American Green Heron, Helligan
Cirl Buntings, Devon
Dartford Warbler, Devon
Stonechat, Devon
xxxx
November 17th – 25th
Xxxxx
Been driving around a lot the last week or so and was also ill in between. Consequently I can’t remember half of the birds I have seen so here’s a brief summary.
Xxxxx
I spent some time working in the SW last week and I suspect the work which has allowed me to see all sorts of new places this year will shortly cease to provide these opportunities. Consequently I finally carried out a plan to go and see a couple of the region’s specialities and also twitch a couple of yank rarities.
Xxxxxxx
The American Robin turned out to be an elusive bird with quite a few birders looking for it without success for a while. I finally saw the bird briefly in flight – it was the only views I had. Shortly before I left a few birders entered the field where it was thought to be feeding and walked up to the hedges where it was skulking. I left at that point and surprise, surprise; the bird was not seen again after that day. The Green Heron was viewed in the middle of torrential rain – I managed to digiscope it during the only five minutes when the rain eased.
Xxxxxx
I visited a feeding station down there which attracts Cirl Buntings. I didn’t know exactly where the food was placed, however by watching a flock of Chaffinches I soon found it. At least 9 Cirl Buntings were coming into feed with the Chaffies including at least 3 males with the rest being a mix of females and juveniles. The light and the weather were poor; coupled with the feeding flock very flighty (forcing me to keep my distance) resulted in poor digiscoped images. The views through the scope were good though and I thoroughly enjoyed watching these birds. Later I visited a nearby area of heathland and, having got out of the car and scanned the nearest gorse bushes, I found 3 Dartford Warblers. These proved to be difficult to digiscope for a different reason – they never stay still for a second. I soon gave up and just stood contentedly watching their antics.
Xxxxxxx
HGF has stayed relatively quiet. The Scaup is still there. Tufties and Wigeon have peaked at 44 and 38 respectively and all the grebes have now gone. A solitary wintering Redshank is present most days and the covey of 15/18 Grey Partridges is permanently in the south field. Teal have been observed on a couple of occasions – an uncommon bird for this pool.
Xxxxxxx
I am currently putting seed down at the feeding station every 4 days. I don’t want the birds too dependent on the seed and I tend to find that they hammer the place for the first two days and there is nothing left at all by the end of day four. Tree Sparrow numbers seem to be fluctuating quite a bit with peaks of 75 or so when fresh food is put down and 30-40 or so present at the end of this period. Encouragingly 18-20 House Sparrows are now regular – it is good to see these birds again after they seemed to disappear from the area this year.
Xxxxx
The various coveys of Grey Partridges are still around – I estimate around 30 birds are present in the fields around the feeding station. Few raptors around though. The Linnet flock relocated for a while to fields off Highfield Lane and while watching them last Saturday afternoon I spotted a flock of 20-25 Waxwings in the top of a nearby tree. They didn’t stay unfortunately and flew off – there is a distinct lack of berry trees here. A few nights ago on a clear moonlit night we had Pink-footed Geese flying over the house at around 9-45. It might have been moonlit but I still couldn’t see much and how the geese find their way is amazing.
Xxxxxx
Tree Sparrows are also present in the garden now every day with the max seen being 15. A Grey Heron has also started visiting and seems intent on inspecting the feeding area at the back of the garden. The cock Pheasant remains a daily visitor, as does the small flock of a dozen or so Chaffinches. I did see a Sparrowhawk one day as well.
Xxxxxx
The last couple of days the pools at Rixton have started to freeze – consequently there are no waders now. Last week on a visit the usual 3 Green Sandpipers were present – I also saw out of the corner of my eye some birds drop in behind the middle island. I found out that the back side of this island has an inlet which can only be viewed by walking through the jungle at the back of the pool. On arrival there I found 3 Snipe in that inlet – rare as rocking horse poo for this place. The water levels are gradually increasing and a few Teal and Gadwall appear to be present each day. The mosses are quiet and the tip pool partly frozen though Great Black-backed Gulls are starting to appear here.
Xxxxx
I did go and see the Iceland Gull at Preston docks – cracker! I also spent some time fruitlessly looking for the Firecrest nearby. Later after discussing it with Jonathan I found out that I had been looking in the wrong place! I did see a Chiffchaff. It had dark earthworm colour legs but all other features suggested Chiffer to me (stocky, short-winged, weak supercililum, dark buff colour) so I went for that ID. Also saw Treecreeper and 4 Goldcrests so the time was not completely wasted. Another bird there was a fly-over Green Sandpiper. Every year there is one bird species I seem to trip over everywhere and this year it has been Green Sandpiper.
Xxxxx
A brief trip to Moore produced an adult Yellow-legged Gull and an adult Med Gull. The gulls were restless and constantly flew off – in both of the above birds they went almost as soon as I found them. I did see an argentatus Herring Gull with yellow legs and also a very mangy dog fox with most of its fur missing which trotted underneath the hide. When I see animals like this it reminds me how cruel nature is.
Xxxx
Late this afternoon while in the car park at work (Glazebrook) around 4000 Starlings flew over. No sound at all except a faint whisper from their wings but an amazing site in the darkening sky nonetheless. They were heading approx SE. I wonder where they roost?
