Backwater Birding - Seaton, Devon (1 Viewer)

[Steve Waite]

As I said yesterday, Seaton Marshes early this morning to check our duck traps. Only two ducks were stupid enough to be in them, and both of those were Mallards! But there were some nice highlights thanks to this trip out. I enjoyed a nice chuckle when Fraser got his big white 4X4 stuck in the middle of the marsh, and I mean really stuck! After some unsuccessful pushing we left him to it just as reinforcements arrived (a bigger and less useless 4X4!). Feathered highlights included a very valuable year tick in the form of a Jack Snipe flushed from the edge of a scrape. We flushed it three times in all, the first two occasions it dropped down just on the other side of the pool, and on the third occasion it flew over the ditch and landed in the 'Stone Curlew' field (neighbouring field to the south of the reserve). Also 6+ Snipe plus the usual ducks and stuff!

After this, a trip to the bank and a look over a highlight-less Lower Bruckland Ponds I headed for the Coly, parking up at Heathayne Bridge. There began my quest for a patch tick as I marched upriver! I couldn't stop myself, each river bend I peered around I thought to myself 'oh - this looks good' - so I just had to keep walking! I strayed from the patch following the river (gaining two wet feet) and just kept plugging away! I had passed a metal bridge and seemed to be only a few fields away from Bonehayne Farm when I was thinking it was time to head back. I peered around what was going to be the last corner, and there sat on the rivers edge enjoying a preen and a wash - a Dipper! It stayed put for five minutes, allowing some mobile phone photos (through bins!) to be taken, then just as I was attempting a video it upped and flew around the corner upriver. What a superb little bird, it felt like a real reward!! During the trek I also saw 21 Snipe (in one flock!) 1 Kingfisher, 3 Grey Wags, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Mistle Thrush and several calling Siskins.

Just been out for a look along the estuary, no sign of anything American but three adult Med Gulls were nice - including one with a shadow of a full hood! Nice to see Brian again, hope it shows later for him and whoever else is wanting it.

 

[Gavin Haig]

Better timing today. I thought a late tea-break might be prudent, and so it was. I headed for home via the estuary, where I was surprised to see at least four other birders checking the gulls. At the downstream end was Ian M. I pulled over and learned that he had just arrived too. Almost the first bird we clapped eyes on was the Ring-billed Gull, right by the water's edge, well away from the gathered horde on the mud. A minute later it flew to the head of the flock. Three minutes later it was gone, presumably to the roost. That was short and sweet! I decided that I had better be short and sweet too, and am just finishing a cuppa as I type, before heading back out to the land of gainful employment...

Sorry if you are already bored with photos of this particular Ring-billed but these ARE unique, being the first to be taken by ME. It is possibly the biggest RBG I've ever seen, quite a lump. Lovely!

Afraid these pics were a bit fuzzy, so large doses of sharpening. Still, not too bad.

Almost forgot - 94.

 

[KarenWoolley]

Only had time for a quick look at the gulls late morning and I too saw 3 adult Med Gulls. Is this the one (shadow of full hood) you were talking about Steve?

Now Steve's beat me to Dipper, it's been relegated to my ever increasing 'catch up list', it was going to be my banker too!! :'D My only hope now is to get out on the beach early in the mornings come the spring and catch a few very brief incoming Hoopoes and Bee-eaters!!

 

[Roger Boswell]

Steve - thanks for confirming the Black Redstart at Lyme. Must have been the westerly gale bringing it in from the Axe Sailing Club!

Help now needed from the Gull experts.

Image 1 - I am sure is a Great Black-backed Gull - photographed at Lyme
Image 2 & 3? I am 90% sure these are also a Great BBG, but what does the different colour on the tip of the beak signify? Is the bird in 2 & 3 younger 2nd winter? I am still finding Gulls very difficult!

 

[KarenWoolley]

I am 90% sure these are also a Great BBG, but what does the different colour on the tip of the beak signify? Is the bird in 2 & 3 younger 2nd winter? I am still finding Gulls very difficult!

With my self-proclaimed recent improvement in gull ID I'm going to stick my neck out and say that's a third winter GBB. So virtually as adult, except black on bill, not red, and upper wings/mantle mottled dark brown/black.:brains:

 

[bun]

A look at the sea afterwork again revealed decent numbers of Big Gulls on the sea off Beer, mostly Herring, a few G.B. Backed, and 1 L.B.Backed, 5 Great Crested Grebe, and a Great Northern Diver(west).

Also a female Black Redstart, was on rooftops by the bottom cemetry most of the day, and a pair of Sparrowhawks were displaying ( a bit early maybe) high in the sky over the jubilee gardens.

 

[Steve Waite]

Glad it showed for everyone this afternoon, easily the biggest one I've seen Gav.

Yes Karen, that's the Med Gull. And I agree with your GBBG ID (though the first is an adult and the other two may just be fourth-year birds, but third-year is good shout). Early morning strolls along the beach will give you several quality year ticks for sure come the spring, maybe a couple of decent waders?

Bun - Great Northern Diver would have been a year tick for me....XXXX!!!

 

[Roger Boswell]

Thanks for your help with the gulls - I am getting there slowly ..........

 

[bun]

Had good close views of a Firecrest at lunchtime today at the Jubilee Gardens, first in a small Holly Tree then a Holm Oak, in the garden with the Green gate and new fence that joins the footpath to Seaton.

Also again (yawn) female Black Redstart on the beach this morning..

 

[Steve Waite]

Nice one with the Firecrest Bun - a good year tick.

Had a ten min look over the sea before I started work at 8:30: 11 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Red-throated Diver and the Velvet Scoter on show. Also a Blackcap tacking from the gardens opposite the town hall.

Just checked Birdguides, adult Glaucous Gull at Dawlish Warren this afternoon....bugger!

 

[Phil Abbott]

Blimey Steve You be carefull,a full days work,that must be a year tick for you.

 

[Steve Waite]

Blimey Steve You be carefull,a full days work,that must be a year tick for you.

Hahaha, very funny! I do a full days work (ish!) five days a week, it's just pushed back half a day! Normally I don't start till one (and finish at half ten), but today the top sheds were about so they wanted me in during the day. I'll suffer in the summer when there are Red-rumped Swallows and Black-winged Stilts about, they like turning up on nice warm summer evenings.... I can see a few sleepless nights and dawn raids in May/June.....

 

[Gavin Haig]

Had a nice chat with my boss at lunchtime and asked for the afternoon off. "What on earth for?" was his incredulous response. So I reached for my violin. I explained about year-listing and the fact that I'm trailing the field pathetically, and desperately need to get one or two tricky ones under my belt, blah, blah.... Being the best boss in the world he immediately agreed to all my demands, doubled my salary and bought me a couple of beers for later. So, to the field.....

Began at the River Coly. Parked up near Heathhayne bridege, walked down to the river, and there was a Dipper. Straight away. I walked back to the van, got scope and camera, took a few snaps, then whipped out the old 12-bore and turned it into a blocker.

The Beer Firecrest had obviously heard about how I make blockers, and stayed well hidden. Off Seaton Hole were 11 Common Scoters, the Velvet and 8 Great Crested Grebes. Just a single adult Med Gull on the estuary was a bit poor. Finally, a trip to Woodlark Wonderland was rewarded with 20+ of the little beauts.

Along with the Dipper, a Treecreeper and calling Nuthatch on the Coly helped the year list to threaten three figures, sort of - 97. Which reminds me - would you fellow year-listers be kind enough to post your totals as we're going along please? It helps me keep focussed, and might even earn me some mild sympathy while I'm still an underdog....|=)|

1. Dipper, preparing to...er...dip.
2. Huh?!! Is that a GUN??!!
3. Very naff, but not a Skylark.

 

[Phil Abbott]

108 for me so far Gav,still missing redpoll,Golden plover,B,t,diver,cettis,Eider,Merlin,Jack snipe,Dipper,and Firecrest.

