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Devon Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter JRE
- Start date
Jon Turner
Well-known member
I had a good tootle around this morning, including the 3 Whooper Swans at Weare Giffard. Drive through the village, past the church to the bottom of the hill and park in the small layby on the right. The two adults and a juvenile were about 100 yards into the field sitting in the frost with a Grey-lag Goose!
I think they also get over the embankment to the saltmarsh by the river.
The Skern was busy at a very high tide at 0900, lots of Dunlin, and numbers of Curlew, Redshank, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Turnstone and Knot. A few Wigeon and Teal with some Brent Geese, and Shelduck, but disappointing numbers of Gulls.
I stopped briefly at Westward Ho!, where a smart Purple Sandpiper promptly flew onto rocks right in front of me - sometimes it happens!
The six Spoonbills were roosting at Isley and a Merlin was also present on the saltmarsh. No sign of the Cattle Egret(s?) in the horse paddocks. I did look for the Spotted Redshank, but only saw the Greenshank in Fremington Pill. I see someone else saw it though. Then I cycled from Barnstaple to Braunton, without seeing much of interest, (300+ Canada Geese at the Bradiford reserve) unless you include the Red-crested Pochard on the largely frozen Wrafton pond. A smart Kingfisher was by the weir at Velator.
Beautiful day to be out.
Jon
Spotted Sand
The Spotted Sand still showing incredibly well today, down to about 4 feet at one stage as it fed under the footpath north of the Recreation ground at Topsham. It seems completely fearless of humans and must be the most confiding Spotted Sand ever seen in Devon.
The Spotted Sand still showing incredibly well today, down to about 4 feet at one stage as it fed under the footpath north of the Recreation ground at Topsham. It seems completely fearless of humans and must be the most confiding Spotted Sand ever seen in Devon.
Jon Turner
Well-known member
Shame about the dogs when I was there!!!
Jon
Jon
Ranger James
Well-known member
Anyone noticed any interesting bird activity due to the Eastern cold snap yet? Where are the waxwings!?
James
James
Ppedro
Well-known member
Hello James,
personally have yet to see anything too noticeable around the South Hams albeit working and not birding but early days yet if this cold spell keeps up. Re the Waxwings guess it needs more than just cold weather for these but it would be nice.
Maurice499
Well-known member
This morning I decided to take a stroll down the Tarka trail at about 8.90am, from The Taw Bridge as far as Bradiford Reserve and in that heavy snow fall. The tide was up to the embankment and I have never seen so many Snipe on the saltmarsh just off Pottington Ind.Est. I counted at least 103 and a further c50 on Bradiford Reserve. Those on the saltmarsh were forced to roost on the higher vegatation and could be easily counted. There were c200 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag and c150 Mallard also on the river. C1500 Golden Plover were in the field between the Reserve and the sewage works and overhead, plus c600 Lapwing. A couple of Bullfinch, a Goldcrest and a couple of Redwings skittered about the bushes.
Roy C
Occasional bird snapper
Some good numbers there Maurice - might have a stroll down there tomorrow, weather permitting. There were a lot of birds at Anchor wood bank yesterday morning but I did not venture far today.
Andrew
wibble wibble
A fantastic snowy walk on the canal today. I started off at Halberton where there was a light sugar coating on the towpath and it built up into a thick tangibly and satisfyingly crunching layer by Tiverton.
There were some unusual sightings as expected.
A large flock of Meadow Pipits with at least forty birds. It has been a good winter so far for them with singles spread out but they seemed to have concentrated into a very tight flock now. As for flocking birds, the Wood Pigeons were at it too with at least 600 in one stretch.
Reed Buntings are usually seen in low single figures so I was delightfully gobsmacked to see a minimum of sixteen feeding in the back gardens of Tidcombe. Could have easily been 40+ as they were mobile.
Had my best ever daytime views of Woodcock in my usual spot as they all huddled by a thin stream providing rare unfrozen water. On the deck views as opposed to flying off in front of me.
Eighteen Golden Plover and five Lapwings near Halberton to get the canal year list off nicely.
Plus the usual winter treats such as Redwings, Fieldfares and Bullfinches. No Redpoll or Siskin unfortunately.
So good I didn't feel cold at all.
There were some unusual sightings as expected.
A large flock of Meadow Pipits with at least forty birds. It has been a good winter so far for them with singles spread out but they seemed to have concentrated into a very tight flock now. As for flocking birds, the Wood Pigeons were at it too with at least 600 in one stretch.
Reed Buntings are usually seen in low single figures so I was delightfully gobsmacked to see a minimum of sixteen feeding in the back gardens of Tidcombe. Could have easily been 40+ as they were mobile.
Had my best ever daytime views of Woodcock in my usual spot as they all huddled by a thin stream providing rare unfrozen water. On the deck views as opposed to flying off in front of me.
Eighteen Golden Plover and five Lapwings near Halberton to get the canal year list off nicely.
Plus the usual winter treats such as Redwings, Fieldfares and Bullfinches. No Redpoll or Siskin unfortunately.
So good I didn't feel cold at all.
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Jon Turner
Well-known member
I inadvertently flushed about 70 Redwings from a holly tree below my garden this evening. There have also been a few Fieldfares and a Mistle Thrush 'around' today, with the local Blackbirds, and a few Song Thrushes too. The berries are almost all gone now, so unless I can find some apples to put down, I don't think they'll be around for much longer.
Jon
Jon
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My half-hour dog walk yesterday morning gave about 105 Skylarks over, to south, in groups of various sizes; three Lapwings with one group. Looking at the Warren website this morning shows me what I missed !
