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Devon Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter JRE
- Start date
Ranger James
Well-known member
Broadsands and Berry Head were very fruitful for me and one of my other friends called Gavin - many thanks for the tip Firecrest. Red necked and black neck grebe, great northern diver close in, and v distant red throated. Berry head gave gannet, guillemot and razorbill, kittewakes and fulmars, beautiful spot you guys have down there, I'll be back! Apparantly I missed black redstart and grey phalarope this morning too - don't know if I would have been able to control myself with those two on the day list as well!
Cheers
James
Cheers
James
Ppedro
Well-known member
Competition
For anyone who fancies themselves as an ace rare bird predictor there is a competition for 2007 on the Wildlife in Devon website ( press on link below ). Only wished it was being done last year - I was telling everyone who'd listen it was about time we had a Long-billed Murrelet somewhere down here.
Happy christmas one and all .
Perry B
B B B B B B
For anyone who fancies themselves as an ace rare bird predictor there is a competition for 2007 on the Wildlife in Devon website ( press on link below ). Only wished it was being done last year - I was telling everyone who'd listen it was about time we had a Long-billed Murrelet somewhere down here.
Happy christmas one and all .
Perry B
B B B B B B Dartmoor Birders
Member
The Firecrest said:
Lucky you Firecrest
I'll be doing Plymouth City Centre and Tesco!! along with many others. Don't get downhearted. The New Year is round the corner and it will all take off again with lists and then early migrant spotting.
kmonty1950
Well-known member
Left home at 6:30 this morning in thick fog, heading for Dartmoor. As I drove up onto the moor from Okehampton, the fog cleared, giving a completely cloudless sky.
My destination was Hangingstone Hill, about 6 km from Okehampton military training camp, reached by a single track road, that is to say the least, only "passable with care" in some places!
Just before I reached there, a small bird shot along the road and out onto the moor - brakes on hard - a male Merlin, first bird of the day.
I parked up and started off along a track out onto the moors, within a few hundred metres my target species flew across the moor just down the valley from me, a Red Grouse, giving good views but for less than a minute. Crossing a stream at the bottom, I'd just started up the other side when another Red Grouse flew into a patch of heather just off the track, then another third bird, made off across the valley.
Despite scanning the area for some time I couldn't pick these birds up on the ground, so carried on up the track for a while. Unfortunately no more Grouse saw fit to show themselves!
I ambled around for a while before making my way back to the car. Being unfit has its advantages, as by the time I got back I was extremely warm! When I arrived at first light it was -3, now it was a sweltering +1. On a cautionary note, there were several nasty patches of ice on the track out - luckily I was driving slowly to avoid the potholes so they didn't give me a problem (some of the potholes are deep!).
Apart from the Grouse, it has to be said, the area was fairly birdless, 2 Fieldfare and 3 or 4 Ravens was all I added before dropping back down to Okehampton and the fog. However, a couple of hours in a real "wilderness" where I didn't see another living soul (not counting sheep) and in glorious weather more than made up for it. I came away totally at peace with the world.
Good birding
Ken.
My destination was Hangingstone Hill, about 6 km from Okehampton military training camp, reached by a single track road, that is to say the least, only "passable with care" in some places!
Just before I reached there, a small bird shot along the road and out onto the moor - brakes on hard - a male Merlin, first bird of the day.
I parked up and started off along a track out onto the moors, within a few hundred metres my target species flew across the moor just down the valley from me, a Red Grouse, giving good views but for less than a minute. Crossing a stream at the bottom, I'd just started up the other side when another Red Grouse flew into a patch of heather just off the track, then another third bird, made off across the valley.
Despite scanning the area for some time I couldn't pick these birds up on the ground, so carried on up the track for a while. Unfortunately no more Grouse saw fit to show themselves!
I ambled around for a while before making my way back to the car. Being unfit has its advantages, as by the time I got back I was extremely warm! When I arrived at first light it was -3, now it was a sweltering +1. On a cautionary note, there were several nasty patches of ice on the track out - luckily I was driving slowly to avoid the potholes so they didn't give me a problem (some of the potholes are deep!).
Apart from the Grouse, it has to be said, the area was fairly birdless, 2 Fieldfare and 3 or 4 Ravens was all I added before dropping back down to Okehampton and the fog. However, a couple of hours in a real "wilderness" where I didn't see another living soul (not counting sheep) and in glorious weather more than made up for it. I came away totally at peace with the world.
Good birding
Ken.
Gavin Haig
Well-known member
Nice one Ken. Haven't managed any Dartmoor birding yet - must rectify that one day......
For anyone that hasn't yet been for the Surf Scoter at Beer, we saw it today and with the right light conditions is well worth the effort..surprised at how well marked the bill is...It was probably about 100 yards offshore. It is all on its own best viewed from the far left hand end of the beach...not much else on the sea but a nice Black redstart by the boats at the base of the beach..there was also no sign of the Firecrest in a brief search.
The Firecrest said:
The Yellow Browed was still reported yesterday, it wasn't seen today, but its a large area so could still be there...The Firecrest would be equally as difficult unless very lucky or loads of time to spare...you will have no trouble with the Scoter if its still around...the only obstacle being if its foggy..
JRE
Guest
JRE
Guest
Wento to Slapton this afternoon. Good views of 2 male Goldeneye, plus the usual assortment of wildfowl - loads of Pochard, Tufted Duck, a few Wigeon, Gadwall, and on the beach, 127 Dunlin, with a Razorbill just offshore. Couple of Gannets passed. Howling rain and win thoughout.
PS please guys, post on this thread a bit more!
PS please guys, post on this thread a bit more!
