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Backwater Birding - Seaton, Devon (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Gavin Haig
- Start date
KarenWoolley
Well-known member
I had to go to Sidmouth this morning, so on the way back I thought I'd try somewhere new and so went to Berry Cliff between Branscombe and Weston Mouth. Knowing that this is the site of an ancient earthwork, flint mines and burial mounds appealed to the dormant archaeologist within me! So if there were no birds it would still be an exiting site, for me anyway. It was too!!
As for birds, well on the top the wind wasn't half blowing so birds were thin on the ground, loads of Swallows were skimming the cliff edge and the bushes were full of the songs of Whitethroats four of which I saw, sounded like there were loads more, stacks of Linnets and several Yellowhammers nothing else though. There's some great habitat, so I'll try again on a calmer day.
I noticed the Egyptian Geese up by the road bridge in Seaton this afternoon and they came nice and close allowing me to take some photos of the 'happy couple' (not more I hear you cry!!!) I personally think there so photogenic, they deserve to be photographed. Often!
As for birds, well on the top the wind wasn't half blowing so birds were thin on the ground, loads of Swallows were skimming the cliff edge and the bushes were full of the songs of Whitethroats four of which I saw, sounded like there were loads more, stacks of Linnets and several Yellowhammers nothing else though. There's some great habitat, so I'll try again on a calmer day.
I noticed the Egyptian Geese up by the road bridge in Seaton this afternoon and they came nice and close allowing me to take some photos of the 'happy couple' (not more I hear you cry!!!) I personally think there so photogenic, they deserve to be photographed. Often!
Attachments
Simon Wakely
Well-known member
Hi All, Karen great pics of our Egyptian. Top of Axmouth pm Little Owl calling .Our first Swift over Estuary. Egyptian on coly Common 7.30pm.
Steve Waite
What you looking at?
Seemed to be fairly quiet on the bird front today, Beer Head was bird-less early morning, and was only a little better at 4 pm, with 3 Wheatears. I did enjoy a very nice little highlight sat on the sea, a full summer plumaged Red-throated Diver...smart! Also on the same watch 3 Curlew came in, and 4 Razorbills flew west.
Had a stroll down the river this evening, quite a few more Sedge and Reed Warblers about, and 6 or so Swifts over Colyford. 9 Whimbrel were on show, as were the Egyptian Geese and 2 1st-winter Med Gulls. A Lesser Whitethroat singing along the railway bank at Whitford was rather nice, and at the back of Axmouth, a Red-legged Partridge was pecking away at its reflection in the very same dumped oven that two were doing the same to last week!!!
Rather gripped and peeved by an event that happened mid morning. I was at Seaton Marshes (walking around Borrow Pit) when I noticed the Gulls weren't happy about something...I looked and looked, but nothing. Then a few more Gulls got up, including some from the river....I knew something was around, somewhere!! I was about to give up looking when I picked up two distant blobs coming into land at Colyford Marsh....they were big blobs! With big round (grey) wings....and very very very long straight slender necks!! Shame I only saw them for a total of about 5 seconds!!!! Straight on the phone to Gav, and I was in full sprint to my car!!!! No more than 4 minutes later we were both over looking Colyford....and nothing. Only possible theory is that as soon as they touched down, they went straight off again....which is what most things do here!
And now its time for a story....Common Crane is surely one of the easiest birds to identify....well this could be the second year in a row I fluffed some up!!!! This is painful, but I will tell... Last year, late winter.....
I had just left work for my hour’s lunch break (it was a Thursday) and I walked from Co-op to my car, which was parked on the seafront. I wasn't far from my car when I could see four large birds heading towards the estuary mouth from the east at sea...oh; I thought to myself...Whooper or Bewick's? They continued to fly in towards the river, and as they came in front of Axe Cliff....they weren't white, they were dark grey!! S**T!!! I ran to my car, leapt in and made a grab for my bino's, but as I pulled them up to my eyes the strap became caught on the hand brake...the few seconds it took to un-hook them were costly....they had gone behind the houses and were off up the river.... 'Oh well' I thought to myself, just have to let them go.... and I did and I was fine about it. Until, about four days later, I learn of FOUR Common Cranes roosting at Exminster Marshes, and they had been around since a few days before too.... I cried for about 2 months.....
