Cream Tea Birding

Introducing Wise Birding Holidays

2012-01-24T11:12:00.007Z

And now for something completely different!

2012-01-15T20:11:00.001Z

The Good old Days - Pom Boys at Pelee!

New Year Local Listing

2012-01-02T21:07:00.004Z

Monday 2nd January 2012
As has been the trend since moving to Budleigh, the Mrs and I attempted a year list within just 6Km of our home, with the majority being within 2Km and most of it on bikes. The sites visited were Budleigh/The Otter, Otterton/Chiselbury Bay and the East Devon Commons. We managed a total of 86 - not bad considering the small area covered!

Highlights included:
RT Diver
GN Diver
RB Merganser
Little Owl
Hen Harrier
Merlin
Woodcock

Lowlights were missing the following!
Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Siskin and Coot, Marsh Tit, Stock Dove, RL Partridge, G Partridge and Barn Owl.

Interesting Wigeon

2011-12-27T12:27:00.004Z

Saturday 24th December
Had this interesting and quite distinctively cold grey-headed Wigeon on Christmas Eve. It seems to potentially show some female American Wigeon features but it is not perfect and may just be a grey variant Eurasian.

Unfortunately, most of the photos were in harsh light as my camera ran out of battery when the light was better, of course! Sadly, I did not manage to get the all important underwing shot showing the axillaries with the time I had available. No sign of bird since.......

Balancing Recreation & Wildlife

2011-12-22T14:55:00.007Z

Thursday 22nd December
Hats off to East Devon District Council today. After lots of constant grumbling to both Natural England and EDDC about the disturbance of birds using the Otter Estuary SSSI from various watersports activities and ignorant dog walkers, today we have some Polite Notices!

It is always a battle trying to educate good old "Jo Public" on such matters and at the end of the day, perhaps the more negative amongst us might say "what good is a polite notice going to do?" However, it is a move in the right direction and always better to try and work with people than alienate them from the start. The Otter's disturbance issues are just a small problem compared to the likes of the huge Exe Estuary, but the Otter is a SSSI with birds being one of the notified features regardless, and hopefully we shall see a slightly less disturbed estuary where wildfowl and waders can feed and roost undisturbed.

It was good to speak with a couple of locals whilst we were putting up the signs, who were only too pleased to see the signs and were willing to try and educate others.
We shall see....

Thanks to Assistant Countryside Ranger, James Hunter for coming down to the Otter and putting the signs up.
Click on image to read sign

Chilly Birding

2011-12-18T14:44:00.009Z

Sunday 18th December
An afternoon on the Otter produced:

1 Great-crested Grebe on the sea
1 drake Red-breasted Merganser on the Otter
3 Dunlin
4+ Redshank
25+ Curlew
and a Snow Bunting remains on the beach with
3 Reed Bunting

Winter Doldrums

2011-12-16T16:43:00.004Z

Friday 16th December
Not much excitement on the patch today, just messing about taking a few photos. Had a look for the snow bunting reported on Birdguides yesterday, but the only birds of interset on the beach were 2 Reed Buntings. Lots of flood water around and a flock of 26+ Curlew. No sign of any wigeon feeding on the scrapes, in fact conspicuous by their absence. A lone Dunlin and 4+ Redshank on the Otter and 40+ Teal.
North of White Bridge were 40+ Wigeon and a drake Shoveler, a lone Lapwing, Little Egret, Grey Wagtail and female Bullfinch.

Snow Leopard Training

2011-12-09T11:51:00.010Z

Sunday 4th - Thursday 8th December
Recently returned from another short break to the Sierra de Andujar region in search of Iberian Lynx. Some people might say we are a bit obsessed with this feline friend, but hey, it is the rarest cat in the world and it is a privilege to see it! Just 2,5hrs from Malaga too. It is also very good training to be scanning vast areas of landscape from dawn until dusk if we are to prepare ourselves for our planned Snow Leopard trip next year!

We spent 3 whole days looking for Lynx and had sightings every day including three animals on one evening. The views varied from less than 100M to around 1Km with varying behaviour that included two animals chasing and play fighting. Regardless of what some people's sightings might suggest, these cats are typically unpredictable in where and when they might show themselves and you do need to spend an awful lot of time scanning if you want to succeed. Most of our sightings were rather frustratingly in the last hour of light, though previously I have seen animals at dawn, mid morning and mid afternoon.

It was the busiest that we have seen the site with up to 40 Lynx watchers on one day! This was most likely due to a Spanish holiday taking place during our visit. It was rather annoyingly noisy at times, but the Lynx did not seem to react at all. Being Mr Grumpy, I got a bit annoyed by the constant babbling from the Spaniards (many of them just don't do quiet!), but I did have to remind myself that actually, it is good if so many Spanish people are as interested and excited about these animals. It can only raise awareness in the country as to their importance and ensure that these animals do not become extinct. It was also great to see so many young Spaniards who had come to see Lynx.

It sounds as if the population is increasing slowly, so fingers crossed.

Highlights were clearly the Lynx, but also a new mammal in the form of a Garden Dormouse that ran across the road one morning in darkness and sat in a tree for us to get great views of as it returned back down the tree with some fruit. An impressive beast and ironically, harder to find than Iberian Lynx!

Below are some pics and a bit of video!

FOR SALE

2011-12-04T13:25:00.003Z

Due to an upgrade!
Email creamteabirding@hotmail.co.uk

A Nikon Coolpix P5100 with London Camera Exchange attachment for digiscoping, x2 batteries and charger and Nikon attachment for LCE attatchment. Well used but fully working. -
£125 ono

A 30X fixed Swarovski eyepiece. Tiny 1mm hairline scratch on edge of lens but not visible at all when using scope - £189 ono

OR £299 for the lot!

Examples of photos that I have taken from the above set up.

Messing about on the Patch

2011-12-02T12:50:00.004Z

Friday 2nd December

Sunshine at last!

2011-11-15T13:31:00.002Z

Tuesday 15th November
Had a look the Clyst Valley near Darts Farm this morning and had the 1st winter Red-breasted Goose fly in with Brent Geese. Good to see it in with Brents rather than Canada Geese!
Back on the patch and highlights were:
300 Woodpigeon heading East
30+ Lapwing heading East
24 Stock Dove over the top fields
2 Snow Bunting on the beach
70+ Common Scoter on the sea

2011-11-12T13:26:00.001Z

Saturday 12th November

Highlights today were:
Lapland Bunting still present in top fields
Short-Eared Owl - 1 top fields
Grey Partridge - 9 top fields!
Snow Bunting - 2 still on beach
Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail Woodbury area
Merlin - 1 male Woodbury

A good day on the patch

2011-11-10T21:50:00.003Z

Thursday 10th November 2011
The day started with the 2 Snow Buntings still on the beach and an adult Med Gull on the estuary along with a lone Shelduck, the first for a while and a single Blackap. A walk along the coastal path turned out to be a good move as 3 Crossbills flew over, heading East and yet another Short-eared Owl (my 3rd in this area in just a few weeks) was flushed from the top fields (thanks to BH birding the same area!) Yet another trudge to the top stubble field finally paid off with a very welcome Lapland Bunting. Typically the bird was never seen on the deck but not bad flight views and plenty of vocals! Around 80+ Skylarks today and a Yellowhammer was new for this area. All in all, a good day.

And then there were two!

2011-11-10T21:43:00.002Z

Wednesday 9th November 2011

Bunting Beach

2011-11-04T15:54:00.004Z

A great surprise today and yet another mighty patch tick was this little beauty! A cracking male Snow Bunting.

3 Patch Ticks!

2011-10-30T21:56:00.007Z

Sunday 30th October
A great day today on the patch. It started with Doug and I bumping into a Greenland White-fronted Goose. It was good to take in this bird, as I just do not see enough White-fronted Geese and although Greenland WF (flavirostris} and European WF (albifrons) are fairly straight forward it is perhaps not always as obvious on lone birds! However, based on a long bill with definite orange tones with a very pale pink tip, narrow white blaze at side of bill and a "bumpy" edges, overall darkness in plumage tones and a narrow white tail band it fits Greenland WF. However, it was interesting how the bill could still look quite pinkish at times.

