Backwater Birding - Seaton, Devon (1 Viewer)

[Steve Waite]

Make that four Green Sands, along with six Snipe on the puddles this afternoon.

Bit of a quiet day, went up to Beer Head early morning but saw Gavin had the same idea so I left it for him. The river produced our three Egyptian Geese, 2 Med Gulls (a 2nd-summer and a juv, at high tide both moved to Seaton Marshes), 7 Common Sandpipers, a Dunlin, a Whimbrel, and a non-Dunlin small wader sp. which we saw briefly very distantly in flight, prob a Sanderling, but despite a good search we couldn't relocate it, must have gone straight out to sea!

Carried out my bi-monthly bird survey in a woodland near Colyton, very little in the bird department but a Golden-ringed Dragonfly, a Southern Hawker and a couple of Migrant Hawkers were all my first of the year, also saw a male Clouded Yellow.

Winds picking up nicely, i'll eat my hat if we don't get a Balearic or two tonight/tomorrow (if the wind stays like this). Am at a crappy party-thing tonight (free food though!), it's in the Hook and Parrot, a pub right on the seafront.....hmmmmm.....I wonder if I can take my scope along......

Edit- Just had a 25 minute seawatch from 17:40, plenty of distant Gannets passing and 2 Common Terns flew east, that was it!

 

[Gavin Haig]

Bumped into Andrew at Colyford Common this evening, mildly bemoaning the absence of YL Gulls on the river. Still, in consolation we were treated to at least 3 Green and 4 Common Sandpipers. After he left I went to check the estuary as the tide began to come up. A juv Med Gull was nice, plus 2 Dunlin, and a Whimbrel. Quite a few big gulls were gathered upstream of Coronation Corner, and it seemed best to check them from the first layby N of Axmouth. A bank of cloud gave a nice flat light, which picked out.........a juv Yellow-legged Gull!
I sent a text - 'juv YL Gull N of Axmouth'.
Realising that this sounded like a grip off, I added: 'in my scope if you're nearby'.
Oops - even more gripping, I thought (he and Ian B. spent 6 hours here in the week looking for one - without success!). After a couple of minutes it flew.
'It's flown', I texted, helpfully.
Moments later - and there's another one!
'I've got another one' seemed the obvious message.
Then I added 'honestly!' in case he thought it was all just a wind-up.
Then, inevitably: 'It's flown too'

After that debacle I'm pleased to report that Andrew saw one at Topsham a little later......and will probably never come to the Axe again!

Meanwhile I went to Seaton Hole in order to round off the evening nicely with my customary look at an empty sea. This time I added to the torture by inhaling deeply on the delicious barbecue fragrance wafting up from the beach. I hurried home for tea without troubling my notebook..........

 

[Andrew]

Thanks for the texts Gav, I got all four or five while I was in the chippy in Sidford and it was a real kick in the nuts that I did not want at all.

Fish and chips was nice though.

I was close to Topsham when there was a report of four there off the recreation ground. Dashed down and ran before the light faded and luckily there was one left. Felt so good!

No worries, I will be back on the Axe soon for my next never ending quest for a Wood Sand!

Sorry I could not find a biggie for you guys.

 

[KarenWoolley]

A 5.30 visit to Colyford common this morning where I saw 4 green sandpipers 2 lapwing and 6 snipe on the wet corner.

I also tried a half hour seawatch this morning and saw several gannets, adults and juveniles and some Seaton specialities "shimmering specks" on the horizon.

Usuals on the estuary; a whimbrel a couple of common sandpipers and water rail the only noteable sightings.

Also saw two huge flocks of racing pigeons leaving seaton.

 

[Steve Waite]

Seawatchings been ok this morning, Gav did the early shift and saw the bulk (while I was throwing up down the toilet!), but I did a watch from Seaton Hole 08:50 - 10:00 and saw 2 Balearics (west at 09:50), 48 Common Scoter (39 west, 9 east), a few Gannets going each way and an adult Common Gull east.

Winds still blowing and rain is on it's way, looks good for later.

 

[Gavin Haig]

Still, the forecasters are predicting a moderate southerly on Saturday - at last!

And they were right......and what a difference it made! Hour and threequarters from 05:45 produced: Gannets 68/17 (W/E), Common Scoter 40, Sandwich Tern 4/1, plus the hoped-for prizes, 8 Balearic Shearwaters, including a close group of four. A nice bonus was a juv Arctic Tern.

Another go from 14:15 - 15:30 produced a further 9 Balearics, and almost nothing else. So, 17 for me today, which I think is more than the total number I've seen here EVER! Amazing what a stiff breeze at the right time will produce!

That's it for me today, so don't grip me off with a Sooty tonight, please...

 

[Steve Waite]

An enjoyable days birding. As well as my seawatch this morning I had a twenty minute watch at 13:00, which produced 2 Balearic and a Manx west and another seawatch tonight from 19:00, which was very wet, producing one each of Balearic and Manx and a flock of 13 Common Scoter west. Give or take one or two the combined day totals are: 25 Balearics, 2 Manx and 108 Common Scoter. That's not bad. Now for the other birding.

Several trips up and down the river today produced two main highlights, (sorry Andrew) a feather-perfect juv Yellow-legged Gull at Coronation Corner at 17:00, which soon after discovery flew up river, and a juv Little Ringed Plover which flew south down the river just after midday. Other waders include 5 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel and 3 Common Sandpipers. The three Egyptian Geese came flying past us last thing this evening, just to remind us "hey - we are still here!!!".

 

[Andrew]

No worries Steve, I do not feel too bad about your YLGs after connecting at Topsham last night. Feels great not to be envious.

