Devon Birding (17 Viewers)

[rokermartin]

...looking at the rutting deer on exmoor. Making my way down a valley stalking a bloody big stag with its hinds, I noticed a crow in the tree to my right. I ignored it and kept my eyes on the stag.

The stag ran off and in frustration I looked at the crow and had kittens.

A hen Harrier was in the tree less than 10 ft away watching me - and I almost missed it!!!

Murphys law- If i had been looking for Hen Harriers......

Thats not a Hen Harrier its a female Kestrel.

 

[The Kerreran]

Just in case anyone's unaware - Sardinian Warbler still at Berry Head, frequenting first set of scrub on the left from the car park towards North Fort. Very elusive and active, but gave some gorgeous [if brief] views. Also Yellow-browed Warbler, same location.

 

[Ppedro]

Beesands

A couple of Scaup and the returning probable Red-crested Pochard X Tufted Duck on the ley this morning, also 62 Gadwall.One lone Great Northern Diver on the sea. Saw a late Swallow in Stokenham.
Probably try for the Sardinian Warbler tomorrow. Something tells me plenty of patience needed and no mealworms !

 

[JRE]

Probably try for the Sardinian Warbler tomorrow. Something tells me plenty of patience needed and no mealworms !

See you there :t:

 

[JRE]

No need for too much patience in the end Perry! The bird showed fairly well at about 8.50am along the back path. Good if very brief views were had by all eventually (at least by the time I left). Dartford Warbler and 5+ Cirls also present.

 

[Ppedro]

No need for too much patience in the end Perry! The bird showed fairly well at about 8.50am along the back path. Good if very brief views were had by all eventually (at least by the time I left). Dartford Warbler and 5+ Cirls also present.

What a great bird, showed really well late morning near the car park. Berry Head really doing well these days and certainly is a nice place to go birding.

 

[da2m]

had that "it was here half an hour ago" feeling at BH today. however patience paid off and the sard showed well but vey briefly.

 

[Phill-istine]

Re- earlier Female Kestrel.

Thanks for that guys. As soon as i posted it I thought that i should have looked it up before posting.

Another dream dashed - maybe i will stick to rutting stags for the 3 weeks a year that bthey are on the job

 

[Andrew]

Probably try for the Sardinian Warbler tomorrow. Something tells me plenty of patience needed and no mealworms !

You also need £2.50 for a microwaved 'Devon Pasty' from the fort cafe that is still frozen in the middle and so bad you throw it over the walls!


I was informed this morning that a female Black Redstart was in the grounds of the Heathcoat factory in Tiverton so looks like last winter's bird has returned!

 

[Steve Waite]

Rough-legged Buzzard (or Hawk - has to be said!) on Lundy, it's been there a couple of weeks according to the Lundy birding website - http://www.lundybirds.co.uk/sightings.php

 

[Terry Smith]

Single Purple Sandpiper on Chit Rocks, Sidmouth this afternoon, but no sign of any Black Redstarts.

 

[Kev Rylands]

Rough-legged Buzzard (or Hawk - has to be said!) on Lundy, it's been there a couple of weeks according to the Lundy birding website - http://www.lundybirds.co.uk/sightings.php

and the only way to see it is a four day stay on the island or a £1000+ helicopter charter - unless someone has the keys to a boat...

 

[Andrew]

Maybe a six pack of lard and some serious Duncan Goodhew skills Kev?

Green Sandpiper on the canal near Halberton was a nice canal year tick this afternoon!

 

[davercox]

My new Atlas tetrads 'just happen' to include the Woodlark field behind Exminster. Did that yesterday, no luck there, but did find three Woodlarks about 1km to the NW of there, from the lane that leads up past the Heavitree brewery and Trood House.

And a nice Green Sandpiper in the River Exe Country Park.

 

[Andrew]

Just enjoyed a real red letter day on the canal with two canal ticks.

A couple of Bramblings (tick) were just west of Halberton before I came across two nice Redpolls.

I was watching the Redpolls and got drawn to a smaller bird further off. B****r me sideways, it was a Firecrest! I had always dreamily entertained the notion of finding one on the canal and it actually happened!

The Mandarin was still just east of Tiverton at Snake's Wood.

Other decent canal birds were six Ravens, a Stonechat, a Cormorant, two Chiffchaffs and a Kestrel.

Shockingly though was failing to see a single Sparrow from Halberton to Tiverton.

 

[Ppedro]

Slapton Ley

Had a quick look at Slapton Ley from the hide on Stokeley bend this afternoon and saw the 2 Scaup and Red-crested X Tufted Duck hybrid that were present on Beesands Ley last weekend there.

 

[Jon Turner]

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. Several huge flocks of Starlings went over towards Hartland forest.

Jon

 

[JRE]

Received an email via the website today, from an observer who saw a purplish looking heron at the Common Crane site (Modbury) on 18th. He described it as having purplish wings, but was unable to get a photo of it.

Worth checking out, even if it doesn't come to anything. Let's just hope it wasn't one of these...

 

[Tav94]

There was a Purple Heron, in that same field some years back so would not be surprised.

Chris Buckland.
www.freewebs.com/tav94

 

[da2m]

there were lots of redwing at BGM this afternoon. lot of brents too. has anyone noticed that waxwings are in hampshire now, next stop devon!!!!