February 20, 2006
Winter Birding
This morning I went down to Dawlish Warren to see if I could catch up with SANDERLING for the year as I had dipped it twice already ! but this time I was in luck & found quite a few of them in with hundreds of other waders .
With numerous DUNLIN , GREY PLOVER, BAR-TAILED GODWIT & OYSTERCATCHER , KNOT numbered 50+ with some coming into summer plumage .
And out on the sea were 30+ COMMON SCOTER , 11 COMMON EIDER & 2 Female & a Male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER .
February 16, 2006
MANDARIN
This afternoon as I was driving across Woodbury Common I saw 15 COMMON CROSSBILL all sat in the one tree , I then went to Bicton Gardens near Otterton where I saw a Male & Female MANDARIN , a KINGFISHER , a GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER & a TAWNY OWL that flew out of a tree right in front of me .
The next stop was at Brandy Head but the only birds that I saw were 3 COMMON RAVEN , I then headed back home & at the Otterton Cross area I saw a 100+ flock of FIELDFARE & REDWING & 2 RED LEGGED PARTRIDGE .
February 13, 2006
No sign of the shrike
Today I had a quick look at Bowling Green Marsh at Topsham where there were 50+ GOLDEN PLOVER in with the numerous LAPWING .
11 COMMON POCHARD were showing well out on the water along with a few PINTAIL & on the railway bridge there were 5 STOCK DOVE .
I then had a look around Woodbury Common but there was no sign of the Great Grey Shrike but I did see 2 COMMON CROSSBILL but it was a pity that I could only get this silhouette shot of a Male bird .
February 12, 2006
At The Warren Today .
This morning I went down to Dawlish Warren & did a sea watch & saw the following birds , 20/30 GREAT CRESTED GREBE , 11 SLAVONIAN GREBE , 14 COMMON EIDER , 3 Male & 1 Female RED BREASTED MERGANSER , 4 COMMON SCOTER & a VELVET SCOTER , a single RED THROATED DIVER & a LITTLE EGRET .
Saturday 11th February . 2006
This GREEN SANDPIPER was on the flooded fields at Matford in Exeter today , there were also numerous WIGEON , 4 Male & 2 Female SHOVELER , 3 COMMON GULL & a GREY HERON .
February 10, 2006
Common Crane
The four COMMON CRANE flew in to roost on Exminster Marsh this evening at 5.25 pm , a great sight to see these birds come whirling in & pleasing many people who had come to see them ! also seen was a Male PEREGRINE FALCON & a SPARROWHAWK .
February 9, 2006
Not a lot around today !!
Today I had a look at the pools at Countess Wear in Exeter where there were 31 COMMON SNIPE but no sign of any Green Sandpiper .
I then went to Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham & saw 11 POCHARD , 7 PINTAIL , a flock of 200+ GOLDEN PLOVER & my first sighting of the Fox on the marsh this year .
EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER . BOWLING GREEN MARSH . TOPSHAM . DEVON . 9 / 2 / 2006
February 8, 2006
A Better Day
This morning I went to Colyford in East Devon to look for the WHITE FRONTED GEESE that I had dipped the other day & this time I was in luck & saw 15 of them in a field by the sewage works .
Also seen were 20+ FIELDFARE , a CHIFFCHAFF & a WATER PIPIT .
I then went to Seaton sea front where I saw 10 COMMON SCOTER , a RED THROATED DIVER & a BLACK THROATED DIVER , but there was no sign of the Velvet Scoter today .
February 7, 2006
Common Crane In Devon !!
This morning I had a nice Male PEREGRINE FALCON on St Michaels church in Exeter .
In the afternoon I went out around the Mamhead area of Devon looking for some Common Crane that had been seen a few days before but I couldn`t find them but I did see three BRAMBLING in with a flock of CHAFFINCH .
I then went to the Exminster Marshes as there was news that the Crane`s had been roosting on there for the last few days & at twenty to five the 4 COMMON CRANE flew in & good views were had of of these very rare birds in Devon .
February 6, 2006
Dipped Again !!
This morning I went to look for some White-Fronted Geese that had been seen on Colyford Common near Seaton in Devon but there was no sign of them on there today & all that was there were numerous WIGEON , CURLEW & BLACK-HEADED GULL .
I then went to Seaton Hole & saw about 15 COMMON SCOTER & a VELVET SCOTER , 12 FULMAR & a RED-THROATED DIVER .
Later on in the afternoon I found out that the Geese were still in the area but at a different location .
SUNDAY 5th FEBRUARY . 2006
Today I went to Yarner Wood on the edge of Dartmoor for a look & had some good luck with Woodpecker`s ! with 4 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER , & a single LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER & a GREEN WOODPECKER .
There were also 2 MARSH TIT , 2 NUTHATCH & a JAY .
February 2, 2006
WOODCOCK
This afternoon I had a call from my mate Andy telling me that he had seen some WOODCOCK today on Aylesbeare Common so I shot off up to there & met up with him & he showed me where one had gone done , so we went to look for it & out it came from where he said it went down & flew off in front off us , also seen was a DARTFORD WARBLER .
We then had a look at Woodbury Common & saw a RAVEN , a Male & Female STONECHAT, 5 COMMON SNIPE & a JACK SNIPE .
On the way back home I stopped for a look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham & saw numerous TEAL , a Female TUFTED DUCK & a Male PINTAIL .
COMMON TEAL . BOWLING GREEN MARSH . TOPSHAM . DEVON . 2 / 2 / 2006
February 1, 2006
A Very Cold Day
This morning I woke up to a very cold overcast day so I decided to stay local & went for a look at the Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham & saw numerous WIGEON , TEAL & PINTAIL , a Male & Female TUFTED DUCK , 300+ AVOCET , 8 COMMON SNIPE & 2 STOCK DOVE my first in Devon this year .
I then went to the top fields in Exminster & saw 50+ FIELDFARE , 20+ REDWING & 10 SKYLARK .
