Velvet and Purps

A lot of work is being done at the lifeboat station, to extend the launch ramp. Erosion has created a drop at the end of the ramp, so much of the extended ramp is to be buried, in preparation for future erosion. The rocks in the foreground is where Maer Rocks starts.

Another evening spell of birding after work, checking a couple sites. The Velvet Scoter was again off the seafront, scoped the other side of Pole Sands, from the Pavilions carpark. Seventy-nine Dark-bellied Brent Geese were feeding on the sandbanks, and a further 50 were on (or just off) the beach, at Dawlish Warren, along with a female Red-breasted Merganser. 

Nearby on Maer Rocks - at least 10 Turnstones and 7 Purple Sandpipers, along with a single Rock Pipit and lonesome Little Egret.

Just 7 Pintail and a Greenshank off Mudbank, on the low tide, and all 10 Glossy Ibis over the house, to roost, at 1655 this evening as drizzle moved in. Too drizzly to count the Cattle Egrets tonight. I couldn't even see Starcross.

My crappy field sketches of the female-type Velvet Scoter. Too far away for a photo, even by my standards, but a distinctive enough structure, quite unlike Common Scoter. It's a chunky, thick-necked bird with a distinctive, concave forehead/bill structure. At distance the paler facial spots and white secondaries are invisible, but when it flaps its (oddly short-looking) wings the latter feature becomes obvious.

Purple Sandpiper - Maer Rocks.

Again it was the whoosh of wings that drew my attention to the Ibis flock, as they powered over the house towards Exminster Marshes. Twenty-two minutes earlier than last night.

White Dots

The 10 Glossy Ibis were late in this evening. They flew over Warren View and joined the river, close to Lower Halsdon Farm, at 1717. A flock of c80 Cattle Egrets flew into roost across the river at 1708. Otherwise this afternoon - the female Velvet Scoter showed a bit better off the seafront, flying around at one point and wing-flapping once settled (cheers for the text Mark). Nearby the 2 Black-necked Grebes were distantly off Shelly Beach (between Cockwood and Starcross) and 11 Red-breasted Mergansers were in Cockwood Corner. Off Mudbank - 16+ Sanderlings (on Cockle Sands), 70 Mallard, 7 Wigeon and 4 Pintail.

I count c80 white dots (Cattle Egrets). Easier to count (though still not exactly easy) with a photo.

Sibe Chiff Exeter

This male Stonechat is still wintering at the Imperial recreation ground.

Large numbers of auks and good numbers of both Kittiwake and Gannet were streaming into the bay first thing, following strong overnight winds. I gave it a little time but only managed to record 2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Common Scoters and 4 Curlew in addition to the aforementioned species. Otherwise in Exmouth - first-winter Mediterranean Gull on the Duckpond (and presumably the same bird off the seafront), another Great Northern Diver off Warren Point, 3 Little Egrets and a hunting Peregrine in Maer Valley, and 6 Pintail off Mudbank.

This afternoon we took Joel to Heavitree Social Club, in Exeter, for a football match against a Pinhoe team. While he was warming up, Lu and I walked down to the end of Ludwell Valley Park where a Siberian Chiffchaff performed well and 2 Green Sandpipers fed quietly in the brook.

This first-winter Mediterranean Gull may well have been the bird seen a short while later off the seafront. There are very few around at the moment.

Siberian Chiffchaff - Ludwell Valley Park. Waiting for kick-off occasionally has its perks!

 One of two Green Sandpipers in the brook, at one end of Ludwell Valley Park.

To and Fro

I stood in the garden and watched the flock of 10 Glossy Ibis fly downriver and over at 0818 this morning. All ten flew back upriver again at 1657 this evening, and were seen arriving on Exminster Marshes, by Mark, at 1704. 

A walk on Withycombe Raleigh Common produced 1 Woodcock, at least 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Dartford Warbler and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

A male and female Goldeneye were scoped from Shelly Beach this afternoon and earlier a Pale-bellied Brent Goose was in with a flock of c140 Dark-bellied Brent Geese on the Imperial rugby ground.

 This Pale-bellied Brent Goose was with c140 Dark-bellied birds on the Imperial rugby ground.

Minus a Glossy

Nine Glossy Ibis flew over the house this evening and continued upriver. One bird has been ditched. They were 25 minutes earlier than last night, appearing from quite high up at 1643. Also 65+ Cattle Egret into roost, across the river.

A quick look at Shelly Beach, earlier on, produced the two Black-necked Grebes (between Cockwood and Starcross) and 2 Ravens.

This photo illustrates the difficulty of counting Cattle Egrets as they come into roost. There are at least 65 birds in this flock but they really bunch up, particularly at the front.

Raven - Shelly Beach.

Evening Garden

The egret roost, north of Starcross. A long-range photo from the back garden. The birds perch conspicuously at first but soon vanish into deep cover.

After yesterday's Glossy Ibis flock I was keen to see if they'd repeat their evening flight, and even more keen to see if I could see them from the house. I stood in the back garden with a cuppa, and at 1708 (later than yesterday evening) a whoosh of wings alerted me to the ten-strong flock as they shot over the house, down towards Mudbank. They continued upriver, as yesterday, presumably to roost somewhere at the north end. A bit earlier, I attempted to count the Cattle Egrets on the other side of the river. A flock of 55+ moved from a wreck, north of Starcross, and headed inland. The bulk of the flock appeared to continue towards Haldon in a north-westerly direction. Later, at around 1655, flocks of 15 and 50+ arrived from somewhere behind Cockwood/Starcross and flew into roost. Potentially then, there were 120+ birds in total, but I suppose I can't fully discount the possibility that the earlier flock off 55+ circled round somewhere miles behind Starcross, and headed to an area nearer the back of Cockwood. Hope that all makes sense! Additionally, 19 Pied Wagtails flew north, over the garden.

I wanted to photograph the Glossy Ibis flock, from the garden,  for posterity. Sadly it was nearly dark at 1708, and they were really shifting. Here's the tail end of all ten, heading upriver.

Glossy Ibis

Lu and I walked the dog along the cycle path, after work this evening. This flock of 10 Glossy Ibis dropped over Mudbank, from an easterly direction, and continued their journey fast, upriver. A quick scramble for the camera and I managed to secure some record shots. Having only seen Glossy ibis for the first time in Exmouth, last September, I was pretty chuffed. A sight that could so easily have been missed, but one which will hopefully become more frequent as the species becomes more and more common.

Another late and brief, post-work spell of birding yesterday evening. Maer Rocks - 1 Little Egret, 29 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 13 Turnstones and 6 Purple Sandpipers. That's the seawall at Dawlish Warren in the distance. It's a lot further away than it looks.