DAWLISH WARREN NNR

SATURDAY 14^th MARCH 2009      WEATHER: DRY, WITH LOTS OF BROKEN CLOUD.  

 Posted Monday 16th March. 20.00hrs

Headed off to Dawlish Warren very early this morning hoping to see a few early Spring migrants I arrived on site at 07.40am. Still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

First stop was to head to the sea wall and to find the Female Surf Scoter that has been around for some time now, was not too long before I spotted it also out on the sea was a Red-throated Diver, I counted 15 Common Scoter and a single Slavonian Grebe.

The woods were full of early morning bird song, my first birds of the day were up to 7 Long Tailed Tits, lots of Blue Tits calling and Dunnock’s seemed to be singing everywhere. Over at the main pond a lone Grey Heron was stalking prey but as soon as he set eyes on me he took off heading towards the Creek, a pair of Canada Geese and a single calling Little Grebe, the odd coot and Moorhen and a few Mallards

I headed off towards the dunes listening to a Chiffchaff in the surrounding trees with the odd Dolly Pardon among the singing birds, oh the joys of Spring. Magpies and Woodpigeons and Carrion Crows were looking for an easy Breakfast.

From the dunes the tide was coming in fast and it would soon be high tide, lots of Waders were coming in to roost along the shoreline and roosting on the groynes. Among them were Dunlin and good numbers of Grey Plover and Knot, I got my scope set up and did a spot of sea watching, Herring Gulls a plenty, far out I noted 7 Gannet diving into the sea and then my first 2 Sandwich Terns of the Spring, this made the trip worth while, lots of Cormorants were out on the sea.

(Above: Mixed Wader flock flying in to roost on the groynes)

From here I made my way to the hide, by this time it was high tide, and there were quite a few Brent Goose still around, at one point I counted 69, Shelduck took to roosting and displaying, lots of Gulls passing through including 7 Common Gulls, 5 Great Blacked-backed Gulls and 3 Kittiwake, on the Estuary I noted a single Goldeneye. On the railway side of the Estuary I counted 17 Little Egrets, a large number of Curlew and a smaller number of Redshank roosting waiting for the tide to recede. Out on the spit 4 Ruddy Turnstones paced up and down impatiently, a large number of Oystercatcher about 250, also Grey plover and Knot with a few Black-tailed Godwits. Just then a saw a bird fly past the hide and settle on the bank got my bins on it quickly and my first Northern Wheatear of the Spring had arrived, pretty quickly it took off in the direction of the Golf course. Just before moving on, I scanned around the estuary again and found 4 Sand Martin flying around the fishing boats, again my first of the year, it was a good feeling to see the Spring Migrants arriving, a good call to be here today.

 (Above: Shellducks at Hight Tide)

Moving off back to the Warren I noted the following birds, Linnets, 7 Greenfinch’s a single Stonechat and 4 Skylarks, 3 Meadow Pipits, then on the entrance to the Woods I was nearly decapitated by a Sparrowhawk, that flew straight at me like an Exocet Missile at head hight and just veered off at the last minute, that close as it flew past he clearly eyeballed me, a definite near miss.

A grand day’s birding with a few Spring Migrants thrown in for good measure.

RIVERSIDE VALLEY PARK AND EXMINSTER MARSH

SATURDAY 7th MARCH 2009

Posted: Sunday 8th March 2009: 17.30

After suffering from a nasty bug over the last few weeks, I felt well enough to venture out for a slow mornings birding along the Exeter Canal through to Exminster, must admit though I was struggling a little.

The day started well with a singing Chiffchaff in Priorswood in Taunton, Spring must be close now. By the time I was walking the Exeter Canal the sun was shinning and it really felt quite mild now.

There was not too many birds showing, but at the Double Locks Wetland Viewing screen a single Teal and also a Drake Gadwall, plus 3 fratically feeding Black-tailed Godwits. Flying overhead were two Ravens calling as they passed by ‘Kronk Kronk’. From here I headed to the Matford Pools were the Female Scaup very well and aslo 2 Green Sandpipers.

