Sunday 30 March 2014

Gulls and Grebes, Exeter - 30/03/2014



A trip to Exeter this weekend meant of course getting out to the surrounding areas. On the first day we took a walk up through Bowling Green Marsh to Topsham. At the hide it was nice to see about thirty or so sand  martins, my first of the year. We could also see some black tailed Godwit in the back. There were lots of singing passerine types in the hedges, with wrens being especially showy. 

We were sad to see the goatwalk had been destroyed by the storms last month. We had food at The Nelson and continued up to Topsham Rec to see the reported Slavonian Grebe, but it wasn't to be.  



 
I went back the next day in a brief holdup between rain and making a bed and saw the Slav, a first for me, and a great addition to my 2014 list challenge. 






The next day I got up early to try and find Dartford Warblers to the birds I've seen up at Aylesbeare common, but with no luck. I then took jess down to Exmouth for a walk in the afternoon, cunningly fitting in a trip to the quay to see a Glaucous Gull after we finished the bed. A comedy moment ensued when I arrived as I started scanning the sea over towards Dawlish and the sand banks and lo and  behold it was pointed out to be alongside me upon a storage container by some other visiting birders! It was quite intent on sitting however so I left it be, but another first for me all the same.

On the Sunday morning Jess and I took a walk down the canal to Turf Lock, and the highlights were a singing churchyard, and this showy wren.






Saturday 8 March 2014

Black throated Diver, Cosmeston - 08/03/2014

Having thought I would get away without visiting Cosmeston for a while after the debacle it was trying to see the Lesser Scaup, news of a BTD last night and some incredibly good shots online settled my mind into going down for it.




Couldn't find the Black Redstart on the barrage, but there were 5 Redshank on the far end, Rock Pipits and 3 Linnets present.