Andrew
wibble wibble
Yesterday was the Devon Bash and only a few people turned up but it proved to be a great day out. The members were Peter Hayes, John J, Kingfisher, TonyH, Myself and one guest. Here is my diary entry for the day, apologies if you find it too long . . . .
15-02-03
Location : Bowling Green Marsh, Devon. SX973875
The day started off well with Peter running up the road telling me of the Glossy Ibis in a field just past the hide and I was delighted to find the friendly bird no more than five or six metres away probing into a soft sodden patch of grass with so many people watching from behind the railings. Even passing cars did not flush the bird away! Peter, John and Kingfisher were snapping away with their Nikons like there was no tomorrow. Prior to this I spotted some other birds on the short walk to the Glossy and they were 4 Blue Tits, one of 2 Dunnocks, 6 Moorhen, 3 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, four of 12 Wood Pigeons, six of 15 Carrion Crows, a single Jackdaw, 2 Blackbirds, a Robin and a solitary Long Tailed Tit at the bowl by the hide. Whilst everyone watched the Glossy I scrutinized the trees lining the field and picked out a Magpie, 2 Redwings, 2 Greenfinches and six of 18 Coots in the grass. Above us a Grey Heron and a Cormorant flew over and looking at the lake over the gate I could see the resident 4 Spoonbills. Finally after about forty five minutes we left the Glossy and settled in the hide to scan the birds and found lots of wildfowl with many waders too. The birds obvious to us in numbers were at least 600+ Lapwings, 500+ Wigeon, exactly 97 Black Tailed Godwits, 130+ Teal and 40 Pochard. The tide was low so this obviously reduced the number of waders we were seeing but the supporting cast was first-class and the pick of the bunch were 16 Shoveler courting, with pairs going round in circles. The star birds for me were 3 Ruff scurrying around speedily showing their mottled scaly plumage and reddish orange legs well. I had my first ones last week but these gave me more satisfaction as they were on home soil. Tony had to bid farewell as this early point. Whilst panning from the left I caught a brief glimpse of a Snipe which I tried my best to show to the others but it did not come out again. The catalogue was complemented by a sole Shelduck, 40 Pochard, 6 Curlew and a lonely Oystercatcher. There was a Redshank in the northern edge of the field which I wrongly suspected of being a Spotted Redshank but dismissed it after it turned round to face us revealing a less than white front. We refuelled with a cuppa and set off to Topsham’s Recreation Ground. Being a Saturday we struggled for parking and managed to obtain two uncertain spots in a residential area just past the park and set off to my favoured viewpoint near the benches. The scopes soon came out and we surveyed the exposed mudflats and shingle finding 11 Redshanks, one Curlew, 500+ Black Headed Gulls, 32 Common Gulls and a single Black Tailed Godwit. I found some of 8 Snipe feeding in the mud along the edge of the reed bed point and shouted out every time I got another until I had four then a moment later Peter upstaged me by claiming eight birds! I looked over the area again and indeed there were eight glorious Snipe there well hidden just in the edge of the reeds with only one feeding brazenly out in the open. A little stroll further up the river and we searched a shingle patch finding two of 6 Pied Wagtails bathing in the shallow water, Kingfisher heard what he suspected to be a Reed Bunting and we explored in vain for it. A little brown job flew past us along the edge of the river and I followed it without finding it again leaving me a trifle miffed. John found 4 Goldeneyes up river, all females. The final bird here was a tiny tail bobbing Common Sandpiper along the east bank. I was quite disappointed in the lack of any unusual gulls such as Ring Billed, Med or Yellow Legged from this reliable stretch of river.
