March 31, 2009
Kick in the teeth !!!
Birding can seem to kick you in the teeth sometimes ! as for the last few days I have been checking the marshes for LITTLE RINGED PLOVER with no luck & today I couldn`t get there early & would you believe it one was found on the marsh today !!!! but I did manage to see it & get this shot , also seen was the summer plumaged WATER PIPIT & 2 CETTI`S WARBLER .
And over on Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham a LITTLE GULL was showing very well .
LITTLE GULL . BOWLING GREEN MARSH . TOPSHAM . DEVON . 31 / 3 / 2009
March 30, 2009
The Matford Pools
A look at the Matford Pools in Exeter this morning some lingering wildfowl with 5 WIGEON & 4 TEAL , 2 SHOVELER , a male GADWALL & the female SCAUP has returned after a couple of weeks away but it seems to have taken up dangerous liaisons with a male TUFTED DUCK .
Also seen 2 GREEN SANDPIPER , a COMMON BUZZARD , 2 CHIFFCHAFF & 2 male BLACKCAP .
Sunday 29th March . 2009
An early morning look at the Exminster Marshes for a Little Ringed Plover as I have done all last week again got me nothing but a male PEREGRINE FALCON & 2 male REED BUNTING , so off I went to Dawlish Warren in hope that my luck would change !
And I was in luck with 10 SANDWICH TERN & 6 male & 1 female WHEATEAR my first of the year , also seen were 20+ DUNLIN , 6 KNOT , 3 GREY PLOVER , 1 SANDERLING & a male SPARROWHAWK .
The ( Warren ) Sand Crocus were on show today & also seen was a young Common Lizard & a Small White Butterfly .
On the drive home I stopped & looked at the Fallow Deer in the Powderham Estate & on the main pool was a CATTLE EGRET .
March 27, 2009
Yellow-Legged Gull
An early morning look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham only got me 4 AVOCET & a CHIFFCHAFF that was singing its head off , I then went across to the Exminster Marshes where there were 2 LITTLE EGRET , 2 CETTI`S WARBLER , a male REED BUNTING & I also had a pipit land on the top of a tree but alas it wasn`t a Tree Pipit but the superb looking summer plumaged WATER PIPIT .
Later on in the day I went to the recreation ground in Topsham & on the exposed shingle in the river Exe there were 8 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL & this YELLOW-LEGGED GULL .
YELLOW-LEGGED GULL . THE RECREATION GROUND . TOPSHAM . DEVON . 27 / 3 / 2009
March 23, 2009
Water Pipit
This morning there were two GREEN SANDPIPER on the pools at Matford on the edge of Exeter , & a look at the Exminster Marshes then got me 40+ WIGEON , 20+ TEAL & a male & female SHOVELER on the main pool , & seen also were 2 CETTI`S WARBLER , 2 CHIFFCHAFF & this superb looking summer plumaged WATER PIPIT , the conditions for getting a good shot of this bird was made very hard by the very high winds !
March 22, 2009
The Exminster Marshes
A look at the Exminster Marshes this morning on a bright sunny day didn`t get me a lot but there was about 10 SAND MARTIN hawking over the reservoir & CETTI`S WARBLER & CHIFFCHAFF were showing themselves & singing well , up on the thermals were 20 + COMMON BUZZARD , 2 RAVEN & a KESTREL & also seen were 2 male REED BUNTING & this ( Pale Bellied ) BRENT GOOSE .
( Pale Bellied ) BRENT GOOSE . EXMINSTER MARSH . DEVON . 22 / 3 / 2009
March 19, 2009
Dartford Warbler
A walk around Woodbury Common this afternoon got me 3 male & a female DARTFORD WARBLER , a male & female STONECHAT , 4 COMMON BUZZARD & a WREN , I also got the fright of my life when the marines fired off a cannon that was hidden out of sight & I nearly jumped out of my skin !!
A look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me a SPOTTED REDSHANK & my first WHITE WAGTAIL of the year .
March 16, 2009
Sunday 15th March . 2009
Another look at the pools at Matford in Exeter & the Exminster Marshes got me much of the same ! at the pools there was still the female SCAUP , 3 GREEN SANDPIPER , 3 FIELDFARE & a GREY HERON .
And on the marshes the SPOONBILL was showing a lot closer today as you can see by the photo , & there was also 4 CETTI`S WARBLER & 12 JACKDAW & it was nice to hear a SKYLARK singing over the marsh again !
March 14, 2009
Sand Martin
An early morning look at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham got me 50+ BAR-TAILED GODWIT , 50+ SHELDUCK & a SPARROWHAWK but there was no sign of any of yesterdays Garganey , I then went over to the Exminster Marshes & saw my first 8 SAND MARTIN of the year , an adult SPOONBILL that was feeding in one of the small pools & over 100+ CURLEW , later in the day I stopped for a look at the pools at Matford & saw a female SCAUP , 4 COMMON SNIPE & 3 GREEN SANDPIPER .
March 13, 2009
Garganey
An early morning call this morning soon had me at Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham looking at 3 male & a female GARGANEY & it was great to see these stunning little ducks again , there was also still over a 100 ( Eurasian ) WIGEON still on the marsh along with a single LITTLE EGRET .
Later in the day I stopped at the bridge in Sidford & saw a ( White Throated ) DIPPER & it is the first time that I have seen one of these birds at this site , the next stop was at the Clyst Estuary & a SPOTTED REDSHANK & a GREENSHANK showed very well !!
