Devon Birding (1 Viewer)

[Ppedro]

Start Point

Start Point better than average today. Arrived in the car park and met an early morning jogger who told me he had just seen a Short-eared Owl quartering the fields. Unfortunatly did not see it. Few thrushes around, did not hear any going over last night when i poked my head outside, never a good sign for these for Start the next day. No hirundines today but amazed to see a very late Hobby flying through. At least 5 Black Redstarts were around the buildings in the mast field. Waders seen were single Lapwing and a mobile flock of 16 Golden Plover. 25 Goldcrests was a good count for this autumn, also 1 Firecrest in Start Farm. 5 Chiffchaffs were seen but the undoubted highlight was a Pallas's Warbler watched for 15 minutes this morning. These birds are fantastic. Sadly it was on private land where the farmer does not wish me to release any news on anything. As it turned out after about 15 minutes it moved on and despite looking for a long while i saw no furthur sign of it.
Not long after getting home had a call from a friend in Stokenham who had just seen a Crane fly over his house heading in the rough direction of mine. Stood in the garden for 40 minutes but no luck. iI guess this was probably the Dawlish bird seen earlier today. Hopefully it will get pinned down somewhere tomorrow.

Perry

 

[JRE]

Went up on the train to Topsham this afternoon.
The Long-billed Dowitcher still present at Bowling Green, but right at the back, credit to the guys who managed to pick it up.
A few Avocets, Golden Plover, Lapwing and Godwits along the Goatwalk. Flock of 90 Goldfinches along Bowling Green Road.

 

[The Kerreran]

Up at aaarrgh! o'clock this morning [yes, that is a real time ] to get up to Topsham for the morning tide in more hope than expectation of the Long-billed Dowitcher. Found the hide well stocked with birders, none of whom had seen it yet today. After a couple of pleasant if chilly hours scanning through the mass of Blackwit, Barwit, Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Avocet, Golden Plover, Dunlin, and Lapwing, with added Knot, Little Egret, Wigeon, and Teal, plus Brent Geese, Tufties, Shovelors, Little Grebe, and a juv. Shelduck in the foreground.. :: Takes deep breath :: ..and a couple of false alarms, we concluded it wasn't there. A juv. Little Stint and a Ruff showing characteristics of a juv. female were there, and if I hadn't been distracted by the Dowitcher hunt I'd have really enjoyed the spectacle alone - especially with such good conditions [bright overcast, chilly and very light wind] for carrying their calls. I still enjoyed myself - I am firmly of the opinion no one who loves birds can go to Bowling Green and not have a good time - but well, its a reminder to not take adding to the List too seriously..
Time to go to the Clyst Platform. Hmm, thinks I as I approach, half a dozen scopes all pointing one way - and all by themselves, my feet are moving faster. Bingo! One lovely Long-billed Dowitcher, showing very nicely for us all :t: After wandering up and down the the opposite bank, conveniently passing several species for comparative purposes, it then showed us its cigar by flying off up river.
Happy? Oh yes.
How to top off a great morning? A trip to Cockwood for mud-hopping, comparative telescopy, and the gorgeous autumn plumaged male Long-tailed Duck, all to the soundtrack of Brent Geese.
Then remained but one more thing to do: B

 

[Terry Smith]

The Long-billed Dowitcher was on Bowling Green Marsh this morning, but moved out on to the Clyst Estuary (opposite the viewing platform), where it was present until after midday. Also there, at least one Little Stint in the morning, and a Ruff this afternoon.

 

[The Kerreran]

Went down to Hope's Nose to see if the passing front brought anything our way today. Alas I saw nothing more than a light southerly passage of Great Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls [approx. 20 and 8 per hour respectively].

 

[Ppedro]

Torcross - Start Point

Had a spare day today but sadly no transport. Caught the earliest bus to Torcross, arriving 09:15. Was going to give Slapton Ley a good look but the lure of Start Point was to strong and i set off on the 3 mile hike, all of it good birding habitat though.
Plenty of wildfowl on Beesands Ley this year. The only good thing about the summer poor weather is the rain seems to have stopped any blooms developing. I counted 30 Gadwall, 18 Shoveler, 1 Pintail, 15 Tufted Duck and 56 Pochard. An ugly looking fem. type Red-crested Pochard thing would have made a Canada Goose look good beside it. A late Wheatear was on the beach. Not much seen on the long haul up to Start. Small nos. of Woodpigeons, Siskins and Chaffinches over but greater numbers probably moving just inland out off sight of the coast path. 100 + Meadow Pipits at South Hallsands. On reaching Start at 11:00 small nos of Woodpigeons passing headed north. A look around Start fairly quiet, 6 late Swallows, 2 Black Redstarts, Wheatear, Brambling and 2 Blackcaps the only noteworthy birds.
Hard work, and missed the best part of the day but wonderful scenery and you never whats lurking around the corner or about to fly over. We are lucky to live in Devon.

View towards Start Point from above Torcross and view from high of Beesands Ley attatched.

 

[Andrew]

That sounds great Perry, how did you get back home from Start Point? It interests me as I would be pleased to know I could get to and from Start Point by public transport. Hope to be down your way before too long.

As for today, the Dowitcher at BGM was rather elusive. As I was coming away, Nigel Pinhorn re-directed us back to the viewing platform where it had flown and was showing down the left on the Clyst Estuary briefly but in bad light that prevented feather by feather study.

A Little Stint, a Ruff and a Curlew Sand were on the reserve. A few Pintail and Golden Plovers too.

 

[Kev Rylands]

Hi Perry,

Just how ugly is the plastic pochard? Is it one or a hybrid?

The reason I ask is that a good percentage of the now Cat C birds in the Cotswold Water Park are abberrant. The wiltshire inbreeding has produced many albinos and melanistic birds, chances are a horrible looking one is more tickable than a feather perfect escape.

