29.03.07

Lesser Black Backed Gulls at Passage House Inn. I had a long day at work to day but managed 5 mins in the rain.

28.03.07

Woke up to a sunny warm morning, the rest of Devon was a bit like pea soup. I had to meet a farmer this morning as part of a volunteer role I do for the RSPB. The farm is on Dartmoor and absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to survey the land.

After lunch I made it to the warren. It was so warm I wore shorts. I went straight to the sea wall and found a Wheatear, then another,then another! All in all I found 6. (I waited ages to see them on my patch then 6 at once). I meet up with a couple of fellow birders and we walked to the dune ridge, on the way we found a female Kestrel trying to find something to swoop on and a male Stonechat. the later is coming into summer plumage and looks stunning.

On the ridge we watched the sea because it felt right for Sandwich Terns. And within 5 minutes the call went out 'sarnie flying right, diving down, on the water, in the air, still flying right, turning back' by the time of 'diving down' everyone was on it and then we started to see more. Then JF said that he could see them on a buoy and sure enough 2 were sitting on a red buoys so I had a look a some of the other buoys and again more Terns. These didn't seem to be passing through, they were resting and fishing, for a good couple of hours, 10 in total.

Also on the sea were 2 Fulmars, 18 Mergansers and a single Red Throat Diver.

At last the warren is getting good again.

On the way home I popped into Exminster Marshes to see if I could find the Shorteared Owl that was reported yesterday, but it was not to be.

You can't have everything.

26.03.07

Ahhhh the first Wheatear of the year but not on my patch. I went to Haytor on Dartmoor this afternoon and what a lovelly day. So much sun and so much light now the clocks have gone forward.

24.03.07

The first photo says it all, lack of migrants. The only one was White Wagtail on the beach.

I got to the warren about 0730 to find a sunny but bloody cold day waiting. I walked along the seawall but there was nothing on the sea! I meet a friend and we walked along the warren trying desperate to find some thing . Linnets now look like 100 different birds when your desperate.

Watching the sea in a spot out of the wind I found a Red Throat flying south, a couple of GC Grebes and lots of fishing Gannets.

We walked to the hide to get out of the wind. Sanderling, Curlew, Knot, Grey Plovers, Oycs and Dunlin made the numbers up. I looked at the Cormorant. One looked like a sinensis but no one was 100%.

A walk along the beach saw us find the White Wag and 12 Ringed Plovers and that was about it. A Buzzard flew along the warren but what a quiet spring.

18.03.07

I can't believe that I have been wearing shorts for nearly 2 weeks and the weather is so bad now, ah the joys of the British weather!

Well work today so only chance to see any birds was before and after.

I stopped in at the passage house on the way in. There were plenty of gulls, common, blackheads, herring and GBB. The only waders were Curlew!

At about 1800 hours I got to Stover cp and found a small flock of Sand Martins, about 12. But over a short period of time they became 24. They were still feeding even in the rain and hail! It is so nice to see these birds at last, they have travelled so far, Africa. Next should be House Martins then Swallows and then one of the best migrants, the SWIFT.

Bring it on.

15.03.07

I thought I would get up early and try and find the Jack Snipe that has been at Riverside Valley Park in Exeter. But there was so much fog around it was hard to see cyclists on the tow path let alone any birds.

Then I first looked there were a few Snipe on the first pond but the visibility was so poor it was hard to make out any GISS. so I moved on to the second pond and found a Green Sandpiper wading and dobbing. I returned to the first pond but the fog was still there so I walked to Matford round-about to see what was around. Another Green Sand, Blackheads, Greylag, Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon but no Little or Laughing Gull.

By this time the fog had lifted and it was sunny so I made my way back to the RVP.

The Snipe were now out and gave really good views, then out popped the Jack. In the open and showing unbelievably. Nice bird! I could really see the difference in size and colouration. Made my day.

