26.02.07

Well what a nice day. I went for a bike ride with my boy this morning along the a disused railway that goes from Chudleigh Knighton Heath to Heathfield. Heard a Dipper as it flew down the river Bovey.

After lunch I took the boy to Stover cp. He love it there as do I. We sat and watched the ducks and he chucked some bread at them and himself. I watched Great Crested Grebes on the pond doing their mating dance. A cormorant was sunning itself, very white face on the thing. Tufted Duck and Polchard were diving and swimming on the pond.

We walked around to the picnic tables and sat and watched Chaffs and Tits feeding on the seed left for them. I heard a Greater Spotted woodpecker in the pines so I found it in my bins, as I did a male flew in and mated it. WOW. I have never seen Woodies do this before. I was chuffed.

So we marched onwards.

Around the ariel walkway I could see Siskin feeding on the niger seed in the feeder. Further on Blue, Great and Marsh Tits were feeding in a frenzy around the sunflower seed feeder. Nuthatches and Chaff were also amongst the line up of eagerly waiting bird around the feeder.

Today really felt like spring, can't wait, not long.

23.02.07

Down to the Warren early this morning. But the weather was really taking its toll. Not many birds. Loads of waders though. There were loads of Knot, Dunlin and Grey Plover on finger point. There were Ring Plovers with some Dunlin and Greater Black Back Gulls on the seaward side of the spit.

In front of the hide was a Redshank and Little Egret and 4 Redbreasted Mergansers.

I desided to make my way to the car and found another Little Egret on the path running through Greenland lake.

I did stop at the main pond and found a Grey Heron and Cormarant both sheltering from the wind and feeding.

I was shocked to see how much the sea had taken back along the rune ridge. Look at the photo. On the groyne you can see a klump of sand with marrum grass still attached. The shore line was up to the first point on the klump.

22.02.07

Not a birding trip but I took my boy upto Yarner Wood this afternoon. I found the 4 Mandarin on the small pond by the car park, what a beautiful bird.

I walked around to the hide with the boy and on the way found some frog spawn, except I think it was newt spawn. It was on a tree stump in the open, looked amazing in the sunlight.

At the hide we found lots of activity on the feeders, mostly Blue and Great Tits. However a few Coal Tits made an appearance and then a few Marsh Tits joined in.

Back at the car park a Robin flew around us and came so close even though we had no food, it was quite happy hopping around our feet, even the boys who moves so quickly.

Looking forward to using my new scope tomorrow!

18.02.07

No photo today because the weather was rubbish. But I drove to the warren today. Not much around. One thing that made me look twice was a flock of Redthroated Divers, 13, flying together, off shore. Is that a sign of approaching spring?

Not much else on the sea, 3 Slav Grebes feeding but lots of Shags too. In the bight there was alot of waders, mainly Grey Plovers and Dunlin. The bushes weren't much better. A hand full of Goldcrests and Goldfinches and that ya lot.

I've been thinking about getting a new scope lately, I will keep you posted.

Well spring is on it's way, as you can see this Blackhead is coming into summer plumage. This is now a common sight this time if year.

Birds seen to day at Passage House, Greenshank( year tick ) 7 Redshank, Common, Blackheads, Herring and Greater Blackback Gull were all present. With 2 female Mergansers on the river and Lapwing on the island.

While in Bovey Tracey today I saw a Grey Wagtail and Crow mobbing a small raptor. It was to high to ID but I think it was a Merlin due to the size and colour. It was much smaller than the Crow and the belly was rusty colour. When I first saw it i thought it was a Peregrine.

An overcast start this morning but it brightened up when I found my first Mediterranean Gull of the year, off the the beach at the warren. But that was pretty much it for the day, the warren held no outstanding birds.

I decided to move on so I went to Bowling Green Marshes, a RSPB reserve in Topsham. I was surprised that there was so many people in the hide. I scanned the shore line and found Teal and Wigeon and a Greylag Goose all feeding. Someone said they spotted the Green Winged Teal, I had a look but it looked just like a normal one! There were however 40+ Blackwits feeding in the waterlogged grass, apparently there are only 30 breeding pairs in the UK. Nice bird.

If only! I went to the Living Coasts in Torquay with my family. It was nice to ID bird that I have never seen Caspian Tern and this fella, a Barrow's Goldeneye. And it was nice to see bird I normally see but really close up ie; Redshank, Avocet and Blackwit. Very expensive but well worth a look in if you have a spare £6.75!