Had a stroll down the river this evening, quite a few more Sedge and Reed Warblers about, and 6 or so Swifts over Colyford. 9 Whimbrel were on show, as were the Egyptian Geese and 2 1st-winter Med Gulls. A Lesser Whitethroat singing along the railway bank at Whitford was rather nice, and at the back of Axmouth, a Red-legged Partridge was pecking away at its reflection in the very same dumped oven that two were doing the same to last week!!!
Rather gripped and peeved by an event that happened mid morning. I was at Seaton Marshes (walking around Borrow Pit) when I noticed the Gulls weren't happy about something...I looked and looked, but nothing. Then a few more Gulls got up, including some from the river....I knew something was around, somewhere!! I was about to give up looking when I picked up two distant blobs coming into land at Colyford Marsh....they were big blobs! With big round (grey) wings....and very very very long straight slender necks!! Shame I only saw them for a total of about 5 seconds!!!! Straight on the phone to Gav, and I was in full sprint to my car!!!! No more than 4 minutes later we were both over looking Colyford....and nothing. Only possible theory is that as soon as they touched down, they went straight off again....which is what most things do here!
And now its time for a story....Common Crane is surely one of the easiest birds to identify....well this could be the second year in a row I fluffed some up!!!! This is painful, but I will tell... Last year, late winter.....
I had just left work for my hour’s lunch break (it was a Thursday) and I walked from Co-op to my car, which was parked on the seafront. I wasn't far from my car when I could see four large birds heading towards the estuary mouth from the east at sea...oh; I thought to myself...Whooper or Bewick's? They continued to fly in towards the river, and as they came in front of Axe Cliff....they weren't white, they were dark grey!! S**T!!! I ran to my car, leapt in and made a grab for my bino's, but as I pulled them up to my eyes the strap became caught on the hand brake...the few seconds it took to un-hook them were costly....they had gone behind the houses and were off up the river.... 'Oh well' I thought to myself, just have to let them go.... and I did and I was fine about it. Until, about four days later, I learn of FOUR Common Cranes roosting at Exminster Marshes, and they had been around since a few days before too.... I cried for about 2 months.....
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Gavin Haig
Well-known member
Dec 19th 2004, Phil and I are standing by the Axmouth road at the bottom of the Stedcombe track. We are chatting idly as we overlook a very flooded river valley. It's late in the day, and a few gulls are heading S to roost. Oh look - what's that trailing along behind a gang of half a dozen Herring Gulls? A Crane, of course. Turns out this happens all the time, it seems. Sometimes they find their way onto a patcher's list, sometimes not.Steve Waite said:
So, why am I recounting this triumphant spot straight after Steve's tale(s) of woe??
Just a merciless grip. Nothing more.
I am not nice to know...............|=)|
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James McCarthy
Well-known member
cyberspace was made for your alter-ego which i have yet to meet in the field...maybe we could slip this into your very first intro to this forum back 91 pages ago
Thinking I might have had a few points today but to no avail - Lesser Whitethroat singing in Beer Quarry this am.
If we are up for stories then my gripper from yesterday...driving across towards London across Salisbury Plain at about 11am with not a tree in sight when after several buzzards I see a kite flying towards me NE to SW...it must have passed 100 yards ahead of me and only about 50 foot above the road, all dark, just a trace of a fork in the tail but seeing as BK has to be the hardest bird to get through rarities committees, thats as far as it goes...bummer but as steve said, at least it wasn't on the patch.
Roger Boswell
Well-known member
Karen - super images of the Egyptian Geese, they are really attractive birds in close-up. It looks as if we may be photographing goslings soon!
Off patch again, but can someone confirm (or otherwise!) our identification of this bird. We had walked down to the Cobb today and were surprised to see 7 Purple Sandpipers sitting on the rocks, but were even more surprised to see a much brighter bird in the middle of a group on one rock. Looking it up later we identified it as a Dunlin in summer plumage - is this correct?