Through to Exminster Marsh from here, and it was too quiet birding wise, with just the usual birds on show, a few Reed Buntings, two Greenshank flying overhead, the sky seemed full of the songs of Skylark, which was the highlight for me. The only other highlight was a Cettis Warbler flushed from a bush on the towpath.

By now I was feeling pretty worn out,the bug had taken more out of me than I thought, I headed home to rest, but to hear plenty of Skylarks in full song was a real pleasure and a real feel good feeling.

TAUNTON’S STARLINGS PERFORMING AT DUSK

TAUNTON, SOMERSET.

FRIDAY 20^th FEBRUARY 2009

Posted: Saturday 21^st February 2009   15.50pm

The Somerset Levels during the Winter, have for some years drawn people from all over the UK and even from abroad to witness the great Winter Starling spectacle as many thousands of Starlings perform before they go to roost. But over the last few weeks quite a few thousand Starlings have found a new roost site, right in the heart of Taunton, quite why no-one really knows, but it has become quite an attraction as many locals gather along the River or on the Obridge Viaduct (flyover) to witness the one of the great bird spectacles.

Friday at dusk was my first chance to see this, despite suffering a nasty bug that has laid me low for the best part of the week, I was joined on the bridge by some of the locals and by a local Newspaper reporter and photographer, and as the sun bode farewell then the Starlings started to arrive, just a small flock at first, but more and more arrived very quickly, soon quite a few thousand Starlings were taking part, with strange and weird shapes in the semi light, and not a sound from the birds. It was truly something to see, some of the people tried to make out the shapes, ‘is that a kidney, was that hawk or a bat’ whatever it was magical. I have feeling I will be back to have more views of Taunton’s new visitor attraction. Lets hope this is not a one-off and they come back next Winter. It would have been good to have set the Starling show to Music, just what piece of music, well I will leave it to you to decide.

A small selection of photographs from Friday evening’s Starling performance.

For anyone local to Taunton interested in seeing Taunton Starlings just head along the River and view from just under the Obridge Viaduct or better still view from the bridge, but please take care of the traffic on the bridge, there has been a few near misses.

GRAND WESTERN CANAL

SATURDAY 14^th FEBRUARY 2009 – WEATHER: OVERCAST, CALM & DRY

 Posted: Monday 16^th February 2009     09.50am

 Valentines Day was dawned dry but overcast as I met my Andy at Tiverton Parkway, and news the previous evening of an American Herring Gull on the coast at Budleigh Salterton raised our eyebrows, but in the end we stuck to our original plans to walk the Grand  Western Canal all the way to Tiverton.

 Things got off to a flyer when we had not left the station car park when I noticed a Goldcrest flitting about the scrub. Very soon we were on the Canal Towpath.

 The birds came thick and fast. Blue Tits and Great Tits (or Dolly Parton’s as we know them !!) were seen along the walk, with Woodpigeons and a few Winter Wrens. Lots of Chaffinch’s calling with Goldfinch’s in good numbers as well. Along the walk we came across a few fields with huge numbers of both Redwing and Fieldfare, one field alone must have contained hundreds of both species, one of the biggest flocks I have seen for some time, both these Winter Thrushes are a pure delight and are well worth suffering cold Winter for.

 Plenty of Moorhens along the Canal and it was good to see a fair few Coot numbers here.  Other good birds seen on the long walk were Starlings, and Siskins every now and then flitting between trees. Carrion Crows and Rooks were seen almost everywhere and a few seen rebuilding the previous years nests, some cracking views of Kingfishers it would have been a poor day if we had missed them.