Xxxxx
Been driving around a lot the last week or so and was also ill in between. Consequently I can’t remember half of the birds I have seen so here’s a brief summary.
Xxxxx
I spent some time working in the SW last week and I suspect the work which has allowed me to see all sorts of new places this year will shortly cease to provide these opportunities. Consequently I finally carried out a plan to go and see a couple of the region’s specialities and also twitch a couple of yank rarities.
Xxxxxxx
The American Robin turned out to be an elusive bird with quite a few birders looking for it without success for a while. I finally saw the bird briefly in flight – it was the only views I had. Shortly before I left a few birders entered the field where it was thought to be feeding and walked up to the hedges where it was skulking. I left at that point and surprise, surprise; the bird was not seen again after that day. The Green Heron was viewed in the middle of torrential rain – I managed to digiscope it during the only five minutes when the rain eased.
Xxxxxx
I visited a feeding station down there which attracts Cirl Buntings. I didn’t know exactly where the food was placed, however by watching a flock of Chaffinches I soon found it. At least 9 Cirl Buntings were coming into feed with the Chaffies including at least 3 males with the rest being a mix of females and juveniles. The light and the weather were poor; coupled with the feeding flock very flighty (forcing me to keep my distance) resulted in poor digiscoped images. The views through the scope were good though and I thoroughly enjoyed watching these birds. Later I visited a nearby area of heathland and, having got out of the car and scanned the nearest gorse bushes, I found 3 Dartford Warblers. These proved to be difficult to digiscope for a different reason – they never stay still for a second. I soon gave up and just stood contentedly watching their antics.
Xxxxxxx
HGF has stayed relatively quiet. The Scaup is still there. Tufties and Wigeon have peaked at 44 and 38 respectively and all the grebes have now gone. A solitary wintering Redshank is present most days and the covey of 15/18 Grey Partridges is permanently in the south field. Teal have been observed on a couple of occasions – an uncommon bird for this pool.
Xxxxxxx
I am currently putting seed down at the feeding station every 4 days. I don’t want the birds too dependent on the seed and I tend to find that they hammer the place for the first two days and there is nothing left at all by the end of day four. Tree Sparrow numbers seem to be fluctuating quite a bit with peaks of 75 or so when fresh food is put down and 30-40 or so present at the end of this period. Encouragingly 18-20 House Sparrows are now regular – it is good to see these birds again after they seemed to disappear from the area this year.
Xxxxx
The various coveys of Grey Partridges are still around – I estimate around 30 birds are present in the fields around the feeding station. Few raptors around though. The Linnet flock relocated for a while to fields off Highfield Lane and while watching them last Saturday afternoon I spotted a flock of 20-25 Waxwings in the top of a nearby tree. They didn’t stay unfortunately and flew off – there is a distinct lack of berry trees here. A few nights ago on a clear moonlit night we had Pink-footed Geese flying over the house at around 9-45. It might have been moonlit but I still couldn’t see much and how the geese find their way is amazing.
Xxxxxx
Tree Sparrows are also present in the garden now every day with the max seen being 15. A Grey Heron has also started visiting and seems intent on inspecting the feeding area at the back of the garden. The cock Pheasant remains a daily visitor, as does the small flock of a dozen or so Chaffinches. I did see a Sparrowhawk one day as well.
Xxxxxx
The last couple of days the pools at Rixton have started to freeze – consequently there are no waders now. Last week on a visit the usual 3 Green Sandpipers were present – I also saw out of the corner of my eye some birds drop in behind the middle island. I found out that the back side of this island has an inlet which can only be viewed by walking through the jungle at the back of the pool. On arrival there I found 3 Snipe in that inlet – rare as rocking horse poo for this place. The water levels are gradually increasing and a few Teal and Gadwall appear to be present each day. The mosses are quiet and the tip pool partly frozen though Great Black-backed Gulls are starting to appear here.
Xxxxx
I did go and see the Iceland Gull at Preston docks – cracker! I also spent some time fruitlessly looking for the Firecrest nearby. Later after discussing it with Jonathan I found out that I had been looking in the wrong place! I did see a Chiffchaff. It had dark earthworm colour legs but all other features suggested Chiffer to me (stocky, short-winged, weak supercililum, dark buff colour) so I went for that ID. Also saw Treecreeper and 4 Goldcrests so the time was not completely wasted. Another bird there was a fly-over Green Sandpiper. Every year there is one bird species I seem to trip over everywhere and this year it has been Green Sandpiper.
Xxxxx
A brief trip to Moore produced an adult Yellow-legged Gull and an adult Med Gull. The gulls were restless and constantly flew off – in both of the above birds they went almost as soon as I found them. I did see an argentatus Herring Gull with yellow legs and also a very mangy dog fox with most of its fur missing which trotted underneath the hide. When I see animals like this it reminds me how cruel nature is.
Xxxx
Late this afternoon while in the car park at work (Glazebrook) around 4000 Starlings flew over. No sound at all except a faint whisper from their wings but an amazing site in the darkening sky nonetheless. They were heading approx SE. I wonder where they roost?