Blog

28 July 2015

Dawlish Warren

As there was plenty of Terns on show and the tide was high at 5pm I went out to the Warren. Although the tide was high it wasn't high enough to push the birds closer towards the hide, that looks like another trip tomorrow!

Still plenty of birds about though with about 100+ Terns both Adults and Juveniles. They were mostly Sandwich Terns with a few Common, there might have been other species there but I didn't see them.

There was about 200 Oystercatchers with Redshank, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and a Knot in summer plumage, sadly to far away for a pic!

There was also Cormorants, Little Egret, Mute Swans, Black-headed, Great-black Backed and Herring Gulls. Also Carrion Crows, Pied Wagtails and Linnets.

On the beach there was about 25 Black-headed Gulls with Great-black Backed and Herring Gulls further up the beach, Terns flying in with food and some Cormorants out to sea.

Several Canada Geese on the Golf Course with House Sparrow, Dunnock, Linnet, Stonechat, Skylark, Blackbird, Starling, Magpie, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaffs and Great Tits being seen around the rest of the reserve.

When I left at 6pm there was large numbers of Swallows, House Martins and Swifts hawking over the carpark, there was at least 25 Swifts which was great to see all in one place, they slowly drifted over the railway line and disappeared over the holiday park, such a great site watching the flying skills of these birds.

I had a great time with the Butterflies with seeing 15 Species, the best being a Holly Blue by the Crocus area, sadly it wouldn't sit still and went over the golf course the others seen were Small, Large and Green Veined White, Comma, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Small Copper, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Small and Large Skipper, Brown Argus and Red Admiral. Also plenty of Burnet moths around the place, some of the butterflies looked very worn especially the Meadow Browns but the Brown Argus and Small Copper looked fresh and new.

Also good to see some Dragonflies, a few Common Darters and 3 Hawker sp flying around.

Plenty of Damsel Flies, Wasps, Ladybirds, Crickets, Grasshoppers and Hoverflies about! One of the Hoverflies was a Hornet Mimic, big sod!!

The reason for all these insects is the Wild Flowers and Brambles, add some sun and away we go!!

Seen a few humans about and all behaving themselves and happy which is the way it should be!

26 July 2015

Black-headed Gull 20L9

Got a Email from Tim Ball with this info about the Ringed bird I put up on the Blog yesterday. Big thank you to Tim for his prompt reply.

Black-headed Gull - White 20L9

EY09109 1 15/06/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR: 51°25'N 1°5'W (SU6469) (West Berkshire)

RR 04/07/2013 Hosehill Lake LNR: 51°25'N 1°5'W (SU6469) (West Berkshire) 19 days

VV 30/05/2014 Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham: 50°40'N 3°27'W (SX9787) (Devon) 185km WSW

349 days

VV 11/06/2014 Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham: 50°40'N 3°27'W (SX9787) (Devon) 185km WSW

361 days

VV 02/07/2015 Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham: 50°40'N 3°27'W (SX9787) (Devon) 185km WSW 2

yrs 17days

VV 25/07/2015 River Exe Turf Lock: 50°40'N 3°28'W (SX9686) (Devon) 186km WSW 2 yrs 40days

VV = alive and prob healthy, ring or colour marks read in the field, not by ringer

19 July 2015

Aylesbere Common

Went off to Aylesbere Common today to catch up with the Dartford Warblers and see what else I could find.

I did find Dartford Warbler in fact I found two! One was quite a poser which was great for me, stunning bird!!

Not much else on the bird front, Yellowhammer, Stonechats in good numbers, they must have had a good breeding season as there was juveniles everywhere. Dunnock, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Long-tailed Tit, Buzzard, Swallow and Swift.

Plenty of Butterflies about, when the sun came out it was like a switch and they appeared from nowhere! There was the usual Small Heath and Grayling about the heather but the best area was the brambles at the top of the reserve by the fenced off wood. Just masses of Butterflies , Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Small Tortishell, Peacock, Ringlet, Large Skipper, Painted Lady, Brimstone, Green Hairstreak and a couple of Silver Washed Fritillary.

I did a couple of laps of the reserve taking in the bottom ponds, on the first lap I must have had my eyes shut as I didn't see any Dragonflies? I spoke to a couple of guys who had seen loads so went back and sure enough they were everywhere, thanks guys sorry don't know your names.

Saw 3 Emperors, Common Darters, Keeled Skimmers and loads of Damselflies.

Saw a few Common Lizards but no Adders today, normally I "bump" into at least one but not today.

A few humans around and all seem happy enough;o)

18 July 2015

Axe Valley Wetlands

Went to one of my favourite reserves i

n Devon today, always something to see, if not Birds its Butterflies or Dragons!

From the car park I went to the Tower Hide which overlooks the River Axe and the Marsh area. While walking there I saw Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Wren, Blackbird, Herring Gull and Black-headed Gull.

From the hide you could see the tide was out leaving mud flats on the other side but not enough for the near side. There was about 50+ gulls sat around with Black-headed, Great-black Backed and Herring Gulls present. About 25 Curlew opposite with redshank, Oystercatcher, Little Egret, Mallard, Cormorant, Mute Swan and Canada Geese all present.

