Yesterday afternoon at approx 15.15pm I heard a very distinct "chee-wee" type call and looked up towards the Sycamore and Hawthorn scrub to see a GREENISH WARBLER perched right out in the open flycatching and tail flicking. Luckily to have my bins to hand, I had cracking views of the bird which showed down to about 5-7feet from me low to the ground with come Chiffchaff and Blackcaps. I watched the bird for several minutes before it flew towards the fishing pond hedge and out of the view. I relocated the bird again briefly by the fishing ponds in low willow trees before it flew over the hedge out of the park and following the valley hedge down towards Charmouth town and Stonebarrow hill. A cracking find and my 3rd British record!!.
Other sightings include Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, 20 Chiffchaff, 20 Blackcap and singles of Willow Warbler all recorded by the willow tree line at the ponds at 7am,
Visible Migration counts include 80+ Meadow Pipit, 20+Pied Wagtail and White wagtail, 2 Wheatear, 3 Yellow Wagtail, decent movment of 10 Siskin, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 15 Greenfinch, 25 Goldfinch and 23 Linnet.
Vis Mig count today 30th Sept: 100+ Meadow Pipit, 30 Swallow, 25 House Martin, 3 Raven, 15 Redpoll, 18 Siskin, 30 Goldfinch, 4 Wheatear and notable high numbers of Robins on site,
Friday 30 September 2016
Wednesday 21 September 2016
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER-Charmouth
Found 1st Yellow-browed Warbler of the year on the caravan park yesterday evening. Bird was heard calling from stand of poplar and sycamore trees near my flat!! Checking again at first light, I was delighted to refind the same bird (or a new one) near to yesterdays location moving through scrub with Chiff, Goldcrest and a stunning Firecrest.
Later this evening I took a trip to Charmouth and found a showy YBW along the coastal path near the beach huts behind the visitor centre with Chiffs and Willow Warblers. Large numbers of Pied & White Wagtail also present (70+) along with 2 Yellow Wagtail late evening dropping into the car park reedbed. Other sightings of nore include Grey Wagtail, Bullfinch, Peregrine, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Blackcap and 20 Long-tailed Tit present in same location 17.00-18.00pm
Later this evening I took a trip to Charmouth and found a showy YBW along the coastal path near the beach huts behind the visitor centre with Chiffs and Willow Warblers. Large numbers of Pied & White Wagtail also present (70+) along with 2 Yellow Wagtail late evening dropping into the car park reedbed. Other sightings of nore include Grey Wagtail, Bullfinch, Peregrine, Goldcrest, Firecrest, Blackcap and 20 Long-tailed Tit present in same location 17.00-18.00pm
Tuesday 20 September 2016
Rose-coloured Starling and Wryneck
ROSE-COLOURED STARLING (juvenile-Hayland's Estate Portland, Dorset 2016) My 1st for Britain. Smashing close up views of this very smart bird feeding with local common Starlings. This bird should be wintering in India now!!
Also smashing views of this self-found WRYNECK which popped up on some nearby bushes. One of three seen during the day. 8th Wryneck for 2016!!
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER at Wood Farm caravan Park this evening calling a lot. Last seen 19.30pm in sycamore trees and moving into Holly bushes with Chiffchaff and Goldcrest flocks. 1st of the Autumn and hopefully more to come
Tuesday 13 September 2016
Exe Estuary and Charmouth birding
A quick drive down to the Exe this evening was well rewarded with finding of a 1st year Spotted Redshank, Little Stint and Yellow-legged Gull from Seaton Marshes on the main estuary. Good numbers of Curlew, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and 1 Greenshank also present. A look from Black hole Marsh produced nice views of the Curlew Sandpiper (juvenile) in fading evening light.
Migrant wise earlier on today at Wood Farm, Charmouth during work include nice passage of 150+ Swallows and House Martin moving sound during 10minute period. Usual warblers around the willows and scrub but Willow Warblers were evident in larger numbers. Otherwise quiet with notable sightings of 5 Green Woodpecker, 2nd site record of Jay, 2 Treecreeper, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Siskin and a Kingfisher.
Migrant wise earlier on today at Wood Farm, Charmouth during work include nice passage of 150+ Swallows and House Martin moving sound during 10minute period. Usual warblers around the willows and scrub but Willow Warblers were evident in larger numbers. Otherwise quiet with notable sightings of 5 Green Woodpecker, 2nd site record of Jay, 2 Treecreeper, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Siskin and a Kingfisher.
Fleet to Ferrybridge
A great day's birding from the Fleet to Ferrybridge yesterday produced some fantastic autumn migrants and waders. No sign of the Woodchat Shrike or Ortolan Bunting at Pirate's Cove but had 20+ Yellow Wagtail, 20+ Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcaps, Meadow and Tree Pipits.
Down on the mudflats by Ferrybridge were good numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover along with Bar-tailed Godwits, Sandwich Tern, Sanderling, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull(adults), Lesser-black backed Gull, Little Egret and 2 Turnstone.
Down on the mudflats by Ferrybridge were good numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover along with Bar-tailed Godwits, Sandwich Tern, Sanderling, Mediterranean Gull, Yellow-legged Gull(adults), Lesser-black backed Gull, Little Egret and 2 Turnstone.
