Hawfinches still around Colyton

Hawfinch, Colyton Church & Vicarage, 25/01/18 (Copyright T D Wright)

Hawfinch, Colyton Church, 25/01/18 (Copyright T D Wright)

I didn't mean to take more Hawfinch pictures today but I bumped into Sue Smith & Tammy who caused me to linger too long as I passed through the churchyard (it's all their fault!). In the sunshine, they showed so nicely that I dashed home for the camera and took a couple of pics. However, Sue's blog Bicycle Birder on the Axe will be worth a look tomorrow if she posts her shots.
         As well as the churchyard & adjoining Vicarage, the birds have also been visible in Sidmouth Road Cemetery and on Sunday afternoon from Colyton picnic site briefly. I think they might be feeding in Colyton Community Woodland but don't go in as you'll only flush them. Views from Picnic site car park are good as treetop birds are at eye level.
         Ian Mac, Gavin Haig & Supercilious Steve keep gripping me off with news of Iceland, Glaucous, Caspian & Yellow-legged Gulls on the Axe estuary but I don't have much time to get down there just now which is a shame. Plus, we might not get Hawfinches next year. As for these gulls, they're regular visitors to the area so there will be more in the future. As for the Hawfinches, we'll have to wait and see what the long-term situation is...

Hawfinches in Colyton

Hawfinch,Colyton 18/01/18 (Copyright TDW)

Finally got some Hawfinches in Colyton Churchyard yesterday at the 72nd attempt. My only other Colyton one was back in November from the bus stop so I wanted to see them feeding in our Yew trees which I now have. I even got some flight shots of the Superfinch variety, although with the winter Olympics looming I now think they look like ski-jumpers!

Eddie the Hawfinch, Colyton 18/01/18 (Copyright T D Wright)

We'll be seeing more of this technique in Korea next month!

Hawfinch, Colyton 18/01/18 (Copyright T D Wright)

Hawfinch, Colyton 18/01/18 (Copyright T D Wright)

It's funny, isn't it, but seeing them up the road in Shute just wasn't as thrilling. Shute is a traditional site for them as I remember seeing Hawfinches there back in the 90s. This winter's irruption means we all want to see them in our home town which I've now done. The next challenge is to see them from the bathroom window whilst shaving; hope I don't cut myself!

Water Pipits Too

Water Pipit, Coly Common, 11/1/18 (Copyright T D Wright)

I had one more go at trying to get a decent photo of the wintering Water Pipits but these were the best I could manage. Just getting great views though is unusual for here so I'm enjoying them so much.

Water Pipit plus botanical interest, Coly Common, 11/1/18 (Copyright T D Wright)

Goldies

Golden Plovers, Colyford 11/1/18 (Copyright T D Wright)

Ian Mac had 25 Golden Plover on Bridge Marsh Thurs. morning which I spotted on Coly Marsh late afternoon. They then went up and separated from the Lapwing which allowed me to take some dodgy pics. I bumped into Corkhead on my way back and agreed with him that there were 28. However, I think the above photo shows 29; the joy of bird counting! I think Derek Moore who taught me a thing or two about counting flocks would be delighted by my small addition. As nearby Tesco is always saying - every little helps!

Golden Plovers, Colyford 11/1/2018 ( Copyright T D Wright)

Whitefront

WF Goose (Copyright TDW)

Yet another new bird on patch today! Well done IM & MW for spotting it independently...

Pipits & Water Pipits

Water Pipit on Top (Copyright T D Wright)

Rock Pipit.

Water Pipit

Copyright T D Wright

At least one Water Pipit!

As you can see, my photographs of pipits at Coly Common from December & New Year's are not great. This is why I've taken to zooming them up on the back of my Nikon D7100, photographing the screen with my smartphone and posting the results on Twitter. Hence, those images are often grainy. But that's better than too miniscule,eh? As Supercilious Steve said of my pictures yesterday as I said Hi to his charming wife & cute child, "At least you can see that they're Water Pipits!"