April 27, 2005
BETTER SHOTS OF THE SHORT-EARED OWL
Over on Exminster Marsh this morning the SHORT-EARED OWL was showing very well , there was also a Female MARSH HARRIER that put in good views as well .
Also seen were the following birds , a PEREGRINE FALCON , 2 COMMON SANDPIPER , 30+ WHIMBREL , 8 CETTI`S WARBLER , 2 SEDGE WARBLER & 2 REED BUNTING .
And Hawking over the marsh were 20+ SWIFT , 6 SWALLOW & 2 SAND MARTIN .
In the afternoon Andy Bond & myself went up to Dartmoor to look for any Redstart at Postbridge but there were none , but there were 5 CROSSBILL , 4 SISKIN & 2 BULLFINCH .
We then went to Sousens & had a HOBBY , a CUCKOO & a WHINCHAT .
April 26, 2005
SHORT-EARED OWL
Tonight I got a call to tell me that there was a SHORT-EARED OWL on Exminster Marsh , when I got over to the Marsh the owl was sitting on a post but was a long way off , so this was the best shot I could get what with distance & light .
Also seen were numerous SAND MARTIN , 1 SWIFT , 2 CETTI`S WARBLER & a WHEATEAR .
April 25, 2005
A SPRING FALL
At Dawlish Warren today the birding was very good with the following birds seen .
The WILLOW TIT was showing well & calling , there were 9 WHITETHROAT on show today along with 15 WILLOW WARBLER , 5 CHIFFCHAFF , 4 BLACKCAP , single REED & SEDGE WARBLER & a GARDEN WARBLER showed well .
2 PIED FLYCATCHER were seen today with a Female out on Warren Point & this Male seen in the small wood .
Out by the hide there were 9 LITTLE TERN in with about 30 SANDWICH TERN & one COMMON TERN & a Male & Female WHEATEAR .
And in the Greenland Lake area a JACK SNIPE flushed out of the long grass & flew towards the golf course .
April 24, 2005
YEAR TICKS
This morning I went for a look on Berry Head in south devon & ended up with four year ticks .
The first was a GRASSHOPPER WARBLER that was near the North Fort , then on a seawatch there were 50+ MANX SHEARWATER & a PUFFIN my first in Devon for a long while , then I got this YELLOW WAGTAIL that was down in the quarry .
Other birds seen were 4 WHITETHROAT , 3 BLACKCAP & a CHIFFCHAFF .
I then stopped off at Dawlish Warren on the way home & saw the WILLOW TIT , a very rare bird for this site !
April 22, 2005
RAIN RAIN & MORE RAIN
Not a lot to report today ! with only the following birds seen .
At Holne Bridge on Dartmoor there was a Male MANDARIN & a GREY WAGTAIL & at New Bridge on Dartmoor a DIPPER a WILLOW WARBLER & a MISTLE THRUSH .
Then once again the rain set in & that was the end of that .
April 21, 2005
HOUSE MARTIN
Not a lot seen today on my travels with only 2 HOUSE MARTIN seen over Cockwood & 2 SWALLOW at Clyst Honiton
And the 2 SPOONBILL are still at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham .
April 20, 2005
SPRING BIRDING
Today I decided to go down to Dawlish Warren for a look but there wasn`t a lot around , I did see 5 WHITETHROAT my first for the year , 3 WILLOW WARBLER , 2 CHIFFCHAFF & a BLACKCAP .
On the sea there were 4 GREAT CRESTED GREBE & a Summer Plumaged SLAVONIAN GREBE .
On the way back home I stopped off at Exminster Marsh & was in luck with 2 new birds for the year 2 SEDGE WARBLER & a REED WARBLER also seen were 7 CETTI`S WARBLER & 20+ WHIMBREL .
I then had a call telling me that there were 2 SPOONBILL at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham , the first on the marsh this year !
So I shot off down there & got these 2 shots of them .
SPOONBILL . BOWLING GREEN MARSH . TOPSHAM . DEVON . 20 / 4 / 2005
April 18, 2005
DARTMOOR AGAIN !
Today I made another trip out to Dartmoor with Andy Bond the first stop was at Yarner Wood , the sun was shining today & the Male PIED FLYCATCHER was displaying & calling loudly .
I also had a LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER on call but couldn`t see it today , so we went up the heath & there were 6 WILLOW WARBLER , 2 CHIFFCHAFF & 2 TREE PIPIT on show there .