 Both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush were seen during the walk, with one individual singing his heart out, Spring is almost with us and to prove it, the first Snowdrops were seen today, the Daffodils will be out in bloom shortly. A single Stock Dove on the roof of a farm outbuilding was a good find by Andy, and my first of the year. A few Buzzards were the only bird of Prey seen on the walk. But a fly over Little Egret delighted us both, in a nearby field there was about 240 Lapwing, one of my favourite birds, and I will never tire of seeing them. Soon after we spotted the days first Reed Buntings, and Pied Wagtails. We only saw one Grey Wagtail today. Two cracking Bullfinch’s we a top of a nearby tree but sadly they did not hang around long enough to enjoy. In the same field I heard a single Skylark and shortly afterwards I caught sight of it before it dropped back down into the field, a flyover Cormorant was seen here as well.

 Next stop was to meet Malcolm, now you may ask who is Malcolm, well he has been present at Halberton for some time now, Malcolm is the Drake Mandarin and what a stunner he is, he was too busy preening himself on the far bank, but I got a few good photographs of him (see below)…..we bode farewell to Malcolm and head off next stop was to meet Phillip (yeah’ I’m worried now too!!!) first we noted a few Magpies Along the way and plenty of Dunnock’s. We stopped for Coffee and Andy put out some seed for Phillip the Robin and sure enough he paid us a visit fighting off all comers for the food, plenty of Chaffinch and Dunnock came out to feed as well as a Male Blackbird. Further along we came across one of three Nuthatches of the day.

 (Above: The Drake Mandarin otherwise known as Malcolm……)

We stopped to look for Woodcock at an unnamed spot but were sadly unlucky today. But shortly after we across a few Coal Tits and a single Canada Goose and to end the long walk 2 Pheasants. Then we arrived at the Basin at Tiverton and the walk was over.

(Above: The Chaffinch’s today were calling and singing today)

A grand day’s walk along the Grand Western Canal with some great birds, it was good to see Malcolm and Phillip at last !!! We hoped on the bus and enjoyed a few well earned pints at the Globe at Sampford Peverell.

(Above: The Show off Robin near the end of the walk…not Phillip!!)

The American Herring Gull, was never refound today, but it must be out there somewhere just waiting to be found..

MONDAY 9^th FEBRUARY 2009 

LAPWINGS SLAUGHTERED IN FRANCE.

 Posted Monday 9^th February 2009.   19.40pm

One of the most disturbing videos I have seen and I urge all birders to view this on You Tube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJZ40T5Xdm0

It is shocking in this day and age that this is going on, and it has to be stopped, you can like many other email Commissioner Stavros Dimas at  stavros.dimas@ec.europa.eu and ask him to enforce the legislation and get this senseless slaughter stopped NOW.

I am asking other Bloggers to highlight the Lapwing plight in France on their Bloggs as the more people who read this and email Stavros the more chance we have of getting it stopped.

To those who have sent the email, please accept my thanks.

PORTLAND BILL AND WEYMOUTH.  SATURDAY 7^th FEBRUARY 2009

WEATHER: A DAY FULL OF WINTER SUN, AFTER HEAVY FROST.

Posted: 8^th February 2009: 17:00pm

After a birding trip in Devon was postponed to the heavy Snowfall, and after some thought, I decided to head off to the Dorset Coast and a day full of top quality birding. With very strong Sunshine glinting of the lying snow, the journey gave some amazing views akin to something like Norway, spectacular, breathtaking even.

 My first stop of the day was Portland Bill, and headed straight to the Obs quarry and as if pre-planned the Little Owl came out of the little ‘cave’ and perched for me and a few other birders present, (there is a second, but it did not show!) at the entrance for a very brief few moments like a celebrity and quickly scurried back into the ‘cave’ out of the nippy wind, we could still the little Owl watching us from within. (even hardened birders still get that ahhh moment). Other birds on the bill that I saw on this ever so brief trip were 2 Stonechats, a small flock of Goldfinch, a couple of Pied Wagtails and plenty of Meadow Pipits. How I wished I could spend the night here. Oh and my first Bee of the year, bearing in mind we are in the grip of arctic conditions it seemed a bit odd.

(Above: Portland Bill Obs, Glorious in Winter Sunshine).

