kingfisher
Scouser in exile
Kingfisher and Peter Hayes
Dawlish Warren, Powderham Castle and Bowling Green Marsh.
Bank Holiday Monday 21 April 2003
At very short notice Peter and i decided to have a days birding in Gods own country.
The day dawned very gloomy in Somerset as i got the early train to Exeter to meet Peter, but as we travelled to Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve the sun came out to cheer us and the threat of rain was left behind us.
On reaching the hide at on the spit end of the Warren we set up our telescopes, and settled to watch the shore birds come close in, to our horror there was not an Oystercatcher on the roost, so while we drank tea and coffee we scanned the horizon and we found them to our right on the far end spit roosting with Gulls, there was about 80+ Oystercatchers there and we both spotted Herring Gulls with 4 Great Black Backed Gulls, the tide came closer then more Oystercatchers joined the roost some of them later moved to famous roost spot just outside of the hide and we got superb close views of these lovely birds one or 2 with their heads down taking part in 'Piping' sessions at this point we were both Digiscoping. Out on the far spit 2 Dunlins were spotted going about their business and plenty of Cormorants were sunning themselves in the warm sunshine with their wings outstretched, and some Shellducks flew across the bay towards the railway line. Out among the boats Terns were screeching and diving for sandeels and as they came closer and roosted on the bouys we noted they were Sandwich Terns, but soon afterwards 3 other Terns were seen at first i thought they were Sandwich or Common Terns but when they came close into shore we soon realised these were different with pure black long bills out came the collins guide book and soon were saying 'surely not' 'no they can't be' but the evidence was there we were watching 3 Roseate Terns and we had stunning views of their diving antics, this was a first for both myself and Peter. Soon afterwards we set off to wander around the reserve, we were then told of 2 Cuckoos and a Redstart on the Warren but alas were never saw any of them, but we did see 2 Swallows numerous Linnets 2 Skylarks, a few Magpies and Chiffchaffs were singing in the trees and as hard as we could, we could not see them. In the Information Centre we told the Warden about the Roseate Terns and marked them on the 'daily board'.
Off we set to Powderham Castle, to view the main lake, as a Buzzard soared and called overhead 3 Little Egrets Were present a single Little Grebe was standing preening on the Lake side, a Grey Heron stalked anything that moved, and a few House Martins flew low across the lake, also there were Canada Geese and numerous Shellducks and Varrion Crows. As it was lunchtime food was on my mind, so we headed to one of the best birdwatching spots in the South West, Bowling Green Marsh, we sat in the car with our lunches the wind ouside had got up and the tide was turning fast, after tucking away our lunches we headed off to the hide but not before we saw 2 Chaffinches a Robin and a few Greenfinches, from the hide the 4 Spoonbills were doing what they do best.....sleeping and 4 Little Egrets were hiding among the tall grasses and a single Heron was also roosting. Curlews were present about 8 we checked in case of any Wimbrels but no they were all Curlews plenty of Black Tailed Godwits some feeding close to the hide, 7 Dunlin were counted a single Tufted Duck was diving for food as was a female Goldeneye Black Headed Gulls we all over the marsh as was a few Great Black Backed Gulls and 3 Lesser Black Backed Gulls to our surprise a few Knot were among the Godwits and the nesting pair of Mute Swans were close by, a female Mallard with about 8 chicks walked across the grassy banks, as were Starlings and Canada and a few Greylag Geese. Swallows, House and Sand Martins were feeding on the wing. Dodging a brief heavy shower we walked to the viewing platform and from here a single Greenshank and 2 Redshank were feeding on the mud banks and in the distance lots of Oystercatchers and Curlews were also feeding, and just before we left a said hello and goodbye to our good friend Izzy the Glossy Ibis in the near field, at this point out days birding in Devon came to an end, the birds were fantastic and the company was very pleasant, Peter at short notice thanks for a wonderful day out, your last before heading to London and work and politicians.
Dawlish Warren, Powderham Castle and Bowling Green Marsh.
Bank Holiday Monday 21 April 2003
At very short notice Peter and i decided to have a days birding in Gods own country.
The day dawned very gloomy in Somerset as i got the early train to Exeter to meet Peter, but as we travelled to Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve the sun came out to cheer us and the threat of rain was left behind us.
On reaching the hide at on the spit end of the Warren we set up our telescopes, and settled to watch the shore birds come close in, to our horror there was not an Oystercatcher on the roost, so while we drank tea and coffee we scanned the horizon and we found them to our right on the far end spit roosting with Gulls, there was about 80+ Oystercatchers there and we both spotted Herring Gulls with 4 Great Black Backed Gulls, the tide came closer then more Oystercatchers joined the roost some of them later moved to famous roost spot just outside of the hide and we got superb close views of these lovely birds one or 2 with their heads down taking part in 'Piping' sessions at this point we were both Digiscoping. Out on the far spit 2 Dunlins were spotted going about their business and plenty of Cormorants were sunning themselves in the warm sunshine with their wings outstretched, and some Shellducks flew across the bay towards the railway line. Out among the boats Terns were screeching and diving for sandeels and as they came closer and roosted on the bouys we noted they were Sandwich Terns, but soon afterwards 3 other Terns were seen at first i thought they were Sandwich or Common Terns but when they came close into shore we soon realised these were different with pure black long bills out came the collins guide book and soon were saying 'surely not' 'no they can't be' but the evidence was there we were watching 3 Roseate Terns and we had stunning views of their diving antics, this was a first for both myself and Peter. Soon afterwards we set off to wander around the reserve, we were then told of 2 Cuckoos and a Redstart on the Warren but alas were never saw any of them, but we did see 2 Swallows numerous Linnets 2 Skylarks, a few Magpies and Chiffchaffs were singing in the trees and as hard as we could, we could not see them. In the Information Centre we told the Warden about the Roseate Terns and marked them on the 'daily board'.
Off we set to Powderham Castle, to view the main lake, as a Buzzard soared and called overhead 3 Little Egrets Were present a single Little Grebe was standing preening on the Lake side, a Grey Heron stalked anything that moved, and a few House Martins flew low across the lake, also there were Canada Geese and numerous Shellducks and Varrion Crows. As it was lunchtime food was on my mind, so we headed to one of the best birdwatching spots in the South West, Bowling Green Marsh, we sat in the car with our lunches the wind ouside had got up and the tide was turning fast, after tucking away our lunches we headed off to the hide but not before we saw 2 Chaffinches a Robin and a few Greenfinches, from the hide the 4 Spoonbills were doing what they do best.....sleeping and 4 Little Egrets were hiding among the tall grasses and a single Heron was also roosting. Curlews were present about 8 we checked in case of any Wimbrels but no they were all Curlews plenty of Black Tailed Godwits some feeding close to the hide, 7 Dunlin were counted a single Tufted Duck was diving for food as was a female Goldeneye Black Headed Gulls we all over the marsh as was a few Great Black Backed Gulls and 3 Lesser Black Backed Gulls to our surprise a few Knot were among the Godwits and the nesting pair of Mute Swans were close by, a female Mallard with about 8 chicks walked across the grassy banks, as were Starlings and Canada and a few Greylag Geese. Swallows, House and Sand Martins were feeding on the wing. Dodging a brief heavy shower we walked to the viewing platform and from here a single Greenshank and 2 Redshank were feeding on the mud banks and in the distance lots of Oystercatchers and Curlews were also feeding, and just before we left a said hello and goodbye to our good friend Izzy the Glossy Ibis in the near field, at this point out days birding in Devon came to an end, the birds were fantastic and the company was very pleasant, Peter at short notice thanks for a wonderful day out, your last before heading to London and work and politicians.
