Not Another Blogging Birder: October 2015

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

A Firecrest of my Own

Firecrest site, Axe Estuary, 18/10/15 ( Copyright T D Wright )

With Firecrests reported from Beer Head, Seaton Hole and Colyton recently I wondered what I was doing wrong. Thankfully, my temperamental car forced me to take a walk along the road side of the Axe on Sunday. I was pleased to see lots of Goldcrests, Chiffchaff and other small birds in these bushes opposite SM hide ( see above ). Suddenly, I briefly beheld a Firecrest amongst the throng in the bush on the left. Yee-hah, I thought. My car troubles force me to look in different places sometimes, which is great when it pays off, eh? Pallas's next, please!

Thursday, 15 October 2015

Colyton Sightings 15/10/15

Just a quick post to say I had my first Colyton Redwing of the Autumn this morning. It flew over Sidmouth Road Cemetery at 10:30, where I also had 3 Mistle Thrushes rattling, a male Blackcap and loads of Coal Tits. No pics. today but they'll be back soon! Enjoy the High Autumn...

Monday, 12 October 2015

Glossies Return

Glossy Ibis, Colyford Common, 11/10/15 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Having heard that 2 Glossies had flown from Weymouth via Abbotsbury to head up the Axe at midday on Saturday, I thought to myself 'Next stop Somerset' for them, especially when PA told me he'd looked everywhere and couldn't find them. So, I went to BHM on Sunday thinking I'd start at Tower and visit all the hides and see what there was. On the estuary was a fine 2ndWinter Med. Gull plus a dozen Dunlin. Lots of Redshank, Lapwing & Blackwit on BHM were complemented by Oystercatchers and a multitude of Curlews on the estuary. Before I got to the F.S.B. though, a text from Phil told me to give it a miss as he'd just seen the Glossies fly in from Coly Common hide. What an unexpected turn of events. I marched on to join him and was stunned to see them on the 'Bittern' pool, right in front of the hide! They showed well enough for phonescoped pics., but you'll get better ones on Tim White's blog ( or on my blog-post for 30th June of Lesviot birds ). They moved to BHM at dusk. Let's hope they're stayers,eh?

Thursday, 8 October 2015

Garganeys 2015

Drake Garganeys, Lesvos, April 2015 ( Copyright T D Wright )

With Garganey not being easy to see here in Seaton this year ( although I've had them in the past ) , I enjoyed the spectacle of a flock of 15(if I remember correctly) flying up the Gulf of Kalloni back in the Spring. I later on photographed these 2 on a pool which was very rewarding during my stay. It held lots of migrant waders ( you can see BW Stilt and Wood Sand in these shots) but the stunning sight of Garganey still caught my eye. What a photogenic duck...

Drake Garganeys, Lesvos, April 2015 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Tuesday, 6 October 2015

Butterflies of Lesbos

Scarce Swallowtail, Lesvos, April 2015 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Southern Swallowtail, Lesvos, April 2015 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Even in April, there were quite a few stunning butterflies about. Here are just 3 of them. Southern Swallowtail is the Mediterranean race of the one we get in Britain in Norfolk. Scarce Swallowtail and Spotted Fritillary are species in their own right. If I spent more time looking for them, or went a bit later in the year, I could also see the likes of Green-underside Blue or Apollo etc. etc. ! More reasons to go back one day...

Oh Yeah, another insect tick inside the Hotel! That white marble really is as good as an insect-collecting sheet...

OK that's enough out-of-focus shots! The first one was best, eh?

Seaton & Colyton Sightings 2nd-6th Oct.

Pintail, Axe Estuary, 02/10/15 ( Copyright T D Wright )

Phil picked up 2 of these female-type Pintail flying up the estuary on Friday, but I only phonescoped one. A 1st Winter Med Gull was also present.On Sunday, I noticed 4 1stWinter Common Gulls from Tower hide so they've started moving in for the winter. In Colyton, I had a flock of 20-30 Siskin fly over Ridgway yesterday during an all-too-brief break in the torrential rain. I failed to catch up with Steve Waite's Firecrest but I'm hoping to get one in Colyton soon. A walk along the Coly from Chantry Bridge produced immature Grey Wags. but still no Dippers, even though I walked beyond Ratshole Gate. Hope we haven't lost them, I'm going to try a different stretch of river soon.

Thursday, 1 October 2015

Seaton Sightings 25th Sept. - 1st Oct.

Grey Plover, BHM, 26/09/15 ( Copyright TD Wright )

This Grey Plover has been the star bird for at least a week now! Joined by a Ruff briefly on Monday 28th. A Razorbill on Tuesday 29th from Tower Hide was unusual away from the sea, and a Hobby was seen by three of us on 30th from Coly Common hide. Today, Ian McLean had a Pintail female fly down the estuary to get October off to a promising start. Retrospectively, Philbot had a Yellow-browed Warbler at Beer Head on Saturday 26th but it was one of those very brief sightings that frustrate the other locals who missed it. When the wind moves South-Easterly we may get going again. C U Anon!