Wednesday 7 September 2016
Wryneck on patch
Back on Yeovil patch yesterday evening and early this morning turned up some excellent numbers of autumn migrants passing through the farm by the River Yeo. A short walk on 6th Sept produced 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler and 5 Whitethroat in the long grassy meadow vegetation down by the farm track. Always a good sign of decent birds when you see Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler feeding on insects around the Teasle and Hemlock patches of vegetation, both numbering 10-15 each. Other sightings of note yesterday evening include movement of 30 Meadow Pipit and 12 Skylarks around 6.30pm over the stubble & meadow fields. First decent numbers of the Autumn.
A walk this morning 7th Sept 2016 9am-12.30pm turned up a very brief WRYNECK feeding on one of the farm tracks down by the railway line. Bird flushed close and disappeared from view, never to been again during my walk around patch. Excellent numbers of Blackcap and Whitethroat present on the Elderberry and Bramble bushes. Good numbers of Willow Warbler also present with fewer numbers of Chiffchaff today (8 counted). Singles of Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer, Sedge and Reed Warbler at various locations across the patch.
During this mornings walk there seemed to be an increase in numbers of Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds during the walk present particularly around dense patches of Elderberry with large berry crops. Resident birds feeding up or autumn migrant birds passing through??!! Both Goldfinch and Linnet flocks now doubled in size with increase in juvenile birds joining the flocks.
With new job and now based at Charmouth, birding Yeovil patch will be scarce from now with occassional visits. Hopefully see big increase in Slyvia warblers moving through in next few weeks there since berry group is massive and probably best year for elderberries here on patch.
Patch birding now at Charmouth has clocked up some good birds here too with plenty of Blackcap, Whitethroat, Garden warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff passing through here. Will be keeping very close eye on the berry crop and movement of birds here over the next month or so too and bring regular up to date sightings of Charmouth birding and from Seaton Marshes too
A walk this morning 7th Sept 2016 9am-12.30pm turned up a very brief WRYNECK feeding on one of the farm tracks down by the railway line. Bird flushed close and disappeared from view, never to been again during my walk around patch. Excellent numbers of Blackcap and Whitethroat present on the Elderberry and Bramble bushes. Good numbers of Willow Warbler also present with fewer numbers of Chiffchaff today (8 counted). Singles of Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer, Sedge and Reed Warbler at various locations across the patch.
During this mornings walk there seemed to be an increase in numbers of Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds during the walk present particularly around dense patches of Elderberry with large berry crops. Resident birds feeding up or autumn migrant birds passing through??!! Both Goldfinch and Linnet flocks now doubled in size with increase in juvenile birds joining the flocks.
With new job and now based at Charmouth, birding Yeovil patch will be scarce from now with occassional visits. Hopefully see big increase in Slyvia warblers moving through in next few weeks there since berry group is massive and probably best year for elderberries here on patch.
Patch birding now at Charmouth has clocked up some good birds here too with plenty of Blackcap, Whitethroat, Garden warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff passing through here. Will be keeping very close eye on the berry crop and movement of birds here over the next month or so too and bring regular up to date sightings of Charmouth birding and from Seaton Marshes too
Tuesday 6 September 2016
Recent Sightings
Recent sightings from the Charmouth and Seaton area in recent days.
5th September:
West Bexington: 3 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat, 40+ Yellow Wagtail, 1 Whitethroat and single Swallow all of note.
Radipole: 1 juv Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and Kingfisher.
Lodmoor: 1 Knot, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 20 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Sandwich Tern.
Seaton & Black-hole Marshes: 19 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, 20 Dunlin, 16 Ringed Plover, 1 Water Rail, Barn Owl and 3 Yellow Wagtail.
30th Aug-5th Sept
Wood Farm and Cemetery:
Possible ICTERINE Warbler on 4th Sept. 3 Raven, Little Grebe, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Jay, Mistle Thrush, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler and Green Woodpecker are nice birds recorded during the last week. 1st Year Pied Flycatcher on 3rd Sept.
Stone Barrow Hill 1st Sept: 5 Tree Pipit, 18 YWagtail, 11 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 8 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lsr Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler and passage of 120+ Swallows.
5th September:
West Bexington: 3 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat, 40+ Yellow Wagtail, 1 Whitethroat and single Swallow all of note.
Radipole: 1 juv Yellow-legged Gull, 4 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and Kingfisher.
Lodmoor: 1 Knot, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 20 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Sandwich Tern.
Seaton & Black-hole Marshes: 19 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, 20 Dunlin, 16 Ringed Plover, 1 Water Rail, Barn Owl and 3 Yellow Wagtail.
30th Aug-5th Sept
Wood Farm and Cemetery:
Possible ICTERINE Warbler on 4th Sept. 3 Raven, Little Grebe, Great White Egret, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Jay, Mistle Thrush, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler and Green Woodpecker are nice birds recorded during the last week. 1st Year Pied Flycatcher on 3rd Sept.
Stone Barrow Hill 1st Sept: 5 Tree Pipit, 18 YWagtail, 11 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 8 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lsr Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler and passage of 120+ Swallows.
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