Another cold day, snow tonight on the moor! A single Slavonian Grebe on the grey sea this morning, someone reported 6 yesterday! I found a few Goldcrests by the first pond and I could hear a woodpecker ( greater spot) drumming in the distance.

I walked towards the main pond and saw a different bird in the water, a male Shoveler, my first for the year. The Cetti's Warbler was calling in the gorse but really didn't want to show much. I continued up to the dune ridge as saw loads of gull feeding on something. When I got the scope on them it was Razorbills feeding and the gulls trying to mug the fish off them. I counted 112 Razors.

The above photo was taken on groyne 10, there were 11 Grey Plover resting and I thought this would be a nice shot.

Ahh a day off. I took my boy to Little Bradley Ponds near Bovey Tracey this afternoon. As you can see the weather was with us.

A single Mallard slept on the jetty as Great Tits, Longtailed and blues called and sang. The bullrushes were split open and the boy loved pulling the seeds out and throwing them in the air, the wind carried them across the pond and they glowed like stars as they went. On the far end i disturbed a couple of Redwing, I waited ages and traveled miles to find one and they are on my doorstep!

As I turned the car around I noticed a Buzzard in a nearby tree, good views.

AM

Well how cold was it this morning, as I left the house today it was 1.5c. Even with my new gloves on it was Baltic. I didn't have much time so I went down to Passage House to see what was around.

As soon as I got out of the car I could hear a Reed Bunting calling in the reeds opposite and manage to get a few snaps in between the shivering of hands. I scanned the gulls but only found Blackheads, Common, Greater Black Back and Herrings.

I decided to have a walk along the tow path towards the A380 flyover and spotted a Stonechat on the other bank, flying and landing on a dumped chair( AHHHHHH ). I don't know why but I looked behind me and saw a mid size white duck flying my way and from GISS I id'd it as an adult male Eider, which was odd cos I have never seen one this far up river. Now I see these duck alot at the warren so I'm pretty confident with the id.

I then packed up and made my way to where I thought it was heading. But I couldn't find it.

PM

I had a quick look in again at the Passage. I only found 4 Redshanks but around 50+ Pied Wagtails flying into roost in the reeds. Great common bird.

Well it seem to be getting lighter earlier this time of year, when Iwoke up at 0700 the sky was just waking up. I drove to the warren and walked down through the car park which I don't normally do, I would usually go to Langstone. When I got to the entrance of the reserve a number of Long Tailed Tits were feeding on bugs on one of the signs, it was nice to watch. In the trees a Song Thrush was singing it heart out but no-one replied.

As I walked to the main pond a Greater Spotted Woodpecker called and flew passed me, this is not a common bird at the warren so it was nice to see. On the pond 4 Canada geese were noisily sitting on the water. It was lovely and sunny and I thought something (Firecrest) might be in the trees around the pond but again nothing. From the back of the pond I looked over the railway salt marsh and counted 82 Redshank and there was also lots of gulls but they were on the water so I was unable to id any med gulls:(

I knew that a Cetti's Warbler around Greenland lake, as I heard one on Sunday. At last it showed:) I carried on walking towards the rune ridge to see the bight and the sea. I didn't get any time to look at the sea because there was so many birds in the bight. Icounted 54 ringed plovers, 300+ Grey Plover and 1000+ Dunlin. I also found an Avocet in the bight, see photo. There was also a Whimbrel feeding, my first for the year, with Blackwits.

I had a quick look on the beach and found a oiled Blackhead, cleaning itself. the poor thing probably won't make it. I learnt that once ingestested it will burn from the inside out. As I faced out to sea, one of the coastguards spotter planes flew over very low, trying to see the pollution from the Napoli. In the marrum grass Skylarks were calling and flying up into the air, hoovering and singing. If there is any bird that reminds me on summer days, it's this one:)

Well I had to get to work so I walked back along by the dune pond and heard a call that I know and love, a male Stonchat was sat on a gorse bush trying to guide me toward it and away from his old lady. I watched for a minute or 2 and got my scope on him( pretty bird). They both flew off but something else was in the bush......... a Dartford warbler (yes). I didn't get one on site last year so this was a bonus.

Well as you can guess I was very happy and left site with a grin on my face.