Goldcliff, Easter Monday - 21/04/2014

Another really nice day meant I was itching to get out and about and with nowhere else to go I decided on Goldcliff, and I'm really glad I did. The sun was shining and it was so warm I was quickly down to my t-shirt, no need for the warm weather clothes I'd had on only days before. There were a friendly bunch down there, including a knowledgeable chap called Dan.

There were a couple of hundred  dunlin in summer plumage flying around which could well have contained the reported curlew sandpiper. 3 stock doves flew in which was good to see, but also of note was a lesser whitethroat which I as glad to have identified first by song and then which I saw in flight briefly, a peregrine with a quick flyby, avocets, lots of lapwing, and an elusive spotted redshank of which I think I have pictures, but I can't be sure. Really need that scope! So, since my lists began, that's two lifers right there, and it could have been a third and even a fourth with the spotted shank and curlew sandpiper, but it was not to be today. I'm now also up to 111 on my British year list without doing anything intensively, so I'm happy to say it's going well so far! 

Greenshank

Location, Location Location - 18/04/2014

An early start for the annual survey had me up at half past five this morning, though after having been up early twice in the week for the gym it wasn't all that bad oddly enough! The sunrise held the promise of nice weather, and I wasn't disappointed as it was a stunning day for it.

The first bird I saw upon arrival was a wheatear on a nearby post, which turned out to be one of three. A great start! There was still good numbers of skylarks and mippits, but my heart sank at the 5th 100m mark, because there seemed to be no sign of last year's GP's.

I geared up for the last transect, when low and behold suddenly there they were! A small flock had appeared to my right. I carefully moved forward, and realised there was another bigger flock directly ahead of me smack bang in the middle of the transect line.

The birds were soon airborne together and both groups merged into one, circling at first low, and then high above me, sparkling like glitter in the clear blue of the morning. At one point they seemed almost to hang in the air, no doubt being buffeted by the strong wind at that level, but it gave an amazing effect, like golden fire suspended in a deep blue. I'm only gutted the camera wasn't able to capture that effect in still frames, because it was sublime, and I'm not one to wax lyrical about things!

A count of 36 plover this year, in contrast to last year's handful!

A superb experience, and a morning I will never forget. 

A Gargle inducing Gargantuan Garganey Fest, Ogmore - 16/04/2014

Seeing on Glam Birding forum this afternoon that unbelievable SEVEN garganeys turned up at Ogmore settled my mind into going down straight after work. On arrival at Portobello they were now up river as was pointed out kindly by a couple of other birders. From the bridge by the water works I could see them just land out of sight a fair way off on the left channel, but they were soon up again, and flying in loops.One loop came close enough for a couple of record shots.

They then settled again further up the estuary, but were soon off again up river towards the castle, and out of sight. There were five drakes and two females!

Amazing record for Glamorgan, and a lifer for me!  

Dunraven Bay - 13/04/2014

Sun poured in through the window this morning as had been promised in the weather forecast, in stark contrast to the grey cold of yesterday, and it seemed too nice a day to waste. Without a good idea of where to head, we decided to go to Southerndown.

When we arrived it was a little chilly in the wind so we abandoned to idea to sit on the beach and instead explored the cliffs. I was busy keeping an eye out for the kestrel that I had seen on a previous visit, hoping to get good clifftop eye-level shots like I would have had last time had I been camera ready, but there was no luck. We did however hear and then see two chough flying east overhead as we stopped above Dunraven Bay. We had a nice walk exploring the coastal path, and in typical fashion we saw the kestrel when we were leaving, the Micra struggling in first gear up the steep hill.

When we got home I noticed an angle shades moth on the drive way taking shelter in the nook of the pillar at the start of the drive.

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.

New Nest cam! 22/03/14

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.