's wing a few times but they too lost interest as the wigeon was able to resist. The peregrine had not gone far however and returned to land on the wigeon and kill it. She got a reasonable meal before a buzzard came and displaced her. The buzzard and it's mate then polished off much of the remains and the rising tide deprived the crows of anything. High drama!

Nothing like that this morning but 6 drake tufted ducks were new for the year, so that's 80.

Rob

edenwatcher · Mar 17, 2005

This will be the last update for a while - off to Costa Rica tomorrow.

Tuesday produced another new bird for the year - the first lesser black-back of spring (81). The summer plumage red-throat was around in the morning and a pair of long-tailed ducks showed at dusk.
Yesterday's highlight was a male reed bunting.

Rob

edenwatcher · Apr 7, 2005

Back to the frozen north and winter birds still much in evidence.
A winter plumage red-throated diver and a drake long-tailed duck yesterday, along with a hunting peregrine and 2 great crested grebes.
In our absence 2 toads have discovered the new pond.

Costa Rica was fantastic. The group set a new record for a tour of 548 spp of which I missed about 10. Some real megas included three-wattled bellbird, lovely cotinga, agami heron, black-crowned antpitta, great curassow, ocellated antbird, 40 spp of hummingbird and all the trogons including around 8 quetzals. More on that later.

Rob

edenwatcher · Apr 11, 2005

Winter still definitely holding sway here.
A couple of red-throated divers have been showing well in recent days, one in pristine summer plumage. Apparently the 3rd bird met its nemesis in the shape of a great black-back whilst we were away. A pair of long-tailed ducks is still around - this is definitely our best ever year for them.
Wigeon numbers have dropped to 56 and teal to around 20. Definitely hoping for a garganey this spring, particularly now the pig field has been ploughed up for barley.
The single greenshank over the weekend may have been a lingering wintering bird or an early migrant. The star wader at present is black-tailed godwit. Whilst we were away there was a Scottish record count of 650 and I counted a garden record of 511 on Saturday. Nearly all are in beautiful summer plumage.
A stock dove on Saturday was the first for a while, whilst there have been record numbers of pied wagtails on the saltmarsh (20 on Sat) including a probable alba yesterday evening. Finally 2 swallows went west yesterday lunchtime (82).

Rob

edenwatcher · Apr 13, 2005

Favourable viewing conditions last night enabled me a pick up a few distant gannets (83 for the year). Also last night I saw a winter plumage razorbill and another swallow. This morning produced the first yellowhammer and tree sparrow in the garden since we returned from Costa Rica. I also managed another record count of black-tailed godwits - 584!
Record numbers of pied wagtails are on the saltmarsh (25 on Monday evening), when there were also large numbers of meadow pipits. Still no wheatears though.

Rob

edenwatcher · Apr 18, 2005

Away visiting relatives at the w/e, but 2 bedraggled wheatears this morning were no. 84 for the year. At the end of last week red-throated diver was still around and the white wagtail was on the saltmarsh once again.

Rob

Jane Turner · Apr 22, 2005

Spring arrived with a Vengence down here today... there is all sorts coming your way!

edenwatcher · Apr 22, 2005

I look forward to it.
Some nice moulting grey plovers this morning and a few knot, but those are shades of winter! The record numbers of pied wagtails on the saltmarsh continue, with another nice white wag last night.
We host an SOC "Big Sit" on Sunday, praying for migrants by then or the tally will be fairly miserable!

Rob

edenwatcher · Apr 23, 2005

A bit of a recovery.
Yesterday afternoon Sue managed a whimbrel (85) and 4 wheatears. Today, although we were out for the morning, have racked up 50 spp (+1 heard) so can look forward to tomorrow with greater enthusiasm.
A fulmar before breakfast was the first of the year (86) and this afternoon it has been ducks are us with: mallard, wigeon, teal, a drake gadwall (87), a pair of shoveler, 3 tufted duck, goldeneye, 3 long-tailed duck, eider and red-breasted merganser. Not so good for waders but there we go. A few sandwich terns were just visible through the heat haze ( 88) as were several gannets.
Passerine wise have had wheatear, swallow, goldcrest and yellowhammer of note.

I may try and give updates during the day tomorrow.

Rob

edenwatcher · Apr 24, 2005

Finished yesterday on 53 +1h - adding tree sparrow, grey plover and knot. Would settle for that today.

First "Big Sit" update.

Off to a promising start - currently at 43 + 1h. Highlights include tree sparrow, yellowhammer, fulmar, sand martin (89), grey plover and knot.
Already have 4 spp not seen y'day.

Rob

edenwatcher · Apr 24, 2005

Now at 47 + 2h having added sparrowhawk, wigeon, goldeneye and a real bonus - OSPREY (90 for the year). There are several swallows and sand martins around too.

Bizarre sight of the morning - a heron eating a young (but quite well-grown) rabbit!

Rob

edenwatcher · Apr 24, 2005

We have reached the giddy heights of 59 + 3h, which is better than I expected.
Recent highlights plenty of sandwich terns, wheatear, drake gadwall, at least 3 long-tailed ducks, stock dove, greenshank, gannet and most unexpectedly a pair of goosander. Chances of a few more (barwit would be nice). I only wish it weren't so bl**dy freezing!

Rob

edenwatcher · Apr 24, 2005

A final tally of 62+2h, which is significantly better than I was expecting.

The final additions were: a stunning ringed plover (the first of the year, 91), wren converted from heard to seen, and a razorbill. All in all a very successful day given how few migrants are around and without common gull, barwit, coal tit etc.

If anyone asks I will post a full list ...

Rob

edenwatcher · Apr 29, 2005

A willow warbler beside the drive this morning makes 92 for the year. Consulting the beginning of the thread shows that we are about 4 ahead of last year, which is rather a surprise.

Ducks have provided much of the interest this week. A duck gadwall joined the drake on Sunday evening and they have been around ever since. A pair of pintail appeared briefly on Monday and there have been up to 5 tufted duck around.
Rather unexpectedly Wednesday evening produced both razorbill and guillemot as well as a couple of unidentified distant auks.

Rob

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