Little Egret beneath the motorway bridge.
Just occasionally I get the urge to stray beyond this Exmouth boundary. This usually happens when it gets a bit 'samey' and it's definitely very samey at the moment. A very quick look at Bowling Green (I really don't like hides) was unsuccessful in that I couldn't find any Pochard, but Spoonbill, Marsh Harrier and 7 Greylag Geese were amongst the birds on show.
A little further up the road, at Ludwell Valley Park, were 2 Green Sandpipers, 8 Chiffchaffs and 6 Goldcrests. I couldn't find any Dippers.
Otherwise, back in Exmouth - 2 Red-throated Divers, 43 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a first-winter Mediterranean Gull off Orcombe Point (from Foxholes).
Mudbank - a second-winter Mediterranean Gull, c330 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a flock of 64 Carrion Crows, 15 Common Gulls, 2 Greenshank, 20 Redshank, c125 Wigeon and just 1 Pintail.
Early yesterday morning off Orcombe - lots of auks past but only 4 Razorbills were close enough to positively identify. Also - 2 Red-throated Divers, 4+ Great Crested Grebes and 2 Harbour Porpoises.
2/2 - Mudbank - 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 2 Goldeneyes (male and female), 93 Wigeon, 1 Peregrine, 3 Greenshank and a female Pintail. Just east of Sandy Bay - c40 Linnets, 1 Kestrel, 1 Bullfinch and 2 Snipe in an area I hadn't yet checked this winter.
Spoonbill - Bowling Green. Popped in hoping to see a Pochard can you believe. Not something I would imagined myself saying a few years ago but I haven't seen one since 2021!
Marsh Harrier - Bowling Green.
Another species I struggle to see in Exmouth - Greylag Goose.
The northern corner of Ludwell Park, Exeter.
One of two Green Sandpipers in the brook at Ludwell Valley Park.
This narrow stretch of the brook is the area favored by the Green Sandpipers - no footpath and thick bramble edges ensures the birds aren't disturbed. The area is good for Chiffchaffs too. I was hoping for Sibe Chiff (I had one in this exact spot a couple years ago) but no luck today.
Second-winter Mediterranean Gull - Mudbank.
Well you're close to the "Lane" and Riff-raff Rd! What do you expect?
ReplyDeleteOwners of dangerous breeds are quick to point out their dogs aren't dangerous but fail to appreciate how uneasy it makes others feel. That level of selfishness is what really winds me up. If you're gonna have a dog like that at least have the decency to keep it on a lead and under control and try to appreciate that not everyone is at ease in the presence of such animals. Hope you're keeping well Tom. We're due a good spell of birding in Exmouth soon. It's been too quiet! Matt
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