The afternoon got better thanks to a very timely text message from county recorder Steve Waite! "Osprey at Seaton and heading my way!" Approximately 25 minutes later and I picked up the bird being mobbed by numerous gulls as it headed directly overhead continuing west. A late bird.......
The grand finale took the form of a cracking Quail seen in flight in nearby fields found earlier in the day by Brian H. Result!

Shetland - UNST

2011-10-12T14:12:00.013+01:00

Friday 30th September - Saturday 8th October 2011
Now returned safe and sound to Devon after a challenging week on Unst. The weather was far from ideal, but it was good to be back on Unst all the same. Not as good on the self-finding front as last year's team tally of Dusky Warbler, Pallas's Warbler and Little Bunting, but that is the way it goes! We did however, see an impressive list of scarcities and vagrants, most of which were during our last couple of hours on South Mainland before getting the ship and all within about a square mile of each other!

The Week's Highlights were as follows:
Common Rosefinch - 4
Yellow-browed Warbler - 7+
Barred Warbler - 1
Long-eared Owl - 1
Black-headed Bunting - 1 (note the black feathering just below ear coverts and chestnut mantle streaking in photos below)
American Golden Plover - 2
Citrine Wagtail - 1
Isabelline (Daurian) Shrike - 1
Buff-Bellied Pipit - 1
Pallid Harrier - 1 (unusually dark bird lacking obvious collar due to Fulmar oiling - see video)

Shetland

2011-10-04T22:36:00.001+01:00

Have been birding Unst for the last few days in very difficult conditions as we are continually buffeted by gale force westerlies and rain! Not much to show for our efforts so far other than the expected finds of YBWs and Common Rosefinches.

Still, we shall continue our birding efforts and hope the wind abates. No sign of any easterlies, but we shall remain focused! We twitched a cracking OBP this evening that has given more hope that there are more birds to be found.

Beautiful Sabine's Gulls

2011-09-21T00:00:00.000+01:00

Tuesday 20th September
Hearing about a Sabine's Gull seen at Mudbank Lane, Exmouth this afternoon, I headed down to Shelly Beach in the hope it may have relocated there. On arriving, I found another birder who obviously had the same idea and was already watching not one but two juvenile Sabine's Gulls as well as a Grey Phalarope just metres away!

A Scilly Day Trip

2011-09-20T10:58:00.004+01:00

Monday 19th September
Following on from all the excitement on Scilly, I just could not resist a day trip to the "Magical Isles" to mop up on a few Yanks! It was always going to be tight with only 4hrs on St Mary's, but hey, it had been 15 years since I had last seen Black -and-White Warbler over there and the same length of time for a Northern Waterthrush at Portland, so it seemed rude not to try!
All in all a very enjoyable day with Russ and Doug seeing some quality birds and I also caught up with some old friends.

The day list was as follows:

Scillonian Crossing ( outward and return)
Leach's Petrel - 1
Storm Petrel - 40+
Sooty Shearwater - 1
Puffin - 1
Bonxie - 1
Common Dolphin - 8+

St Mary's
Blue-winged Teal - 1 juv
Bee-Eater - 1 ad
Solitary Sandpiper - 1 juv (thanks Higgo)
Black -and- White Warbler - presumed 1st yr female
Pectoral Sandpiper - 1 juv

If we only had more time, we would have seen the Waterthrush and the Red-eyed Vireo too and I do like to be able to have my cake and eat it, but not this time!! Regardless, it was a great day.

Some very dodgy shots of the day below.

Seabirds still maintain the interest locally and Scilly kicks off the Autumn!

2011-09-17T20:53:00.007+01:00

The Balearic Shearwaters continue to be the main interest on the patch during the last few days with up to 60 bird sitting on the sea along with a flock of 150 Kittiwake. Recent highlights have been:

Thursday 15th September
Yellow Wagtail - 6 Whinchat - 1 GN Diver - 1

Friday 16th September
Arctic Skua - 2

Saturday 17th September
30+ Balearic Shearwaters Glaucous Gull - 1

Meanwhile, the Scillies has exploded with yank passerines today. A Northern Waterthrush and a Black-and-White Warbler. Takes me back to 1996! Might be a nice day trip on the cards?

Three Yank Waders and a Sab's Gull

2011-09-14T08:08:00.004+01:00

Tuesday 13th September
Couldn't resist a day in Cornwall today following the discovery of a Greater Yellowlegs yesterday afternoon on the Camel Estuary. It wasn't a good start as Russ, Doug and I arrived at around 09.30hrs only to find the bird had not been seen. However, the Camel is a big estuary and so we headed out to look for it. After a highly predictable "claim" of the GYL, that was clearly a juvenile Redshank, we continued with our search further up the estuary searching the various waders. However, one guy still refused to believe us and insisted the redshank was the Yellowlegs, despite having a Questar Telescope and the bird being relatively close!

We trudged further up the estuary and spoke to a chap who had seen the GYL, but it had been flushed by a shooter on the estuary! So, we continued scanning 2 miles up the estuary, but still no sign. Our efforts were however rewarded with a juvenile Sabine's Gull that flew up the estuary towards Wadebridge!
We decided to head back, continuing to search the estuary when we had news the GYL had been relocated! Within a few minutes we were watching this moulting adult beauty as it tried to find shelter from the wind. It was pretty inactive and at one point was seen slipping on the rocks and momentarily lost its balance. Worryingly, it was not seen feeding. On our return, we enjoyed cracking views of the Sabine's Gull again just metres away.

After some well needed food, we headed off to Davidstow Airfield for the now almost annual Buff-breasted Sandpiper and then ended in Plymouth with Russ's Spotted Sandpiper! A cracking day.

Other birds seen today included:

The Camel Estuary
12 Black-tailed Godwit
40+ Bar-tailed Godwit
4 Ruff
4 Greenshank
2 Peregrine

Davidstow Airfield
1 Curlew Sandpiper

More Balearics....

2011-09-12T22:49:00.000+01:00

Monday 12th September
Between 07.00 - 08.30hrs

Balearic Shearwater - 76 W
Arctic Skua - 1
Great Skua - 1
Skua Sp - 2
Storm Petrel - 1

Smaller numbers of Kittiwake and a continual movement of Gannet, both west.

Internationally Important Numbers Pass Budleigh!

2011-09-11T21:22:00.005+01:00

Sunday 11th September
Today was certainly an epic day as far as Balearic Shearwaters are concerned! Following yesterday evening's significant numbers passing Budleigh, things went a bit mad this morning as the Mrs, Doug and I watched in excess of 250+ birds pass west in just over 3hrs! The Balearic Shearwater world population is estimated to be only 20,000 - 30,00 individuals, 1% of this total is recognised as being Internationally Important.

Birds were streaming past, sometimes with Manx, but generally in continous small groups and often giving excellent views. A line of Manx seemed to be continually moving W further out for the first 1.5hrs. Orcombe Point approx. 3 miles to the west recorded 316 birds between 06.25hrs and 09.45, a new Devon record. Interestingly, very few birds were recorded further east and south, with Portland Bill recording just 10 birds and Berry Head just 30+ birds! However, 143 were seen past Chesil Cove and 77 past Seaton.
See here for map of sites: http://devonbirdnews.blogspot.com/2011/09/seaton-seawatching.html

Always worth being cautious with actual total numbers involved as it is certainly possible that birds are circulating just out of view, but with the majority seen within the first 2 hours, there are certainly very large numbers in Lyme Bay at present!