(Above: Little Owl make a brief appearance. Then it disapeared back into the ‘Cave’ in the Quarry).

Time to head off back to Weymouth while heading through Ferrybridge I saw at least 7 Brent Geese close to the shoreline. Once back in Weymouth I made a sudden decision to head off to RSPB reserve of Lodmoor, and it paid off for me, a quick scan around the reserve and I saw a small number of Lapwing, counted 8 Linnits, 5 Goldfinch and saw 3 Skylarks, 3 Fieldfare in a nearby bush but highlight here was a single Firecrest flitting about a bush then off to a nearby trees, moving around ever so quickly but gave good views of it’s red, yellow and orange crown what a top bird it is. I made my way through the reserve and got to see one of the Siberian Chiffchaff’s  (Chiffchaff subspecies:  Phylloscopus (collybita) tristis )that have been present here for a while now. Note: for a report on the Siberian Chiffchaff’s please see the Portland Bill Website: http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/oi_siberian_chiffchaffs_310108_010208.htm

I ended my visit here with 2 Redwing’s after a tea stop, headed to the main RSPB reserve in Weymouth Radipole Lake. Main purpose of this was to get a few photographs of the Drake Hooded Merganser (see below) that has been present since June 2008, on arrival it was no were to be seen, I was just about to walk the River when I caught sight of it flying in, walked back to the visitor centre and found it by the footbridge have to admit it is stunning to see. We still do not know at present if it will be accepted as truly ‘wild’ the jury is still out. But it has become more and more tame, fighting with other ducks for bread. A walk around the reserve produced the following the ever present Tufted Duck and Mallards, lots of Coot and Moorhen. A single Mute Swan, 50+ Cormorants, of the other Wintering Duck, Teal and Gadwall were in good numbers as was Pochard on the main lake in excess of 45. A single Little Grebe spent a lot of time submerged. I also noted 8 Ruddy Duck and 7 Shoveler. A large rat sat out in the open on the edge of the footpath clearly enjoying a scrap of food, and it disappeared into the undergrowth when it spotted me.

(Above: The Drake Hooded Merganser, Radipole Lake, Weymouth).

I met another birder and got chatting he had come here and wanted to see Bearded Tit, he did not have to wait very long, as we talked I heard the ‘ping Ping’ call of the Bearded Tit and within seconds 3 flew low just ahead of us and into the reeds….spooky or what!! Happy he headed off. Time was now short for me so I carried on and saw 4 Grey Heron 3 Reed Bunting a single Greenfinch. On the Lake at the Visitor centre lots of Gulls were around including the car park, big numbers of Black-headed and Herring, sadly on juvenile Herring Gull had got it’s bill caught in a sea shell and was struggling, but help was on hand to rescue the Gull and it was taken to the Visitor Centre for attention. Also present with the Gulls were 2 Great Black-backed Gulls and 3 Mediterranean Gulls. It has been a great days birding sadly a little rushed. But it was now time to head off home tired but very happy. On the journey home I saw large winter Thrush flocks some in excess of 100. Clearly the Snowy Weather has had some effects.

 (Above: Oh and the Rat at Radipole Lake Reserve !!). 

TAUNTON AND BRIDGWATER CANAL

FRIDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2009

WEATHER: SNOW AND A LOT OF IT!!!

Posted: Friday 6th February 2009. 1.20pm

A fair part of the country has been hit by heavy Snow for most of the week, I was starting to think that Somerset was going to escape the White stuff, after all most people here keep telling me they never get heavy Snow in Taunton, well it arrived on Thursday evening and rather a lot of it.

Taunton was a Winter Wonderland this morning, I decided to have a walk along the Canal and see how far I got. Snow started falling again mixed with driving Sleet in the strong Wind, stinging my face as I walked into it.