 

[Steve Waite]

This morning I fell out big time with Beer Head, I went there, made all the effort, and saw.....zilch! Well 6 Willow Warblers, but that was it! :C

A brief glance out to sea just after 7 am showed a Balearic fly west (Ian M had 7 up by now) along with 16 Common Scoter.

Apart from this, and hours of hard labour (!?!) in a reedbed cutting back net rides, I spent my time along the river and on both marshes. Found three Yellow-legged Gulls this afternoon, all juv's, although one seemed to show signs of 1st-winter plumage, also saw 3 Green Sands, 7 Common Sands , 8 Dunlin and a Hobby. Also of course the three Egyptian Geese.

Oh I also spent some time looking at dragonflies, at least 22 Small Red-eyed Damselflies in a quickish look.

 

[Gavin Haig]

Very little time for birding today, but managed an hour's seawatch from 16:20. 'The Balearic Show' was doing a matinee, with 7 heading W. Otherwise, just a few Gannets.

If this wind keeps up overnight I shall try and drag myself out early tomorrow.

Saw 2 of the YL Gulls on the estuary, but ran out of time.......

 

[KarenWoolley]

Yesterday, I spent 2 hours on Colyford Common where I got some superb veiws of a juv. water rail which was (very successfully) hunting for worms in the ditch just outside the hide window. Also saw Lesser whitethroat 4 Kestrels 4 green sandpipers 6 lapwing a kingfisher and a buzzard which landed on the common with it's meal.

From 3 to 4 pm I did some seawatching and saw 17 common scoter (west) and one (east) and two Balearics which were fortunatley close enough for me to id them with a modicum of confidence, another more distant shearwater and only 2 gannets.

I think i've seen a yellow legged gull,on the estuary, well one which looked a dead ringer for the one on the Portland Obs. website anyway.

Forgot one !! at Colyford Common also saw a Cetti's warbler.

 

[James McCarthy]

Couldn't resist a look around in the gloom tonight....just got that feel there has to be a good bird out there. Well I couldn't find it - 8 Dunlin probably the highlight (+34 Redshank, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sands & a Gommon Gull), the creek infront of the hide looking the best place on the river right now - esp with the southerly winds so lets hope some goodie pops in so can all enjoy it in comfort! I volunteer to bring the coffee.
James

 

[Steve Waite]

Started the day with five Green Sands and 4 Lapwing at Colyford Common, we are definatly over due a Woody!!!

After a mornings ringing and a three hour shift, I decided to look at Gulls. BAD MOVE!!!! 2 juv Yellow-legged Gulls were easy enough, but then I found two other Gulls. A 2nd-summer which had a mantle colour spot on for yellow-legged, but it had pink legs! And the other Gull - an adult, had a whopping bill on it!!! And just looked odd! I have posted these pics in the Bird I.D forum if anyone cares to take a look - please post your thoughts.

Long day at work tomorrow, only birding will be mid to late afternoon, the peak time for big Gulls on the river......great....

 

[James McCarthy]

Just 6 Dunlin & 28 Redshank infront of the Seaton hide this am... save you the walk

 

[Steve Waite]

Two trips out today, this afternoon and late evening, along the river (twice) and to Colyford Common with Gav. One juv Yellow-legged Gull (pici attached) and 9 Common Sands were on the river with 3 Green Sands at Colyford.

A bonus today was this Red Underwing on next doors front window!!

 

[Steve Waite]

A look along the river this morning was pretty blank, but I hope to have a few more trips out before the end of the day, so far: 3 Green Sands, 3 Lapwing, 3 Snipe and 4 Dunlin . The three Gypo Geese were posing so well that I just couldn't resist!!!!!

EDIT- Went along the river before and after my three hour shift for my daily dose of Yellow-legged Gull. 1 juv before work, with two there afterwards (loads of large Gulls were out of sight around the corner so there may well have been some more). Also 6 Common Sands to add to earliers wader list.

 

[KarenWoolley]

Just all the usuals over the last two days for me. A young fox taking a lapwing was a suprise on Colyord Common this morning.

Met Steve at river this evening who kindly tried to find a yellow legged gull for me and expalined what to look for............... I've just seen your photo's from yesterday Steve, I see what you mean about the colour its quite clear on them!

Had a visitor at the house today, another Jersey tiger moth. it was quite "tame" (tired out more likley!) and alowed me to take these close up pics. It recovered and flew off again a while later.

I'm away up north tommorow, so please don't look too hard for any goodies!!!

I predict a wood sand on Colyford Common seeing as it will be the first morning I've missed for ages.

 

[Gavin Haig]

Just had a very welcome interruption of the working day.......

James texted that he'd had a Marsh Harrier over Seaton Marshes. Last seen circling over the river mouth about 15 min previous. I headed out, not very optimistic. Went to the Farm Gate, scanned around.......and there it was, quartering the marsh to the N! Moments later Phil called - he'd just seen it as he drove past on the main road! Eventually lost it behind trees as it circled higher, but appeared to be drifting off E. A very dark bird - looked like an immaculate juv......excellent! That's 174 for me this year, I think. Getting closer Steve (not that I'm doing a year list or anything....)!

Many thanks, James - and keep looking up!

Visited Beer Head early this morning, and had the first real taste of autumn - a Wheatear! Otherwise, just 6 Willow Warblers and a fly-by Whimbrel. Another Whimbrel, plus 3 Common Sands on the river, was the sum total - except for 3 very comfy-looking Egyptian Geese by the tram sheds, feet up, mugs of tea, reading their morning papers..............

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Cory's off Cornwall today..... go get yours !

 

[Ranger James]

I'm on Colyford Common all morning tomorrow, so roll on the wood sands and marsh harriers please!!
Jim