Jos Stratford
Beast from the East
Larry Wheatland said:
Not Gavin I suspect, he's showing serious signs of relapse into bad habits involving off-patch birding
-
BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!
Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Backwater Birding - Seaton, Devon (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Gavin Haig
- Start date
Not Gavin I suspect, he's showing serious signs of relapse into bad habits involving off-patch birding
Steve Waite
What you looking at?
Hi all,
Phil found this one, unfortunatly I couldn't sneak out of work to see it, but it may stay for a few days. How did it look guys, well faded? Dad said it looked quite white.
I must admit Terry, when I read that a Glauc was on the Otter I thought.... hmmm, we'll have that in the next few days... Ian McLean also had a Little Gull today on Seaton Marshes.
What a winter for Gulls!!!!!
Phil found this one, unfortunatly I couldn't sneak out of work to see it, but it may stay for a few days. How did it look guys, well faded? Dad said it looked quite white.
I must admit Terry, when I read that a Glauc was on the Otter I thought.... hmmm, we'll have that in the next few days... Ian McLean also had a Little Gull today on Seaton Marshes.
What a winter for Gulls!!!!!
Gavin Haig
Well-known member
Must have been something to do with the full moon last night. I was fine this morning.... |=)|Jos Stratford said:Not Gavin I suspect, he's showing serious signs of relapse into bad habits involving off-patch birding
Well, the Seaton gull-fest continues! It's been really wet and windy here all day, but I couldn't get out birding until this afternoon. I'm just thinking that nobody's mad enough to be venturing out in this, when Ian texts that there's a Little Gull at Seaton Marshes. OK, so Ian's mad enough. I sit down to some nosh and a cuppa. Just draining the mug when Phil phones. OK, so Phil is too! Perfect timing, though. I join him in the layby just N of Axmouth, and there's the 1st-winter Glaucous Gull down at Coronation Corner. Lovely! Not a huge individual, but what a throbbing great bill on it!! A very welcome patch tick for me. After a couple of minutes it flew N, later being seen at Bridge Marsh for a short while (just S of the A3052). After departing there it was not relocated.
I wound up at Seaton Marshes eventually, and stayed until dark. Though initially elusive, eventually had a great performance from the adult Little Gull, feeding over the lagoon right next to the hide. As the afternoon wore on it drifted over to the river, eventually heading S with a load of Black-headed Gulls. Two 1st winter Med Gulls (including AATL), which had been feeding on the marsh, did likewise. Karen arrived about 5 minutes after the Little Gull toddled off....
With so much water in the valley, plus the southerly wind and rain, there were masses of gulls further inland, so we both hung around, hoping that something worthwhile might fly down in the evening to roost. We weren't disappointed. A steady stream of gulls trickled past the hide, low and close. Top prize was another adult Little Gull (Steve, please note the word 'another' - that's a points claim |=)| ), which rested right in front of us with a bunch of Black-headeds. Karen was pleased, I think! Also 6 Med Gulls went by - 2 adults and 4 1st-winters - bringing the day's total to 8. As the tide continued to rise the islands gradually disappeared, leaving the roosting waders with very wet feet. When we left there was still another hour until high tide, so I think there's going to be alot of water around tomorrow!
Almost forgot - another Seaton Marshes surprise was an adult Kittiwake loafing on the grass with the regular gulls - only my second away from the sea here, after one at Colyford Marsh in windy weather just recently. Also, 40 LBB Gulls was a decent count - all graellsii.
The Seaton gull total is 13 species since Jan 1st! I'll bet there are not too many locations doing better this year!
Finally, congrats to my old mate Larry, who finally gets Gyr Falcon under the belt after 21 years of multi-national dipping!
KarenWoolley
Well-known member
I must admit I was also one mad enough to be out in it this afternoon. When I got a text from Gav, about the Glaucous Gull I was up to my ankles in water at Colyford Sewage works having thought that I could keep my feet reasonably dry by walking the dog down Cownhayne Lane. I was wrong. Much of the lane was 6 inches underwater, but once my feet were wet I figured I may as well go and look around the sewage works and nearby fields.
I saw a Water or Littoralis Rock pipit I couldn't tell which, 50+ Pied Wagtails, 4 Grey Wagtails, A couple of Reed buntings, 5 Chiffchaffs and 21 Egrets.
I along with Bun missed the Glaucous Gull at Bridge Marsh.
You couldn't tell then?
Only my second ever Little Gull (and first adult).
Thanks for letting me know Gav, it was certainly worth cutting short my cup of tea for!! Even though I missed the first one!
