Devon Birding (1 Viewer)

[Roy C]

Has anyone noticed a big influx of Song Thrushes this week? I counted 25 on a small patch of land between Braunton Rd Motel, Barnstaple and the new junction yesterday at 08:20.

Hi Roy, I was down Isley on the 21st and saw no sign of the Cattle Egrets in the area.

Yep, I have also seen a lot of Song Thrushes this week Maurice - there were a lot in the Anchor Wood field and loads of them in a field at Home farm two days ago.

I have not seen the Egrets Maurice but 'Partimer' saw them a couple of days ago in a field at Home farm but not visible from the Tarka trail.

 

[davercox]

Attempted a TTV yesterday but failed - Country Buses not running.
Ended up at Paignton harbour where a dozen Turnstones followed me round, what do people feed them on down there ?
Got back to Dawlish to find the place overrun with Blackcaps, well, a few anyway, certainly a lot more than there have been so far this winter.

 

[Jon Turner]

Got back to Dawlish to find the place overrun with Blackcaps, well, a few anyway.

Had a Merry Christmas female Blackcap feeding on peanuts in my garden this morning.

Jon

ps Merry Christmas to you all!

 

[Roy C]

Had a Merry Christmas female Blackcap feeding on peanuts in my garden this morning.

Jon

ps Merry Christmas to you all!

I have had a Siskin and Blackcap (male) on my fat-balls this morning - the first ones I have seen in the garden this winter. Just took this snap through a double glazed window.

 

[Ranger James]

Great shot Roy - could I put it in the paper? If so, please pm me.
James

 

[parttimer]

Has anyone noticed a big influx of Song Thrushes this week? I counted 25 on a small patch of land between Braunton Rd Motel, Barnstaple and the new junction yesterday at 08:20.

Hi Roy, I was down Isley on the 21st and saw no sign of the Cattle Egrets in the area.

Hi Maurice

Its funny you should mention it but I had 15 in the picnic area just below Mullacott Cross on Tuesday, I've seen small groups all over the place feeding on grass verges as I've travelled around I had put it down to the fact it was the cold weather that had brought them together.

 

[Ppedro]

Kingsbridge Estuary

Walked around from Curlew Drive to Charleton Marsh on the rising tide this morning. Not much about, best was a Great Northern Diver near Gerston House. Sixty Brent Geese included only one first winter bird. Charleton Marsh looking good after the recent management work, c16 Wigeon, 70 Teal and 3 Shoveler present.

 

[Andrew]

The cold weather has produced a couple of goodies today,a Bewick's Swan on the Axe, which if it stays, will be the first truly twitchable one for 10 years in Devon. (That flock of 18 at Exminster in '97 seems a long time ago now) and 2 Red Crested Pochard at Slapton, which have to have as good as credentials as any and might even encourage one high profiled lister to pay a visit and eventually add it to his Devon list !?

Hi Mark,

What about the two Bewick's Swans that stayed at Braunton Marsh earlier this year for some time?

Cheers,
Andrew.

 

[Maurice499]

Fieldfares

Re: Fieldfare nos. I managed to see c60 in fields (where else?) at Home Farm Marsh and adjacent to the Tarka Trail in the vicinity of the Old Yelland Power Stn level crossing yesterday 28/12/2009. The majority were in the first field just after the pylons when walking towards Instow.

 

[Mark]

Hi Mark,

What about the two Bewick's Swans that stayed at Braunton Marsh earlier this year for some time?

Cheers,
Andrew.

That will teach me to write something without looking it up first, won't it!! Someone else pointed it out to me a week ago, so I will rephrase it by excluding North Devon !! Anyway, apparently no sign of any wild swans on the Axe today, and has anyone looked for the Spotted Sand in the last 10 days?

 

[Ppedro]

Kingsbridge Estuary

Did Geese Quarries to Charleton Marsh at low tide this morning. Saw 78 Brent Geese, 20 R-b Mergansers, 5 Pintail, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 16 Little Grebes and a couple of Rock Pipits. On the marsh were 20 Wigeon, 86+ Teal, 4 Shoveler and a Greenshank. Water Rail heard and a couple Chiffs in the sewage works.

 

[Ranger James]

That will teach me to write something without looking it up first, won't it!! Someone else pointed it out to me a week ago, so I will rephrase it by excluding North Devon !! Anyway, apparently no sign of any wild swans on the Axe today, and has anyone looked for the Spotted Sand in the last 10 days?

Don't beat yourself up Mark - you did qualify your statement as 'twitchable'' bewicks, which if you consider how remotely wild and far away North Devon is, is a fair comment. I reckon.

James

 

[devon.birder]

Don't beat yourself up Mark - you did qualify your statement as 'twitchable'' bewicks, which if you consider how remotely wild and far away North Devon is, is a fair comment. I reckon.

James

Hi James There was also a "twitchable" Whooper Swan in North Devon at the same time and on the day I saw both swans I also saw the Waxwing in Barnstaple. Seaton may have had some great birds in 2009 but please don't knock North Devon, it has given me several "year ticks" this year. Happy new year. Roger
PS I have tried to put a "smiley" on my post, hope I did it right.

 

[Roy C]

Don't beat yourself up Mark - you did qualify your statement as 'twitchable'' bewicks, which if you consider how remotely wild and far away North Devon is, is a fair comment. I reckon.

James

That's fair enough - I don't consider anything outside of North Devon as being 'twitchable'

 

[Mark]

Pelican?

Anyone know any more on the Pelican which was reported to a birder at Exminster this afternoon, reported as being 2 miles upriver from Turf.

 

[Andrew]

Ditto for the Bittern at Exminster.

I am keen to know after walking past one flushed by a photographer last winter and not seeing it. Devon tick for me.

Cheers,
Andrew.

 

[andy]

Andrew i had it at 1545 hrs flying above canal from topsham end of reserve heading towards tuf flying at about 30ft high, not sure where it ended up though.

Andy B

 

[Andrew]

Andrew i had it at 1545 hrs flying above canal from topsham end of reserve heading towards tuf flying at about 30ft high, not sure where it ended up though.

Andy B

Thanks Andy. After you said that it now sounds to me like the bird from last winter so might be a reliable one to see. I hope.

Two resplendent drake Goosander on the River Exe just south of Tiverton near Ashley this afternoon.

 

[Ppedro]

Kingsbridge Estuary

Did the Curlew Drive- Charleton Marsh circuit in bright sunshine on the rising tide this afternoon. Highlights were Great Northern Diver ( off Gerston ) Avocet ( between Curlew Drive and Park Bay ) and presumably the usual female Marsh Harrier on Charleton Marsh. She was flying around the marsh when i got there at 14:25 and showed well on and off until departing in the direction off Slapton Ley at 15:50. It had apparently been around the marsh since 13:30. 3 Shoveler on the marsh but little else showing well because of the Harrier.
Amazing that this is the eighth winter in the area for this Harrier if it is the normal one. Does anyone know when the bird was seen at Slapton today ?

 

[Jon Turner]

Baggy point in perfect (but cold) conditions this morning. Good views of a Black-throated Diver, and three female-type Common Scoter. Back at the NT car park, a fine Dartford Warbler showed at the top of the field behind the car park. Later at Velator a Water Pipit in the harbour and a couple of brief views of two different Water Rails. Oh and the Red-crested Pochard remains on Wrafton Pond, with about 11 Shoveler and a female Tufted Duck. 89 Canada Geese had also dropped in for a rest.
Nice start to the New Year. 50 species seen.
Happy New Year to you all!
Jon