More YL Gull + Black Redstart pics

'Regardant'

Scolding young Herring gulls as they fly past

More Seaton sightings

One Lonely Avocet-perhaps it's Dyslexic? This is the Axe, you want the Exe old chum!

Just Redshanks for company here...

On Saturday I briefly had these 4 Goosander on the Axe estuary before they flew upriver and out of sight. We've done particularly well for this species lately-sightings have increased both last year and this.Ian Mc had 7 a couple of weeks ago which makes my 4 less impressive than they would have been in the past but I was pleased to get some reward for checking the estuary as it can often be a case of 'nothing to report' at this time of year. We've had more Common, Mediterranean and Black-backed Gulls recently though so it was no surprise when SW found an adult YL Gull which I also caught up with. I also found one earlier in the Autumn but it wasn't as 'stonking' as this one.

It's funny how Yellow-leggeds look much darker in Devon than they do in Greece. The ones on Lesvos must have been bleached-out by the intense Mediterranean Sun in May. Even so,look how pale the Common gull appears in this photograph. I thought the YL could almost be a graellsii Lesser BB! Perhaps the East Mediterranean population is slightly paler than the Western/Northern ones we get? I'll see if I can find out. 

Seaton Sightings

Just some pics of late autumn/early winter migrants I've snapped this November. To start with,a Black Redstart at an undisclosed site in the Seaton 'patch' area. Thanks to KH for texting these out.

I think this one may be a first-winter male,although from what I can gather in various texts it could also be a 2nd winter as they vary a great deal as immatures.

late tern

This tern was on the Axe estuary on Thursday 13th November. As terns are very rare on the Axe I'm posting these pics but I think it's a Common.If any of you want to tell me where I went wrong I'd be glad to hear from you.Its secondaries were quite messy as it was storm-driven and in moult...

Common Tern or No?

first post

OK I'm trying to publish photos again.Here's a Hornet I snapped at Colyford this September.This blog will mainly feature birds but this is an e.g. of other wildlife I hope to include.