Grey Plover

Grey Plover & Ringed Plovers, BHM, 22/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Just when I was thinking "We've got mud on BHM but no waders" I spotted this cracking breeding-plumaged (almost) Grey Plover alongside its 2 Ringo companions. What with a Lapwing still present this made for a 3 plover species day. Woo-hoo! I also noticed the Brent Goose still present on the estuary by the tramsheds so not too bad a day.
        On Friday evening a late look from Colyton picnic site showed that there were some hirundines about with 8 House Martins and 4 Swallows. None in the town though. Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Bullfinch were present but no Hawfinches seen for a couple of weeks now. That's all for now!

Grey Plover & Ringed Plovers, BHM, 22/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Holly Blue

Just a quick update for non-twitter peepholes. I had my first Holly Blue butterfly whizzing around Colyton churchyard in the hot Sun at midday today. I also had a rather leucistic-looking Sparrowhawk over Honiton; or was it just the bleaching effect of those rays I've not seen for so long?

Insects

Hoverfly sp?, Colyton 19/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Hoverfly sp?, Colyton 19/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

At the risk of incurring the wrath of those who disapprove of insect photos on my bird blog I just wanted to say that hoverflies are a marvel of nature and are out already. I therefore couldn't resist taking a couple of shots of this individual today. Any i.d. on it from you entomologists out there? I suppose it's very common but that's because it's perfectly adapted to our environment, eh?

Hoverfly sp, Colyton, 19/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Not Quite Portland

Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Axe Estuary, 15/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Greenshank, BHM, April 2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Barn Owl, BHM, April 2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

I sometimes think the title of this post ought to be my blog title. Seems too close to another local blog title though! However, it's true to say that when Charmouth Birding goes to Portland and keeps tweeting all day - Hoopoe, Ring Ouzel, Redstart male, Pied Fly male... - one does tend to feel a bit deprived round here. We are getting dribs and drabs of Spring Migration just now; Portland we are not. Anyway, on a more cheerful note I got some pics of the Greenshank coming into summer plumage before it left along with most of the Blackwits (and the Barwits). We seem to have more than one Common Sandpiper today which means they are moving in now. On Sunday I was delighted to spot a Dark-bellied Brent Goose from Tower Hide even though it remained distant the whole time. There were also 5 Whimbrel on BHM. A lone Wheatear at Coly Common was all I could see there. The seawatching seems to be improving by all accounts and this Southerly airstream may nurture passerine and bird of prey arrivals. On Portland, anyway...

Spring Continues

Sparrowhawk, Colyton, April '18 (Copyright T D Wright)

Sparrowhawk, Colyton, April '18 (Copyright T D Wright)

You can't sneak up on a Sparrowhawk! This beauty just happened to be resting right where I stopped my bike to catch my breath. Otherwise, the weekend brought my first Green Sandpiper of the Spring on the estuary from Tower Hide on Saturday 7th, it left the Axe Marsh channel to fly over the river and up Stafford brook; I met it again on Sunday from Coly Common hide on the near pool. I also saw my first Swallows x8 from Coly Common hide plus the 2 Egyptian Geese on Bridge Marsh which I think SW had first. Sand Martins have joined the throng on a daily basis. Up to 4 Goosander have been flying about the valley at dusk. At Colyton WTW, 7 Blackcaps were a nice accompaniment to the ubiquitous phyllosc diet, many Willow Warblers now intruding upon the Chiffchaff sites. In the field over the road 36 Linnet, 17 Mipit, 11 Pied Wagtail and a single White Wagtail flitted and scurried in front of the cows. Which brings us up to date - except that today looks to have brought more hirundines in. I must have a look this evening!

Iceland Gull Extra

Iceland Gull looking at "Incoming!" gull attack, Axe Estuary, 01/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Iceland under Attack, Axe Estuary, 01/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Iceland under Attack, Axe Estuary, 01/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

The Iceland Gull certainly got more than its share of aggravation from the Herrings and Black-backs. I suppose this assailant is just a Herring but I thought its primaries looked a bit too Venetian-blind like and not as contrasting as normal. If any gullers out there can shed any light on why I find this bird annoying I'd be glad to hear from you!

Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull, Axe Estuary, 01/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Iceland Gull, Axe Estuary, 01/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Iceland Gull, Axe Estuary, 01/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Well, Easter often delivers some good birds here and this year it was in the form of 'Whitewingers'. On Good Friday Ian McLean had me cycling in the rain to see his Glaucous Gull, then on Easter Sunday I popped into Tower Hide and an Iceland Gull was sparring with the Herrings & 'Blackbackers' at close range! Both were 1st Winter birds and very welcome to me as I seemed to keep missing all the whitewingers this year. Somebody (The Birding Gods?!) must have rolled away the stone or made the scales fall from my eyes or something. Apart from these 2 gems, we also had Goosander about (pair on Friday, Redhead Monday), 7 Ringed Plover on BHM during the torrential rain on Friday, plus 2 Bar-tailed Godwit on Monday. I also finally got my first Sand Martin on April 2nd, an incredibly late date for my first hirundine of the year. I stumbled across a Barnacle-type goose on Bridge Marsh with the Greylag and Canadas there, presumed to be Dave Helliar's bird from Chard Junction recently. I must say I'm surprised to read Steve Waite saying it's a 'pure' Barney as I felt sure it must have a bit of something else in it. How about 75% Barnacle 25% Richardson's?! I even visited Borrow Pit briefly to twitch the Willow Warblers and saw one really well but more importantly heard one singing. Anyway, more Iceland pics...

Iceland Gull, Axe Estuary, 01/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Iceland Gull with Spring Green, Axe Estuary, 01/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Iceland Gull with Spring Green, Axe Estuary, 01/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Iceland Gull, Axe Estuary, 01/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)

Iceland Gull, Axe Estuary, 01/04/2018 (Copyright T D Wright)