15-02-03
Location : Exminster Marshes and Turf Lock, Devon. SX958875 & SX965862
After a short drive from Topsham we arrived at the RSPB car park just outside Exminster behind the Swan’s Nest pub for the next stage of our birding day. John hardly got out of the car and he spotted a pair of Kestrels on a tall pylon. They soon performed an aerial courtship display of hovering together tails spread and skilfully flapping their wings rapidly to remain in one spot in the sky. Occasionally one would fly into the other trying to grab the talons, I could not see whether it was the male doing this but I would suspect it was. As soon as we were kitted up we delayed our walk with views of the Kestrels for nearly fifteen minutes and just after going through the gate a male Reed Bunting flashed in front of me towards some phragmites. We then set off up the western path towards the Turf Lock hotel and it proved to be a muddy path at various parts. The list was built up on the way to the Turf bit by bit with this side of the marshes not being the best side for birding in winter. The additions were 2 Grey Herons, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Robins, a lone Moorhen, a Dunnock and 2 Blue Tits. On the edge of a field halfway twenty three of 73 Curlews were feeding with the other fifty flying in a short while later. We soon reached the home straight to the Turf on the edge of a field and a Kingfisher hurriedly flashed over up a chocolate coloured stream and a distant Song Thrush moved through some trees. A flock of birds captured all our attentions and they alighted in a small tree near the Turf and these were a much appreciated 17 Meadow Pipits that flew off as we tried inching closer to them. As we crossed the lock holding up the Exeter Canal three of us were surprised to witness a Small Tortoiseshell flitting about landing a few feet away from us before going back up onto the slate clad pub wall basking in the warm sunshine. We soon occupied some tables and consumed our lunches before looking out on to the estuarine mudflats where I counted 197 Avocets for as far as I could see over the large estuary view. It was not so easy telling the difference between the Godwits when they were a fair way off but I managed to count a plain grey 37 Black Tailed Godwits and a scalier 56 Bar Tailed Godwits. I was studying one of 22 Redshanks close by on the west bank to the left with a lot of interest in the white eye ring as this is a feature not discernable at a distance. I also counted 15 Curlew, 1000+ Dunlin, 100+ Black Headed Gulls, 33 Shelducks and 16 Oystercatchers spread out all over the mudflats. The star birds here for me were 71 Golden Plovers, 23 Grey Plovers, 2 Red Breasted Mergansers and 2 Sanderling courtesy of Kingfisher. There were probably more Sanderling but I could only glimpse two. The rising tide prompted us to begin the return to the cars to catch the returning waders at Bowling Green. We went back along the sturdier canal towpath with higher views over the marshes and we soon added a Buzzard roosting on a fence post overlooking a grazing flock of 12 Pheasants. I was very certain I had glimpsed an orange breasted Brambling with 2 Chaffinches landing on a tip of a tree and flying off to the east but something made me unsure of the Brambling so it will not count as my first. Halfway along the towpath we came across a grand view of a group of flood pools and counted approximately 275 Wigeon, 12 Tufted Ducks, 50+ Teal, a single Cormorant. The star cast of the wildfowl were 2 Gadwalls and 6 Pintails with two resplendent males showing off their long slender tails when upending to feed. Down the end of the track connecting the two car parks three groups of 68 Redwings moved west roosting in a few trees along the way. I had glorious views under directly underneath some before seeing the rest in another tree soon as I caught up with the others. As we arrived back in the car park we found the Kestrels were still hovering near the pylon. Back at Bowling Green the Glossy Ibis showed well again but John wanted to see the Goatwalk. From there I counted 57 Shelducks on the River Exe which was comparatively empty being a high tide and late in the evening but this was more than made up for by a magnificent amber sunset that shimmered across the river. You could make out several waders roosting on the far side in the haze such as Avocets, Godwits and Curlews. Gulls were everywhere but there were no special ones to be seen unfortunately. Kingfisher bid farewell and set off towards Topsham whilst John and I had a last peek from the hide for a short while and he soon left. I stayed on a short while to increase the numbers of birds I counted earlier in the morning with a strong 68 Shoveler courting and other birds going up into the upper hundreds. The day ended with a clean white Little Egret which was a worthy conclusion to a fulfilling day out in the company of nice and polite friends.