(Above: Snowy conditions at Swingbridge. Feb 6th 2009)

Plenty of Mallards on the Canal, with Moorhens, and 3 Mute Swans. In the hedges, Blue Tits called and House Sparrows hunkered down deep into the hedges keeping out of the Snowy conditions. Carrion Crows and Herring Gulls seemed everywere this morning clearly looking for food as all the fields were buried under the Snow. The Icy conditions prevented my DSLR from working, only the second time that has happened, but my Nikon still worked,  but every now and then it fogged up.

Heading through Creech St Michael I passed a farm and watched a flock of 6 Skylarks and a large number of Woodpigeons, also 2 Collared Doves. Further down, the odd Robin and Dunnock braved the conditions. I noted 3 Great Tits, here the hedgerows seemed to alive with Goldfinches, the odd Blackbird was seen. Then I heard the distinctive ‘Chack chack’ calls and scanning the area 4 Fieldfare were in the trees, closer inspection and feeding around the base of the trees were a further 2 with a few Redwing. A Buzzard circled overhead I heard another calling, but searching the trees with my bins could not locate it. Along this stretch of the Canal I saw three Kingfishers, always a good find in the Winter months, they disapear from here during the Summer.

I carried on further down the Canal and saw a Winter Wren then it disapeared into undergrowth now the conditions under foot were getting much worse and I decided to turn around and head home my feet were now both cold and damp as the slushy snow had got inside my boots.

 I was thinking of heading to Monkon Heathfield as a Hawfinch was seen there yesterday, but I bottled out and made for home and a hot warming cuppa.

When Conditions improve I will do more birding along the Canal and head further along it getting much further than Charlton next time I hope.

(Above: ‘Never Snows around here’ Yeah right………Feb 6th 2009)

TOPSHAM, DEVON.

SATURDAY 31st JANUARY 2009. WEATHER: OVERCAST, VERY CHILLY COLD WIND.

Sunday 1st February 2009.

Arrived at the RSPB’s Bowling Green Marsh reserve at around 07.20, it was just getting light and most sane people were tucked up in bed. There was an icy cold wind blowing, I just pleased I had a thermos flask of hot coffee with me, I think I should have brought some Scotch as well, purely for medicinal purposes of course.

It was sad to see that some of the local youths who have no interest in birds tried to burn down the hide, there was some slight damage but nothing too serious, it is a sad state of affairs when the local yobs who who clearly have no interests of their own are trying to destroy the interests of others. And that is the future of our once great country. Rant over…Sorry, I needed to get that off my chest.

Back to the birds, no sooner had I got set up and looked out through my scope,  a group of Redshanks were feeding in front of the hide including a Spotted Redshank, they were behaving like clockwork mice busily running back and forth, it is not often that we get such close views, but just too dark for photographs. I got my Canon DSLR ready and realised I had left my compact flash card on my desk at home ??!!!??.  luckily I had my Coolpix P5100 with me ready to go.  A stunning male Kestrel flew low over the hide across the marsh and sent all the birds skywards.  I never refound the Spotted Redshank after that.

As it became lighter more birds were noted down, Bar-tailed Godwits, clearly over 300 present roosting on the far side of the Marsh along with a good number of Bar-tailed Godwits. The Winterering flock of Avocets seems to have grown in recent weeks, I was amazed when I set about counting them when I got to 612 when they took flight again, it is still an amazing spectacle watching a large flock of these stunning Waders in flight.

(Above: Avocets take flight…..while I was counting them !)

The Snipe were roosting in their now favoured spot on the small pool amongst the tall grass and reeds, today 7 were present. As high tide got closer more birds came into roost a large flock of Curlews arrived calling as the flew in, one or two came close to the hide to probe the damp grass for easy pickings and I watched Curlew really going for it and pulling out a very long worm and devoured it by flicking his head back.

(Above: Curlew, just devoured breakfast)

(Above: Drake Widgeon.)