Also seen today between 07.00 - 10.30hrs:

Pom Skua - 3 including another very close adult
Bonxie - 6
Arctic Skua - 10+
Skua sp - 2
Kittiwake - 150+ on sea
Commic Tern - 30+

An hour this evening only produced
12+ Balearic Shearwaters W
2 Arctic Skua
1 Glaucous Gull on beach

More Seabird Excitement

2011-09-10T23:06:00.007+01:00

Saturday 10th September
Spent a lot of time staring at the sea again today!
08.00 - 08.45 and 10.00 - 11.00 and 17.30 - 19.15hrs

This morning the visibility was not so great but there were still at least 10+ Balearic Shearwaters visible moving W, up to 5 Arctic Skua, 1 Great Skua and a prob Pom Skua. Also a continual stream of 20+ Commic Tern and 20+ Sandwich Tern with the odd Arctic Tern. Doug and Ray gripped me off with a juv Long-tailed Skua whilst I was having breakfast!

Another look this evening was pretty intense with at least 70+ Balearic Shearwater, including some great close views of birds with Manx Shearwaters and a very large movement of Kittiwake again heading W with large groups sat on the sea . There were at least 300+ birds sitting on the water last thing this evening, but alas no Sabine's Gull. Also 1 Arctic Skua, and a brief Grey Phalarope heading W.

Seawatching Excitement!

2011-09-07T20:20:00.003+01:00

Some exciting seabirds have been seen in Devon during the last few days. The most significant being a record number of the critically endangered Balearic Shearwater, with 304 birds seen from Berry Head yesterday!

Recent seabird excitement from Budleigh over the last few days includes:

Monday 5th September
1 Sooty Shearwater
6+ Arctic Skua
1 prob Pom Skua

Today Weds 7th September
Some cracking views of 4 Balearic Shearwaters this morning as they fed no more than 250M off-shore in with 60+ Gannet. They were on view continually between 07.15 - 08.30 and even the Mrs managed to twitch them on her bike before work! Another 5 Balearic Shearwaters also passed west during the morning. However, the real gem was a stomping adult Pomarine Skua that came in really close to investigate the feeding frenzy! Also on the sea this morning were 2 Sandwich tern, 1 Common tern, 1 Arctic Tern, a 1st winter Med Gull and 6 Common Scoter.

On the nearby Otter Estuary, highlights were:
5 Juv. BT Godwits
1 Barwit
1 ad Med Gull
10 Little Egret
8 Teal
3 Wigeon

A brief look at the sea this evening with Doug produed another 2 more distant Balearic Shearwaters and 2 Common terns heading west.

Patch Ticks, like buses.....

2011-09-04T13:02:00.009+01:00

Friday 2nd and Sunday 4th September 2011
The Otter has provided me with a couple of patch ticks in the last few days and long may it continue. First was a fine Spotted Redshank on Friday 2nd September, but like all scarce waders on the Otter, it spent five minutes on the estuary and then buggered off! Luckily this bird gave its hiding place away as it was calling regularly just as I was passing the hide on the East side of the estuary. Just allowing me to scope it for a couple of minutes before it headed off.

Today, there had clearly been an arrival of migrants, the best of which was a fine Wryneck (patch tick No. 2!) that proudly sunned itself on an Elderberry early this morning.
There were plenty of migrants around, well for the Otter at least, with the following making for a good morning's birding.
07.00 - 12.00
Wheatear - 7+
Whitethroat - 10+
Whinchat - 2
Willow Warbler - 10+
Chiffchaff - 40+
Blackcap - 4+
Linnet - 90+
Yellow Wagtail - 2
Reed Warbler - 2
Spotted Flycatcher - 3
Teal - 12
Common Scoter - 2
Med Gull - 2 (ad and 1st yr)

IRELAND - 22nd - 29th August

2011-08-31T10:35:00.026+01:00

The Mrs and I have just returned from a week in South-West Ireland based for most of the time around the Dingle Peninsula with the hope of doing some seawatching, looking for cetaceans and maybe bumping into the odd yank wader!

It was a great trip and although the winds were not great for seawatching we did very well on cetaceans as the Mrs pulled out a Humpback Whale feeding amongst a mass of Manx Shearwaters and a dozen Sooty Shearwaters. Amazingly, this animal was seen on three consecutive days visible from Clogher Head. Other highlights were numerous Common Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin a few Harbour Porpoise and a lone Ocean Sunfish. We spent a fair bit of time seawatching from Brandon Point, considered as good as the Bridges of Ross in the right conditions (preferably a strong NW with an associated front) but things were pretty quiet.

Despite continual visits to Ventry Bay and other great looking wader sites, we had no luck bumping into rare waders, but there were plenty of commoner waders to sift through. On leaving the Dingle area on our last day, I came across an interesting looking Scoter amongst a group of 18 or so Common Scoter. The bird was a long way off (at least 1.5 - 2km) but it had an immediately obvious glaring yellow bill. I tried to get a little closer, but it was only visible from the roadside above the bay. The seemingly, swollen orange-yellow bill was most obvious in side profile, when the other drake scoters' yellow bill colour disappeared. My thoughts obviously turned to Black Scoter, though I could not see any black tip or cutting edge, but it was so far away, I assumed it would not be easy to pick out. I managed to get the worst photos in the world (below!) and to cut a long story short, it turned out that Killian Mullarney had what was most likely the same bird back in March (when it was much closer!) and it is an extreme aberrant Common Scoter with an all-yellow bill! Certainly an education!

Of course, the best was saved until last with a visit to Ireland's premier wader haunt for rarities, Tacumshin aka "Wader Heaven". It was no less than 17 years ago that I last visited this amazing site and it was to twitch what has to be the most pristine plumaged adult Sharp-tailed Sandpiper that has ever reached our shores. We spent an amazing day just lapping up great views of both rare and common waders and what a treat. Within just 200 metres we were treated to:
2 Semipalmated Sandpipers (ad and juv)
1 White-rumped Sandpiper (ad)
1 Buff-breated Sandpiper (ad)
1 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (ad not as bright as in 1994, but nice all the same!) Found just as we arrived thanks to a swift phone call from KM to let us know of its presence!

By the end of the day, we had notched up a total of 23 species of wader just by visiting Tacumshin, nearby Ladys Island Lake and Rosslare Strand.

All in all a great trip and definitely worth a visit if you want to get away from the crowds and try and find your own birds. Better luck next time! We shall be back.......

Back on the Patch

2011-08-21T22:05:00.010+01:00

Sunday 21st August
A visit to the patch this evening produced a few bits and pieces with the most notable birds being:
Med Gull - 1 adult on the sea
Whimbrel - 1 on the Otter

Yellow Wagtail - 2-3 on the beach/ flying over
Sparrowhawk - Female hunting the saltmarsh

Juvenile Swallow resting on the beach

Whimbrel on the Otter

British Birdwatching Fair 2011

2011-08-20T23:45:00.000+01:00

Friday 19th/ Saturday 20th August
The Mrs and I ventured to Middle England for the annual pigrimage that is the British Birdwatching Fair. This year's conservation effort (and the following two years) are focussing on helping conserve migratory birds that use one of the following three Global Flyways.
The African -Eurasian Flyway
The Americas Flyway
The East Asian - Australasian Flyway

The focus this year was on the African - Eurasian Flyway of which many of our migrant birds obviously use. It is thought that many of the problems lie within the birds wintering grounds in and around West Africa in particular. The BTO & RSPB are very much involved in researching the cause for many of these species declines with the recent shocking downward trends for species like Nightingale and Turtle Dove to name just two. Quite depressing that both these species have declined a further 20+% this year alone! More here: http://www.birdfair.org.uk/about/birdfair-projects/

On a lighter note, much networking, chatting to "celebs" such as Mr Baker and Mr Mullarney and catching up with old friends was the flavour of the two days. Great to catch up with many old friends and people that I have had the pleasure to get to know whilst guiding overseas. Also, managed to discuss future trips and make plans. Hopefully, I shall be returning to do some guiding in Ghana and Brazil next year and the Snow Leopard mission is on!

"Blaina" grips me off with a couple of Iced
Buns that he just happened to have lurking in
his bag! I liked his style.......

