28.01.08

Exminster Marsh. 1530(approx) cold, no wind.

My son was ill today so didn't get out for my planned trip to the warren. However he let me go out for an hour so I went to EM. As soon as I drove over the railway bridge I saw the white of the Cattle Egrets with cattle in a field so pulled over a watched 2 of them. After about 30mins I went down to the bends to see if there was anything else around but only found common species around.

Worth it for the Egrets!

22.01.08

light winds form the SW about 11-13 degrees
Got to Dawlish Warren this morning but was disappointed with the lack of birds (GND, RTD, 20+ GCG) so i went to matford pools on the way home to see if i could get a year tick.

I got there, there were 2 other birders there looking for the Green Sandpiper, which was elusive but eventually showed at the back of the pools, when i found a Water Rail, 2 year ticks. As I panned along the field i found another one and in the second photo you can just make it out i the centre( if you squint and use your imagination)

19.01.08

I'm sat in my pc room with the window open, it's 2310 and there is a robin singing outside!

18.01.08

Stover cp, 0940 wet and windy.

Head my first singing Mistle Thrush of the year today. No Scaup!

16.01.08

Bowling Green Marsh. 1300 Sunny with showers not much wind.

The hide was busy with people this afternoon. I managed to pick the LBD out from the Redshank, a lonesome Spotted Redshank,Bar and Blackwit, Dunlin, Snipe and Wigeon that were all feeding in the same area. The LBD showed quiet well but eventually flew off to the river.

Two flocks of Avocet were in front of the hide, one on the far shore and one on the near shore. One bird came right up the channel so close to the hide, you could see it's blue legs in the sun light( mine would be blue too if i was in the water).

Also in the field were Redwing, they were also present along the road to the viewing platform.

I was watching the birds at the VP and noticed a buoy in the water moving, i got my scope on it and someone was inside it with a camera, nutter.

Present at the VP were 30+ Grey Plover among above mentioned species

15.01.08

(yes that dot is a surf scoter)

(gnd)

Dawlish Warren 1000, light S-SW winds, warm!

I decided to sea-watch for a bit so sought shelter and found a Vevlet Scoter flying across my view point, great start. Numerous auks where also heading towards the Torbay direction, there were also Razorbills and Guillimot on the sea. There was something shearing on the horizon but I could not ID it.

I walked toward another sheltered spot and found 11 Turnstones and a Rocket on the main tourist beach.I found some friends who were watching the Surf Scoter. A GND made an appearance as did a Slav. I couldn't stay long and just as I was leaving a small flock of Dunlin flew over the dune ridge to the bight to join the Shelducks and Brents who were probably resting after last nights battering from the elements.

I did notice that more of the dune section had been eroded over the last few days, some looked very fresh.

08.01.08

the warren, 0830, wind W-SW force 7-8.

Very windy again this morning so watched the sea for half an hour, didn't see much, gannet, oycs, fukmars,auks(some razors) kittis, great crested grebe and 2 rock pipits on the sea wall.

I moved into the bushes but there wasn't much about a chiff in the trees and goldcrest calling.
i walked to the bight and sat to find the surf scoter but had no luck. i did see a slavonian grebe feeding.

A mixed flock of linnet and skylark were feeding in the bight on the high tide line.

I drove along the powderham rd but again missed the cattle egret(i think it has now gone!) but i did find a huge flock of chaffinch with linnet and brambling amoungst them.

02.01.08

Happy new year everyone. unfortunately some of us had to work yesterday so no birding.

But today i went down to the warren to start my year list.

Very windy E-SE force 4 gusting to 6. Dry.

I sought shelter in the ley of the Boathouse. First sea bird Gannet. other common species were there scoter, GND, red throated diver,kittis,turnstone, razorbills as was a Pomerine skua that has been around since yesterday at least, it was getting mobbed by GBBG. Cracking bird for this time of year, chuffed.
After an hour of cold, battering wind i decided to go and look in the bushes. Lots of tits around and some thing caught my eye, some thing pink, no not a tit! a bullfinch, i had none here last year, by the end of the day i had 3!

But just as last year, time caught up and i had to go back into dad mode, so off home i went.