Not as many Lapwings this time round they were scattered around the various farm land, but I did count 37 today. A Buzzard took up residence on the far side of the reserve and preened before heading off again. I was now taking notice of the Wintering Ducks present and Widgeon numbers have gone down since my last visit here early in the month, now just over 220, on the water were 7 Pochard including 3 females. A small number of Shoveler on the various pools and channels. A Single Little Grebe was also present today. 7 Tufted Duck including 3 females were on the reserve today and one of may favourite Wintering Ducks the Pintail were in good number I counted 26 Drakes this morning. A single female Goldeneye was present today, and pleased the birders that arrived in the hide.

(Top: Redshanks and Widgeon and below: Drake: Teal)

Other birds seen here were the usual Mallards and Moorhens, with a small number of Coot. A single Little Egret arrived just before I departed. Walking the lane away from the hide I had crcking views of one of my favourite British Birds the Bullfinch, I was cursing my luck at leaving my Compact Flash Card at home as I would have had some good photographs. Other birds in the lane were Robins, Dunnocks, a few Pied Wagtails and Carrion Crows and Magpies, as I headed away a skein of Canada Geese flew noisley over towards Goosemoor.

Next stop was the Recreation Ground a good place to bird when the tide is receding, a party of 6 Long-tailed Tits greeted me as I arrived, heading down to the waterside I saw a small pipit fly into the flattened area of reeds to my surprise I caught a glimpse of a Water Pipit, before it was scared off by a couple who let their dog off it’s lead……thanks for that. But the brief views pleased me no end and my first of the year.

On the River were 4 Teal all drakes, and a single Red-breasted Merganser. With nothing about I ended my days birding here and headed home via the City Gates Hotel in Exeter for a few pints of Youngs ‘Winter Warmer’ appropriate after a very chilly days birding. With the UK bracing it’s self for some heavy Snowfall over the coming days my thoughts were wondering what birds might be driven down to the South West of England.

FRIDAY 30th 2009.   20.30pm

EMPEROR PENGUINS  FACE EXTINCTION

A busy week with various appointments and meetings, but one article I did come across on my travels alarmed me and is worrying and proves Global Warming is having a massive impact on birdlife in the Antarctic. To think that we could see just about 400 hundred breeding pairs of Emperor Penguins by 2100 a massive decline of 95% is shocking.

The full story is here: http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/website/content/view/2205/32/

With Governments around the world now focusing on trying to get their enconmies back on track they could now turn a blind eye on Global Warming and the effects it is having on the Antarctic.

A World without Emperor Penguins is just too shocking to contemplate.

Dawlish Warren, Powderham, Exminster Marsh then walk back to Exeter along River.

Saturday 24th January 2009.    Weather: Overcast to Start, Sunny then heavy showers.

My birding plans today would take me along the Exe then heading back into Exeter, I started the day at Dawlish and did some sea watching picking up two Great-crested Grebes, of the Gulls they were mainly Herring and Black-headed Gulls with a few Great Blacked-Gulls. Heading from here to Langstone Rock, then along the Dunes to the Warren I did more sea wayching the long staying female Surf Scoter was still present, the Slavonian Grebe was still around but now is beginning to moult. More searching finally produced the Velvet Scoter that was I looking for. Shortly after I noted 3 Common Scoter, such small numbers compared with years gone before. In the Distance 4 Gannets moved South West. Just as I was about to move on my attention was focussed on a Diver, at first thinking nothing of it, I studied it more, it was a Great Northern Diver, now I was very pleased with my haul from the sea watch. Sadly no sign of the Iceland Gull. (Note: it was seen later in the day by others….)

In the Estuary a few hundred Brent Geese, and two Goldeneyes. From here I headed back along the dunes noting birds along the way, including Stonechat, Linnet and plenty of Dunnocks. In the Woods I heard the yaffling call of a Green Woodpecker and soon watched it fly from tree to tree giving some very good views. Also showing was a Song Thrush in full Song, I could have sat and listened all day, sadly it was time to move or time was going to get the better of me otherwise.

From Dawlish Warren, I caught the Bus to Starcross and enjoyed a Coffee before moving off towards Powderham along the River. I was heading to the Round House, eventually arriving after giving directions to a few birders also heading there. on show were two Cattle Egrets, these were very distant always staying with the Cattle (see photo below). After the success of a breeding pair in Somerset for the very first time in the UK I wonder if we will witness more success stories of breeding Cattle Egrets in 2009.