The picture attached shows John, Kingfisher and Peter looking out over the estuary from the Turf.
15-02-03
Location : Bowling Green Marsh, Devon. SX973875
The day started off well with Peter running up the road telling me of the Glossy Ibis in a field just past the hide and I was delighted to find the friendly bird no more than five or six metres away probing into a soft sodden patch of grass with so many people watching from behind the railings. Even passing cars did not flush the bird away! Peter, John and Kingfisher were snapping away with their Nikons like there was no tomorrow. Prior to this I spotted some other birds on the short walk to the Glossy and they were 4 Blue Tits, one of 2 Dunnocks, 6 Moorhen, 3 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag Geese, four of 12 Wood Pigeons, six of 15 Carrion Crows, a single Jackdaw, 2 Blackbirds, a Robin and a solitary Long Tailed Tit at the bowl by the hide. Whilst everyone watched the Glossy I scrutinized the trees lining the field and picked out a Magpie, 2 Redwings, 2 Greenfinches and six of 18 Coots in the grass. Above us a Grey Heron and a Cormorant flew over and looking at the lake over the gate I could see the resident 4 Spoonbills. Finally after about forty five minutes we left the Glossy and settled in the hide to scan the birds and found lots of wildfowl with many waders too. The birds obvious to us in numbers were at least 600+ Lapwings, 500+ Wigeon, exactly 97 Black Tailed Godwits, 130+ Teal and 40 Pochard. The tide was low so this obviously reduced the number of waders we were seeing but the supporting cast was first-class and the pick of the bunch were 16 Shoveler courting, with pairs going round in circles. The star birds for me were 3 Ruff scurrying around speedily showing their mottled scaly plumage and reddish orange legs well. I had my first ones last week but these gave me more satisfaction as they were on home soil. Tony had to bid farewell as this early point. Whilst panning from the left I caught a brief glimpse of a Snipe which I tried my best to show to the others but it did not come out again. The catalogue was complemented by a sole Shelduck, 40 Pochard, 6 Curlew and a lonely Oystercatcher. There was a Redshank in the northern edge of the field which I wrongly suspected of being a Spotted Redshank but dismissed it after it turned round to face us revealing a less than white front. We refuelled with a cuppa and set off to Topsham’s Recreation Ground. Being a Saturday we struggled for parking and managed to obtain two uncertain spots in a residential area just past the park and set off to my favoured viewpoint near the benches. The scopes soon came out and we surveyed the exposed mudflats and shingle finding 11 Redshanks, one Curlew, 500+ Black Headed Gulls, 32 Common Gulls and a single Black Tailed Godwit. I found some of 8 Snipe feeding in the mud along the edge of the reed bed point and shouted out every time I got another until I had four then a moment later Peter upstaged me by claiming eight birds! I looked over the area again and indeed there were eight glorious Snipe there well hidden just in the edge of the reeds with only one feeding brazenly out in the open. A little stroll further up the river and we searched a shingle patch finding two of 6 Pied Wagtails bathing in the shallow water, Kingfisher heard what he suspected to be a Reed Bunting and we explored in vain for it. A little brown job flew past us along the edge of the river and I followed it without finding it again leaving me a trifle miffed. John found 4 Goldeneyes up river, all females. The final bird here was a tiny tail bobbing Common Sandpiper along the east bank. I was quite disappointed in the lack of any unusual gulls such as Ring Billed, Med or Yellow Legged from this reliable stretch of river.