2011-08-15T21:53:00.001+01:00

Monday 15th August
On the Otter this evening:
5 Ringed Plover
3 Dunlin
4 Redshank
3 Teal
2 Gadwall

2011-08-11T22:56:00.001+01:00

Thursday 11th August
Glaucous Gull on the Beach this evening and juv Goosander on the Otter.

2011-08-10T10:08:00.002+01:00

Sunday 7th August
An hour's seawatch off the front produced:
6 Manx Shearwaters
1 Great Skua
2 Common Scoter
5 Bottlenose Dolphins (including 2 young animals)

On the Otter:
6 Common Sandpiper
1 Dunlin

2011-08-06T11:00:00.003+01:00

Saturday 6th August
Today on the Otter/Budleigh Salterton, birds of note were:
Glaucous Gull - still on beach
Med. Gull - 1 adult on Otter
4 Common Sandpipers
1 Turnstone - on beach
120 Mallard - on the Otter

Angry William near miss!

2011-08-06T10:59:00.002+01:00

Friday 5th August
On the Otter today, notable birds were:
1 Willow Warbler
1 Wheatear - on beach
5 Common Sandpipers
1 Juvenile Med. Gull

On the way back home from the Otter, whilst cycling, I was within 15 metres of my front garden when I heard the familiar "chipping" of a Crossbill but failed to see it! Guess that takes the garden list to 60.5!!??

2nd Time Lucky

2011-08-05T14:19:00.005+01:00

Thursday 4th August
Despite it being one of the most common raptors in the world, the re-appearance of the Black Kite at Kennerleigh in Mid Devon niggled me! So I returned for a second attempt.

Photos below show diagnostic "black" colour!

Summer Birding

2011-08-02T22:25:00.003+01:00

Tuesday 2nd August
The Glaucous Gull remains on the beach surrounded by sun worshipers today. Also on the nearby Otter Estuary at this evening's high tide were:
25 Little Egret
160+ Mallard
3 Shelduck - all juvs.
1 Little Grebe
1 Coot

Black Kite Distractions!

2011-07-29T15:40:00.003+01:00

Friday 29th July
Thought I'd try my luck with a Black Kite that has been lingering around Ashridge farm nr Crediton in recent days.

Despite having shown well yesterday morning, I dipped. Possibly due to the sign that distracted me as I headed to the farm?

Gripped on the Patch!

2011-07-23T21:45:00.005+01:00

Saturday 23rd July
Had a phone call early this morning from Clive, which I knew meant only one thing, he had found a rare bird on the Otter! An adult Rose-coloured Starling! I shot off on my bike only to find the bird had departed and despite looking for two hours and again this evening, it was never seen again. Never mind tomorrow is another day!

The Cattle Egret continued to perform well and the now reliable Glaucous Gull remains on the beach. Also today a Yellow Wagtail over, 2 Redshank on the Otter and a juvenile Shelduck.

Lyme Bay White-beaked Dolphins

2011-07-22T22:30:00.008+01:00

Friday 22nd July
Joined a number of volunteers on a Marine Life Research boat in Lyme Bay today and enjoyed a fantastic day with White-beaked Dolphins. A cracking marine mammal thought to be the most southerly resident population in the world.
Highlights included:

8 White-beaked Dolphin
3 Harbour Porpoise
850 Manx Shearwater
4 Balearic Shearwater
5 Great Skua
1 Arctic Skua
1 Pomarine Skua

To find out more about the excellent work of Marine Life, visit their website: http://www.marine-life.org.uk/

Cattle Egret on the Otter

2011-07-21T21:09:00.005+01:00

Thursday 21st July
This evening, I finally caught up with yesterday's Cattle Egret. Despite looking yesterday, the bird was only seen briefly by the initial finders. This bright individual showed well on the estuary in association with Little Egrets. Also present were 1 adult Med. Gull, 1 Whimbrel and the Glaucous Gull on the beach. Cannot complain for July!

Exmouth Beach Birding

2011-07-19T13:39:00.009+01:00

Tuesday 19th July
Some cracking photo opportunities today on Exmouth beach and some great views of the long staying Bonaparte's Gull as well as a minimum of 8 Mediterranean Gulls (incl. 3+ Juvs) and many Sandwich Tern. The Bonaparte's does not appear to have changed too much since I first came across it in April, though most notable are newly moulted adult wing feathers and a few tiny black feathers just visible on the top of the head and around the base of the bill.

Bonaparte's and Black-headed Gull

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull

Adult and Juvenile Sandwich Tern

July Glaucous Gull

2011-07-10T22:30:00.002+01:00

Sunday 10th July
A visit to the Otter this morning produced an adult and a 1st Summer Mediterranean Gull off the seafront along with 5 Great-crested Grebes flying west and a very distant skua sp probably Arctic Skua. On the estuary were 5 Little Egrets and 2 Teal.

This evening's surprise was the return of the 2nd Summer Glaucous Gull, last seen 12th June.

Cute and Furry!

2011-07-07T23:19:00.005+01:00

Thursday 7th July
A visit to Blackhole Marsh near Seaton this evening produced the hoped for Water Voles where two animals showed very well.

Recent Highlights on the Otter:
13 Common Sandpiper on 2nd July
1 Greenshank on 3rd July
1st Summer Med Gull 5th July
1 Whimbrel 7th July

Garden Pond Dragons and Damsels

2011-06-20T12:44:00.005+01:00

Sunday 19th June
The pond has produced a few newly emerging Broad-bodied Chasers over the last few days as well as Azure Damselflies. Not much else to report.......

Broad-bodied Chaser imm male

Azure Damselfly

June Glaucous Gull

2011-06-12T20:15:00.004+01:00

Sunday 12th June
After a southerly gale with rain today, I slipped out to the seafront with the Mrs for a half-hearted look at the sea. A dozen Manx Shearwater, 20+ Kittiwake a few Gannet and the odd Fulmar were the highlights. A walk along the beach produced a surprise in the form of a 2nd Summer Glaucous Gull, assumed to be the same bird I had back in April. The most noticeable change in plumage are the new median coverts - See photos of same bird in April here: http://www.creamteabirding.blogspot.com/2011/04/bruiser.html

It's not big and it's not clever, in fact it's just dirty filthy twitching, but it was an Irania!

2011-06-08T10:28:00.013+01:00

7th June - Hartlepool Headland
Ok, ok, I know I should know better but there are certain birds that just get you. It has been many years since I had clapped eyes on my first White-throated Robin in Turkey.
It's not big and it's not clever and it requires no skill, it is simply dirty filthy twitching!

After a pre-dawn barn owl/nightjar survey, I was wide awake and decided to pester a couple of other friends, also suffering from the same affliction that is twitching. Before, too long a rendezvous had been arranged and we were heading north. Five hours later and we were there.

After the previous day's antics with ladders being used to peer into resident's gardens, I was preparing myself for muppetry, but pleasantly surprised to find the twitch was quite a calm affair thanks to one kind Hartlepool resident. This individual, known as "the Doctor" had opened up his garden (amazingly known as the Doctor's Garden) to allow the "unwashed" inside. As we stepped through the garage and into the garden, we were transported into a beautiful well kept garden whilst the gardener pottered around going about his duties and the eastern gem performed to around 40 appreciative and well behaved on-lookers.

I admit, I would have rather seen the male of the species, but this presumed first summer female bird had a certain charm and character as it posed around the garden dropping its wings, flicking its tail upright and flycatching from a lone dead tree.

It was dirty, it was twitching, but it was a pleasant day spent with a couple of good mates watching a 3rd for Britain. The only thing that could have added to the day, was if a cream tea had been provided in the garden! But, hey, you can't have your cake and eat it......... Can you?

A blurry Eastern Gem

2011-05-29T22:45:00.006+01:00

Belated Garden News for Monday 25th May

With all the Lundy excitement and Shiny Blue helicopters etc. I forgot to mention the garden mega, taking the garden list to 60 species.
Whilst watching Serotine Bats over the nearby green, amazingly a Nightjar suddenly appeared and was later seen by Lee and I hunting over the garden!