(Above: Under the trees near the Cattle, two white blobs that are Cattle Egrets…honest).

From here I wandered the lane looking in the farm land and spotted a few Meadow Pipits and Pheasants were plentiful, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew out of the trees and headed off back from were I had come, at this point I did the very same thing headed back and towards Powderham Church and onto Exminster Marsh crossing the rail line and onto the sea wall. Always good for watching birds on the Estuary mudflats the sun was coming out and It was now quite pleasant. First hints of Spring, maybe not !! Plenty of Waders on the exposed mud, Curlews, Grey Plovers, Lapwings Dunlin and Redshank and Avocets. A Little Egret totally ignored my presence and was frantic in in its search of food in pools left by the receding tide. A number of Rock Pipits flitted between the Sea wall and the marsh. On this stretch I saw 3 Grey Wagtails flushed a Greenshank which took flight and headed off into the estuary screeching as it went. Huge numbers of Brent Gesse were flying in to roost and feed on the Marsh, well in excess of 500, I was well pleased when I found a Black Brant anong a small skein feeding seperate from the rest. an unexpected bonus. Canada Gesse were in large numbers over 250 in total. Moving along the Marsh past the Turf Lock pub (Always worth a visit in the Summer months), Black-tailed Godwits were feeding with good numbers of Duck including Widgeon and Teal and Mallard. On the main Lagoon is always worth checking out, today though it was Mute Swans, Cormorants and Tufted Duck. Lapwing were present in good numbers (lets hope for a better breeding season this year here), three Snipe were visible from the topath. I checked out three birds feeding on seed heads and realised I was watching Woodlark, another good bonus for the day.  Not long after this I heard the loud call of a Cettis Warbler, remebering last week, I checked out the bush and waited, and it finally showed it self before moving off and disapearing into another thick bush and undergrowth.

 (Above: Little Egret feeding on the River Exe).

 (Above: Top Photo: Brent Geese on Exminster Marsh and Black-tailed Godwits in flight)

I headed down the track to view the roosting birds on the marsh and watched a large number of Lapwing coming into feed, and then found another good find my first of the year, a Ruff. Today was proving to be a success. After a coffee stop I headed back down river leaving Exminster Marsh behind me. The ever present Saturday rowers were scaring everything on the river. Just before Countess Wear I found a little Grebe it saw me and dived, then headed back down river. I have never seen a Little Grebe on this stretch before. I noticed at this also a strange sight, roosting Cormorants, nothing unsual you may say, but about 15 all roosting on the wires of a pylon. Never in all my years of birding have I seen this. I viewed them in my scope and they looked bizzare up there, a paaser by wanted a look, and she said it was a sureal moment, she thought were ‘not real’. !!!!

After Countess Wear I went off to the Double Locks Wetland which is set behind the Exeter Canal and gives excellent views of the pools. To my surprise a pair of Gadwall were present another first of the year. While noting other Ducks including Widgeon and Teal, and Shoveler and Shelduck, I noticed a Wader feeding on the fringes a Common Sandpiper, I was happily watching the Common Sandpiper when everything took to the Sky a Buzzard came into view and perched in the dead tree, sadly the Sandpiper never showed again. A Grey Heron announced it’s self and dropped in, only to take off again a few moments later. Time was getting on and I wanted another look for the Scaup and low and behold there she was exaclty as planned right outside the Double Locks pub on the Canal.

I headed back to Exeter from here ending my days birding, tired after a wondrful days birding but looking forward to a good pint or two in the Imperial. They were Red ‘n’ McGregor and Auld Lang Syne from the Orkney Brewing Company. What a way to end the day. Some mighty fine Scottish Ales on the eve of Burns Night.

Monday 26th January 2009: Update.

Just checked my list for the year to date and I have now seen 101 species for 2009.