Still can't get the enthusiasm to add it to the county list yet though, maybe the triple nelson bird

Cheers
Kev

 

[Ppedro]

Hello Andrew and Kev,
my good wife Sarah was working in Dartmouth and picked me up on the way back home, true love did not extend to dropping me out there at first light though. If you`re down this way give us a shout Andrew.
As for the duck, i`m no expert on RCP`s but have been told this one, present for a couple weeks i beleive, is what is known as a blonde variety, quite common and a type of mutation. What that means re its origins i'm not sure. All i do know is if you go there Kevin you should try not to look at it and see if you can find another Lesser Scaup instead !

 

[The Kerreran]

So the Beast of Beesands could be a wandering Cotswald Cat. C then? Hmm, well I agree with you Pedro, I'd rather Kev found us a nice Lesser Scaup too!
Took a stroll round the Walkham valley south of Merrivale today, saw a late and decidedly off-looking m. Redstart in his buff-fringed autumn plumage, a good hundred Fieldfare [though no Redwing with them] messing around and being startled by passing Buzzards, seven Ravens cruising around like 'wok'ing mobsters, a m. Kestrel being mobbed by Pied Wagtails, and not one but two double rainbows. Also heard a lot of high level migrating passerines, and got rained on a bit. It was a good day. |:d|

 

[Terry Smith]

Juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher showing very well at Bowling Green Marsh late morning (1130-1200), from the hide looking towards the left hand side of the main pool, the bird was up on the bank. Also there one Curlew Sandpiper and two Little Stints.

 

[Terry Smith]

Now a report of a possible Least Sandpiper at Bowling Green !!

EDIT: - Report now probably unsafe!

 

[JRE]

Now a report of a possible Least Sandpiper at Bowling Green !!

EDIT: - Report now probably unsafe!

Hi Terry do you have any more details?

 

[Kev Rylands]

Had heard it was just a pale legged Dunlin, but maybe the 'new' stint has pale legs - would be a more likely error...

 

[Andrew]

Meanwhile, I can only chip in with a Kingfisher, a Meadow Pipit, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a Grey Wagtail, a Stonechat and some Goldcrests from the Grand Western Canal at Ayshford.

The Buff-bellied Pipit is lurking somewhere!

 

[Terry Smith]

Hi Terry do you have any more details?

Sadly not Jy! Kev has already given as much detail as I am aware.

Nice to see a few more getting in on the act of this Devon Birding thread. All news gratefully appreciated by ALL Devon Birders! :t:

Anyone know anything about this rumour of 4 Lesser WF Geese seen flying over the Exe with Brents yesterday??

 

[The Kerreran]

I suppose it was inevitable... Curiosity won out and I went down to Beesands to have a look at the Beast. Naturally it wasn't about.:-C
There were about 30 Gadwall and 20 Tufties, only 6 Pochard, 7 Shovelor, no Pintail, a w/pl G C Grebe, a flash of a Kingfisher, 6 Mute Swan including a very shirty male and 3 immatures, the Wheatear, 8 Greenfinch, 3 Stonechat, a male White Wagtail and 4+ Pied [no colour rings], 3 Mepits, the usual Coot and Moorhen, and a lot of dragonflies, including mating couples. Most interesting was the gull-wash; 10-30 present at any one time, coming in at a rate of about 25/hour. Mostly Herring with Greater Black-backed, but a steady trickle of Lesser Black-backed [never more than two at once] including a nice 2w intermedius type, and later a few Black-headed. Lots of tertial checking paid off with a juv. Yellow-legged Gull |:d|, but what really got me going was a gull that appeared almost a dead match for the adult winter plumage Ring-billed Gull in my Mullarney & Svennson* [though the bill behind the ring had a pinkish tinge to the yellow, the bill shape was right and the tip was a rich glorious yellow - plumage, head shape, etc. were spot on]...... and then it took off and demonstrated pale pinkish legs. "Arg..." I said. The most diabolical Herring Gull on Earth bar the Hinkley red-bill headed south, and wasn't on the roofs of Beesands when I left.
Late afternoon and a look at Slapton - still no Beast, but 17 G C Grebe, a Little Grebe, 2 f. Goldeneye, Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler, Pied Wagtail [no colour rings either], and plenty of Tuftie and Pochard. Lots of gulls on the sea.
Dusk and a check of Ireland Bay and Deer Bridge - counts of gathering Pochard and Tuftie gave 63 and 87 respectively, but the light was failing and both tallies are doubtless understatements. 7+ Water Rail calling, and 3+ Cetti's. There were a lot of bats about as I waited on the bridge with a cycling birder called Andrew in the hope the Bittern would pass by. No luck, but 5 Snipe did fly south calling over our heads, and a Tawny Owl hooted from the woods on the other side of Ireland Bay.

Now that I've finished boring you all to tears, any news on the Least Sand/pale legged Stint/Dunlin, or the Lesser White-fronts?


*Yes, I carry my field guide when I take a rucksack with me, and I'm not ashamed!

 

[Terry Smith]

The Long-billed Dowitcher was on the main pool, Bowling Green Marsh, until 1310, when it flew out on to the Clyst Estuary just up from the viewing platform. However, at 1330 it flew off with a few Redshank and landed just beyond Exton Station. There was also a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper on the main pool until 1300.

 

[Terry Smith]

The juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher was again on Bowling Green Marsh, (edge of main pool) at lunchtime today, but elusive amongst the other waders for the most part.

 

[Andrew]

Great Grey Shrike seen briefly on Molland Common this afternoon at approximately SS820300 before it was chased off by a smaller bird. There was hunting going on which may have pushed the Shrike about the moor a bit.