Off patch again, but can someone confirm (or otherwise!) our identification of this bird. We had walked down to the Cobb today and were surprised to see 7 Purple Sandpipers sitting on the rocks, but were even more surprised to see a much brighter bird in the middle of a group on one rock. Looking it up later we identified it as a Dunlin in summer plumage - is this correct?
Attachments
Simon Wakely
Well-known member
Hi All, Today we were Back Garden Birders and glad, 12 Swifts Together there Screaming call wonderful to hear. Hobby flying above estuary, Yes Roger a Dunlin and a great pic. Bat in back garden Tonight, pherhaps our cricket team should of taken it with them, Bless em.
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Jos Stratford
Beast from the East
Cranes don't alarm gulls around here, but then Cranes are very common here, so maybe the gulls are just used to them (?)
Simon Wakely
Well-known member
Hi All, A very disturbing sight today, a herring gull trying to catch just fledged Blackbirds in our front garden, first time we have ever seen this.Sue saved the day, there all fine.
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Steve Waite
What you looking at?
Wow!
Good day today....might be a million times better if a certain southern Warbler hangs around another day or two!!!!
Started the day doing my monthly woodland bird survey, all the usual suspects. After a look along the river I thought I'd give Beer Head a stomp over. I got as far as the underhooken when I heard a bird that instantly rung some alarm bells! It was sounding a lot like an Iberian Chiffchaff!! After about 8 bursts of song I sent a few cleverly worded texts out "Chiffchaff singing with serveral Iberian qualities at Beer Head!". Next thing I know there's a drake Garganey on Seaton Marshes, so I left it for that!!
Saw the duck....a real stonker! Also a Whinchat here.
Then back to Beer Head, this time with Phil. Pleased that the bird was still there singing well, and at last we actually saw it (though only briefly!). Wow was its song striking, three clear parts, though the third was left out on several occasions. Even heard it call, three times - very diagnostic indeed - nothing like a Chiff or Willow. Gav, Ian and Karen came to have a gander before the days end - we did see enough of it to note a few pro Iberian plumage features too, despite it being amazingly elusive!
After doing some homework this evening, listening to video clips, etc - it is sounding good! Especially the call - spot on! I REALLY hope it stays overnight, for all to see!
Good day today....might be a million times better if a certain southern Warbler hangs around another day or two!!!!
Started the day doing my monthly woodland bird survey, all the usual suspects. After a look along the river I thought I'd give Beer Head a stomp over. I got as far as the underhooken when I heard a bird that instantly rung some alarm bells! It was sounding a lot like an Iberian Chiffchaff!! After about 8 bursts of song I sent a few cleverly worded texts out "Chiffchaff singing with serveral Iberian qualities at Beer Head!". Next thing I know there's a drake Garganey on Seaton Marshes, so I left it for that!!
Saw the duck....a real stonker! Also a Whinchat here.
Then back to Beer Head, this time with Phil. Pleased that the bird was still there singing well, and at last we actually saw it (though only briefly!). Wow was its song striking, three clear parts, though the third was left out on several occasions. Even heard it call, three times - very diagnostic indeed - nothing like a Chiff or Willow. Gav, Ian and Karen came to have a gander before the days end - we did see enough of it to note a few pro Iberian plumage features too, despite it being amazingly elusive!
After doing some homework this evening, listening to video clips, etc - it is sounding good! Especially the call - spot on! I REALLY hope it stays overnight, for all to see!
Attachments
Gavin Haig
Well-known member
'Interesting' Birds
Birds are 'interesting' for a variety of reasons. Some are simply 'eye candy', and just stunning to look at - for example....Garganey. Some are dead boring to look at but have, say, a distinctive song - for example, erm.......Iberian Chiffchaff. Could there be a reason for introducing this post thus? Um...yes.
I was out of action all morning and didn't even look my texts until about 2:30 this afternoon. One was from Ian Waite, and mentioned the presence of a Garganey on Seaton Marshes in the morning. The other was from Steve, and mentioned the presence of a phyllosc with odd, 'Iberian Chiffchaff-type song' at Beer Head, also late morning. I have to say that Iberian Chiff, along with Short-toed Treecreeper and Blyth's Reed Warbler, features high on my list of 'Birds I will never-under-any-circumstances twitch'. So when I ventured forth at around 3, I was straight down to Seaton Marshes, where the gorgeous Garganey was performing brilliantly on the 'lagoon' (bit of a misnomer for a teeny-tiny pond). After a call from Steve to say the warbler-thing was still up Beer Head I sighed, and resigned myself to an afternoon of NOT-eye-candy........
