Snow Buntings

A great find by local Exmouth birder Glyn Vernall yesterday. My first in Budleigh since the birds I was lucky to find back in November 2011 and in the exact same spot!

One of two birds present

Bearded Tits on the Otter Estuary!

Having recently returned from my annual pilgrimage to St Martin's, Isles of Scilly (more on that to come), I have been eager to get back on the local patch and was super chuffed to find at least 3 Bearded Tits (yesterday 14th October) on the Otter Estuary NR. First picked up by their distinctive "pinging" call.

This was a species that I had always hoped to see/find on the local patch as there have been previous records on the Otter Estuary, but before I moved here. It is still considered a rare bird in Devon with just 2-3 records most years, more often than not around the Exe Reedbeds. 

The last documented record for the Otter was back in 2003! 

Today 15th, I confirmed 4 birds present and despite being highly mobile and elusive, I got lucky with a photo of the male as it perched briefly at the top of the reeds before heading back into cover.

So far I have not been able to confirm all sexes/ages of the birds other than what appears to be an adult male and a juvenile.

Photo 1: Male Bearded Tit, Otter Estuary NR

Photo 2: Juvenile (top left) & Male (bottom right): Bearded Tits, Otter Estuary NR

Photo 3: This is the same bird (top left) as in Photo 2: Extensive black in tail and wing and dark lores, indicative of a juvenile.
Possibly a yellow bill? would make it a young male

Photo 4: Record shot when first discovered birds on 14th October

Juveniles on the Otter Estuary NR

Great to see so many juvenile Shelducks on the patch with the highest number I have ever known., so clearly the Restoration Project has created a great creche for these birds. Based on my highest count of 35 Juveniles in July, I suspect at least 6-7 broods have hatched within the Otter Valley which is great news. Also pleased to see 2 fully fledged juvenile Little Ringed Plovers in the last couple of days which were accompanied by an adult, so presumably bred in the relatively near area.

Juvenile Shelduck

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover, one of two birds

Adult Little Ringed Plover

Passage Waders and more GWT

Great to see some wader passage on the Otter Estuary NR yesterday morning in the drizzly conditions and a light SE wind. A very flighty mixed flock of at least 55 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling and 7 Ringed Plover were whizzing up and down the estuary. 

The Green-winged Teal showed much better on the evening of the 4th May and the first Shelduck ducklings of 2024 (9 birds) were fantastic to see. Shelduck numbers have increased considerably since LORP, so fingers crossed for many more new recruits!

Dunlin, Ringed Plover And Sanderling, Otter Estuary NR 5th May

Drake Green-winged Teal, Otter Estuary NR 4th May

Drake Green-winged Teal, Otter Estuary NR 4th May

Drake Green-winged Teal, Otter Estuary NR 4th May

Shelducks, Otter Estuary NR 4th May

The first Shelduck ducklings of 2024!

Green-winged Teal

Chuffed to find this Green-winged Teal today on the patch this afternoon! It was sleeping when I first found it and it spent most of its time on one of the islands that the Shelduck like to rest on. It seems to be the 3rd record for the Otter Estuary - Thanks to Mark Bailey for the Stats!

First Record: Dec 1970

Second Record:  Dec 1999

Third Record: May 2024

Obviously, I was very wary of the hybrid potential with ducks! However, it appears to show all the classic id features.

1 - Strong vertical white flank stripe

2 - Very little pale surround to the green face mask

3 - Lack of strong white horizontal stripe below scapulars. There is a hint of paler grey but nothing that seems too alarming.

Additional features that can help and seem to be present include a richer pinker breast colour. smoother grey and less coarsely pattern flanks and possibly a narrower, parallel-sided upper border to speculum, which is mostly orange-coloured (broader, mostly white and more wedge-shaped in Eurasian Teal).

Useful References:

https://www.birdguides.com/articles/species-profiles/focus-on-identifying-female-green-winged-and-baikal-teal/

https://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/03/distinguishing-green-winged-and-common-teal/

My first view of the Green-winged Teal

Heads up! A square-headed look

Green-winged Teal, Otter Estuary NR

Green-winged Teal, Otter Estuary NR

Underwing of GW Teal

Upperwing showing extensive thin orange above speculum?

Rich coloured breast

Very slight paler horizontal grey line below scapulars

Eurasian Teal on the Otter Estuary, March 2024

A CR Shelduck from the Axe Estuary also on the island

Migrants finally arriving

Despite a lack of blog updates, I have been out birding pretty much every day throughout March and April staying loyal to the patch around Budleigh Salterton and the Lower Otter Restoration Project - LORP. Certainly an odd Spring with constant Northerlies and feeling cold with odd warm days and some early signs of migrants but then reverting to a slower pace. 

LORP seems to be in a "transition" stage as the salt marsh habitat slowly develops and begins to take hold. It will be interesting to see how the reedbeds cope with the saline conditions.

Summary Highlights:

Red Kite: A single bird circling above River Otter today 27th April.

Whimbrel: My first was a bird on LORP 3rd April. Then nice to have regular sightings of at least 3-4 birds on most days throughout the second half of April.

Bar-tailed Godwit: A single winter plumaged bird at the end of March and then a bird coming into summer plumage, daily since 22nd April.

