July 12, 2009
Roseate Tern
A trip down to Dawlish Warren this morning to have a look for ROSEATE TERN & I was in luck & see an Adult & a 1st summer in with the numerous SANDWICH TERN & 4 COMMON TERN , also seen was a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER , a GREYLAG GOOSE , a few SWALLOW & SAND MARTIN & single ROCK PIPIT & STONECHAT .
On the way home I stopped at the Powderham Park again & this time the OSPREY was showing in a lot better light !
July 8, 2009
Black Swan
Not a lot to report today ! a look at the sea off of Exmouth got me some KITTIWAKE & SANDWICH TERN & there was a couple of smaller terns in with then but they were to distant to put a name to them for sure .
A look at the River Clyst then turned up a very unusual sight ! a pair of BLACK SWAN with two young ones swimming up river , a first for me this far up the estuary .
July 7, 2009
Birding Again !!!
I got news today of three Roseate Tern on the Exe Estuary at Cockwood so Andy Bond & myself went down to look for them but there was no sign of them when we got there , but the long staying SLAVONIAN GREBE was showing quite well in its summer plumage just off shore , also seen was a WHIMBREL the first seen for a few weeks & single SWALLOW & SWIFT .
We then had a look at the Powderham Park & the OSPREY that has been around for a few weeks was sat on a dead tree but the light was not very good for photo`s & this was the best I could get .
SLAVONIAN GREBE . THE EXE ESTUARY . COCKWOOD . DEVON . 7 / 7 / 2009
July 6, 2009
White Admiral
Today I made the journey out to the Ashclyst Forest on the edge of Exeter again to look for the White Admiral Butterfly but just has I got there dark clouds were gathering so I started looking as fast as I could & I did manage to see & photogaphe this one just before the rain started to fall very hard !
Also seen were numerous Ringlet , 6 Meadow Brown , 3 Silver-Washed Fritillary , a Red Admiral & a single Beautiful Demoisell before I dashed back to the car to save from getting soaked .
July 2, 2009
Help
Today there was news of a Little Ringed Plover seen on Bowling Green Marsh in Topsham so I went down to look for it but as i expected it was a waste of time because of the state of the marsh with very high Weeds & Thistles that are blocking off most of the views !!!!! we are all saying that there are no birds around at the moment but there could have been anything on the near side of the marsh where most birds seem to be getting & we wouldn`t be able to see them ! & most birds seem to be taking a look & thinking no thanks to landing in this rough area & dropping into the Goose Moor on the other side of the railway line an area where birdwatchers have not been aloud to look in for many years now , Oh for a reserve that was managed like the ones in Norfolk & other parts of the country & others that are quite close to us ( We can but dream ) .
July 1, 2009
Dunsford Meadow
The weather was glorious today so I went out to the Dunsford Meadow for a look & I saw a female GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER , 2 JAY , 3 SONG THRUSH , a NUTHATCH & a MARSH TIT .
Looking for Butterflies was a bit better with 3 Silver Washed Fritillary , a single High Brown Fritillary , 2 Brimstone , a Coma & lots of Ringlet , there was also a few Golden-Ringed Dragonfly in all there spledour buzzing up & down the paths & a few Beautiful Demoiselle were seen by the river .