I saw a Water or Littoralis Rock pipit I couldn't tell which, 50+ Pied Wagtails, 4 Grey Wagtails, A couple of Reed buntings, 5 Chiffchaffs and 21 Egrets.
I along with Bun missed the Glaucous Gull at Bridge Marsh.
Gavin Haig said:
You couldn't tell then?
Only my second ever Little Gull (and first adult).
Thanks for letting me know Gav, it was certainly worth cutting short my cup of tea for!! Even though I missed the first one!
Simon Wakely
Well-known member
Hi All, No birding today Just our luck, Glaucous seen. We seem to be (flying) this year some great reports already keep it up.Are last few reports seem to be more about bird counts, than a great spot. Mind you ,we find our information invaluable, Sues trying to find it. Well Done phil by the way.
Steve Waite
What you looking at?
Well evening all.
What a year we are having! Just to quickly sum up two (and a bit) boring mid-winter months in a 6 mile area in south east Devon: Surf Scoter, Whooper Swan, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Iceland Gull (1+), Glaucous Gull, Hen Harrier, Firecrest, Velvet Scoter, Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Little Gull (4), Ruff, Black Redstart (3), Goosander...and not forgetting...an Egyptian Goose!!! Credit to us all I say!!!!
Ok, so the great news is, I've got a week off again! (that will teach them to only give me 2 weeks off in the whole of last year!!!). I think I may well be looking through Gulls in the morning....don't hold much hope of a low-tide gathering though, with the amount of water about!!!
What a year we are having! Just to quickly sum up two (and a bit) boring mid-winter months in a 6 mile area in south east Devon: Surf Scoter, Whooper Swan, Laughing Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Iceland Gull (1+), Glaucous Gull, Hen Harrier, Firecrest, Velvet Scoter, Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Little Gull (4), Ruff, Black Redstart (3), Goosander...and not forgetting...an Egyptian Goose!!! Credit to us all I say!!!!
Ok, so the great news is, I've got a week off again! (that will teach them to only give me 2 weeks off in the whole of last year!!!). I think I may well be looking through Gulls in the morning....don't hold much hope of a low-tide gathering though, with the amount of water about!!!
Ranger James
Well-known member
bob hastie said:
Great shots Bob,
And a timely reminder to everyone to collect all your top bird pics from this year for next year's Axe Estuary and Seaton Bay Bird Report.
An auspicious periodical, about to hit the shelves in all good book shops locally.
James
Steve Waite
What you looking at?
Evening all!!
I woke up this morning and was sorry to see it was actually quite still outside! Had a look around but didn't see much of interest.
Best action was early afternoon, tide was just dropping and there were lots of Gulls on the river. I soon came across a 2nd-winter Ring-billed Gull, a familiar one too! It was the very same bird that was on the estuary during the afternoon of 19th Feb! That's exactly two weeks of no one seeing it anywhere....just where did it go? Gulls really can go missing for long periods here! And how did I know it's the same one? A little patch of oil on the tertials, and its rather small size, plus all the identical plumage features. On a sad note though, it had quite a lot of oil on its belly.
A while later Gav phoned, I then drove down to the bottom end of the estuary to see a 1st-winter Iceland Gull! Definitely a new bird (as photos show), a lot more markings - and it was a big one too, being slightly bigger than the Herring Gulls around it. Also two adult Meds, I took a few distant snaps of the summer plumaged bird earlier in the morning and an adult Kittiwake.
I woke up this morning and was sorry to see it was actually quite still outside! Had a look around but didn't see much of interest.
Best action was early afternoon, tide was just dropping and there were lots of Gulls on the river. I soon came across a 2nd-winter Ring-billed Gull, a familiar one too! It was the very same bird that was on the estuary during the afternoon of 19th Feb! That's exactly two weeks of no one seeing it anywhere....just where did it go? Gulls really can go missing for long periods here! And how did I know it's the same one? A little patch of oil on the tertials, and its rather small size, plus all the identical plumage features. On a sad note though, it had quite a lot of oil on its belly.
A while later Gav phoned, I then drove down to the bottom end of the estuary to see a 1st-winter Iceland Gull! Definitely a new bird (as photos show), a lot more markings - and it was a big one too, being slightly bigger than the Herring Gulls around it. Also two adult Meds, I took a few distant snaps of the summer plumaged bird earlier in the morning and an adult Kittiwake.
