With a very narrow window of time between finishing work and darkness, I decided to check the dung field and immediate surroundings. I managed to log 3 Song Thrush, 1 Snipe, c40+ Skylark, c20+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2+ Cirl Buntings, 1 Rock Pipit and best of all a Water Pipit! This is an Exmouth 'tick' for me and to put its local rarity in to some sort of context, I've recorded 2 Richard's, 2 Red-throated and a Tawny Pipit, all before tonight's Water Pipit.
I initially flushed it with a Rock Pipit, and its more strident, less rasping call grabbed my attention. I was delighted when it pitched back down but it was very wary and difficult to photograph, landing briefly before dropping down behind the clods of dung. The above shot was snatched from some distance away.
Some interesting cloud formations this evening....
The dung heap is by far the best little patch of habitat on Orcombe Point at the moment. The Water Pipit seemed quite at home there and at least two Cirl Buntings were finding some shelter in the stretch of hedgerow to the right of the heap. You can't see them in this photo but at the back of the field are two very large bulls.
I love it. You do all the hard work and I can just admire the amazing shots you get. Saw half a dozen Turnstones down by the Estuary Car Park yesterday just as the tide was on the ebb.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks John - don't see it as hard work - pure enjoyment. Turnstone numbers should be on the up. Rupert Ormerod gets big counts off Starcross and good numbers often feed over here. Lovely birds. All the best. Matt
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