Pretty quickly I was convinced that this thing was ODD. I have never seen or heard Iberian Chiff in the field, and had only ever paid fleeting attention to ID criteria - just the occasional listen to a recording, that kind of thing. In other words, ill-equipped to pronounce judgement on a 'possible' in the field. However, I CAN look and listen, which I did. Lots. Phil had left when I arrived, but Karen joined us, and, later, Ian McLean. We tried recording it on our phones and cameras, with mixed results. If possible (when we work out if we can do it) we'll try to post a sound file at some stage. Views were frustratingly brief - it was a skulky little blighter! To cut a long story short, we did discuss whether or not to put at least SOME kind of news out, but in the end decided to do some research first. Well, this evening we've done the research, plus Steve's talked to one or two experienced bods, and we are pretty sure we have been looking at (more importantly, listening to) a patch mega this afternoon, ie. our first Iberian Chiffchaff. A very good feature (and one the BBRC treat as diagnostic) is that they stay for ages. Nothing at all stays at Beer Head - so if it's still there tomorrow it is clinched. Apart from the wild song, a very good feature (seriously now) is the call. Steve and I heard it call 3 times - a plaintive, down-slurred 'tchiu' or 'tiu' - absolutely nothing like a Chiff or Willow. Anyway, that's the story so far..........
After that bombshell everything else seems a little anticlimactic, but here goes anyway. While staking out the Iberian Chiff I snatched 5 points from right under Steve's nose with (hopefully) our first Spotted Flycatcher. Later, a walk up the estuary revealed the Garganey had moved to the Colyford Common scrape, and there was a smart summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit on the river (another 3 points Steve?). All a bit academic with Steve chalking up galactic numbers with a major BB rare.............
As well as our floating eye candy, here is a pic of Karen and Steve trying to look 'interested' at Beer Head.
EDIT - almost forgot - while idling at Beer Head we were also rewarded with a Clouded Yellow and superb Wood White.
Birds are 'interesting' for a variety of reasons. Some are simply 'eye candy', and just stunning to look at - for example....Garganey. Some are dead boring to look at but have, say, a distinctive song - for example, erm.......Iberian Chiffchaff. Could there be a reason for introducing this post thus? Um...yes.
I was out of action all morning and didn't even look my texts until about 2:30 this afternoon. One was from Ian Waite, and mentioned the presence of a Garganey on Seaton Marshes in the morning. The other was from Steve, and mentioned the presence of a phyllosc with odd, 'Iberian Chiffchaff-type song' at Beer Head, also late morning. I have to say that Iberian Chiff, along with Short-toed Treecreeper and Blyth's Reed Warbler, features high on my list of 'Birds I will never-under-any-circumstances twitch'. So when I ventured forth at around 3, I was straight down to Seaton Marshes, where the gorgeous Garganey was performing brilliantly on the 'lagoon' (bit of a misnomer for a teeny-tiny pond). After a call from Steve to say the warbler-thing was still up Beer Head I sighed, and resigned myself to an afternoon of NOT-eye-candy........
Pretty quickly I was convinced that this thing was ODD. I have never seen or heard Iberian Chiff in the field, and had only ever paid fleeting attention to ID criteria - just the occasional listen to a recording, that kind of thing. In other words, ill-equipped to pronounce judgement on a 'possible' in the field. However, I CAN look and listen, which I did. Lots. Phil had left when I arrived, but Karen joined us, and, later, Ian McLean. We tried recording it on our phones and cameras, with mixed results. If possible (when we work out if we can do it) we'll try to post a sound file at some stage. Views were frustratingly brief - it was a skulky little blighter! To cut a long story short, we did discuss whether or not to put at least SOME kind of news out, but in the end decided to do some research first. Well, this evening we've done the research, plus Steve's talked to one or two experienced bods, and we are pretty sure we have been looking at (more importantly, listening to) a patch mega this afternoon, ie. our first Iberian Chiffchaff. A very good feature (and one the BBRC treat as diagnostic) is that they stay for ages. Nothing at all stays at Beer Head - so if it's still there tomorrow it is clinched. Apart from the wild song, a very good feature (seriously now) is the call. Steve and I heard it call 3 times - a plaintive, down-slurred 'tchiu' or 'tiu' - absolutely nothing like a Chiff or Willow. Anyway, that's the story so far..........