15-02-03
Location : Exminster Marshes and Turf Lock, Devon. SX958875 & SX965862
After a short drive from Topsham we arrived at the RSPB car park just outside Exminster behind the Swan’s Nest pub for the next stage of our birding day. John hardly got out of the car and he spotted a pair of Kestrels on a tall pylon. They soon performed an aerial courtship display of hovering together tails spread and skilfully flapping their wings rapidly to remain in one spot in the sky. Occasionally one would fly into the other trying to grab the talons, I could not see whether it was the male doing this but I would suspect it was. As soon as we were kitted up we delayed our walk with views of the Kestrels for nearly fifteen minutes and just after going through the gate a male Reed Bunting flashed in front of me towards some phragmites. We then set off up the western path towards the Turf Lock hotel and it proved to be a muddy path at various parts. The list was built up on the way to the Turf bit by bit with this side of the marshes not being the best side for birding in winter. The additions were 2 Grey Herons, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Robins, a lone Moorhen, a Dunnock and 2 Blue Tits. On the edge of a field halfway twenty three of 73 Curlews were feeding with the other fifty flying in a short while later. We soon reached the home straight to the Turf on the edge of a field and a Kingfisher hurriedly flashed over up a chocolate coloured stream and a distant Song Thrush moved through some trees. A flock of birds captured all our attentions and they alighted in a small tree near the Turf and these were a much appreciated 17 Meadow Pipits that flew off as we tried inching closer to them. As we crossed the lock holding up the Exeter Canal three of us were surprised to witness a Small Tortoiseshell flitting about landing a few feet away from us before going back up onto the slate clad pub wall basking in the warm sunshine. We soon occupied some tables and consumed our lunches before looking out on to the estuarine mudflats where I counted 197 Avocets for as far as I could see over the large estuary view. It was not so easy telling the difference between the Godwits when they were a fair way off but I managed to count a plain grey 37 Black Tailed Godwits and a scalier 56 Bar Tailed Godwits. I was studying one of 22 Redshanks close by on the west bank to the left with a lot of interest in the white eye ring as this is a feature not discernable at a distance. I also counted 15 Curlew, 1000+ Dunlin, 100+ Black Headed Gulls, 33 Shelducks and 16 Oystercatchers spread out all over the mudflats. The star birds here for me were 71 Golden Plovers, 23 Grey Plovers, 2 Red Breasted Mergansers and 2 Sanderling courtesy of Kingfisher. There were probably more Sanderling but I could only glimpse two. The rising tide prompted us to begin the return to the cars to catch the returning waders at Bowling Green. We went back along the sturdier canal towpath with higher views over the marshes and we soon added a Buzzard roosting on a fence post overlooking a grazing flock of 12 Pheasants. I was very certain I had glimpsed an orange breasted Brambling with 2 Chaffinches landing on a tip of a tree and flying off to the east but something made me unsure of the Brambling so it will not count as my first. Halfway along the towpath we came across a grand view of a group of flood pools and counted approximately 275 Wigeon, 12 Tufted Ducks, 50+ Teal, a single Cormorant. The star cast of the wildfowl were 2 Gadwalls and 6 Pintails with two resplendent males showing off their long slender tails when upending to feed. Down the end of the track connecting the two car parks three groups of 68 Redwings moved west roosting in a few trees along the way. I had glorious views under directly underneath some before seeing the rest in another tree soon as I caught up with the others. As we arrived back in the car park we found the Kestrels were still hovering near the pylon. Back at Bowling Green the Glossy Ibis showed well again but John wanted to see the Goatwalk. From there I counted 57 Shelducks on the River Exe which was comparatively empty being a high tide and late in the evening but this was more than made up for by a magnificent amber sunset that shimmered across the river. You could make out several waders roosting on the far side in the haze such as Avocets, Godwits and Curlews. Gulls were everywhere but there were no special ones to be seen unfortunately. Kingfisher bid farewell and set off towards Topsham whilst John and I had a last peek from the hide for a short while and he soon left. I stayed on a short while to increase the numbers of birds I counted earlier in the morning with a strong 68 Shoveler courting and other birds going up into the upper hundreds. The day ended with a clean white Little Egret which was a worthy conclusion to a fulfilling day out in the company of nice and polite friends.
The picture attached shows John, Kingfisher and Peter looking out over the estuary from the Turf.