It seemed an amazing record, but with the East Devon Heaths breeding area only 2km away as the nightjar flies, I guess it is not that outrageous. Research in Dorset using radio tracking methods showed that nightjars do actually forage up to 7km away from the heathland breeding areas, often favouring deciduous woodland, orchards and village gardens.

See more here: http://www.dorsetbirdclub.org.uk/Ians_01.htm

Lundy Island

2011-05-28T13:58:00.015+01:00

Lundy Island 24th - 26th May 2011
Didn't we have a lovely time the week we went to Lundy?

Well, yep it was pretty good, despite the fact that it was blowing a hooley much of the time and the Oldenburg took its usual casualties on the journey over. Only one of our team joined them!

The long staying Trumpeter Finch did the decent thing and stayed long enough to grace us with its presence. Despite the less than calm weather, we tried to hear the Barolo's Shearwater on 2 nights but failed. The Manx Shearwaters were still in good voice though.

One particular member of our group seemed particularly sensitive to the wild elements of Lundy's wind and sun and he came down with that locally known ailment "Trumpet Head". As a result, this seemed to confuse local birders as to whether there were actually 2 Trumpeter Finches present on the island - See below.

Our two night stay ended similar to my experience with Darryl last year and we headed off the island in a nice shiny blue helicopter as the Oldenburg was cancelled due to the increasing wind!

Lundy Island

The Pink Poser aka Trumpeter Finch

Clear symptoms of Trumpet Head

Compare above and below:
Some birders believed there may have

been 2 TFs on the island. Also note
the similar diet of both

The shiny blue helicopter

Two very excited passengers!

South Light and Rat Island

After his flight, Lee explained to a fellow
passenger how when he grows up, he
wants to be a helicopter pilot

For a more accurate account of this trip visit: http://leedingain.blogspot.com/2011/05/lundy-24th-26th-may.html

2011-05-22T13:38:00.036+01:00

Abruzzo NP, Italy - 14th - 19th May 2011Just returned from another great trip to the Abruzzo National Park, just 2 hours from Rome. It was another mammal quest looking for Bears and Wolves and we were successful on both counts. The month of May certainly seems to be the best time for viewing bears, despite the inevitable pain of relentless scanning! I guess it depends whether you want it "on a plate" at a baited bear hide or a bit more "natural" with Wolves as an added possibility. Abruzzo certainly does seem to be one of the few places where you stand a good chance of seeing Bears in the wild without the need to visit a hide. Sadly, this endemic population of the Marsican Bear is still suffering from illegal poisoning and a female bear was recently killed on the road prior to our arrival.
Trip Report contrasting both our trips (August 2010 and May 2011) to come. In the meantime, here are a few snaps plus some video of Wolf and Bear.

The village of Opi

Abruzzo Orchid

Bear and Wolf Country

Apennine Wolf

Marsican Bear

Italian Breakfasts!

Cream Tea Birder!

2011-05-06T12:32:00.020+01:00

LESVOS 28th April - 5th May 2011
Just returned from leading a trip in Lesvos. As usual, Lesvos was stacked full of migrants and specialities. Only my second trip to this island, but interesting to see how different the birding can be. The general feel was that birds were arriving later this year. Bee-Eaters only arrived in large numbers just as we were leaving and I saw only one Red-backed Shrike all week!

Highlights included Eastern Bonelli's Warbler and hearing that all important "chip" call (very loud!), fantastic views of Montagu's Harriers of varying plumages, Baillon's Crake, Collared Flycatcher, a big fall of Spotted Flycatchers and many Icterine Warblers to name but a few.

However, the main highlight was my co-leader, Ian, alerting me to a "grey" shrike that he found whilst looking for orchids. Ian went to round up the group whilst I and another group member went to re-locate the bird and I soon found myself confronted with a Great Grey Shrike! It appears to be only the 2nd confirmed record of a "large grey shrike" in recent years with the only previous bird being a pallidirostris or Steppe Grey Shrike in the autumn of 2008.

Surprisingly, our bird seemed to be of the nominate race excubitor with very little white in the closed wing. The rump did appear to be very pale, though within the range for excubitor. The amount of white in the open tail/wing (from other photos) could perhaps point towards the homeyeri race (from SE Russia), though integrades between the two races are not uncommon. An interesting bird all the same! See excellent plates from Collins Bird Guide below:

Cinereous Bunting

Cretzschmar's bunting

Masked Shrike

Great Grey Shrike

presumed excubitor?

Lesvos Flowers

Citrine Wagtail

Barred Warbler

Ruppell's Warbler

Little Bittern

Scops Owl

Shags of the Mediterannean Race desmarestii

2011-04-25T20:58:00.007+01:00

Sunday 24th / Monday 25th April

Bonaparte's Gull still present on the Otter for the last couple of days. Also this evening (Monday) a first year Mediterannean Gull and a Whimbrel.

Colour-ringed Shelduck
Below is one of three colour-ringed Shelduck that have been frequenting the Otter Estuary during the last week or so. It turns out that these birds have been colour-ringed on the Axe Estuary (approximately 13 miles east of the Otter, as the Shelduck flies), by the Axe Estuary Ringing Group. To date, 95 birds have been fitted with yellow darvic rings during the winter of 2010/11.

The above bird HV is an adult male, first colour-ringed on the Axe on 26/3/11 and this is the first re-sighting of the bird. I have recorded two other birds that appear to be paired up AT (a female) and HF (a male). It turns out that the female bird was first ringed on the Axe on 15/12/07, but a colour ring was only recently fitted in December 2010.

Shelducks are fairly well studied through ringing recoveries. Most British and Irish adult breeding birds have a well defined moult migration with the peak movement during the first half of July when birds congregate in the Heligoland Bight of the Wadden Sea. Here they join birds from Scandinavia and the Baltic.

However, some British and Irish birds avoid the above journey and instead moult locally in large estuaries, in particular, Bridgwater Bay on the Severn Estuary, the Forth in Scotland, the Humber and the Wash in East Anglia.

Recent counts on the Otter have been up to 27 birds, so if you are making a visit for the Bonaparte's Gull, keep an eye out for colour-ringed birds.

If you see any birds here (or elsewhere) Neil Croton from the Axe Estuary Ringing Group will be very happy to hear from you! He can be contacted on neil@croton.fslife.co.uk

2011-04-23T22:59:00.005+01:00

Saturday 23rd April
The Bonaparte's Gull was back on the Otter again this morning and again this evening. Still the possibility that the Dawlish Warren bird is a different bird, but still yet to confirm both birds being seen simultaneously. At home, the pond has seen the emergence of a few Large Red Damselflys.

2011-04-22T22:00:00.005+01:00

Friday 22nd April
A look on the patch this morning was fairly uneventful other than 3 Common Scoter on the sea. This evening was more interesting as the Bonaparte's Gull re-appeared, feeding on the estuary from 7pm until 8.10pm when it flew out to sea and headed west with 2 black-headed gulls. Also this evening, 15+ Manx Shearwaters (most heading west), an auk sp west, 27 Shelduck on the estuary and the lone drake Gadwall.

2011-04-17T20:13:00.005+01:00

Sunday 17th April
A lovely sunny calm day today and the sea was like a mill pond, but good weather attracts hordes of Jo Public, so I thought I'd leave the patch until this evening until the "Jo" had thinned out a bit. The Bonaparte's Gull re-appeared briefly this evening from 18.05 - 18.10 sat on the estuary high tide, and then flew high west over Budleigh until lost to view. I'm sure I could have seen it from the garden! Also this evening, 2 Teal, the lone drake Gadwall, 14+ Shelduck, 14 Whimbrel east, a single Ringed Plover and a cracking group of 35+ pale-bellied Brent Geese west over the glassy sea.

2011-04-16T13:21:00.033+01:00

BRUISER!

