Took my boy to Yarner Wood this morning, a what a beautiful sight an English wood is in the spring. Cuckoos were calling and the wood was alive with bird song.

After that we went to Knighton heath and found a Broad Bodied Chaser( dragonfly), this was the first for the year. We came back after lunch and found a Beautiful Demoiselle (damselfly)and a few Common Lizards.

This evening I paid a visit to the passage to see if there had been and new migrants, the only ones seemed to been 3 more Whimbrels making the count now 6 and 2 Curlew. No passage gulls unfortunately!!!!!!!

29.04.07

This photo is from last year but tonight I saw my first Nightjar on Chudleigh knighton heath this year.

It was a male as far as I could tell, it flew very close to me and vanished.

28.04.07

Yarner wood held 12 birds just in the car park this morning but not the one i wanted, a cuckoo.

I did find loads of Pearl Boarderd Fritillary. I had 6 species of butterfly today too. Orangetip, Common Blue, Green Veined White, Peacock, Brimstone and the Fritillary.

27.04.07

First of all I would like to admit to an id error, yesterday I told of 2 pair of Garganey, it was only a male with a female Pintail, I took a photo but didn't post it and couldn't really see it either.

I popped into the warren with the family, they kindly let me have half an hour to look around, Reed Warblers were calling and singing and occasionally flying past. Saw a Green Veined White and a Small Copper butterfly in Greenland lake with a unidentified moth in dead dolphin wood, either a wave or emerald but deffinitly a Geo.

This evening I went up to Haldon Forest to see if any Nightjars have arrived, I went up last week but all was quiet. However tonight I heard 1 chirring and saw 1 flying around. I also went to Stover, a mothr was there and he said he heard 1 but I didn't.

At home I found this (above) moth, I believe it's a Small Phoenix.

26.04.07

In exmouth on holiday with the family. In topsham heard and saw 2 swift in the high st. Also went to bowling green marsh and saw 2 pair of Gargany in front me the hide. Sand and house Martins were busy feeding and collecting mud for nest building.

22.04.07

After yesterday great hawl at the warren(for somebody) ,I was hoping it was going to be a good day for me, and with one of the wardens(thanks Dale) managed the highest count of sarnies so far this year.

There was a massive movement of Sarnies in the evening 100+ feeding and flying around. There were 42 on one of the sand bars off Exmouth at one point with 5 Commics, 2 of which were Commons Terns.

Also on the sea 2 Fulmars, Razors, Scoter and 2 Common Gulls could be found as well as 5 Whimbrel coming off the sea and landing on he beach by groyne 9.

Elsewhere Chiffs and Willows where again making themselves heard in the trees and bushes, while at least 2 Whitethroats were being aggressive, possibly fighting over territories. 6 Swallow, 1 Blackcap also made an appearance to make it really seem like summer is on its way.

I also saw 3 speckled woods around the 1st pond.

On the way home I noticed a number of Martins feeding around Cockwood harbour.

21.04.07

Hellish day at work, popped into the passage house on the way home and found this little beauty, Dark Bellied Brent Goose, feeding and resting with 7 Canada Geese.

Maybe tomorrow!!!!!!!

20.04.07

On this rare occasion i took my digicam with me, just to try it out with my scope and the first piccy is with that, the second with my phone.

Well another quite morning at the warren, there were 9 Sandwich Terns flying around and calling and 1 was even on a basket. But the rest was of the norm. 1 sand martin, 3 house martins and 6 swallows passed me on their way to feed. but that pretty much it for migrants.

15.04.07

What a great day!

I had to do a bird survey this morning for the RSPB. When I left the house the sun was still under the horizon but on the way down the A38 I got one of my bogey birds, a Barn Owl. I have seen countless displays with them in but this was my first wild one.

At the farm I found loads of summer migrant which weren't there last time, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Swallows(which were looking at an old nest). Another surprise for the day was my first Brambling of the year.

could it get any better?

I had finished the survey by 0930 so I disided to go to Yarner Wood, as it isn't far from home. When I got there the car park was quite full but I found a place. As I got out so were many other, I have never seen so many birders there! I but don't mind, more pairs of eyes!

I have been trying to find Lesser Spotted Woodpecker here for over a year, I have seen one at Stover 3 years ago but I really need one at Yarner!!!

I knew that Pied Flycatchers were there and so heard their lovely call. As I walked up the main path 2 Cornish birders had seen LSW already nearby and a female PFC was feeding in the canopy and made a visit down for a good view, stunning bird( I say this about most bird but this one I really mean, STUNNING). As we walked on as a group the LSW flew and everyone got a great view and it hang around for a bit too.

How many year ticks is that now?4

Then when looking in the canopy a female Redstart was feeding and flicking her tail so you could see her orange tail, 5. What a day! This looks like the first sighting this year.

I then took the back path towards the hide and found a male PFC calling and getting pushed away from nest boxes by a Blue Tit.

Now 5 year ticks isn't much but I had a great day.

11.04.07

Sorry no photo today. On my lunch break today I saw a Buzzard and Peregrine circling together in Torquay.

This evening I went bat watching down on the river teign and found Pips and deabentons feeding by and on the river. I also saw something disturbing the water and turned my head(i had my head torch on) and saw an OTTER looking back at me, OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! It then slipped back into the water and I followed it under water( not me). This is my first Otter, I do know there is some around because I've heard them on the river Bovey.

I'm so chuffed now.

03.04.07

Another sunny morning but a look at the temperature gauge said it was actually cold outside. I made my way to the warren. I was surprised to find 2 Wheatear on the grass by the karts, never seen them there before. They were the only birds of note until I reached the main pond.

I noticed 2 birds flying around, feeding and managed to get them in my bins, hurrah my first Swallows or the year. I stayed and watched them for a few minutes as they are great to watch. I then made my way to the rune ridge.

There was not much on the sea to note and I thought there might be a LRP as a few have been found around the county but NO. I did count the curlew 168 with a few ringies with them and a Redshank. But again only common bird.

I look back onto the sea and found a Slavonian Grebe just starting to come into summer plumage but that was it.

02.04.07

Another summer like day. I had a wonder down to stover cp with my boy and a friend, so nice. Loads of butterflies Peacocks, Brimstones, Common Blue and Speckled Woods. Also a Common Lizard running in the grass.

I got a text from a friend saying that there was a Little Ringed Plover at Matford Scrapes outside of Exeter and sure enough it was out in the open, feeding on bugs, smashing little bird. Also present was a Grey Wagtail, Green Sandpiper and Laughing Gull that I had earlier in the year at Newton Abbot.

I feel like I caught the sun today!!