Devon Birding (1 Viewer)

[Ppedro]

Hybrid Duck

Strange Hybrid duck still on Beesands Ley. Someone has suggested Tufted X Red-crested Pochard, ( they also mentioned Woody Woodpecker which looks good to me ). More markings on bill than i noticed last week. Clears water when diving. Bottle green sheen to head and rump.

 

[The Kerreran]

Strange Hybrid duck still on Beesands Ley. Someone has suggested Tufted X Red-crested Pochard

Looking at the shape of the bill, the pinkyness in the base, and the very steep forehead, I'd agree.. Is it possible, though? They're different geni, after all. And what is it about Beesands that's attracting these strange creatures? Something in the water?

Very nice Dartford Warbler at Trendlebeare, and 500+ Golden Plover flushed by walkers on Haytor Down, but pretty much everything else was blown away!

 

[RegTelescope]

Thank goodness, let's hope it is.
A few Sand Martins in Cornwall and Swallow in Kent also signs of better times to come. Longest winter bird-wise that I can remember since I've been birding. Just 60 days until May!

You must have missed my post about a Swallow at the Turf Hotel on Saturday 24 February!

 

[da2m]

it was great to see 2 sarnies this morning at the warren. spring is here boys n girls

 

[da2m]

aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh the suspence is killing me. not much around at the warren today. red throat and slavs on the sea.

 

[da2m]

great views of the spotshank at bgm vp. snd martin also feeding over lagoon.

 

[Terry Smith]

7 Purple Sandpipers on Chit Rocks, Sidmouth yesterday afternoon (5th), and a male Brambling at Orcombe Point (below the campsite) late this afternoon.

 

[Greysands boy]

King Eidur still at Skern!!!

Hi all,

The king Eidur still showing well at skern today. Looking magical this morning as always
Here are a few pics (Badly cropped one of eidur).

Darryl

 

[I4ani]

Hi,
Ref post no.1141 by Ppedro regarding the hybrid duck.It was still there on the 7/3/20008 and I have placed a image of it on the surfbirds forum under the post,"unknown quacker duck", the image is clearer and a bit closer than the one shown here, if anyone is still interested.
regards I4ani.

 

[Terry Smith]

3 Sand Martins feeding over Bowling Green Marsh early afternoon today, plus two more over Topsham town.

 

[Ppedro]

Did the WeBS count at Beesands Ley this morning. Little present except 43 Gadwall and 13 Tufted Duck. The `blonde ` Red-crested Pochard has returned and the odd hybrid which most people think is a Tufted X R-c Pochard is still there. Offshore 17 Common and 3 Velvet Scoter were in Start Bay.
Then had a drive around the fringes off Kingsbridge Estuary looking for Cattle Egrets but drew a blank at their favoured spots at Park Farm, Woolston Farm and Kingsbridge Rugby Club. Headed off to the Avon Valley between Aveton Gifford and Loddiswell ( surely one of the most underwatched places in south Devon ) and caught up with the two Cattle Egrets reported at Hatch Farm last week. This time they were across the valley at somewhere around Grid. Ref SX713476.
Early afternoon went for a stroll around the estuary from Charleton Marsh to Curlew Drive. Nice to see the Black Brant still with us keeping company with the Brents in Charleton Bay. Otherwise fairly quiet. Did notice a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls starting to arrive, one was a darker winged and mantled bird as they say showing characteristics of the race intermedius.

 

[Mark]

6 Sand Martins at Rackerhays in Newton Abbot this afternoon.

 

[The Kerreran]

Before I get to the backdated sightings [ and apologising for them.. ], I have to wonder; with both the blonde female and tufty cross male at Beesands, you think we might be in for some 'beautiful' children?

Right then, sorry for the delay, I shall be brief, and can assure you of no suppression - I've seen nothing Birdline-worthy!

Sunday 2nd - Killerton Clump; 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers drumming, Green Woodpecker drumming, 9 Siskin, active Rookery

Sunday 9th - Trendlebeare and Yarner; 2 Woodcock, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Goshawk, 2 Willow Tit, 3+ Marsh Tit, Chiffchaff, 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker and 3 Siskin on feeders, displaying Raven pair, female Nuthatch clearing nestbox, c30 Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, pea-sized hail

Monday 10th - Hope's Nose afternoon seawatch 1530 onwards; 50+ Gannet, Kittiwake, and Fulmar, trending S, 11 Common Gull [ 7 ad., 1 2w, 3 1w ] on the outfall, 147 Herring and 136 GBB on the Orestone, G C Grebe, 2 Razorbill, 4 Guillemot, 3+ Rock Pipit incl. singing and very territorial male! 1620; the rain starts and things move [ or at least move closer in ] 1620 Grey Seal, probably N, 1630 2 Sandwich Tern S, 1645 dark type Balearic Shearwater S, 1720 onwards auks fly S, 1751 dark phase Skua sp. S - probably imm. Pomarine

 

[da2m]

2 red brested merg at the passage house

 

[Jeremy Gloucestershire]

Was planning on travelling down to see the King Eider at Northam Burrows CP either friday or Saturday. If anyone can confirm the bird is still around after the gales yesterday (Tuesday 11 March), please could they post and let me know. Exciting prospect....a lifer for me....but a long drive if gone AWOL.
Thanks
Jeremy

 

[JRE]

Was planning on travelling down to see the King Eider at Northam Burrows CP either friday or Saturday. If anyone can confirm the bird is still around after the gales yesterday (Tuesday 11 March), please could they post and let me know. Exciting prospect....a lifer for me....but a long drive if gone AWOL.
Thanks
Jeremy

Hi Jeremy.
It hasn't been reported since Sunday 9th, but as it's been around for a few weeks, there wont have been many people looking for it. I spent 5 hours grilling the estuary off Instow on Saturday, with no luck, but I did not have time in the end to do Northam Burrowes as well, the other site that it favours. As Dan Pointon has said, it's a very mobile bird so I reckon it's probably still in the area, but if it hasn't been reported when you come down, it make take a while to find!

Noticed a report on RBA of two Rough-legged Buzzards over Great Torrington yesterday?! Does anyone have any more information on this?

 

[Jeremy Gloucestershire]

Many thanks for the information Joe. I'l keep my eyes on the forum threads and see what tomorrow/Saturday brings. Should be a lovely day out anyway, can't beat a day on the coast and everything that goes with it!
Best wishes
Jeremy

 

[Terry Smith]

Jeremy,
The King Eider has been reported on Birdguides as still being off the Skern, Northam Burrows this morning at 9am. Hope this helps!
Cheers
Terry

 

[Kev Rylands]

Situations Vacant!

The RSPB need, at short notice, someone to cover a research post in Devon this summer.

Info below. PM if interested.

The post is a four-month research assistant contract. The fieldworker will be undertaking bird surveys on two grass management experiments: one investigating how grazing extensification can be made to benefit birds, the other to see how drainage affects the quality of grasslands for birds. We need someone with good general bird identification skills, ideally an established birdwatcher. They will need to be able to quickly/accurately identify any farmland birds that might visit the experimental plots to feed. A variety of sward and soil condition measurements will also be collected and there will be some sampling work on soil-dwelling invertebrate prey.


Cheers
Kev

 

[Dog]

Hi Jeremy.


Noticed a report on RBA of two Rough-legged Buzzards over Great Torrington yesterday?! Does anyone have any more information on this?

Speaking to my dad in Barnstaple, the observer who saw the RLBs has a bit of a reputation for been a bit over enthusiastic with some of his sightings.

Mike.