Black-tailed Godwit: Very few since the incredible sight (for here at least) of 90+ birds in December 2022/January 2023 'Pre-breach." Therefore it was nice to see a passage flock of 13 birds heading north on 13th April.

Little Ringed Plover: 2 birds first seen 21st March LORP.

Great Northern Diver: A flyover at the golf course on 13th April.

Reed Warbler: First heard singing in the reedbeds at LORP on 14th April.

Sedge Warbler: One today 27th April

Lesser Whitethroat: A bird barely singing, no doubt due to cold temperatures! Calling regularly and frequenting the blackthorn hedges 26/27 April.

Garden Warbler: Not a common bird here so great to see one singing along the River Otter 27 April.

Willow Warbler: First seen 2nd April LORP.

Common Whitethroat: First seen 14th April E Devon Golf Course.

Wheatear: First seen 13th April LORP.

Swallow: First on 7th April LORP

House Martin: First seen 9th April LORP.

Sand Martin: First seen 23rd March Bicton Gardens.

Swift: First seen 21st April LORP.

Cuckoo: Singing on East Budleigh Common 27th April. Always great to hear them on the Pebbled Heaths as they are not at all common here these days!

Bar-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel on LORP

Black-tailed Godwits on passage through LORP

Great Northern Diver over Budleigh Golf Course

Drake Goosander on the River Otter

A confiding Cetti's Warbler back in March

Reed Warbler on LORP

A dapper male Wheatear at Stantyway Farm

Red Kite LORP

Slow Spring

The Spring still seems a long way off as the dreary, grey, cold and wet weather continues! Migrants seem few and far between around the local patch. Highlights have been 2 Little Ringed Plovers, just 2-3 Willow Warblers, 3 House Martin and a couple of Swallow all heading straight through. Still yet to see my first Wheatear of 2024, but I must remind myself, it is only the 2nd April…..

Recent Nocmig highlight has been a Barn Owl (presumed male) calling over the garden during the early hours of 22 March.

Drake and female Teal, LORP Budleigh Salterton

Little Ringed Plover, LORP Budleigh Salterton

Curlew, LORP Budleigh Salterton

One of at least 2 Water Pipits, LORP Budleigh Salterton

Barn Owl 01.21hrs 22 March 2024

First Spring Migrant

Very pleased to see my first true Spring migrant of 2024 on the patch this morning with two Little Ringed Plovers on LORP just south of South Farm Road on the main river channel.  Other than that, it has been very quiet on LORP for some time now, but good to see so many Shelducks using the site. I recorded a personal site high count of 45 birds on the 17th March. A colour-ringed bird "VC" has also been on site and is one of the many birds initially ringed on the Axe Estuary - Hope to get more information on its history.

Catching Up on 2024

A few photos from the last few months.....

A visit to the fantastic RSPB Greylake Reserve in Somerset on 3rd February. Helen and I visited specifically to see the very smart drake Baikal Teal and to witness the equally impressive numbers of other wildfowl and huge flocks of Lapwing!

Plus a few photos from the patch and LORP where up 2-3 Avocets were present throughout much of Jan - March and nice to see Mediterranean Gulls appearing in recent weeks too. 

Also a belated Merlin on LORP back on November 1st 2023 was a rare treat for the site!

Drake Baikal Teal, RSPB Greylake

Drake Baikal Teal, RSPB Greylake

Drake Baikal Teal, RSPB Greylake

RSPB Greylake

Huge flock of Lapwing, RSPB Greylake

Merlin - A rare treat on LORP

Avocets on LORP

Mediteranean Gull with Black-headed Gulls, LORP

Remembering Dad

I have been thinking a lot about my Dad lately, after he very sadly passed away not long before Christmas 2023.

Dad's big passions were the English language, writing, and helping others learn English through his teaching with a characteristic twist of humour! When I was little, my Dad regularly featured on radio programmes such as "Start the Week" with Richard Baker and "Woman's Hour". Dad also wrote a book, "A Day in the Life of..." focused on a number of humorous short stories aimed at helping students learn English and grammar. He studied at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities and carried on working throughout his retirement, helping teach students through a very successful English online website. I could go on as my Dad achieved so much, but modesty was another of his many qualities, despite having so much to brag about, but that simply wasn't Dad's style.

To me personally, Dad was simply the best father, both thoughtful and kind and always seeing the good in everyone. Despite him not having a huge interest in birds, he (and Mum) always encouraged me with my passion for birds as I grew up. Dad so often drove me to numerous RSPB and nature reserves, he would always be the dedicated driver on my annual 24 hour Herts county bird races with friends; and he also drove me specifically to try and see a number of rare birds. The Brill, Buckinghamshire Sea Eagle in Nov/Dec 1983 and the Holme, Norfolk Ruppell's Warbler Aug 1992 both spring to mind! On more than one occasion, he even picked me up after I became stranded as a result of me missing last trains or having failed hitch-hiking quests for my ever growing obsession to see new birds! I will always be hugely grateful for both Dad (and Mum's) encouragement and support for my passion for wildlife and so much more, which undoubtedly paved the way to begin my career with RSPB and start my own wildlife watching business.

I miss him greatly along with his characteristic infectious humour and I will ensure that my many happy memories with him and his humour, live long into the future.

Me birding with my Dad on a ferry near Isle of Skye around 1983