Andrew
wibble wibble
Repeating Tuesday's walk from Halberton to Tiverton was harder with the snow being thicker and like walking in sand but it produced the goods. Beautiful scenery too. Not many people either.
Two Redpolls, two Treecreepers, three Nuthatches, a Marsh Tit, a Woodcock, a Snipe, a Little Egret, a Chiffchaff, a Common Gull and the Reed Bunting flock went up to a minimum of seventeen birds.
Birds in bold denote quality canal year ticks so a good start already.
Female Blackcap in the garden back home too.
Two Redpolls, two Treecreepers, three Nuthatches, a Marsh Tit, a Woodcock, a Snipe, a Little Egret, a Chiffchaff, a Common Gull and the Reed Bunting flock went up to a minimum of seventeen birds.
Birds in bold denote quality canal year ticks so a good start already.
Female Blackcap in the garden back home too.
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Ppedro
Well-known member
Saw c100 Lapwings heading southwest in four groups near South Brent in 40 minutes early afternoon. A few hundred winter thrushes ( mostly redwing, maybe 90%) heading southwest near Salcombe towards dusk. Not much compared to elsewhere in Devon but hopefully some can rest up and feed here as it is icy and cold but maybe not quite as bad as elsewhere so far, at least on sheltered coastal spots. Guess that will change with the windchill this weekend though.
Ppedro
Well-known member
Kingsbridge Estuary
Did the Geese Quarries - Charleton Marsh circuit on the rising tide this morning. Although winter thrushes very evident ( Redwing / Fieldfare split 90/10% ) not massive numbers. Many Song Thrushes as well. Only 2 Golden Plover and a Lapwing seen but plenty of snipe in places where they are normally absent. Highlight was a Woodcock flying across the big field below the beacon. Nothing amazing on the estuary, only a flock of 9 Tufted Ducks and a Gadwall out of the ordinary here. Plenty of wildfowl on the marsh including 160 Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 4 Shoveler and 4 Gadwall. 50 Snipe seen but no doubt a fraction of real number present. Missed the big one on the estuary today. A Spoonbill photographed by a non-birding friend of mine from his front room in Tacket Wood which is the little creek at the bottom of Kingsbridge about as far up the estuary into the town as you can go. Presumably this is the bird watched coming in off the sea at Thurlestone this morning and is no doubt now feeding up farthur down the estuary.
With some forecast predicting temperatures at best around freezing for the coming week sadly i fear for many birds. There must be a risk of high mortality amongst eg Lapwings and Redwings unless they manage to keep moving. There may not be many stonechats and Cetti's in the spring and the Little Egrets have not been tested locally yet. Although some bird populations are always boom and bust with a declining species like Lapwing a bad winter surely takes on more significance than it did years ago.
Did the Geese Quarries - Charleton Marsh circuit on the rising tide this morning. Although winter thrushes very evident ( Redwing / Fieldfare split 90/10% ) not massive numbers. Many Song Thrushes as well. Only 2 Golden Plover and a Lapwing seen but plenty of snipe in places where they are normally absent. Highlight was a Woodcock flying across the big field below the beacon. Nothing amazing on the estuary, only a flock of 9 Tufted Ducks and a Gadwall out of the ordinary here. Plenty of wildfowl on the marsh including 160 Wigeon, 100+ Teal, 4 Shoveler and 4 Gadwall. 50 Snipe seen but no doubt a fraction of real number present. Missed the big one on the estuary today. A Spoonbill photographed by a non-birding friend of mine from his front room in Tacket Wood which is the little creek at the bottom of Kingsbridge about as far up the estuary into the town as you can go. Presumably this is the bird watched coming in off the sea at Thurlestone this morning and is no doubt now feeding up farthur down the estuary.
With some forecast predicting temperatures at best around freezing for the coming week sadly i fear for many birds. There must be a risk of high mortality amongst eg Lapwings and Redwings unless they manage to keep moving. There may not be many stonechats and Cetti's in the spring and the Little Egrets have not been tested locally yet. Although some bird populations are always boom and bust with a declining species like Lapwing a bad winter surely takes on more significance than it did years ago.
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Jon Turner
Well-known member
At Down End today, (it's the small headland between Saunton and Croyde). 13 Common Scoter off the point out towards Lundy, then another smaller group off towards Hartland on closer inspection turned out to be 7 Velvet Scoter. There was also a group of 24 Wigeon on the sea - a sure sign of hard weather.
Jon
Jon
Andrew
wibble wibble
The Exe estuary is freezing at the edges as the tide drops. There was a Common Sandpiper up and down the footpath at Topsham Rec. Didn't see the Spotted Sandpiper well enough but saw what looked like it disappear through a hole in the bottom of a fence (with a small stuffed Hare on top) into the back gardens. I think the weather has possibly forced it to look in the gardens for softer ground to feed in and made it elusive. Not seen it in two days running but it was sunny for good photography anyway.
Met the finder of yesterday's Snow Geese and the report did not refer to the two resident white farmyard geese. He described them as having dark bodies and white necks.
Again Bowling Green Marsh had nothing at all and is frozen over. A very odd sight.
Is it just me or does it NOT feel as cold as it is?
Met the finder of yesterday's Snow Geese and the report did not refer to the two resident white farmyard geese. He described them as having dark bodies and white necks.
Again Bowling Green Marsh had nothing at all and is frozen over. A very odd sight.
Is it just me or does it NOT feel as cold as it is?
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