We then drove across Dartmoor to Postbridge & on the way there we saw 2 Male WHEATEAR one nere Haytor & one at Headland Warren .
At Postbridge there were a 2 SISKIN & at Bellever we saw 2 JAY , 2 MISTLE THRUSH & a CUCKOO .
We then went down to the seafront at Exmouth to look for terns & saw 20+ SANDWICH TERN , 2 ARCTIC TERN & 4 GANNET .
April 17, 2005
WOODPECKER DELIGHT
Today at Yarner Wood on Dartmoor I got good views of two LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER also seen were 3 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER & a GREEN WOODPECKER .
I also saw a Male PIED FLYCATCHER , 5 WILLOW WARBER , 4 NUTHATCH , 2 COMMON RAVEN & a BLACKCAP .
Then the rain came in & that was the end of the day for me .
So off home with fingers crossed to watch United play Newcastle on the tv .
April 13, 2005
KENTISH PLOVER
Today I was lucky enough to get a phone call from John Forte telling me that there was a KENTISH PLOVER down at Dawlish Warren .
After passing the news on I dashed off down there to see if I could see it , I was in luck with the bird being on the beach ! but it then took off & flew into the bay by the hide , at first we couldn`t find it again but it must have gone right back onto the beach as about 30 minutes later it flew in with about 20 RINGED PLOVER & was showing very well .
Also seen were 2 WHIMBREL , 6 CHIFFCHAFF a WILLOW WARBLER & a CUCKOO was heard calling .
Off of the Warren there were about 8 SANDWICH TERN & a lone GANNET .
April 11, 2005
DARTMOOR . DEVON
A trip up to Dartmoor in Devon with the first stop at Sousens , it was alive with WILLOW WARBLER , I also saw a Male & 2 Female RING OUZEL & about 10 MEADOW PIPIT & 8 SWALLOW .
I then went on to Postbridge to see if any Redstart had come in , there wasn`t any but I saw 2 BRAMBLING a Male & Female CROSSBILL & a NUTHATCH & a GREY WAGTAIL .
The last place that I had a look at today was the national trust site at Parke just outside of Bovey Tracey where I saw this Male MANDARIN & 2 GREEN WOODPECKER .
MANDARIN . PARKE . Nr BOVEY TRACEY . DEVON . 11 / 4 / 2005
April 10, 2005
BERRY HEAD . DEVON
The birding was very slow today at Berry Head with only the following birds seen .
A Male BULLFINCH was the first bird of the day followed by 3 CHIFFCHAFF a single WILLOW WARBLER & COMMON RAVEN all seen by the south fort .
Over by the north fort I had a Male BLACKCAP & a Male & Female CIRL BUNTING .
April 5, 2005
LUCKY & NOT SO LUCKY
Today I had a GREEN WOODPECKER fly across the road near Abbotskerswell , I then had a phone call telling me that there was a WHITE STORK on the Clyst Marshes .
So I got there as fast as I could , the lucky part was that it was still there & I got good views of it , the unlucky part was that I went back to the site with my camera later but the bird had flown off towards Exeter .
In the afternoon I went down to Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham & saw about 200+ SAND MARTIN , 2 SWALLOW , 9 LITTLE EGRET & 2 LITTLE GREBE .
SAND MARTIN . BOWLING GREEN MARSH . TOPSHAM . DEVON . 5 / 4 / 2005
April 4, 2005
MONDAY 4TH APRIL . 2005
News of a White Stork in Devon had me over at Exminster Marsh looking to see if it had been seen there ! but with no luck .
The only birds I saw were about 30 SAND MARTIN , my first COMMON SWIFT of the year , 8 COMMON BUZZARD , 3 PHEASANT & 2 CETTI`S WARBLER .
April 2, 2005
SATURDAY 2nd APRIL . 2005
On my travels around Devon today I had a DIPPER , WILLOW WARBLER & CHIFFCHAFF at Holne Bridge , Dartmoor .
And another DIPPER a MERLIN & a NUTHATCH at New Bridge , Dartmoor .
In the afternoon there were 8 KNOT . 9 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER & 4 LITTLE EGRET on the Clyst Estuary in Topsham .
April 1, 2005
FRIDAY 1st APRIL . 2005
Today at Bramford Speke there were 4 SWALLOW sat on the telegraphe wires
Later on in the afternoon on Bowling Green Marsh , Topsham there were the following birds .
1 Male GARGANEY
1 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER
6 LITTLE GREBE
3 LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL
1 LITTLE EGRET
1 Female GOLDENEYE
