Black Redstart

Black Redstart, Seaton, 30/11/16 (Copyright T D Wright)

Black Redstart,Seaton,30/11/16(Copyright T D Wright)

Black Redstart,Seaton,30/11/16(Copyright T D Wright)

I took a walk along the Chine today and just beyond the Hideaway(formerly Chine cafe) I saw this Black Redstart flitting about. Just the one so no stonking male but a chance to utilise my phonescoping skills. Why do they always turn their head away? The close-up shots were not intended to clip its wings and tail but at least they're in focus which is not easy to achieve when your scope has to be out of focus to rectify the discrepancy with your phone camera. I must return with my DSLR which I've not used for a month!

Frosty Throstles

Today was a Bank-shops-doctor's-pharmacy sort of day. Considering that, I actually saw quite a few birds. In Colyton Churchyard the Yews especially were alive with thrushes - Redwings, Mistles, Blackbirds and Songs (including some greyish 'continental' types). Sidmouth Road Cemetery added Blackcap to the list before a ride into Axminster produced the same throstly crew plus plenty of Goldcrests. Both town centres had lots of Greenfinch, Goldfinch & Chaffinch plus up to 4 Tit species. If the frost keeps up I'll be doing even more cemetery birding...

Freaky Fieldfare

Look out for a Fieldfare I saw along Cownhayne on Monday with white supercilia which meet at the back of its head like a Woodlark's! Presumably a case of partial albinism as often seen in Blackbirds.

Seaton Marshes 24/11/16

I walked around SM this afternoon and didn't see any phylloscs let alone the Dusky as the cold North wind was stronger than anticipated and hampered progress around Borrow Pit. In a sheltered spot by the car park there were several tits, finches and Blackbirds but nothing exciting. Sadly, the quartet of Great Spotted Woodpeckers that I've enjoyed around Borrow Pit & Merchants Lane lately seems to have been reduced to a trio as I found one moribund along the lane. From the hide I saw 4 Dunlin fly up the estuary but only the usual Wigeon, Teal, gulls etc otherwise. On my way back to the Underfleet a number of gulls had gathered in that corner of Sheep's Marsh and I managed an adult Mediterranean Gull which was as good as it got.

Colyton Stuff 19-22nd Nov.

With Cownhayne flooded and the A3052 closed I decided to look around Colyton the last few days. Lots of Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush & Redwing were nice to see and plenty of common birds about in the cemetery. The flooded areas along the Coly have had lots of gulls but nothing too exciting.

Seaton Stuff 22/11/16

The flooding subsided enough today for me to get to Bridge Marsh. I managed a pair of Gadwall and a Shoveler on the pool amongst the many Wigeon, Teal & Mallard. I then headed to Tower Hide where I saw another Gadwall on the temporary floods between BHM and SM. On the estuary the 2 Grey Plover were showing but other than that it was quiet out there. Most of the Canadas, Wigeon and Blackwits seemed to prefer those temporary floods. BHM was fairly quiet.

Desert Wheatear

Desert Wheatear, Nanjizal,Cornwall, Nov.2011(Copyright T D Wright)

I'm aware that there is currently a Desert Wheatear in Devon but I can't get the enthusiasm up to go and see it. Here's why. I saw my first UK DW in 1989 at Selsey Bill on a day out from Croydon in my first car which I'd recently purchased, having passed my driving test that year. Great day out as there was a Glaucous Gull there as well. This is the only DW I've ever 'twitched', yet I've seen several others since by chance. I was in Lincolnshire once when there happened to be one at Saltfleetby which was nice. Then, in 2011, I spent a few days in Cornwall and saw this cracking male at Nanjizal (pronounced Nan-jizz-al apparently) before returning to Dungeness where I was 'hanging out' at the time. My first morning back at Dunge, guess what? Yes, that's right. Another DW! This wasn't a male though so I told the Assistant Warden he'd have to do better. Only kidding though - it was very confiding and great to see yet another. Oh, maybe I'll give the Thurlestone one a visit if it stays long enough. I'm just 'playing it cool' again!                     

Desert Wheatear, Dungeness, Nov. 2011(Copyright T D Wright)