Attachments
Last edited:
Gavin Haig
Well-known member
Well, well! The Seaton gull-fest continues some more! Steve phoned with news of the Ring-billed's return just after midday. About an hour later I went to look for it. Even though I knew he'd found it well up the river I thought I'd better check out the gulls on the way. At the first stop, just by the Axe bridge, was a 1st-winter Iceland Gull. I laughed out loud when I realised it was a new one. James McC rolled up, looking for the Ring-billed, and we waited together for the arrival of the Points Baron. Steve duly inspected the exhibit, and I presented my case. There was wriggling, there was squirming, there was agonised grimacing....the court waited, silent. Then judgement was pronounced. It was, indeed, a new bird. A NEW BIRD. The gallery cheered and hugged as the points were handed down. Another cool 30.
Although that is, in fact, the 28th Iceland Gull we've had this year, I've got the points for just 3 of them. He he!
Incidentally, it is a large one, and knowing that yesterday's Glaucous was a small one tempted James and Steve into foolishly (and riskily) toying with the 'Ah - that must be yesterday's 'Glaucous'!' leg-pull. Sensibly not pursued..... |=)|
I failed to see the Ring-billed (which was later found by Fraser on Seaton Marshes), but managed 2 Med Gulls on the river and, later, an adult Kittiwake on Seaton Marshes - presumably it's taken a shine to earthworms.
Great stuff.
Although that is, in fact, the 28th Iceland Gull we've had this year, I've got the points for just 3 of them. He he!
Incidentally, it is a large one, and knowing that yesterday's Glaucous was a small one tempted James and Steve into foolishly (and riskily) toying with the 'Ah - that must be yesterday's 'Glaucous'!' leg-pull. Sensibly not pursued..... |=)|
I failed to see the Ring-billed (which was later found by Fraser on Seaton Marshes), but managed 2 Med Gulls on the river and, later, an adult Kittiwake on Seaton Marshes - presumably it's taken a shine to earthworms.
Great stuff.
Last edited:
Fraser Rush
Active member
Half the day in the office then down to both LNRs to survey the effects of yesterday's little drop of rain (and to make any necessary adjustments to the water levels).
Good to see the effects of last week's excavations on the Colyford Common 'wet patch'. We've manged to create twice as much shallow pool area and made it more controllable (is that a proper word ?). Alas none of our good work actually shows from the hide so you'll just have to believe me. Should be drying out the 'wet patch' over the next month or so in order to give it a rest prior to flooding it again in late summer.
V. few birds noted at CC other than 2 Stock Doves and a Chiffchaff.
Off to Seaton Marshes where I intended to lower the sluices to let off some of the floodwater. Got there to find the north side of the marsh covered in gulls and two cars in the car park. Reasoning that I would be rather unpopular with anyone in the hide if I scared the gulls off, I decided to wander down to the hide and, quite by accident, took the scope.
Two birders leaving as I was arriving, didn't say a word about anything good so didn't know what to expect.
Suddenly, behold, a second winter ring-billed gull and an adult, summer plumaged Med gull - Very nice.
The thing about both these birds was that they were both on the Local Nature Reserve - a first methinks. Now I would like to make a case to the great giver of points, Mr Waite, that a bird found actually on either LNR, even if it has already been found elsewhere by someone else, deserves mega points for the LNR finder (akin to a triple word score in scrabble). Whaddya think Steve ?
Finally Gavin arrived and promptly spotted the Kittiwake that I had completely missed - thanks Gav., good of you to rescue me from sliding down the slippery slope to being a fanatical gull watcher again, that was a close shave!
The final upshot of all this is that the water levels at Seaton Marshes are still far too high for the time of year. So if you see me frightening off all the mega-rares on the marshes in the next day or two, it's all in the name of lowering the sluices to achieve ideal spring levels.
Cheers
Fraser
Good to see the effects of last week's excavations on the Colyford Common 'wet patch'. We've manged to create twice as much shallow pool area and made it more controllable (is that a proper word ?). Alas none of our good work actually shows from the hide so you'll just have to believe me. Should be drying out the 'wet patch' over the next month or so in order to give it a rest prior to flooding it again in late summer.
V. few birds noted at CC other than 2 Stock Doves and a Chiffchaff.
Off to Seaton Marshes where I intended to lower the sluices to let off some of the floodwater. Got there to find the north side of the marsh covered in gulls and two cars in the car park. Reasoning that I would be rather unpopular with anyone in the hide if I scared the gulls off, I decided to wander down to the hide and, quite by accident, took the scope.
Two birders leaving as I was arriving, didn't say a word about anything good so didn't know what to expect.
Suddenly, behold, a second winter ring-billed gull and an adult, summer plumaged Med gull - Very nice.
