Garganey Pair

Garganey Pair, Axe Marsh, 28/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Garganey Pair, Axe Marsh, 28/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Garganey Pair, Axe Estuary, 28/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

        

Sorry for terrible photos but I thought I'd provide 'proof pictures' as the Dutch say of 2 Garganey that were about today. I spent some time failing to see yesterday's birds - and this morning's Egyptian Goose - but managed a superb lone Wheatear on Coly Common. As I was leaving via BHM on the bike I ran into IM who kindly offered me a lift to the Farm Gate from which I saw a drake Garganey on almost exactly the same date back in 2013 (and also in the 1990s!). Ian Waite had texted him that he'd seen them from Tower hide but they'd flown to a pool on Axe Marsh. We had a quick year-tick look then I was dropped back at BHM which encouraged me to try Tower hide. Amazingly, the 2 Garganey (or possibly another 2?!) had moved to the river/estuary way North of Tower which is why my pics are so bad. Not as exciting as BN Grebe would have been but very scarce round here; the drake rivals Pintail as most magnificent drake in my humble opinion. Not that the females aren't nice too. Some people refer to them as 'Birders' birds' which usually means quite nondescript! Still no hirundines for me this March though. How strange...

LRP 2

Little Ringed Plover, BHM, 25/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Belated blogging again I'm afraid but the weekend wasn't bad as several migrants put in an appearance on the Axe. Two Sandwich Terns by Coronation Corner were being watched by IM as I arrived at Tower hide on Saturday 24th. Then, 3 Wheatear were on Coly Common boardwalk late on. On Sunday 25th I managed to find my 2nd LRP this Spring, on BHM from Tower hide. The 2 Gadwall were still there as well. From CC hide, only 2 Wheatear on Sunday and they were beyond the scrape from the hide.
                Today, IMc seems to be having a Purple Patch as he had a real Patch Mega off Spot On - a Black-necked Grebe! No records of this for at least 7 years so I'm gutted that I'm somewhere else today and can't get down there, especially as he's followed that with an Iceland Gull just a stone's throw away by the tramsheds! A double whammy for me unless they stick around  (fat chance!).

Minibeast: The Supporting Cast

Chiffchaff, Colyton, 18/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Chiffchaff, Colyton, 18/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

One of the marked differences from the initial 'Beast' 2 weeks ago was the 'mini-fall' of Chiffchaffs plus a female Blackcap in Colyton. They looked pretty desperate on people's doorsteps and in flowerpots, etc. but the thaw setting in on Monday must have helped matters. Not so many birds around Colyton this time but still Meadow Pipits on the roads and 50 Fieldfare over. On Monday the thaw encouraged me to try Coly Common and I managed to find 2 Spring firsts there, Wheatear and Little Ringed Plover...

Little Ringed Plover, Coly Common, 19/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Wheatear, Coly Common, 20/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

The Peregrine was out on the marsh as usual...

Peregrine, Coly Common, 19/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

And finally, Mike Hill spotted a Med Gull beyond the Pochard from Tower hide which was ringed and then we had a second bird with a white 'nose'...

Med Gull, Axe Estuary, 20/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Med Gull, Axe Estuary, 20/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

I think Ian Mc got the ring number so we'll get some info on bird one. I've still got all my pics from the first snowy period which I don't have computing-time to post but it looks like we may be getting a Beast 3! Don't they know that the sequel's never as good? If the next bout brings in more unusual sightings I'll probably be posting snowy pics until July at this rate. Strange times...

Patch Pochard!

Pochard, Axe Estuary, 20/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Pochard, Axe Estuary, 20/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Pochard, Axe Estuary, 20/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

I got a fantastic surprise from Tower hide late on yesterday when I found a female Pochard among the Mallards. I wondered if it might be an immature male as I've not seen a female Pochard on the Axe since the 1990s. Yes really! They have been as rare as Rocking-horse manure over the last 6 years especially. The only one I'm aware of in that time was the full-on drake at Borrow Pit a while back which was found by Steve if I remember correctly. Sue Smith twitched it and joined me in the hide so her photos will be better than mine. She quickly slapped me down and dismissed my male theory by declaring this bird a female. I didn't mean to be so male-centric (see The Afternoon Birder's recent retweet), it's just that I haven't seen a female Pochard for so long I'd forgotten what they look like! That's my excuse, anyway...

Spring in the Snow

Just a quick update to say that I fought through the snow on the bike late on yesterday to take a look at Coly Common. I'm glad I did as it was covered in birds. Fieldfare, Redwing, Lapwing and about 500 Meadow Pipits! Also I noticed my first 2 Wheatear of the year and when I got to the hide the regular Greenshank was flanked by my first Little Ringed Plover of the year. Makes a change for me to get the first local LRP as usually somebody else beats me to it! I saw Ian Mc coming down the boardwalk so passed the news on and he texted it out. Also from the hide a brief glimpse of presumably the regular Marsh Harrier. I don't have time to post pics just now but I've got a backlog of snowy ones to post later...

Littoralis Rockits

Scandinavian or littoralis Rock Pipit, Colyford Common, 10/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

This is the best picture I could manage of one of Ian McLean's Scandinavian Rock Pipits, of which he had 4 on Saturday. They are variously known as littoralis, Rockits & Litt. Ripits. The latter is my own preferred choice but anyhow you can just about make out a pinkish flush on their breast at this time of year. This bird was not a Water Pipit as its mantle was very blue-grey, it had too much streaking on its underparts and its bill was very long 'n' strong. We did still have 4 Water Pipits here on Saturday but without any flushing yet. We've also had oodles of Mipits so much sifting 'n' sorting was required. All good fun!

More Marsh Harrier Pics

Marsh Harrier, Axe Estuary, 08/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Marsh Harrier, Axe Estuary 08/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Marsh Harrier, Axe Estuary, 08/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Marsh Harrier, Axe Estuary 08/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

I'm posting these from 8th March as yesterday (13th) I thought I was photographing the same bird. A first-winter male? I have only size to go on as I tend to think that immature plumages in MH are difficult to decipher, what with males sometimes taking on female characteristics and vice-versa. Any thoughts, folks? I think this bird looks remarkably similar to the one yesterday; sorry the photos of this one aren't better it wouldn't come close!

Marsh Harrier-Male?

Marsh Harrier, Axe Estuary, 13/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

On size alone, I thought this Marsh Harrier might be a male so I was surprised when people kept asking me if the female was still about. I've not seen any definite females myself recently and took this individual to be the long-staying first-winter bird. I think with the benefit of hindsight that we've had a male about for a few days at least. I also had 5 Gadwall fly North on 13th and the long-staying Greenshank. I couldn't be bothered to twitch the 2 Spoonbills that were reported as I had other stuff to do but it's great that we are getting some movement as I have looked for other migrants without success!

Marsh Harrier, Axe Estuary, 13/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Marsh Harrier, Axe Estuary, 13/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Marsh Harrier, Axe Estuary 13/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Marsh Harrier, Axe Estuary, 13/03/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Ground-feeding Hawfinches

Hawfinch, undisclosed site, Devon (Copyright T D Wright)

I completed my Hawfinch wish-list recently by finding my own ground-feeders. Not in Colyton but not far away...

Hawfinch, undisclosed site, Devon (Copyright T D Wright)

On my most recent visit, I had 12 on the ground together! Classic stuff. Another magic memory from 2018!