After that bombshell everything else seems a little anticlimactic, but here goes anyway. While staking out the Iberian Chiff I snatched 5 points from right under Steve's nose with (hopefully) our first Spotted Flycatcher. Later, a walk up the estuary revealed the Garganey had moved to the Colyford Common scrape, and there was a smart summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit on the river (another 3 points Steve?). All a bit academic with Steve chalking up galactic numbers with a major BB rare.............
As well as our floating eye candy, here is a pic of Karen and Steve trying to look 'interested' at Beer Head.
EDIT - almost forgot - while idling at Beer Head we were also rewarded with a Clouded Yellow and superb Wood White.
Attachments
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Simon Wakely
Well-known member
Hi All, Coly Common am Black tailed Godwit in Summer plumage, 1 Whimberl. Little owl calling top of Axmouth Tonight.
Gavin Haig
Well-known member
Just attempting to create a couple of links so you can hear what our Iberian Chiffchaff sounded like. If this goes OK, will add a little more detail to the post later....
http://media.putfile.com/Iberian11
http://media.putfile.com/Iberian22
http://media.putfile.com/Iberian33
Well, to achieve that I had to master about 10 technical things that I'd never done before. Tricky. As Steve mentions, these are culled from recordings that Karen made with a camera. Quite impressive really. In one of the (unpublished) recordings you can hear Steve in the background, on the phone to his girlfriend, explaining how he's sorry he's late, and that he'll pick her up just as soon as he gets this punctured tyre changed. Tsk. Talking of Steve - a rarity of this magnitude earns him a ludicrous 100 Bonanza Points (the equivalent of a Barwit every day for over a month). So we are going to introduce some PENALTY categories, where points will be DEDUCTED for naughty antics. Only Steve will qualify for this treatment, and the categories will be defined and applied as the need and opportunity arises. Actually, the need has already arisen - conspicuously - so just looking for an opportunity now. Watch this space.
Visited Branscombe for a nice spring seawatch first thing this morning. A freezing, howling northeasterly and six inches of snow spoiled my fun - really, it was like midwinter - and only the appearance of 3 Sandwich Terns and 5 Manxies tempered the direness. No more for me until this evening. After a humiliating afternoon of rounders with mostly much younger, fitter, faster, slimmer people I hobbled down the estuary like a crab. 7 Barwits were my reward - 5 in spanking summer plumage. I accidentally flushed them from their comfy roosting spot - you're right Steve, it's the air guitar that unsettles them........|=)|
http://media.putfile.com/Iberian11
http://media.putfile.com/Iberian22
http://media.putfile.com/Iberian33
Well, to achieve that I had to master about 10 technical things that I'd never done before. Tricky. As Steve mentions, these are culled from recordings that Karen made with a camera. Quite impressive really. In one of the (unpublished) recordings you can hear Steve in the background, on the phone to his girlfriend, explaining how he's sorry he's late, and that he'll pick her up just as soon as he gets this punctured tyre changed. Tsk. Talking of Steve - a rarity of this magnitude earns him a ludicrous 100 Bonanza Points (the equivalent of a Barwit every day for over a month). So we are going to introduce some PENALTY categories, where points will be DEDUCTED for naughty antics. Only Steve will qualify for this treatment, and the categories will be defined and applied as the need and opportunity arises. Actually, the need has already arisen - conspicuously - so just looking for an opportunity now. Watch this space.
