Backwater Birding - Seaton, Devon (17 Viewers)

[Simon and Sue Wakely]

Evening birders,
My patience has paid off again; at 7:45 tonight a Hoopoe was calling and repeating well. It was a first for me calling, it was very close, somewhere in a neighbours garden. It was pitch black when I gave up looking, no sighting, but still excited; just to hear it was mega for me! Hope it hangs around, either here or visits the estuary or somewhere else on the local patch.
The more you look the more you see or hear, like this wonderful male in our garden today.
Happy Birding
Simon and Sue

P.S We still have a pair of Siskins with us in the garden.

 

[Simon and Sue Wakely]

Hello birders

A good evenings birding swallow passage for aprox 2 hours only small numbers my largest spot was 9.

But all in all the numbers are now flowing through a hobby across the back fields towards the woodland.

hope u all enjoyed my report,of my first hoopoe calling,whitford turns up some great spots and sounds!

Happy birding

simon & sue

he's still in the garden and were delighted!

 

[Phil Abbott]

One poor photo of todays Pied fly.Other news L.R.P Bridge marsh and 2 White wags Coly common.

 

[KarenWoolley]

Three new migrants on patch today, stunning males of both Pied Flycatcher and Whinchat, and few flyover Yellow Wagatils. At least ten Sand Martins are back on one of their River Coly nesting sites.

 

[Steve Waite]

Have another sighting to add on top of everything already mentioned for today, a flock of 26 Whimbrel flew north over Durley Road at 17:20.

 

[Gavin Haig]

"Hey, is it really true that Gavin Haig's posted on the Backwater Birding thread again?"
"Afraid so"
"But why? We were getting on so well without him."
"Apparently he digiscoped a Redstart today, and the bighead just can't resist the limelight, can he."

 

[picknage]

Nice photos everyone. What a nasty weekend. Missed 3 lifers on patch (and males too!) and then the blooming sparrow didn't show in 90 minutes when I was there tonight. Still, at least the kids have their books marked and reports written. And I just emailed off the report for final stage before printing. So hopefully not long now.

 

[Steve Waite]

With Nigel Pinhorn's Lesser Whitethroat at Axe Cliff yesterday morning, today's Garden Warbler at Beer Head and late news of a Cuckoo in Branscombe last Wednesday (thanks Bun), the patch list is on 160. I am missing ten birds.

My only news of today is of an Iceland Gull south over Seaton Marshes, four Whimbrel on the estuary and a Yellow Wag on Colyford Marsh.

 

[Simon and Sue Wakely]

Evening birders,
Whitford update; Swallows galore, the house matins have vanished; obviously not the same gang that were going to nest in the village. A female Goshawk flew over this morning at 10:15, also sighted today a Hobby, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Black Caps, Garden Warbler. We have managed a picture today, it's the second one sighted in the garden this spring and it's the 20th of April! Hope you all fall off your chairs! We did with this picture!!

Happy birding
Simon and Sue

 

[Steve Waite]

We have managed a picture today, it's the second one sighted in the garden this spring and it's the 20th of April! Hope you all fall off your chairs! We did with this picture!!
Happy birding
Simon and Sue

It's a good picture Simon, but Chaffinch is never going to be a species that could make me 'fall of my chair!'.

A quick update for this morning. A Little Ringed Plover was on Blackhole Marsh, along with lone Whimbrel and Wigeon. A single Ringed Plover was on the estuary off Coronation Corner.

An insect update in this post too! Two Wall Browns were on Beer Head yesterday, also saw my first Holly Blues, Large Skippers and Peacock yesterday as well as lots of Whites. A few days ago I saw my first Painted Lady of the year, also on Beer Head. Lastly Large Red Damselflies have been out now for about a week, best seen on Seaton Marshes.

 

[Simon and Sue Wakely]

Hello birders

Our last report didn't make any sense thats because it was a disaster!,i blame myself!!,i didnt read it before it was posted it,i apologise to you all..its about time i learn't how to use the computor!!

On a much happier note,a wonderful barn owl flew straight infront of me tonight down the railway line!.....

Happy birding
simon & sue

 

[bun]

2 Grasshopper warblers reeling in the Hollow at Beer Head this morning, managed to get brief views of one as it snuck through the undergrowth, also 9 Wheatears and 3 Whitethroat.

 

[Perry Smale]

Where's everyone gone? No posts for nearly a week. Is it really that bad?

 

[Andrew]

Maybe everyone is on gardening duties?

I am but will soon be finished.

 

[davercox]

Twitching at Portland, I bet.

 

[Steve Waite]

Twitching at Portland, I bet.

That's where I will be if it gets reported again...!!! Can't go til afternoon though!!!!

 

[Perry Smale]

Can't go till the afternoon? That's nothing. I can't go till Sunday at the earliest when aforementioned bird will be loooong gone.:-C

 

[Phil Abbott]

Come on Perry Dungeness Saturday if C L still there.

 

[Perry Smale]

Working Saturday Phil so no good I'm afraid. Suppose I could make the flycatcher if I finish early enough in the afternoon. Would be up for Dunge on the Sunday then.

 

[Gavin Haig]

Get your feet on the ground boys and girls - I saw some lovely Swallows while I was working today, and am pretty sure I heard a Blackcap too.

Edit - by the way, there should have been a couple of these tacked onto this post: