Backwater Birding - Seaton, Devon (1 Viewer)

[London Birder]

Think there's a Caspian Tern trying to sniff out the Axe right now.........

hope so mate, appears to have gone AWOL from this neck of the woods.

 

[Andrew]

Caspian Tern would do me as my 200th Devon bird of the year nicely!

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Keep that Lesser Emp pinned down boys (not litterally !) ...I might just get a chance to come down for it on Sunday. And Gav,your quote made me think I'd gladly swap both my British Lark Sparrows for it !

 

[colonelboris]

My Mrs was in Seaton yesterday on the tram and said that the swallows were flying along by the windows, looking in. And a few blackwits as well (from the description she gave).

 

[Steve Waite]

and what are definitely now our 3 Egyptian Geese

Gav, they were ours from the minute they first arrived, it will be sad to see them go.

This afternoon I spent three hours along the river at various places, seems to have been an increase in wader numbers, but still pretty much the same species with 3 gorgeous summer plumaged Blackwits, 1 Whimbrel, 6 Dunlin, 11 Common Sandpipers and 3 Green Sandpipers . Non-wader highlights include a 2nd-summer Med Gull and 5 Canada Geese. A male Clouded Yellow and a few White-legged Damselflies were the non-bird highlights.

I didn't update yesterday, all I saw was the Lesser Emperor, and it showed superbly. Hovering over the grass feet from us, I had a quick look this afternoon and couldn't see it, but I easily could have missed it (it took us an hour and half to locate it yesterday!!)

Tomorrows another day....

 

[Gavin Haig]

Gav, they were ours from the minute they first arrived, it will be sad to see them go.

You're right Steve - hasn't stopped them having a reccy on the Exe though. They seem to like the channel in front of the tram shed just now - present this morning.

Apart from the Egyptian Geese, also on the river before brekky were 2 Whimbrel, 3 Dunlin, a juv Water Rail and a 2nd summer Med Gull (different bird to one on Sat afternoon). A juv Peregrine swooped in and landed on the mud N of Coronantion Corner, then peered around as if wondering why it had so much elbow room all of a sudden! Later watched it half-heartedly pursuing a Kestrel.

Keep that Lesser Emp pinned down boys (not litterally !) ...I might just get a chance to come down for it on Sunday. And Gav,your quote made me think I'd gladly swap both my British Lark Sparrows for it !

Gonna be very hot today, so may have a walk round Lower Bruckland Ponds later, see if I can find it. If you come on Sunday, Laz, I'll swap it for Northern Oriole. Deal?

 

[Steve Waite]

I've already been for a half hour look about at Lower Bruckland, no Lesser Emperor (it was seen yesterday) but the Red-veined Darters were good, with 4 males and a female, including a pair in tandem ovipositing.

To add to Gavs list on the river this morning: 4 Common Sandpipers, 5 Lapwing and yesterdays second-summer Med Gull (pic attached). Also at quater to six again this morning a Hobby was over Colyford Common, but this time being chased by Swallows, not chasing them!! A ten minute look out to sea revealed 40+ Gannets but little else.

May manage some time out later, it's going to be another hot one!

 

[Jos Stratford]

Continuing excellent thread, keep it going guys - always nice to dip in each day to see what's happening

 

[Ranger James]

Lovely lazy, hazy day yesterday. Had a dragging meeting all morning, but more than made up for it in the afternoon with a trip to Lower brucklands, where I caught up with the red veined darters, but didn't find the lesser emp. Beautiful demoiselle under the bridge at the entrance was nice in a chilli peppers kind of way, and I couldn't resist dropping down for a few piccies.
Didn't come out very well however, so please find a piccie of the red veined attached instead.
Spent the evening at Budleigh, where some vigerous sea swimming, a-la David Walliams was both refreshing and fruitful as I saw two gannets feeding on the horizon.
What a beautiful day!
James

ps. Kev - haven't seen you at footie for some time?

 

[Steve Waite]

Green Sandpiper was the only addition to the days wader list this afternoon, with one on the river.

Spent the afternoon at Lower Bruckland with Gav, 2 Red-eyed Damselflies were a MASSIVE highlight! First ones I've seen in the area. And wonderful views of a male Four-spotted Chaser, first one of these I've seen at this site. Also saw the Lesser Emperor, albiet briefly, it had a clash with an Emperor and zoomed north, good to know it's still about. Apart from these, plenty of the usuals.

 

[Gavin Haig]

Spent the afternoon at Lower Bruckland with Gav......