Visited Branscombe for a nice spring seawatch first thing this morning. A freezing, howling northeasterly and six inches of snow spoiled my fun - really, it was like midwinter - and only the appearance of 3 Sandwich Terns and 5 Manxies tempered the direness. No more for me until this evening. After a humiliating afternoon of rounders with mostly much younger, fitter, faster, slimmer people I hobbled down the estuary like a crab. 7 Barwits were my reward - 5 in spanking summer plumage. I accidentally flushed them from their comfy roosting spot - you're right Steve, it's the air guitar that unsettles them........|=)|
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Steve Waite
What you looking at?
WOW!!!!!
Worked till four today, then straight to the harbour to meet Karen to get a CD from her of the recordings of yesterdays Warbler and WOW was I impressed!!!! Devon's fourth Iberian Chiffchaff well and truely on tape!!! (well, computer anyway!!!!).....wicked!!!! What a song! Karen - I owe you BIG TIME :t: !!!! Really peeed that it didn't stay around today - wish all could have enjoyed it (well, its song anyway!). May still be lurking somewhere on patch....
Well done Gav for posting some sound clips. I've been like a jumping bean all evening!!!! Oh, and thanks to Phil for coming back up with me yesterday afternoon to re-locate the bird. This bird really sums this local patch up...TEAM WORK.
Now - I'm off to run up and down my stairs about seventy times.....keep posting them sound clips Gav!
P.S. I've seen very few birds today - though great to see Swifts all over the place again.
EDIT: Here's two I like :
http://media.putfile.com/Ib-Chiff-1
And this one starts with a Chiff, leads into a Blackcap and then the Ib Chiff gives a burst - but only the first two phrases: http://media.putfile.com/Half-song-plus-Chiff-and-BlackC
Worked till four today, then straight to the harbour to meet Karen to get a CD from her of the recordings of yesterdays Warbler and WOW was I impressed!!!! Devon's fourth Iberian Chiffchaff well and truely on tape!!! (well, computer anyway!!!!).....wicked!!!! What a song! Karen - I owe you BIG TIME :t: !!!! Really peeed that it didn't stay around today - wish all could have enjoyed it (well, its song anyway!). May still be lurking somewhere on patch....
Well done Gav for posting some sound clips. I've been like a jumping bean all evening!!!!
Oh, and thanks to Phil for coming back up with me yesterday afternoon to re-locate the bird. This bird really sums this local patch up...TEAM WORK.Now - I'm off to run up and down my stairs about seventy times.....keep posting them sound clips Gav!
P.S. I've seen very few birds today - though great to see Swifts all over the place again.
EDIT: Here's two I like :
http://media.putfile.com/Ib-Chiff-1
And this one starts with a Chiff, leads into a Blackcap and then the Ib Chiff gives a burst - but only the first two phrases: http://media.putfile.com/Half-song-plus-Chiff-and-BlackC
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Evening folks, had two trips out to Beer Head today (was away all day yesterday, probably the last time im going to leave Devon!) saw and heard whitethroats, blackcaps, a few willows, and down in the undercliff quite a few "normal" chiffs, but unfortunatly no Iberian Chiffs ( not that i have ever heard one before).....hopefully it hasnt moved very far and will still be in the area, which reminds me back to work tomorrow and i did notice Beer Head and the surrounding area could do with a spot of litter picking..so thats where i will probably be working i think.......
Steve Waite
What you looking at?
KarenWoolley
Well-known member
Great day for me yesterday two lifers in one day!!!|=)|
I'm SO happy the recording worked so well, I wasn't aware my cameras were so superbly multifunctional.
Don't mention it Steve. Anytime! I was only too happy to help!!! :loveme:
Steve and Gav - The clips sound great.|=)|
I'm SO happy the recording worked so well, I wasn't aware my cameras were so superbly multifunctional.
Don't mention it Steve. Anytime! I was only too happy to help!!! :loveme:
Steve and Gav - The clips sound great.|=)|
Steve Waite
What you looking at?
Good job I've got a healthy heart!!!! More later.....
Ranger James
Well-known member
Nice morning up at Trinity Hill, two tree pipits around the birch stumps and a smattering of common lizards.
A little off patch, green hairstreak at Fire Beacon Hill, along with a beautiful demoiselle, all in all a very good morning.
James
A little off patch, green hairstreak at Fire Beacon Hill, along with a beautiful demoiselle, all in all a very good morning.
James
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