 

[bun]

Im on 105, last 3 being R.B. Gull, Knot, and Firecrest - missing Woodcock, Redpoll, cettis, B.T.diver, B.shearwater, Merlin, Eider, water pipit, Brent goose, Golden plover, jack snipe and Dipper..

 

[KarenWoolley]

Knowing Steve was off to tick the Firecrest this morning I decided to walk the dog over to Beer and join him, after all he was bound to see it wasn't he?

Just as I was about to descend the steps from Jubilee Gardens, I briefly heard what sounded like a Firecrest calling from inside a dense thicket. I went to investigate and caught a glimpse of something moving around inside. So I waited, I didn't see anything emerge, but a couple of minutes later I did see what appeared to be a Firecrest slipping quickly through the topmost branches of a holm oak. A tick surely? No! I couldn't be sure it was one because the strong back lighting obscured any details. Steve soon arrived and we waited for a good while longer without success. ||

I thought that a return visit at 1:30 would be a good idea, as I'd seen them at this time on several previous occasions. A massive build up of gulls on the river, prevented this though, I looked through them ALL and only saw one Med Gull! I just know if I had stuck to my plan I'd have seen the Firecrest for sure!

To make matters worse whilst scanning my last few gulls I received a text from Gav, telling me about the Dipper which was on the Coly an hour and a half ago!! :eek!: Never mind, I'd still got time for a quick peek there on the way to Axminster. Ever optimistic I rushed down to the river only to be confronted by an eerie silence and the pathetic sight of a few brown, russet and white feathers floating downstream....

I'm stuck on 103 :stuck:

I haven't had a tick for 5 days :-C

EDIT: I'm missing; Little Owl, Marsh Tit, Jay, Brambling, Water Rail, Water Pipit, Brent Goose, Pintail, GND, BTD, Merlin, Jack Snipe, Firecrest, and Dipper.

 

[Jos Stratford]

I walked back to the van, got scope and camera, took a few snaps, then whipped out the old 12-bore and turned it into a blocker.

Super, the approach I think is most likely to succeed. I hear 12-bores can also be used to make tyres belonging to other year-listers go pop.

 

[Gavin Haig]

108 for me so far Gav,still missing redpoll,Golden plover,B,t,diver,cettis,Eider,Merlin,Jack snipe,Dipper,and Firecrest.

Im on 105, last 3 being R.B. Gull, Knot, and Firecrest - missing Woodcock, Redpoll, cettis, B.T.diver, B.shearwater, Merlin, Eider, water pipit, Brent goose, Golden plover, jack snipe and Dipper..

I'm stuck on 103 :stuck:

I haven't had a tick for 5 days :-C

EDIT: I'm missing; Little Owl, Marsh Tit, Jay, Brambling, Water Rail, Water Pipit, Brent Goose, Pintail, GND, BTD, Merlin, Jack Snipe, Firecrest, and Dipper.

Great - thanks folks. Hopefully Steve'll drop in later and let us know how much of a lead he commands. It would also be nice to coax a few more Backwater regulars into having a go at a year list. Anyone up for it??

I would list the species that I am missing so far, but it is too pathetic - Chiffchaff and Goldcrest are on it! So instead I will just gloat over my Black-throated Diver, and hope it lasts a while yet, not to mention the Franklin's, Bonaparte's and Gyr....|=)|

Out of curiosity I just worked out my all-time patch list too, which seems to stand at 226 (excluding Nutcrackers, Little Crakes and hummingbirds).

 

[Steve Waite]

Evening all.

Had a look along river before I went to work at one, only had twenty mins or so so concentrated on the big Gulls - no highlights here, though did manage three Med Gulls (1 ad, 2 1st-winters).

I'm stuck on 112, have been for a whole day! Missing five: Great Northern and Black-throated Divers, Pintail (the most concerning), Cetti's Warbler (the least concerning) and Firecrest.

 

[Ian M]

A little reluctantly I agreed to join in the patch year list, my rather pathetic total stands at 97.