Quick update from this morning- first HOBBY of the year flew through South Milton Ley at 09.30 .LTTLE BUNTING on show at 08.45.
IN the Bay a SANDWICH TERN and 2 RED THROATED DIVER on the sea
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Hoopoe at Little Haldon
The Teigmouth Golf Course Hoopoe has been stocking up on leatherjackets. A couple of nice photos from Charlie Fleming.
 |
| Yesterday afternoon |
 |
| This morning |
Otter Valley, Budleigh Salterton
Purple Heron showed for five seconds at 10.35am as it flew up from western side of valley, two fields north of West Town Farm - Whitebridge road, and dropped into reed bed. Seen by David Jannaway and self from west path where view into reed bed is obscure but nearer to where bird is present.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Dead Otters
A note from Robert Hurrell of the Environment Agency...
The Environment Agency has Post Mortems (PM's) carried out on all dead Otters that they can safely get access to. Many are unfortunately killed crossing roads but there are many other potential causes of death to these largely elusive mammals. The PM's provide data on many different aspects of Otter biology so a great deal of valuable information is being gained about this animal and the health of the water environment. If you find a dead Otter please contact 08708 500250 and ask to speak to your local Environment Agency Fisheries and Biodiversity team.
It's worth adding that PM results are apparently made available to the finder too, if he/she wants them.
The Environment Agency has Post Mortems (PM's) carried out on all dead Otters that they can safely get access to. Many are unfortunately killed crossing roads but there are many other potential causes of death to these largely elusive mammals. The PM's provide data on many different aspects of Otter biology so a great deal of valuable information is being gained about this animal and the health of the water environment. If you find a dead Otter please contact 08708 500250 and ask to speak to your local Environment Agency Fisheries and Biodiversity team.
It's worth adding that PM results are apparently made available to the finder too, if he/she wants them.
Bolberry Down - yesterday 2/4
Osprey at about 1145 hours 'patrolling' the cliff edge just
to the east of the car park. [Bob Philpott]
Hoopoe, Teignmouth Golf Course
In slight rain at 7pm. Hoopoe on path along road next to Teignmouth Golf Course west of crossroads.
Matford marsh & bowling green marsh
Matford marsh this afternoon 3 green sandpipers showed well
Bowling green marsh from 15:00 till 18:00 from the hide
A spotted redshank flew in with 60+ redshanks, there was a steady passage of sand martins 140+, 40+ swallows, and my first house martins of the year with 2. Also still 6 gadwall,1 shoveler and 7+ wigeon, 2 little egrets, 30+ shelducks, 1 common gull, 1 peregrine, 50+ bar tailed godwits, 90+ black tailed godwits, 2 little grebes, 1 fox, 2 roe deer
Bowling green marsh from 15:00 till 18:00 from the hide
A spotted redshank flew in with 60+ redshanks, there was a steady passage of sand martins 140+, 40+ swallows, and my first house martins of the year with 2. Also still 6 gadwall,1 shoveler and 7+ wigeon, 2 little egrets, 30+ shelducks, 1 common gull, 1 peregrine, 50+ bar tailed godwits, 90+ black tailed godwits, 2 little grebes, 1 fox, 2 roe deer
Exmouth to Sidmouth
Despite all the fantastic birds today, I managed to miss everything.
Then I thought I was perhaps becoming a bit nonchalant about all the great stuff we have down here:
Female wheatear on Budleigh beach.
A couple of skylarks in the fields beyond the otter.
Displaying rock pipits in the same fields.
Male and female kestrel clearly getting on - saw some great behaviour that I'd not seen before.
Not bad at all!
Then I thought I was perhaps becoming a bit nonchalant about all the great stuff we have down here:
Female wheatear on Budleigh beach.
A couple of skylarks in the fields beyond the otter.
Displaying rock pipits in the same fields.
Male and female kestrel clearly getting on - saw some great behaviour that I'd not seen before.
Not bad at all!
Thurlestone Bay
A Cuckoo found by Bob B at South Huish marsh is the earliest date he can remember.
At last some Hirundines - hard to call 4 Swallow and a single Sand Martin a passage. A single Wheatear in the cafe field with a single Sandwich Tern in the bay.
Little Bunting sill showing this morning. A few Willow Warblers moving through
At last some Hirundines - hard to call 4 Swallow and a single Sand Martin a passage. A single Wheatear in the cafe field with a single Sandwich Tern in the bay.
Little Bunting sill showing this morning. A few Willow Warblers moving through
Purple Heron - Otter
An adult Purple Heron is viewable (with patience) in the wet reedy flash just north of White Bridge. Take the main track north and view the second field on left.
Present since 08.30am when found by a local Exmouth birder - Oh how I wish I had taken that path this morning!!
Great find and a great bird.
Present since 08.30am when found by a local Exmouth birder - Oh how I wish I had taken that path this morning!!
Great find and a great bird.
Hoopoe Little Haldon
Hoopoe seen last night and at 11:05 this morning at Little Haldon. From Teignmouth take B3192 towards Exeter and turn left near summit of hill. Road goes through golf course and bird was seen from the first cross roads that you come too. Today it was seen on the left corner of the golf course (near the practice area signs). [Chris Stone]
Monday, 2 April 2012
Western Channel Observatory (L4) - Plymouth
08:00am - 11:00am
6 Manx Shearwater and hardly anything else but for a few Gannet, Guillemot, Herring Gull and a single Fulmar.
Had my first Willow Warbler of the year at Fernworthy Reservoir yesterday along with a single Crossbill.
Otter
I collected the dead juv Otter this evening and passed it on to a friend who has given it a quick inspection. Sadly, it seems to have been a victim of a dog attack. I'm frankly a) Not surprised - half the dog-owning population of Braunton seem to thinks it's ok to let their dogs loose in these fields. b) Deeply distressed that the first Otter I should see at this location in many a year is a dead one, and this year's juvenile as well.
I will make strenuous efforts to speak with the land-owners to see if we can get dogs kept under control and on their leads.
I will make strenuous efforts to speak with the land-owners to see if we can get dogs kept under control and on their leads.
Around the exe
Matford marsh this afternoon 2 green sandpipers
Double locks wetland 1 green sandpiper
Exminster marsh, 3 swallows over the turf hotel, 2 blackcaps, 5+ chiffchaff, 2 willow warblers along path by railway line , 4 cetti's.
Received report of the female hen harrier being over powderham marsh at 17:20
Double locks wetland 1 green sandpiper
Exminster marsh, 3 swallows over the turf hotel, 2 blackcaps, 5+ chiffchaff, 2 willow warblers along path by railway line , 4 cetti's.
Received report of the female hen harrier being over powderham marsh at 17:20
Exminster marshes
A single swallow this evening was the first one I have seen on the marsh this year. The little-ringed plover on the pool nearest the canal this morning could not be located this evening but there were about 30 shelduck being very active and noisy. Otherwise quiet.
River Teign
Midday. Osprey made its way upriver until being mobbed by Herring Gulls then went back towards Teignmouth. Some distant, hence poor, shots
Thurlestone Bay
A very flat calm sea this morning enabled me to see a pod of 20+ Dolphin in the Bay , they were surrounded by 40 Gannet and 200+ Herring Gull.
4 Sandwich Tern and 3 Common Scoter flew through.
A Little Ringed Plover on South Huish Marsh from lunchtime , a male Wigeon still.
Little Bunting showed well at various times to the delight of visitors
4 Sandwich Tern and 3 Common Scoter flew through.
A Little Ringed Plover on South Huish Marsh from lunchtime , a male Wigeon still.
Little Bunting showed well at various times to the delight of visitors
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)