Devon Birding (1 Viewer)

[Jon Turner]

Birdguides reports a Female Rough-legged Buzzard at Trew Plantation on Monday - anyone got any more gen?

Good Devon bird!

Jon

 

[Roy C]

Cattle Egret showing well in the field right besides the Tarka trail at Yelland this morning. Also good views of 4 Spoonbill on Isley Marsh.

 

[Ppedro]

Sand Martin flying around Charleton Marsh this afternoon. Still a young pale-bellied in with the flock of 95 Brent Geese on the estuary.

 

[parttimer]

Cattle Egret showing well in the field right besides the Tarka trail at Yelland this morning. Also good views of 4 Spoonbill on Isley Marsh.

Hi Roy

All things come to those who wait, and put in the leg work!!!:-O

Stu

 

[parttimer]

Birdguides reports a Female Rough-legged Buzzard at Trew Plantation on Monday - anyone got any more gen?

Good Devon bird!

Jon

Hi Jon

I see theres one on the rare birds map at Woolfardisworthy near Witheridge coincidence or cock up.

Stu

 

[Gosbirder]

Quite right why should the great unwashed, the hoy poloy, common or garden birders know about the whereabouts of scarcer birds. Keep it in the realms of the elite. That's what I say.

Mike

Think you may have missed the point one way or another, PM me for clarification.

 

[parttimer]

A 1st winter Little Gull today over at Southcott (Old Barnstaple road Bideford end) amongst a folk of mixed gulls including one Med gull and plenty of Commons. Returned later on its own and was in no hurry to leave.

Stu

 

[Jon Turner]

A 1st winter Little Gull today over at Southcott (Old Barnstaple road Bideford end) amongst a folk of mixed gulls including one Med gull and plenty of Commons. Returned later on its own and was in no hurry to leave.

Stu

Nice find Stu, I missed the influx back in February. Saw the Gull this afternoon on the river with the gull roost, which included 3 Mediterranean Gulls.
Came home via the Bradiford reserve and found a Firecrest by the Tarka Trail there, and then a drake Mandarin out on the river consorting with Mallards by the Gull roost. Sadly no sign of Kumlein's / Iceland / Glaucous Gulls. Or any Spoonbills there.

Jon

 

[parttimer]

This may sound sad but I'm some Chuffed its a lifer for me. Been birding for years but only started seriously 4 years ago thats when I started my list its made my day if not week !!!! :t:
I cant claim all the Credit had help with the ID I didn't have my Collins on me or Scope I was supposed to be working!

Stu

 

[da2m]

This may sound sad but I'm some Chuffed its a lifer for me.

i wouldn't worry about that. i got a lifer today too, goshawk, i too am chuffed.

 

[Kev Rylands]

Back in late November this appeared...

Found myself at Bursdon Moor this afternoon and saw 3 ringtail Hen Harriers, and a Merlin. A Buzzard also seemed to land out in the moorland.

...raised a hopeful eyebrow at the time - following Monday's Rough legged sighting has anyone visited Bursdon lately? Any buzzards coming into roost?

(there doesn't appear to be a 'grasping at straws' smilie)

 

[da2m]

Back in late November this appeared...

...raised a hopeful eyebrow at the time - following Monday's Rough legged sighting has anyone visited Bursdon lately? Any buzzards coming into roost?

(there doesn't appear to be a 'grasping at straws' smilie)

hi kev long tome no see. where is bursdon moor and do you know where ryders hill is?
daz

 

[Kev Rylands]

Hi Daz,

Indeed long time family keeping you busy no doubt.

Bursdon is up near Hartland Point in the north of the county. SS2720

Ryders Hill is a couple of miles SE of Princetown. SX6669

Cheers
Kev

 

[Jon Turner]

Strange, I have a total recall of the 3 Hen Harriers and the Merlin coming in to roost that day, but a complete blank about the Buzzard!! My diary says: :".. and a Buzzard which appeared to land out in the moorland too."
At that time of day (almost dark when the Harriers arrive) I probably wouldn't have made out much on a Buzzard, but I didn't even think of RLB.
But no apart from a look around Trew on Wednesday (in the snow) I haven't been to look at Bursdon for an evening roost session since.

Jon

 

[da2m]

Hi Daz,

Indeed long time family keeping you busy no doubt.

oh yes. mamaged to take my daughter yesterday, she very good. i took my son to bowling green, gave him a target of birds to see and he really enjoyed himself, he's 5 now!!!!!!

 

[Ranger James]

Ryders Hill is a couple of miles SE of Princetown. SX6669

What Kev forgot to mention, is that Ryders Hill was also a plodding point-to-point nag, upon which i wasted a few quid over the years. Irrelevent, but in the interests of completeness, important to add.

Better to visit the place if birding though.

James

 

[Ppedro]

Charleton Marsh / Bay

Had a good couple hours in the hide this morning.Still 97 Brent Geese including a young pale-bellied on the estuary. On the marsh was a male Pintail. Heard a Water Rail and then saw a small male Peregrine fly over. At 10:45 the local resident female Marsh Harrier arrived flushing at least 30 Snipe. She hung around for 45 minutes until heading high away back towards Slapton. Highlight of the morning though was a ringtail Hen Harrier which headed west, probably towards South Milton / Huish at 11:00. Only seen one on the marsh before, 24 years ago!
Perry
PS must remember my bins the next time i take the kids to Woodlands !!!

 

[Marshall-78]

Fantastic, sounds good Perry! Tried 7 times this year for a Hen Harrier and managed not to see one on every occasion. Think I remember reading that you had one out near Buckfastleigh as well.
Had the little one today as the wife was with her friends so had a walk around Berry Head with him and saw pretty much nothing. After he fell asleep in the car (all planned) did Goodrington and Preston from the car 11 Black-neck Grebe, no sign of the Penduline at Youngs Park (checked from car park only. Shipped him off for a couple of hours with Gran, smart male Black Redstart present in the car park near her house (Sharkham village, its been resident there since early November) and got down to Mansands. First time since the water went. Great views of a Water Rail pretty much as soon as setting my scope up. 6 Gadwall also present along with a few Teal but no Snipe visible.

 

[Andrew]

A nice walk from Powderham Shop to Exeter along the estuary and canal path yielded the three Cattle Egrets by the round house at Powderham, three Pale-bellied Brents amongst 434 Brent Geese off Turf Inn and a Green Sand at Riverside Valley Park then a hoppy pint of Fuggles (Hop Back) at the Well House in Exeter.

 

[Gosbirder]

Nice morning at Dawlish yesterday, lots of ringed plover and Black-tailed godwits