The thing about both these birds was that they were both on the Local Nature Reserve - a first methinks. Now I would like to make a case to the great giver of points, Mr Waite, that a bird found actually on either LNR, even if it has already been found elsewhere by someone else, deserves mega points for the LNR finder (akin to a triple word score in scrabble). Whaddya think Steve ?
Finally Gavin arrived and promptly spotted the Kittiwake that I had completely missed - thanks Gav., good of you to rescue me from sliding down the slippery slope to being a fanatical gull watcher again, that was a close shave!
The final upshot of all this is that the water levels at Seaton Marshes are still far too high for the time of year. So if you see me frightening off all the mega-rares on the marshes in the next day or two, it's all in the name of lowering the sluices to achieve ideal spring levels.
Cheers
Fraser
Gavin Haig
Well-known member
Another jaunt to London and back for me today. As we headed off just after 6 this morning the river was sprawled all over the valley - and high tide was still well over an hour and a half away. Would have been nice to stay and check it out. Was there any excitement today, folks? My mobile was surprisingly textless.
On the return journey it was nice and sunny. 2 or 3 Brimstones risked life and limb dodging the windscreens and, coming through the Surrey-Hants section saw at least 6 Buzzards up. That certainly would not have been a feature of the journey some years back!
Got home mid afternoon, but couldn't get out until after 5 - just a quick look at the river. Pulled up just N of the Axe bridge. Hardly any gulls - but one was an Iceland Gull! Can't seem to avoid them (not that I'm complaining!). It was the blotchy 'white' one, looking gorgeous as usual. Must be a decent chance of us getting 2 (or more) together? Nothing else on offer, but so what.......
On the return journey it was nice and sunny. 2 or 3 Brimstones risked life and limb dodging the windscreens and, coming through the Surrey-Hants section saw at least 6 Buzzards up. That certainly would not have been a feature of the journey some years back!
Got home mid afternoon, but couldn't get out until after 5 - just a quick look at the river. Pulled up just N of the Axe bridge. Hardly any gulls - but one was an Iceland Gull! Can't seem to avoid them (not that I'm complaining!). It was the blotchy 'white' one, looking gorgeous as usual. Must be a decent chance of us getting 2 (or more) together? Nothing else on offer, but so what.......
Phil Abbott
Well-known member
Good luck to you backwater birders who are going off patch tomorrow its well worth it, i went on saturday i had brilliant views of the white billed diver,i also saw the Franklins gull,spot sand,and the dodgy Lesser whitethroat.I didnt go for the Gyr i think early mornings best.
White billed diver was a new bird for me ,my 6th tick this year(w,p) , cant be bad.
White billed diver was a new bird for me ,my 6th tick this year(w,p) , cant be bad.
Last edited:
KarenWoolley
Well-known member
Certainly was a huge flood this morning, only got to Axminster on third attempt/route!
At about 9 o' clockish I briefly had a male Pochard near Coronation Corner, but it dived and dematerialised/drowned? :eek!:
Later in the morning I made a concerted effort to find the Colyton/Colyford Lesser Spotted Woodpecker but only found 6 GSWs. Gorgeous spring-like weather though so I'm not complaining, nor were two Roe Deer out in the open at lunchtime enjoying the spring sunshine at Hillhead Picnic Site.
I spent this evening at Colyford Common staying until dark (the mozzies are back!). I noticed a lot of the gulls flying past had oiled undersides, another seepage from the Napoli in the stormy weather I presume. There were also oiled gulls in Axminster this PM.
A small flock of pipits landed in the pools just in front of the hide with at least one being a Water Pipit, a striking individual changing into summer plumage, slate grey head and unmarked white underparts. The other five were noted as water/rock pipits, in the fading light.
It was dark by the time I left and a small group of pipistrelles were feeding around the bottom gate (on mozzies I hope). |:d|
At about 9 o' clockish I briefly had a male Pochard near Coronation Corner, but it dived and dematerialised/drowned? :eek!:
Later in the morning I made a concerted effort to find the Colyton/Colyford Lesser Spotted Woodpecker but only found 6 GSWs. Gorgeous spring-like weather though so I'm not complaining, nor were two Roe Deer out in the open at lunchtime enjoying the spring sunshine at Hillhead Picnic Site.
I spent this evening at Colyford Common staying until dark (the mozzies are back!). I noticed a lot of the gulls flying past had oiled undersides, another seepage from the Napoli in the stormy weather I presume. There were also oiled gulls in Axminster this PM.
A small flock of pipits landed in the pools just in front of the hide with at least one being a Water Pipit, a striking individual changing into summer plumage, slate grey head and unmarked white underparts. The other five were noted as water/rock pipits, in the fading light.