3 life birds on the same patch of river within 2 weeks. Jack, Firecrest and Yellow browed. Cracking

13.03.07

I was allowed ou this morning so I popped to Stover cp and Bovey Heathfield. Still no Martins at Stover but bird are making nest now and very active. There was a Chiffchaff, chiffchaffing on the back path and Common Lizards in the brush.

The highlight was a Dartford Warbler at Bovey. I love this bird. Great to see it making a comeback.

11.03.07

Popped in to Stover cp this morning before work, still not much around. Watched a Greater Spot and Nuthatch. Saw a cracking Grey Wagtail come in and start feeding and the poetary trail wooden plagues. But that was it, no martins.

Oh a kingfisher flew past.

10.03.07

Another lovelly day but very quiet on the bird front. I found these at the warren with not much else. 4 slav grebes and 2 Ravens. I did hear a Great Spot dumming and a Green Woodie calling.

I went to the Old Sludge Beds by Countess Weir great site but few birds.

08.03.07

Look what was on my neighbours roof today. I saw it flying around the village and then land. Can't wait to show them the photo. 
This is sent via my mobile to my blog, isn't technology great.

07.03.07

It was just getting light when I woke up this morning, quick breaky and off to Dartmoor to find Hen Harriers.

When I got to Bennett's cross (first photo) the sun had just risen and I made my way up to Birch Tor. On the way I found 7 Red Deer. I could hear Skylark, a sound that always reminds me of summer and a sound what would follow me all day.

As I neared Birch Tor, I heard a wood lark and meadow pipits flew off and landed in the red bracken. I sat atop of the tor for about 30 mins constantly watching the moor in hope of seeing the harriers. Nope not here.

I walked down to the bottom of the tor by small trees and a couple of Reed Buntings were calling in the cover of the stunted trees. With them Chaffinches chased each other. I carried on now upwards and onto Soussons Wood. Along the way I found Frog spawn in the pools.

When I got to the wood I disturbed a small flock of Redwing. I was hoping for Crossbills but they to eluded me today.

I got very thirsty so I made my way back to the car for lunch and a nice cuppa. On the way I saw Buzzard and Kestral. After lunch I followed the two moors way for a bit to find the harriers but to no avail. May be next time.

05.03.07

Well a break in the weather saw me go to Exeter to look for the Little Gull at Matford. I missed out on this bird but I had a wonder around Matford reccing for other possible find and for the future. There were plenty of Shoveler and Wigeons on the flooded fields with Coots and Moorhens busy fighting for territory.

I made my way to the site of the Yellow Browed Wabler at the Countess Weir sewage works, surprisingly enough it doesn't smell that much. Along the way and may thoughts of 'this is the wrong way' I saw a large flock of Cormorants on the banks of the Exe. I followed the directions and found the conifers and spent an hour looking for the bird. No joy. I did find a Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.

I went to walk back when I bumped into a friend, he had an hour to look and so did I. So i went back.

Well within a few minutes we had found a male Firecrest in the brambles, showing really well. The colours were so vivid and the call harsher than the Goldies.

The Chiffchaff showed again and was joined by a second bird. Spring has sprung.

As we walked back along the path we stopped at a good vantage point and as soon as we did a small bird popped out of pine it was in and into view. The very grey bird was unmistakably the Yellow Browed.

2 lifers in 10 mins, Cracking.

We also saw a small movement of Stock Doves.

What a great morning.

In the afternoon I took my boy to Stover CP. The rain also decided to follow. As we got around to the walkway 8 Siskins were on the feeders and loads of Tits. We walked around the pond and a white bird flew in. I followed it in until it landed on the water, a Goosander, great find and 1st for the year.

Altogether at really good days birding was had.

01.03.07

On the way home from work I popped into the passage house.

Good numbers of common birds. 8 Canada Geese, 7 Little Grebes, 14 Redshanks, 17 Curlew and 5 Red Breasted Merganser.

I was hoping for a good number of Gulls but the tide was to high. There was Blackbacks and Blackheads but that was all.