Saturday 16th April
Looks as if my friend the Bonaparte's Gull has now departed the Otter as no sign this morning and the black-headed gulls it was associating with are down to just 2 birds today. However, 2 Whimbrel heading north up the estuary and at least 6 singing Cetti's Warblers were the main birds of note. Well, until I scanned the sea! Whilst scanning the sea, I picked up a fairly distant Glaucous Gull sat off-shore by a small fishing boat. Cursing the fact that I was not on that boat, somewhat unbelievably, the boat then headed for Budleigh Beach and the Glaucous Gull followed! I made a few calls and then quickly cycled up the seafront to be confronted with this brute of a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull and a fine patch tick! Looks as if the Otter and Budleigh are currently a magnet for rare and scarce gulls - long may it continue!

First View!

Final Views!

Lapping it up!

2011-04-14T15:32:00.011+01:00

Thursday 14th April

Had a quick look for the Bonaparte's Gull early this morning for an hour but could only find a few Black-headed Gulls. Luckily at around 09.30hrs Doug called, to say it was back. Spent most of the morning just lapping it up.
This is the 2nd record for the Otter Estuary, the last being on 31st Jan - 3 Feb 2006.

Bonaparte's in the rain!

2011-04-13T21:51:00.023+01:00

Wednesday 13th April A morning visit to the patch today produced 9 Teal, a drake Gadwall and 22 Shelduck, including a colour ringed bird ringed on the Axe Estuary in March 2011. However, this evening I nipped out in the rain and whilst sifting through the gulls was drawn to a small black-headed type gull seen briefly in flight before I lost it. Whilst waiting in the hide and sheltering from the rain, the bird re-appeared and shuffled into view with a Black-headed Gull - 1st winter Bonaparte's Gull! I quickly ran back to my car to grab my scope in the pouring rain and called the Mrs to see if she could courier my camera to the car park! Thankfully, she duly obliged and I ran off to the beach to get some record shots in the poor light. A few birders managed to twitch it tonight. Hopefully it shall stick around. Also female Wigeon tonight!

Busy, busy, busy - but always time for cake

2011-04-11T16:48:00.003+01:00

Monday 11th April It seems to have been all work and not much birding over the last couple of weeks, though a brief afternoon on Lundy following some off-shore surveys did give rise to some pleasant birding and a large fall of 100+ Willow Warblers. The local Peregrines seem to be getting down to business and both Reed and Sedge Warblers have appeared on the patch.

However, onto more important matters - The Mrs baked a truly delicious chocolate cake for my recent birthday (hence the photo shows very little remaining!) and I was taken to the River Cottage Canteen for lunch owned by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall. Join Hugh's Fish Fight here: http://www.fishfight.net/sign-up/

Long (billed) Stayers!

2011-03-28T21:52:00.002+01:00

Monday 28th March Some opportune work in Dorset resulted in a visit to Lodmoor for the long staying Long-billed Dowitcher this evening, where a Marsh Harrier also performed.

Everybody stay calm, it's just a red kite!

2011-03-24T10:25:00.000Z

Thursday 24th March Having now returned from Scotland and leaving the Golden and Sea Eagles behind me, I felt it only right to give the patch a whirl today. A stomp around the coastal path produced little other than a single Wheatear and the Otter was fairly quiet too with just a couple of Black-tailed Godwits and the last remaining Wigeon and Teal plus 17 Shelduck (27 present on the 22nd). However, whilst cycling back home along the seafront, the entire Budleigh gull population went balistic and I started scanning the skies, to be rewarded with a fine red kite heading north. This was the second time I have seen red kite on the patch and it was still eluding the garden list and looking at its flight path, it MUST have flown over the garden! So I sped off in hot pursuit and saw the bird again heading for some high ground that I knew was visible from home! Alas, once in the garden it had already passed by - Never mind, there is always cake to take away the pain........ All copyright to the poster below goes to my good friend the RAW BAKER, now taking postal delivery orders for her wonderful cakes and pudings! http://rawbaking.blogspot.com/

View from the office on Wednesday

2011-03-18T14:04:00.001Z

Working in Scotland during the winter can have its good days!

Spring is here!

2011-03-15T19:56:00.001Z

Working in Scotland again. Vantage Point Counts in the snow! 6 hours, a few red grouse, golden plover and snow buntings. That's your lot.

Give a house martin a home!

2011-03-12T21:38:00.001Z

Saturday 12th March
Finally got round to putting up a house martin nest box today. Fingers crossed, we get some visitors. Watch this space.
If you want to give a house martin a home, this year try this link
http://www.birdfood.co.uk/product_details.php?area_id=2&group_id=19&nav_id=41&prd_id=777&CJWSESSID=68ddea0213656426086b2696f5daaed6

Belated news for Tuesday 8th March

2011-03-10T21:18:00.001Z

Never mind Rachel, not long until you can eat these again!

Lynx Trip 3

2011-03-03T21:49:00.000Z

Some belated pics from our 3rd trip to the Sierra Morena, Spain searching for Iberian Lynx. Also, in true Cream Tea Birder style, some wobbly video clips ( I have a better tripod head now!) to give you a feel for the bearded beasts.

Male Iberian Lynx - Video still

Natterjack Toad

Blue Rock Thrush

Common Cranes

Challenging Identification features?

2011-02-22T23:01:00.001Z

Above: Tricky identification of boots. Easily confused with much better quality boots.

QUESTION: what is the simplest identification? Confidently identifying an Oriental Turtle Dove or identifying your own footwear?

ANSWER: clearly it should be the latter, but it seems that some people have problems with the most elementary of tasks, as highlighted by my trip to Chipping Norton today.

Two words, COMPLETE MUPPET!!!

Returned to Chipping Norton today and successfully twitched the ORIENTAL TURTLE DOVE thanks to the great hospitality of a local resident allowing access to his house. Here the bird showed very well feeding in the garden. Understandably, the house owner requested that all visitors leave their footwear outside the house.

Having watched the bird for an hour, I left the house to find that some complete muppet had walked off in my "brown" gore-tex walking boots and kindly left me their crappy "grey" walking boots (a size smaller) in return. How considerate, thank you so much!

I left messages on the bird information services for birders to make contact with me, but needless to say, I am still waiting.

A taster

2011-02-21T22:20:00.001Z

A digi-scoped shot of one of the IBERIAN LYNX from recent trip.
More details to come with some video clips.....

The real Lynx Effect!

2011-02-19T21:48:00.001Z

A truly memorable day with 4 different sightings of at least 3 different individual IBERIAN LYNX and some cracking and prolonged views! A single individual at dawn and then a wait until a brief view of a female at around 3pm. Then from around 3.30 to 5pm the show really started! We had two excellent encounters with different males giving excellent scope views right in front of the viewpoint. All sorts of interesting behaviour with stalking, scent marking, scratching and sleeping!

Some record shots and video to come!

Mammal watching is hard work!

2011-02-19T05:44:00.001Z

More tomorrow, as exhausted from scanning! Two more IBERIAN LYNX sightings this evening!

10,000 rocks, 8 legs and 2 beards

2011-02-17T21:35:00.001Z

Well, the PFT (Pre Feline Tension) has eased today with our first full day of IBERIAN LYNX searching over. Two animals (a big male and youngster) seen sat on a rock at about 700m distance this gave good scope views in good light this evening. Poor video footage obtained in very windy conditions. Helen exhausted herself with scanning and needs sleep!

Birds performed well today with fantastic roller coasting displays by GOLDEN EAGLES and plenty of SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLES too.

Hopefully there is more LYNX action to come!

Chipping (Dipping) Norton

2011-02-16T04:24:00.001Z

Well, it has been a while since my last blog post and so thought I'd return with a good old fashioned DIP! Yep, that's right I found myself participating in some dirty twitching antics yesterday and was drawn to the town of Chipping Norton with a few hundred other waifs and strays, in the vain hope of seeing an ORIENTAL TURTLE DOVE. It was far from my favoured type of twitch, as we all loitered around a residential street hoping the bird would return to its favourite seeded garden patch. Needless to say, it did not re-appear after its early morning feed; despite the house owner's great hospitality as he allowed people into his house as more people queued outside his front door, hoping it might just return. The usual suspects were there, including "George Michael" and "Twitch Manager" one guy even had a step-ladder to peer into gardens - oh dear!

