Backwater Birding - Seaton, Devon (1 Viewer)

[Gavin Haig]

I turned out of my road this afternoon, drove 100 yards and spotted a white thing in with some sheep. The odds that it would be a Cattle Egret are a lot better than they were 2 or 3 years ago, so I stopped to check. Good thing too.

As the crow flies this field is about the nearest to my house (maybe 250-300m) but sadly not visible from it.

 

[Steve Waite]

Only pics I managed was when it was asleep! Anyone else who saw Beer bird keen to comment?

Not today though! Again present this afternoon, in exactly the same spot on the estuary. I had just started scanning the flock it was in when a text from Gav came through saying of its continued presence. Thanks Gav :t:

Back to work....

 

[Ian M]

I visited Colyford Common this morning and there were ten Rock Pipits present. A few of them are now showing hints of changing into summer plumage with a peachy wash to the breast thus showing that they are in fact Scandinavian 'Littoralis' . But one is far more advanced than the others and I was lucky enough to get a picture.

 

[Roger Boswell]

The Axe Valley was quite a sight from the Water Tower this morning. It was a lot brighter PM - couldn't find any of the Iceland/Mediterranead Gulls among the hundreds on the river!

 

[Kev Rylands]

From Birdguides
22:12 11/02/09 Great White Egret Devon Seaton also juvenile Iceland Gull

Can I presume you are all out celebrating as no one else has mentioned this yet....?

 

[Steve Waite]

From Birdguides
22:12 11/02/09 Great White Egret Devon Seaton also juvenile Iceland Gull

Can I presume you are all out celebrating as no one else has mentioned this yet....?

None of us know anything about a Great White Egret on the estuary yesterday. There was a Cattle Egret though....

 

[Ian M]

The Cattle Egret was again in the field next to Lyme Bay Auctions. A Common Scoter was unusually on the river.

 

[Simon and Sue Wakely]

Evening birders and all,

This is the month for our gardens. With food in short supply and today proved it's point, most siskins sighted so far this year, our apple trees were filled with their calls. If we are going to be lucky this year and record Waxwings, this is the month of hope. Sue and I have unfortunatly had to go and buy a large bag of apples, the first time we've had to do this, our winter supply has been eaten by out winter Thrushs and Blackbirds. We are making every effort to attract them to our garden; will we be sucessful? Waxwings know!
Hope you like the picture.
Happy birding
Simon and Sue

 

[dantheman]

As the crow flies this field is about the nearest to my house (maybe 250-300m) but sadly not visible from it.

Nice one :t: .... But how far as the cattle egret flies??

 

[Jos Stratford]

American Herring Gull next, may I assume?

 

[Steve Waite]

American Herring Gull next, may I assume?

I do hope so, Jos......

 

[Gavin Haig]

Whilst searching for American Herring Gulls this afternoon Phil found this, our 295th Iceland Gull in a week....

 

[Ian M]

Iodays Iceland Gull looks very similar to Bun's on Beer Beach on 4th February.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Iodays Iceland Gull looks very similar to Bun's on Beer Beach on 4th February.

Only 294 then...

 

[Phil Abbott]

Heres my go at digiscoping ,yesterdays iceland gull and also two pictures of one of todays birds also 14 med gulls on the river this afternoon

 

[Steve Waite]

Heres my go at digiscoping ,yesterdays iceland gull and also two pictures of one of todays birds also 14 med gulls on the river this afternoon

Nice to see some photos from you Phil! :t: Also that's a super Med Gull count, and we're not even in peak Med Gull passage time yet!

 

[bun]

Iceland Gull flew in from the direction of the Estuary at 17.05 this evening and joined the Gulls roosting on rocks at the west end of Beer Beach, looked like one of yesterdays birds.

 

[Simon and Sue Wakely]

Evening birders

great spots drumming,greens yaffling,chiff chaffs,blackcap,redpole calling,accentors pairing,robins flirting,song thrushs singing,a male bullfinch with a stick in his bill,a blue tit checking out the local post box....i nearly head my head taken off by a sparrow hawk!,a wonderful female goshawk glided over its huge white fluffy undertail coverts where like a giant snow ball just an amazing sight.

The first sunny day they have all gone mad,great birding and nice to report on!

Nice to see phil posting some pictures and great they are!
We are always delighted to post woodland birds, hope you enjoy our pictures of today!

Happy birding :t:

 

[picknage]

Had a quick look round today, mostly in Holyford woods, not too much around but I do love it there. As well as a fox and a deer, there were zillions of frogs in the 'pond'. The sound they made was cool, a bit like hearing traffic on a distant road I guess. Stock doves were at Beer quarry as usual.

Had a cool time in Barcelona, as well as some great sights, saw sard. warbler, black reds, serins, monk screechalots and a bonus crested tit. Good luck tomorrow finding the gulls Steve, just make sure they are still here when we get back!

 

[KarenWoolley]

Two Iceland Gulls north of Coronation Corner this afternoon. I think possibly one of the ones from Sunday and also the Saturday/first Beer Beach one. Keeping track of which is which is all getting a bit much! (o)<

Well they were definitely Iceland Gulls I know that much! Here's a couple of photos, unfortunately one was a bit distant though.