It was dark by the time I left and a small group of pipistrelles were feeding around the bottom gate (on mozzies I hope). |:d|
Steve Waite
What you looking at?
Thanks Phil, I like the way you slipped the word 'dodgy' in front of Lesser Whitethroat! British birders seem to have a thing that if a summer migrant is over wintering, it must be an 'eastern' one (not saying this isn't a eastern one though!!!) By the way, I haven't seen the eastern Common Sandpiper for a few weeks now, but those two eastern Green Sandpipers are still kicking about.Phil Abbott said:
Ringing this morning, and a cracking ringing tick in the form of the yellowest Grey Wagtail ever! Beautiful! 2 Bullfinches were nice too (one of each sex....interestingly the male was a re-trap, first trapped last March, he didn't have any red on the tertials then....and he still doesn't now....).
A seawatch this morning was slow but for masses of Gulls, and a quick look on the river early morning produced the very white Iceland Gull, though it soon took flight. Then it was ringing, then a bit more birding, then lunch, then a bit of gardening....and then... well, what else, another look along the river! It was now about 3 pm.
The Iceland Gull was again there, by the tram shed, but it soon took flight and headed out to sea (must have come back again later though). Not much else to report... Apart from my first proper hint of spring, from the farm gate mid afternoon, a singing Chiffchaff!!
James M also saw the/a Iceland Gull today, flying close in west past Seaton Hole at 9 am. (my river sightings were 7:30 and 3...so it could easily be the same bird).
Attachments
Gavin Haig
Well-known member
Have a great time folks!Phil Abbott said:
I'm sure you already know it's called 'twitching', a dangerously infectious behaviour. Every weekend, as birders go scampering off after the latest feathered floozy, the country is littered with neglected patches, twiddling their thumbs and wondering who's going to find the local goody. Don't let it start happening here......
Only joking - I know the draw of Bonanza Points is too much to resist (none of them in Cornwall, only rare birds....several rare birds :-C )
Steve Waite
What you looking at?
A few points for you with that one...only the second of the year, well done.KarenWoolley said:
Indeed, masses of oiled Gulls about today, didn't see any badly oiled birds, but most had at least some small patches on their breasts. This was most noticable in Town, about 90% of the Herring Gulls sat on roofs, in carparks...etc...had oil on them....very sad....KarenWoolley said:
Roger Boswell
Well-known member
Thank you Gavin & Steve for introducing me to yet another gull on the Axe. This is one I will never be able to find for myself. I am quite surprised that I found the Ring-billed gull actually in the middle of my images - I was looking at the right one.
What do I have to look for now?
Roger
What do I have to look for now?
Roger
Attachments
Gavin Haig
Well-known member
Hi Roger - some nice pics there! Actually that was Ian, not Steve. You can recognise Steve by his youthful, uncreased appearance (no offence Ian |=)| ). Very nice to meet you, finally!Roger Boswell said:
During the morning's work in the glorious sunshine I had an intriguing text from Phil: 'great spotted cuckoo dung'. I momentarily wondered why Phil was informing me about rare bird poo - then the penny dropped. Dungeness! This was all the incentive I needed to go and spend a late lunch-break at Beer Head. I was thinking about it anyway, 'cos Steve was off TWITCHING in Cornwall, and it seemed only right to try and beat him to the first Wheatear. Well, I didn't succeed, but I did see a Chiffchaff in the clifftop bushes, near the top of the cliff path. I'd like to think it was a migrant.....so I shall. Even without birds, Beer Head was fantastic in the sunshine. Lovely. Soon there'll be birds too....
Following a very welcome text from Ian M, I found myself looking at a superb adult Ring-billed Gull at Coronation Corner. Brilliant, Ian - thanks! It even tempted me to go home and fetch my camera, and try some hand-held digiscoping. Unfortunately it had moved downstream a bit, where the light was poor. It let me get 2 shots off, then flew! Typical. It went off S, and out to sea, at 16:20. Attached is the best of the 2 shots - at least you can see what it is....sort of. Not many gulls about, really (didn't see any Meds) but the quality just keeps coming.
Attachments
KarenWoolley
Well-known member
This morning I was chuffed to see the Firecrest again in Jubilee Gardens and this afternoon's Ring-Billed Gull was a treat too, There's so much to learn about Gulls! Well and done and thanks, Ian and Gavin! :t:
The Common Sandpiper was in the Harbour this afternoon. I took this snap of it sunning itself on a pontoon.
Steve Waite said:
The Common Sandpiper was in the Harbour this afternoon. I took this snap of it sunning itself on a pontoon.
Attachments
Last edited:
Users who are viewing this thread
Similar threads