On the positive, I caught up with old twitching friends Hamish and Wids and chatted about "the old days".

Never mind, I am sure we shall back again!

Now suffering with PFT, but that's another blog post! Toodle pip.

Short but Sweet.

2011-01-17T22:29:00.000Z

Monday 17th January
Too much work to do at the moment and not enough time for birding. However, highlights over the last few days have been a drake Red-breasted Merganser on the river Otter north of White Bridge, a good count of 41 Curlew and finally after a few hours of looking at the weekend, the Bittern showed well tonight in fields N of White Bridge.

Budleigh Bittern is Back!

2011-01-09T18:21:00.000Z

Sunday 9th January 2011
A cracking day today with blue skies and sunshine and the big news of the day was finding a bittern with the Mrs on the patch. Thanks to Doug who mentioned that a farmer near him had given a good description of a bittern flying over fields near Otterton Sewage Works (2Km from the Otter "as the bittern flies") a couple of days ago. So, being the eternal optimists, we headed down to the flooded fields north of White Bridge in the hope that lightning can strick twice!
Sure enough, it can and we had fantastic views in the late afternoon sunshine. Interestingly, it is almost to the exact day that saw the first confirmed sighting of a bittern on the patch in 2010 (11th Jan 2010). Assumed to be a returning bird.

An evening visit to the Commons resulted in just a brief view of a single ringtail Hen Harrier.

2011-01-08T18:44:00.000Z

Saturday 8th January
A good day with the following highlights on the Otter:
380+ Wigeon
5 Gadwall
2 Shoveler
4 Black-tailed Godwit
4 RT Divers on the sea

Finished the day with a couple of cracking Hen Harriers (male and ringtail) at dusk on the Commons.

Two for the price of one!

2011-01-05T20:06:00.001Z

Tuesday 4th January 2011
Today the Mrs and I followed up a "report" of a female cirl bunting east of the river Otter and came up trumps with two for the price of one!

This is very exciting news as generally, cirl buntings east of the Exe are very scarce, despite it having previously been a breeding bird in this part of East Devon during the 1970s. It would seem the prolonged snow cover in most of Devon forced these somewhat "lazy" birds to move further than usual in search of new feeding areas. RSPB cirl bunting research has shown that most cirl buntings stray no further than 2Km between breeding and wintering sites.

Fingers crossed these birds hang around and find a suitable breeding site nearby to help expand the already vulnerable range due to the decline in mixed farming.
Winter stubbles, grass margins and good hedgerows are the key to succcess!

Handsome male

Somewhat drab, but still distinctive female

2011-01-02T22:28:00.000Z

2nd January 2011
Another look on the sea today for just 30 minutes produced 40+ Red-throated Divers moving west, 4 Common Scoter east plus a number of auks. Tried for Barn Owl this evening and failed as we stared at a grass field but still managed to put the world to rights!

The Mrs homemade Christmas Cake showed well in the evening as Lee attempted his icing snorting party trick.

2011-01-01T22:20:00.000Z

New Year's Day 2011
As recent tradition has evolved, the Mrs and I did a "casual" year list today on bike and foot, joined by our good friends Lee and Rachel for the afternoon session.
The final tally made 72 species with highlights being:

Great-northern Diver - 1 off Budleigh sea front

Red-throated Diver - 12 east past Budleigh sea front
Goosander - 1 on the Otter
Bar-tailed Godwit - 1 on the Otter
Blackcap - 2+ in the garden

The day was rounded off with a good old "ruby" at the Taj Mahal - bloody good.

Boxing Day Gripper! So close........

2010-12-28T22:13:00.001Z

Sunday 26th December
Awoke to frozen pipes after a record -14 degrees was recorded at Exeter airpor! Whilst defrosting the pipes, my next door neighbour was gripping me off as a Waxwing fed on apples on her patio! The first I knew was when I went to the garden to put more food out and our neighbour called out from the window to tell me the news!
Despite regular garden watching for the last few days, no further sign - gutted!

Boxing Day activity in the garden was impressive with 30+ Redwing, 5 Blackbirds and 2 Song Thrushes feasted on the apples!

Budleigh Feeding Station - Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T21:13:00.001Z

Saturday 25th December
All go at the Budleigh feeding station today!

16 Redwing

3 Fieldfare
4 Blackbird

1 Song Thrush

1 Meadow Pipit
2 Blackcap

1 Wren

4 Goldfinch

3 Chaffinch
1 Great spotted Woodpecker

2 Pied Wagtail

Garden list soars to 58!

2010-12-21T20:26:00.000Z

Tuesday 21st December
A fine Reed Bunting in the garden today - very nice!
Still need to entice a Waxwing in!

Proper Snow arrives in Budleigh!

2010-12-20T18:24:00.000Z

Monday 20th December

A good 15-20cm of snow this morning and Budleigh came to a stand still! The main road into Budleigh was pretty treacherous and blocked by a fallen telegraph pole, so nothing for it but to go birding again!

Highlights included:

6+ Black-tailed Godwit
3 Bar-tailed Godwit
200+ Lapwing
6 Gadwall
6 Shoveler

1 Eider (on the sea)
Red-breasted Merganser - 1 drake
Goosander - 1 female

90+ Fieldfare

The best highlight though was a fly-over Snipe for the garden list taking the tally to 57 species.

A quick visit to the patch late afternoon

2010-12-09T22:14:00.000Z

Glossy Ibis feeding well N of White Bridge, Grey Plover still on the estuary and 1 Black-tailed Godwit still with Curlews.

The freeze continues

2010-12-07T18:01:00.000Z

Tuesday 7th December

Another fiercely cold day with temperatures failing to get much above freezing. No sign of the hoped for "patch mega" in the form of yesterday's Waxwing, but some good counts of wildfowl around the estuary.

Gadwall - 11 (7 drakes)
Pochard - 3
Tufted Duck - 1
Shoveler - 2 drakes
Pintail - 1 drake
Goosander - 1 redhead on the river
Eider - 2 on the sea
Common Scoter - 3 on the sea
Teal - 150+
Wigeon- no specific count
Med. Gull - 1 adult
Black-tailed Godwit - 2
Knot - 1
Grey Plover- 1
Glossy Ibis - 1

Panic Over!

2010-12-04T16:42:00.000Z

Saturday 4th December
An exciting day's birding (in terms of the Otter!) today. Clear highlight was a Short-eared Owl found by Ray this morning. It was sitting on the salt marsh vegetation being harrassed by carrion crows, until it finally had enough and flew high west. A scarce bird in Devon these days.

Waders today gave a good show with 33 Dunlin (particularly good count), 1 Knot, 1 Grey Plover (scarce bird on the Otter), 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6+ Redshank, 4+ Ringed Plover, 4+ Lapwing, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 30+ Curlew and 12+ Snipe, but no sign of yesterday's reported Ruff. Other highlights included 2 adult Med. Gulls, 2+ Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler, Bullfinch 300+ Skylark a single Brambling and the first Water Pipit of the winter on the Cricket Pitch.

Finally, why the title Panic Over?
Having become quite attached to our now resident Glossy Ibis, I last saw the bird on the 30th November and it appeared to not be feeding too well and roosting when it should have been feeding. I was therefore concerned it may have finally moved on or even succumbed during the recent freeze. However, today it was alive and well, but has moved north of White Bridge rather than its favoured southern fields - Phew!

2010-12-02T00:25:00.000Z

Wednesday 1st December
The cold snap continues and a quick visit to the Otter today produced:
2 Knot (scarce on the Otter)
10 Dunlin
25 Lapwing
1 Golden Plover
lots of Redwing
Fieldfare

Yesterday- a single glossy ibis still, but no sign today

Wot no Lynx!