Looking over Black Hole Marsh from Tower Hide you could see a Little Grebe with a chick, large numbers of Mallard, 10+ Redshank, Black-tailed Godwits, Moorhen, Herring Gulls and 30+ Black-headed Gulls sat on the mud.

From the Island Hide you could see plenty of Shelduck and their young, Black-headed Gulls, 20+ Black-tailed Godwits which some still in their summer plumage, Redshank, Mallard, Moorhen and young, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, several Common Sandpipers and 1 Green Sandpiper up against the far reeds.

Around the visitor centre there was Magpies, Carrion Crows, Swallow, House Martins, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Reed Warbler, Water Rail and a Kestrel sat on the wires.

Then onto Colyford Common Hide which can be hot or cold, this time defiantly hot!! In the scrape to the right there was 2 Green Sandpipers with 3 Common Sandpipers, managed to get a shot of one that crept forward, sadly something spooked them and they flew into the river, also seen here was Lapwing, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Curlew, Stockdove, Carrion Crow, Herring and Black-headed Gulls. Also seen was a Female Mallard with 10 chicks , couldn't have been more than a couple of days old.

The Reed bed Loop just brought Greenfinch, woodpigeon, Reed Warblers, Little Egret and Moorhen.

From the Viewpoint there was just Canada Geese, Little egret, Carrion Crow and a Kestrel Hunting.

Plenty of Butterflies about with Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Red Admiral, Small Tortishell, Comma and plenty of White sp.

Good to see some Dragonflies about with an impressive blue Emperor flying around, Southern Hawker and Common Darter, several Damselflies and a Beautiful Demoiselle was nice to see.

A few humans around, all well behaved and seem happy.

Must say the Wardens and volunteers here are a very happy and helpful bunch!!

14 July 2015

Gull-billed Tern

Just for once a rarity turns up nearby and I can pop down while on a split shift, this stunning bird was seen at Passage House from the carpark. It put on a great show!

09 July 2015

Moths

Tried the moth trap again tonight hoping for a larger number this week. Sadly only got half the normal amount for this time of year, yet again No Elephant Hawk Moths but did have 2 Popular Hawk Moths.

A new one for me was a Flame Shoulder which was nice, others found were Spectacle, Peppered Moth, Buff Arches and Barred Straw.

Quite a few others that I need to ID which normally takes me ages!!

04 July 2015

Spotted Redshank

After hearing of a Summer Plumaged Redshank had been seen at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham, I thought I would give it ago, although I have got plenty of pictures of Spotted Redshank, I've never managed one in summer plumage.

Parked up at Darts Farm in Topsham and did my normal walk, a few birds about at the farm with House Sparrow, Pied Wagtails, Carrion Crow and Wood Pigeons. There was probably more but didn't hang about as my quarry was further down!

On the cycle path again didn't see much with Blackbird, Gold and Greenfinches in the bushes with Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Carrion Crows, Cormorants, House Martins and a Kestrel flying around.

The tide was in so apart from a lone Little Egret there was no birds on the creek.

On to Goosemoor and there was singing Reed Warblers, at least 6 Little Egrets, 50+ Black-headed Gulls, Grey Heron, Shelduck, Mallard, Single Curlew, with Blue Tit, Wren, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and robin in the bushes/trees by the track.

On the road to the hide there was Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Robin, Magpie, Carrion Crows and a female Sparrowhawk flying over.

Because the tide was up the lake in front of the hide was quite full with birds but believe it or not the Redshanks had just left! But at least the Spotted Redshank was still with them. Must have been 1000+ Black-headed Gulls and reported Med Gulls in the middle, I didn't see these and to be honest I didn't look to hard, also seen Godwits sp, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Greenshanks, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Stockdove, Woodpigeon, Swallow, House Martin and Moorhen's all on view.

Then down to the platform, the Redshanks were on the far side as the tide was still quite high so decided to walk around the Goat Walk to Topsham.

The river Exe was just filled with more Black-headed Gulls, a few Herring Gulls and the odd Mallard!

So after a pit stop in Topsham off too the platform that overlooks the River Clyst. By this time the water had almost disappeared leaving the mudflats in full view, the Redshanks with the Spotted Redshank was on view up by the "Derrick".

Again plenty of Black-headed Gulls with the odd Herring and Great-black Backed Gulls, Godwits, some with their rufous red summer plumage, stunning birds!

Greenshank, Whimbrel, Little Egret, Swallows with Reed and Sedge Warbler singing their hearts out behind the platform with Goldfinch, Dunnock and Blackbird also showing.

But the Showstopper was asleep with the Redshank flock, thankfully I decided to stay put and my patience was rewarded. It seem to leap into action at the lowest level of the tide and thankfully walk down river towards me feeding at the waters edge and to my joy and amazement it walked right by me. Just a stunning bird and well worth the wait!

Plenty of Butterflies about with Comma, Meadow Browns, Small Tortishell, Large White and a report of Gatekeeper. Plenty of other insects but no Dragons again???

Nice to see a lot of old faces, Ivan, Alan, Dave S and Tom. Plenty of other humans around and all behaving themselves enjoying the sun.

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