Well, that's it then, got to start giving the things proper names now that Steve's showing me what's what. He's lent me the Brooks & Lewington field guide (much more user friendly than my old Hammond - which has never heard of Lesser Emperor!) and set me some homework assignments.......

Have to say though, Red-eyed Damselfly is a wild looking lttle beastie! I'll have to start a local list now. Tsk! That'll mean searching for Ruddy Darters.....in every snese of the expression!

Trouble is, looking down all the time means that the Honey Buzzard might sneak over undetected - well, only if James is in the Co-op or something.

Talking of birds (finally!) reminds me that we're not far from August now, which means Beer Head will get a stiff looking-at soon. Excellent. Last year it got fairly well worked, but this year, with Steve virtually living in the field....well.....! I predict Barred Warbler, a shrike of some sort, and maybe something to tempt the Torquay contingent - that'll put a smile on Phil's face!

When I started this thread I had hopes that the birding would be pretty good, with a few bits worth sharing, but here we are just over half way through the year and it's been BRILLIANT! So let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who's posted, for helping to keep the thread lively and entertaining, plus all our readers - the number of views is VERY encouraging. Long may it thrive.

 

[Hotspur]

When I started this thread I had hopes that the birding would be pretty good, with a few bits worth sharing, but here we are just over half way through the year and it's been BRILLIANT! So let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who's posted, for helping to keep the thread lively and entertaining, plus all our readers - the number of views is VERY encouraging. Long may it thrive.

No gav thank you. Been a great read all year.

 

[London Birder]

can't argue with that ... always well written as well which is a bonus

 

[Andrew]

One of the best threads on BF by far, mate.

 

[Steve Waite]

Thanks for all the nice comments, and I shall reward you all with some nice Med Gull pics that I've just taken!!

There was a mega FIVE Med Gulls on the river this morning, including 4 juvs (two together and two singles). Never seen that many juvs together here, or in fact anywhere!!!! The fifth bird was a fine adult (as can be seen).

 

[Steve Waite]

Lower Bruckland is THE place! A first for Devon found by Doug Cullem this morning, a single male Small Red-eyed Damselfly. We had superb views of it this afternoon along with 6 Red-eyed Damselflies (5 males). Had a feeling this species was going to turn up here sooner or later.

Larry, you might have to come down here after all!!!!

 

[bob hastie]

Any chance one of you kind folks could post or PM me directions to the white legged damselflies at Kilmington. I've got a feeling Lower Bruckland is going to get a tad busy this weekend.

 

[Steve Waite]

Hope that's some help to you Bob.

At 7pm still 4 juv Med Gulls on the river, all stood besides each other, plus a juv Water Rail.

All dragonfly visitors PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE park sensibly, the last thing we want to do is upset the very kind land owner.

Thanks

 

[Andrew]

Hey Steve, do us a favour and switch your jammy skills back to the birds for us poor Devonians.

 

[Gavin Haig]

Strange Day and a First for Devon

Thanks for all the nice comments.......

Ditto! Much appreciated.

Weird day today - just after 06:00 I'm enjoying a juv Med Gull on the estuary, getting home about 06:20. Hour and a half later Steve texts re his FIVE Meds at 06:45. So I'm back down there at 07:50 expecting to witness a little invasion.....what's on view? One juv! I scoured the river.......still one juv. Had a look again this afternoon as the tide was going back down around 16:00 - none at all. Now I've just got home and see Steve's had 4 juvs at 19:00, adding the word 'still' (ouch!). So what's going on? Am I that blind? Don't think so. Has Steve mutated into a shameless stringer? Don't think so. Noticed Dawlish had 4 juvs today as well, so are we seeing a massive Med Gull influx? That's more like it. Certainly far more this year than last.........bit annoying that they dodged me today though.

Adding to the weirdness.......

After not connecting with any Meds this afternoon I wandered along to Lower Bruckland Ponds again, strangely drawn by dragonflies. Turned up to find Doug Cullen et al. all looking down with their bins. Suddenly the cry of triumph - "the Small Red-eyed is over here!" Just like a twitch!! It WAS a twitch!! Having been found by Doug in the morning this was the first multi-observer viewing of Devon's newest Zygopterid(!!) - Small Red-eyed Damselfly. Actually surprised myself by (a) really getting into the ID features (I can talk pterostigma, antehumeral stripes, abdominal segments and everything), and (b) getting quite a buzz out of the whole experience - seeing how chuffed everyone else was helped!

So that's a 1st, a 5th (and an 8th) for Devon on the patch this year - not bad!

Lower Bruckland is just superb - feel a bit like someone who's just taken up birding and happens to live in Hugh Town! Might even go there again tomorrow......