Not the best of weather today but in between the rain I found a few Common Blues at the warren.

During a sea watch I saw a dark phase Arctic Skua(it was black) harassing Terns. 2 Roseate Terns where feeding with numerous Commons and Sarnies. But time catches on with you and before I knew it it was time to get back home.

Earlier on in the day when I was walking to the shop in the village, with my son and we stopped off to watch House Martins building their nest on the houses. Amazing little birds.

25.05.08

Mucky morning this morning. Paid a visit to Hopes Nose before work. I managed 40mins of sea watch before the low cloud moved in.

3 Manxies, 5 Sarnies, numerous kitties and Gannets and 1 lown turnstone with 7 passing through.

This evening was a little better. Nightjars really close churring to each other, hope you like the vid. If you turn the volume you might just hear the churr.

23.05.08

On the 21st I had a txt from a friend( thanks Nigel) to say that there was a Bonaparte's Gull and a summer plumage Ruff at BGM. I was on holiday in Exmouth( I know it's not far but it's easy with 2 small kids) so it was not far to travel to get a great lifer. And the bird didn't disappoint, it showed really well as did the Ruff, which I thought was better than the gull because it looks so odd, plus I had never seen one in it's summer plumage.

Also from Sandy Bay in Exmouth I watched an Artic Skua harassing Terns.

The 22nd was pretty much of a wash out, I did get some time to sea watch off Exmouth sea front. Terns and Kittys mainly with Gannets feeding close into. I'm pretty confident that this is an Artic Tern ( sitting low down, small red bill).

Sarnie buoy

What a cracker. Again the local grapevine working it's magic. Another txt to sat that there was 1 poss 2 Red Back Shrike by Soussons plantation. I couldn't get down early but I managed this evening and WOW there were definitely 2 birds. I saw 1 by the bottom gate, I got it on it's call first. Then I walked further down the track and a 2nd was calling too.( that's the 2nd bird in te photo). I walked back and there were 2 other birders watching the 1st bird.

I got lost on the way there but I did see a Peregrine being mobbed by a Hobby!

21.05.08

BGM 2015 hrs

21.05.08

On holiday in Exmouth ( i know it's not far but it's easy with 2 kids) anyway i took the bins to the beach and picked up an Artic Skua attacking a tern. 
I had a txt from a friend saying ties was a Ruff and a Bonaparte's Gull at BGM. So i raced down and got awesom views of both. The Ruff was a summer plumage male stunning jet black ruff. Thanks Nigel.

Not the best photo but it was the best of them.

This morning I went down to Exminster looking for the Temmick's Stint but no joy. However there was 2 male Gargany by the Channel where the Little Crake was. They kept getting chased by Mallards and Canada Geese. Lots more Swift and Martins and the ever present eye of a Hobby waiting for it's Breakfast.

A few Black Veined Whites were feeding along the tow path.

Interesting morning birding. I went up to Dartmoor to see what was about. First bird was this lovely Cuckoo, calling and then I zeroed in on it.

I had a walk around Challacombe Farm and bumped into some Dorset birders who were doing Devon. They were part of a small tour company called Two Owls Birding follow the link for more info.

I walked around, as I said and heard a Winchat( sorry about the photo but no matter what I do it won't go the right way) then it popped out and gave some great views. Swallows and H Martins buzzed around, feeding. More Cuckoos and lots of Willow Warblers. But no Groppers.

Really liked it up there I must go more often.

At Stover with the family this afternoon saw Small Red Damselfly and some kind of Hawker.

Had some time free this afternoon so I went along to Exminster Marsh. Very cold, I have been wearing shorts lately to bird in. Loads of Swift buzzing right past my head, Swallows and Martins too. No sign of the AGP but this Hobby was eyeing up all the food, I think he was a bit optimistic weighing up these Canadas. The Bar Headed Goose was also present.

Took a friend to see some Nightjars this evening, showed really well and close.

07.05.08

This morning I went upto Yarner woods. First bird was a singing Wood Warbler in the car park. I walked up towards the hide and more Wood Warbs singing, such a summery sound. Just past the hide was a Spotted Flycatcher calling, didn't have one last year!

Below in the valley there were 2 male Rowe Deer fighting and barking.

I walked back down the hill past the cottages towards the entrance to see if any Pearl Border Fritillaries were around, they were. Aslo 3 Garden Warblers.

In the afternoon I went to BGM and found a White Fronted Goose.

06.05.08

Finally caught up with the American Goolden Plover, showed really well this morning and well worth going to see. There was also a Hobby watching what was going on, hoping for a bite to eat. Sedge warbler really making themselves known.

Then I went to the warren but the wind was so strong that it whipped up the sand and made viewing anything really uncomfortable, I found sand later were it should not have been.

I caught the Common Blue on the clay pit road this afternoon. This picture was not taken with my phone but my DSLR.

05.05.08

look what is looking in my swift nest box, not a swift but a starling, that will do.

Went to Exminster marsh early this morning as that was the only time i had to go. No AGP but I did see a Hobby sitting waiting to catch something.

Last night i had my first Nightjar of the year.