Monday 18 November 2019

Weekend Birding

    Just to let people know that the 3 Cattle Egrets were still in their favourite field at Colyton all weekend. Also 3 Little Egrets there and 7 Stonechats. Fieldfare and Redwing are about as are Dippers, Grey Wags and Kingfishers. Didn't make it to the wetlands but saw a Red-throated Diver off Fisherman's gap this morning (Monday). Apparently there's been a few about...

Tuesday 12 November 2019

Colyton Cattle Egrets


         Walking around Colyton at this time of year can often produce a bird or two. Little Owl, Tawny Owl and Dippers are about. Up to 18 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing and 6 Mistle Thrush have been seen. I thought I saw a Ring Ouzel being chased by a Blackbird at the picnic site but can't be 100% sure of that. Several Chiffchaffs along the hedgerows and myriad Goldcrest & LT Tits. A Greenshank has been hanging about in the field opposite the Wastewater Treatment Works. Best of all these has been the 3 Cattle Egrets which I ran into again today beside the Coly. Hidden behind cows, hedgerows, gulls and Little Egrets they aren't always co-operative but can be seen with a little patience. Plenty of finches, woodpeckers and even Treecreepers about too.

Monday 4 November 2019

Birding Again!

After a 5-week period of not having time to visit the Wetlands, I finally re-acquainted myself with BHM and Coly Common yesterday. A Tufted Duck and 7 Shoveler were on the former but only one Dunlin.
From Tower hide a Greenshank was visible.Then a suspiciously yellow-legged larid caught my eye. I thought it had a stonking bill and was as big as the Herring gulls close by. However, its closed primaries had too much white on them for an immature bird. I don't think it was a full adult so it may have been a hybrid. Its mantle colour was about right for either. Mike Blaver was still watching it when I left so I hope he got better pictures of it than the phonescoped video I posted on Twitter.
Coly Common was disappointing but a Cattle Egret was on Bridge Marsh. A Greenshank appeared on the scrape so may have been a second bird.

Today, I managed a brief visit to Axe Yacht Club but all the Black Redstarts were along the street to the west of the coastguard cottages. Four of them were seen, including a striking male.
Over the road, a Common Sandpiper was on the estuary.