2010-11-28T19:25:00.000Z

Friday 28th November

The Mrs and I have recently returned from our second trip in search of one of the rarest cats in the world, the Iberian Lynx. Having previously been successful in our quest during February of this year having had the amazing experience of seeing the locally known male Lynx (known as Cooco) strutting across a bridge (see here), we returned with high hopes.

However, despite searching daily from dawn to dusk for a total of 30 hours, we came away empty handed, just highlighting how random these animals can be! A family party of four animals were seen during our stay by some very helpful Spaniards.
Looking on the positive, we have learned a few more new sites of where to watch from and we shall definitely return - watch this space.

As always, the bird interest was excellent - Highlights included:

Spanish Imperial Eagle
Golden Eagle
Griffon Vulture
Black Vulture
Goshawk
Azure-winged Magpie
Iberian Grey Shrike
Hawfinch
Crag Martin

Big Storm.......

2010-11-17T23:12:00.000Z

Wednesday 17th November
A very large front came through last night and was still howling this morning with very strong SSE winds. A quick look off the sea early this morning produced nothing, but a return visit in the calm and sunny conditions in the afternoon produced:
2 cracking adult Little Gulls investigating the surf on the seafront, a Bonxie cruising around at half distance and a late Sandwich Tern flying around in the glare of the sun.

Brambling......

2010-11-14T18:19:00.000Z

Sunday 14th November
A brambling feeding in with a mixed finch flock of Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Linnet was a welcome addition to the patch tally. Also Glossy Ibis, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 33 Curlew were the most notable birds in a brief visit this afternoon.

Then there were two.....

2010-11-13T19:04:00.000Z

Saturday 13th November
A good day on the patch today, the highlight being finding 2 Lapland Buntings, seemingly different to the single brighter plumaged bird on the 31st October.

Other birds today around the Otter:
Med Gull - 1 adult
Wigeon - 120+
Teal
Shelduck - 1
Kingfisher - 2+
Glossy Ibis - 1
Black-tailed Godwit - 2
Curlew - 26+
Peregrine - 2
Kestrel - 1
Common Scoter - 1
Reed Bunting - 12+
Linnet - 50+
Skylark - 50+
Water Rail - 2+

The Yanks keep coming!

2010-11-11T16:52:00.000Z

Thursday 11th November
After a"report" of an American Robin being seen at the Turf Hotel beside the Exe Estuary late last night, it was soon relocated by a keen Ernie early this morning - Thanks Ernie!

This presumed 1st winter male showed very well and is a much wanted Devon bird with only three previous Devon records all on Lundy; the last in 1982!

Also today Short-eared owl Exminster Marshes, Glossy Ibis on the Otter along with 30 Curlew, 1 Brent Goose and 2 Common Scoter on the sea.

2010-11-10T17:36:00.000Z

Wednesday 10th November
An opportune bit of work near Seaton today, allowed a minor diversion to slip in and see the Long-billed Dowitcher for 10 minutes that was showing well at Colyford this morning. A couple of ropey record shots below.

Biting North-easterly......

2010-11-09T21:01:00.001Z

Tuesday 9th November
Finally feels as if winter is on its way today. A brief foray to the patch produced 28 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Glosssy Ibis, 115+ Wigeon, 120+ Teal, Kingfisher and 5 Common Scoter on the sea. I am coming to terms with the fact that William (Budleigh's infamous wintering Whimbrel) has either gone to the great wader sanctuary in the sky or has decided to turn its back on the winter and head for Ghana! Perhaps that is what the Glossy Ibis is thinking it should have done!! - Who knows, maybe it will be our William replacement for the winter.
It's all exciting stuff here on the Otter you know..........

Alfred Hitchcock?

2010-11-07T21:39:00.000Z

The starling roost continues to swell, as does my stomach with Rachel's delicious cakes!
See link for the Hitchcock experience: http://leedingain.blogspot.com/2010/10/lapland-bunting.html

One of Rachel's finest!

Lapland Bunting finally arrives on the Otter

2010-10-31T20:24:00.000Z

Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st October
Had the pleasure of entertaining our good friends Lee and Rachel for the weekend. Highlights included a fine home made chocolate cake made by the Mrs, introducing Lee and Rachel to our pet Glossy Ibis and finally finding a Lapland Bunting on the patch after many hours of looking over the last few weeks in this record year for the species!

The weekend was rounded off nicely with around 5,000 Starlings coming into roost whilst 2 Sparrowhawks caused havoc!

Wagtails and Parakeet!

2010-10-22T19:14:00.000+01:00

Friday 22nd October
Pretty quiet over the patch of late, though a single Glossy Ibis remains and the Starling roost is building in number with around 1,000 birds in recent nights. However, the biggest news came in the form of no less than than 3 migrant Grey Wagtails on the roof on 21st October to add to the Wheatears earlier in the Spring! Need to keep a special eye on our roof!
Finally, tonight on the patch, a call I instantly recognised from the South-East, alerted me to a Ring-necked Parakeet being mobbed by Jackdaws as it tried to find somewhere to roost! An unusual bird down here in the South West - Escape or a wandering bird from the ever increasing numbers in teh South-East?

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

2010-10-14T21:30:00.000+01:00

Thursday 14th October

Green Heron - Rude not to......

A sack full of Vagrants!

2010-10-13T20:21:00.001+01:00

SHETLAND : UNST 2nd - 9th October 2010
The island of Unst, is the most northerly isle in Britain and an amazing place both for birds and scenery. I have always been a staunch fan of the Scillies in autumn since my first visit in 1989 and I have usually made at least one visit in Spring or Autumn every year since. However, with the seemingly recent northerly shift in our more exciting weather systems, I decided to head north with two mates and throw the rarity dice!

We arrived at Lerwick after 12hrs of pain on the ship from Aberdeen in a force 8 South-Easterly, to the news that Britain's 2nd Rufous-tailed Robin had been found on North Ronladsay, but unfortunately dead. It was surely going to be a good week?

Well, the list was impressive and included many minor scarcities and major rarities as well as a few finds for our team too including 4+ YBWs, 2 Little Buntings, a Pallas's Warbler and a Dusky Warbler.

Scilly has received a bashing for its lack of rare birds in recent years, but it is a place that will always produce rarities despite what others might say and it is a place I shall certainly return to - but shall I return to Unst? See the week's tally below and I'll let you decide.........

Lapland Bunting - 10 - 50 daily

Snow Bunting - 100+
Greenland White-fronted Goose - 2
Barnacle Goose
Long-tailed Duck
Whooper Swan
Little Gull

Bluethroat - 1
Common Rosefinch - 1

Yellow-browed Warbler - 9+
Little Bunting - 3
Black Tern - a rare bird in Shetland and despite checking for American Black Tern, we had to settle for the commoner!
Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll - 1
Buff-bellied Pipit - 1
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - 1
Sykes's Warbler - down to 3 metres!
Blyth's Reed Warbler - 1 finally seen well
Dusky Warbler -1
Pallas's Warbler -1
Lanceolated Warbler -1 watched with just 4 other people!
Otter - 1

Some highlights below - Thanks to Mr Stanbury for letting me use his cracking photos of Lancy,Pallas's warblers and Lapland Bunting.

Lamba Ness looking towards Norwick

Literally scores of Lapland Buntings

The most comfortable Bus Shelter!

The Team

The Stanbury's Pallas's Warbler

SKAW: Lancy habitat!

The Fetlar Sykes's Warbler showing to 3 metres!

A fantastically obliging "Lancy"
Digi-binned!

Or in your face!

2010-10-11T21:22:00.000+01:00

Monday 11th October
Just returned from a week on Shetland birding the most northerly isle in Britain aka UNST - but more on that later.......

Today the focus was a great find by Devon's new County recorder, Steve Waite, in the form of a Solitary Sandpiper at Black Hole Marsh, Seaton and a first for Devon.

Belated news for yesterday!

2010-09-29T22:21:00.000+01:00

The Lawn Bakery's finest!

Tasted bloody good......