Good wader action down at seaton wetlands this afternoon. From the island hide was a pec sand, wood sand , Curlew sand, ruff , spot redshank, fly over osprey and much more. Pec & wood sandpiper seemed to follow each other, great to get both in one shot . #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
A few birds starting to move at last though I've not been out much. But nice to see a autumn wheatear and a distant little stint at Otter NR, Redshank looked good in the sun and a returning knot. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
Some pics of this stunning Red necked phalarope on seaton wetlands this morning. Such cracking birds and my first in Devon. Great to see lots of familiar faces & friends in the hide as well. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. .
Was lucky this morning to be sitting in island hide seaton wetlands looking for a wood sand when this RN phalarope flew in. Good fun trying to get video & pics they don't do slow or rest !! Like they are on steroids !. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
Normally kingfishers don't get this close or stay put but this stayed preening for 15 mins. Also saw it catching some flies that got to close which was a new one on me. Also on local East Devon spot was nice to see juvenile little ringed plovers. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
Had a potter around little marsh on the Otter NR yesterday. Best birds seen, 5 yellow wags, 2 whimbrel, 1 green sand, 1 juv little ringed plover, 1 whinchat & a released white stork. Good to meet some new to birding people as well & give them some of my limited knowledge. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
First day out yesterday for 3 weeks and great to see my first ever long tailed blue and in East Devon!!. Thanks to Tim for pic as I had no chance with my phone. Also small heath, painted lady (15 on my yellow budleia at same time !!) & a cracking med gull. #UKBirding #Devonbirds #UKButterflies.
When asked by @middevonbirder.bsky.social if I wanted to go for long tailed shrike in Gloucester, well be rude to say no. Stunning bird and showed better than pics show. Marc @somersetbirder.bsky.social and Jan also came along. #UKBirding #Gloucbirds.
Had a morning at lodmor & Portland yesterday. Great to watch the common terns always arguing with any bird that came within range. Watched house martins & swallow collecting nesting material which thought was a bit late ? Also saw bearded tit,med gulls & much more #UKBirding #Dorsetbirds.
A few more pics from the last couple of days. Great to get out and about but got to be done early in this heat. Not sure on the grass hopper or caterpillar ( hawk moth ? ) but what a stunner the caterpillar is !!.
At last a couple of birds to post about. Local site this morning produced a very close little ringed plover & a first returning snipe for me. Also a brown Argus from dawlish Warren yesterday & I love this bee pic as I was mucking about in garden with scope. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
A few more pics from Thursday before I went in for my back procedure at long last. A Curlew at bowling Green Marsh with leg rings on. A azure damselfly i believe & a Essex skipper at bystock pools and the meadow above. 15 other butterfly species seen there which was amazing. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
First visit to Bowling Green Marsh for quite a while. Cracking sum plum spot red,2 different looking green sandpipers, 3 whimbrel,2 spoonbill,20 Curlew , 80 redshank,4 stockdove a few teal and a mix of hirundines made for a great morning. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
Local this morning,1st stop stantaway farm to see if reported quail last night were around but no sign. Then down to Otter NR for a potter. 3 spoonbill, 12 stockdove, 1 Curlew, lots of banded demoiselle,small skippers,gate keepers & 3 purple hairstreak. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
Trip up to south Wales at last for the western reef heron with the boys (@somersetbirder.bsky.social & @middevonbirder.bsky.social). Cracking bird which we saw straight away but then lost it as it flew.Then the journey home !! 4hrs on way, 9hrs+ on way home thanks to M5 !! #UKBirding #Walesbirding.
Trip over to a mates patch today, Ashcylst Forest & great to see so many silver washed fritillary. Could only find 1 white admiral though the heat got me in the end.Also lots of ringlets & 4 purple hairstreak flitting around top of small oak.Spot flys best on bird front. #UKBirding #UKButterflies
High brown fritillary on Dartmoor this morning & huge thanks to Bob Bailey for his help, Then off to Plymouth for white hairstreak at eye level in their favorite tree amazing !. Again huge thanks to @stuartgreen.bsky.social for info #UKBirding #Devonbirds #Butterflies.
First time I've ever managed to get pics of a wren & didn't even see what was in its mouth until I got home. Was trying to get RL partridge when wren landed on post near me. Also from yesterdays potter about salcombe Regis some wood whites. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
Trip to Greenscombe wood on the edge of the Tamar today for the endangered heath fritillary. Fantastic wood looks managed well & 30 plus fritillary seen. Huge thanks to @andrewpbf.bsky.social with his info wouldn't of found it otherwise !!. 6 spot fly best birds seen. #UKBirding #Cornwallbutterflys.
Good day on Portland started with couple hrs of sea watching, hundreds of manx, quite a few Balearic & a artic skua & sooty. Then pottered around different parts of the island for some butterflies which were abit easier to get pictures of. #UKBirding #Dorsetbirds
Got my 1st blue winged teal this morning at Ham Wall, 2nd attempt at this bird & boy isn't it wary & elusive!. No sooner had it been found and we all got eyes on it, off it flew over the reed beds. Doesn't seem to like being seen. My 10 seconds view was good though 🙄. #UKBirding #Somersetbirds.
Early morning start at dawlish Warren for the broad billed sandpiper my first ever & it was nice & close but time I got scope set up it had moved further away !. Then shot up to ham wall for the blue winged teal but no sign in a 4hr stint. Savi's again plus loads more though. Great day #UKBirding .
Great early morning visit to Otter NR Budleigh salterton. Was surprised to have a barn owl right next to the path 20ft away from me at first, was watching it for a few mins & trying to get some pics with phone then jogger & dog ran by that was that !. Spoonbill & peregrine best of rest. #UKBirding
One of 3 spoonbill at the great Otter NR Budleigh salterton this morning. Lovely and cool first thing and the birds were singing their hearts out. It's fast becoming a cracking nature reserve. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
Great morning Weymouth & Portland today, common terns always good watch at lodmoor & also a few med gulls.Little terns at ferrybridge always distant, little owl, turtle dove, kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills & Adonis,chalkhill blues & large skipper rounded off a great day. #UKBirding #Dorsetbirds.
Good time to walk into Portland bird obs as the turtle dove that has been around for couple of days popped out onto the grass. What ever its origins it was great to watch it at close quarters. #UKBirding #Dorsetbirds.
Short video of the bittern at ham wall this morning amazing it stayed up in view for so long. But focus isn't great probably just me but also the reeds in front of it could be a reason 🙄. #UKBirding #Somersetbirds.
Ham Wall early this morning for the savi's warbler, it was reeling away & showed on & off but couldn't get pics. Barn owl and especially this bittern were different. Bittern stayed out in open for 20 mins. Swifts, Bearded tits & much more seen on a very cold morning #UKBirding #Somersetbirding.
Good early morning visit to southern dartmoor today cuckoo's were star birds also pied flys, redstarts,crossbills,tree pipits but still no wood warbler. Amazing to see a frost on 12th May !!. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.
