Devon Birding (1 Viewer)

[metal.birder]

Had an early Sunrise walk at Topsham platform and goatwalk, saw about 400 Avocet off goatwalk, lots of Curlew, Black tailed Godwit and a Homeless man had slept the night in the hide and wanted to tell me everything about his life, he was on the bottle already at 7am!!B

Saw some diving Tufted ducks also, and never seen so many Shelduck about. Also some Reed Bunting and on to Dawlish warren which turned out some Great Crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe and Stonechat!

:cat:

Cheers, Mark.

 

[Willow]

Had very good views of ringtail Hen Harrier below the prison at Princetown about 15.30. Watched it quarter make a kill and then sit on bank eating its prey.

 

[Gosbirder]

Anyone have any info re the AHG on the Teign? Well done on the harrier sighting

 

[Perry Smale]

Anyone have any info re the AHG on the Teign? Well done on the harrier sighting

Yes, apparently it isn't one. Although everyone who saw it was happy it was smithsonianus (me included), a very well-known south-west birder has seen the photos (not the bird itself) and pronounced it as a Lesser Black-back!:smoke:

 

[soareyes]

Yes, apparently it isn't one. Although everyone who saw it was happy it was smithsonianus (me included), a very well-known south-west birder has seen the photos (not the bird itself) and pronounced it as a Lesser Black-back!:smoke:

So, any chance a peek at these photo's.

 

[Gosbirder]

Yes, apparently it isn't one. Although everyone who saw it was happy it was smithsonianus (me included), a very well-known south-west birder has seen the photos (not the bird itself) and pronounced it as a Lesser Black-back!:smoke:

Tell us Perry!?

 

[Hyrax]

North Devonites.....

I have to travel to clovelly (near bideford) tomorrow afternoon so I thought I'd go early and stop off somewhere for some birding in the morning. Any reccomendations? I'll be travelling past tiverton and barnstaple on the a361 and a39 so anywhere near that route would be great. A bit late in the day to hope for a response in time but I thought I'd try anyway. Thanks in advance,

Owen

 

[Sprigo]

North Devonites.....

I have to travel to clovelly (near bideford) tomorrow afternoon so I thought I'd go early and stop off somewhere for some birding in the morning. Any reccomendations? I'll be travelling past tiverton and barnstaple on the a361 and a39 so anywhere near that route would be great. A bit late in the day to hope for a response in time but I thought I'd try anyway. Thanks in advance,

Owen

Hi Owen,
You could try Islay Marsh
You need to access the Tarka Trail at Yelland. At Yelland turn off to the old Power station site sign posted Estuary Business Park. Just before the road crosses the Tarka Trail you can park on the right hand side. Once parked, walk to the Tarka Trail and turn Right, about 200 yards down the trail on the left you will see the entrance to Isley marsh. Hope this helps.

 

[Hyrax]

Hi Owen,
You could try Islay Marsh
You need to access the Tarka Trail at Yelland. At Yelland turn off to the old Power station site sign posted Estuary Business Park. Just before the road crosses the Tarka Trail you can park on the right hand side. Once parked, walk to the Tarka Trail and turn Right, about 200 yards down the trail on the left you will see the entrance to Isley marsh. Hope this helps.

Thanks that's great I'll definately give it a go. Anything I should be looking out for?

 

[Roy C]

Thanks that's great I'll definately give it a go. Anything I should be looking out for?

Spoonbills, there are six there. Anything else will rely on the state of the tide.

 

[Hyrax]

Spoonbills, there are six there. Anything else will rely on the state of the tide.

Excellent not on my year list yet, I missed the one that spent the day in a field next to my house! Are they difficult to find?

 

[Maurice499]

Hi Hyrax,
If they`re on the marsh, you can`t miss`em. There were only 2 there yesterday at 07:35. High tide was later at 10:35 so the other 4 could have been over the Wrafton side of the river. They usually join up sometime during the day.
Maurice.

 

[Hyrax]

1 Spoonbill at Isley Marsh at 1:30 pm today. After half an hour it flew into a channel not to re-emerge. There could feasibly have been more already in the channel. Thanks all for the info.

Also seen: 1 Bullfinch, 50+ Shellduck, Redshank, Teal, Dunlin, Turnstone, Curlew and 20+ Grey Plover.

 

[metal.birder]

went down to Topsham today with Daz (Dazwater), he lent me his lens 100-400mm IS L for the morning so got some cracking shots but this was my shot of the day.


Can't wait to get my lens now!!! :eek!:

 

[scary-canary]

went down to Topsham today with Daz (Dazwater), he lent me his lens 100-400mm IS L for the morning so got some cracking shots but this was my shot of the day.
View attachment 247730

Can't wait to get my lens now!!! :eek!:

It's not bad, but you've either over cropped it or over sharpened it I reckon.

 

[metal.birder]

thanks scary for the input, I'm a total beginner , so a lot to learn just yet.

 

[scary-canary]

thanks scary for the input, I'm a total beginner , so a lot to learn just yet.

At least you've seen avocet this weekend. I've struggled to see anything of note!

 

[MTN1540]

First day out after a few weeks hard work and went to Tamar Lakes.

amonst the highlights

Reed Bunting
Great Crested Grebe
GoosanderMarsh Tit
Long Tail Tit

On the way home I stopped to finish my thermos of coffee near Black Torrington and saw a Treecreeper.

Not bad a bad day.

 

[Jon Turner]

Hoorah for a south wind!

When I saw the forecast last night I knew we'd have Sand Martins here today, and so a call at 4.15 came as no great surprise!

By the time I got down to Wrafton pond, (5.15) there were possibly up to a dozen birds present, (the most I saw together was 6).

Roll on more migrants.

The Red-crested Pochard is still present....

Jon

 

[Maurice499]

Hoorah for a south wind!

When I saw the forecast last night I knew we'd have Sand Martins here today, and so a call at 4.15 came as no great surprise!

By the time I got down to Wrafton pond, (5.15) there were possibly up to a dozen birds present, (the most I saw together was 6).

Roll on more migrants.

The Red-crested Pochard is still present....

Jon

They were coming through San Pedro del Pinatar (Costa Blanca) week ending 31st january when I was out there. 44 days to cover 1200 miles?