Sightings Diary
February 2012
Greater Black-backed Gull
Exmouth, Woodbury, East Budleigh, Budleigh Salterton - Devon
04.02.12 - -1 to 4 degrees, cloudy/sleet/snow, light wind, 10am to 2pm
Birds - Snipe (4), Bullfinches (8), Kestrel, Goldcrest, Buzzards, Goldfinches, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Dunnocks, Wren, Blackbirds, Redwings, Song Thrush, Chaffinches, Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws, Ravens, Woodpigeons, Collard Doves, House Sparrows, Black-headed Gulls, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Mute Swans, Heron, Moorhen.
Other - Fox, no wild flowers except Gorse Blossom (much frost damage)!
Black-headed Gull
Dunnock
Mute Swan
My Patch - Exeter and Private Estate - Dorset
10.02.2012 - 2 degrees, rain/sleet, light wind, 9am to 2pm
Birds - Brambling, Siskins, 2 pairs of Treecreepers, 3 Bullfinches, Marsh Tits, Green Woodpecker, Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Pheasants, Woodpigeons, Redwings, Blackbirds, Wrens, Heron, Rooks, Crows, Jackdaws, Song Thrush, Blue Tits, Mallard Ducks, Moorhens, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Jays, Buzzards, Cormorant, Magpies, Robins, House Sparrows, Mistle Thrush, Collard Doves, Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Other - Roe Buck, Snowdrops, Daffodils (roadside), signs of Otters and Badgers.
Brambling
Heron
Chaffinch
Siskin
Topsham Bowling Green Marsh - Exe Estuary
11.02.2012 - 2 degrees, sunny, light wind, 7:30am to 12:00pm. High tide 9am
Birds - Avocets 350+, Pintails, Water Pipit, Snipe, Tufted Duck, Ravens, Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Dunlin, Black and Bar Tailed Godwits, Redshank, Curlew, Shoveler, Brent Geese, Canada Geese, Coots, Magpies, Crows, Woodpigeons, Dunnocks, Wren, Robins, Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tit, Lapwings, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Mallard Ducks, Teal, Heron.
Other - 2 Foxes
Snipe
Lapwing
Shoveler
Redshank
Brent Geese
Wigeon
Brent Geese
Feeding Visit - My Patch and Topsham Bowling Green Marsh - Exe Estuary
17.02.1012 - 12 degrees, light cloud, light wind, 9am to 2:40pm. High tide 2pm (though a very low high tide)
Birds - Snipe, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk, Ravens, Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Black Tailed Godwits, Redshank, Curlew, Shoveler, Brent Geese, Canada Geese, Coots, Magpies, Crows, Woodpigeons, Dunnocks, Wren, Robins, Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tit, Lapwings, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Mallard Ducks, Teal, Heron, Greylag Geese, Little Egret, Lomg-tailed Tits, Greenfinch, Blackbirds, Starlings, Coal Tits, Pheasants, Moorhen, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Buzzard, Siskins, Goldfinches.
Other - Still no wild flowers, but saw Dung Flies and a Bumble Bee
Canada Goose
Black-tailed Godwit
Pied Wagtail
Goldfinch
18.02.1012 - 11 degrees, light cloud/sun/showers. windy, 10am to 3pm
Birds - Lapwings, Nuthatches, Greenfinches, Yellow Hammer, Linnets, Buzzards, Woodpigeons, Great Tits, Song Thrush, Herring Gulls, Wrens, Crows, Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Blackbirds, Goldfinches, Robins, Long-tailed Tits, Coat Tit, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Redwings, Fieldfares
Yellow Hammer
Topsham - Exe Estuary
19.02.1012 - 3 degrees, sunny, still, 7:00am to 9am
Birds - Female Hen Harrier, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Buntings, Little Grebe, Mediterranean Gull, Goldfinches, Herring Gulls, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Mallard Ducks, Woodpigeons, Crows, Robins, Teal, Curlew, Redshank, Blue Tits, Dunnock, Blackbird, Cormorant.
Female Hen Harrier - Apologies for the heavily cropped image, but better than no image :-)
Moonlight Gulls
Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Goldfinch
Bickleigh to Tiverton Following the River Exe
19.02.1012 - 8 degrees, sunny, light wind, 11am to 3pm
Birds - Many Nuthatches (6), Goosanders (5), Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper, Stock Doves, Rooks Building Nests, March Tit, Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Jackdaws, Wrens, Great Tits, Robins, Crows, Woodpigeons, Mallard Ducks, Buzzards, Redwings, Heron, Cormorant, Song Thrush, Magpies, Dunnock, Pheasants, Starlings
Nuthatch
Cormorant
Other - Roe Deer prints, Celandines, Dandelions, Dogs Mercury, Snowdrops, Squirrels,Primroses
Private Estate - Dorset
24.02.1012 - 13 degrees, cloud, some sun, light wind, 11am to 3pm
Birds - Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatches, Bullfinches, Gold Crests, Green Woodpeckers, Kingfishers, Tawny Owl, Treecreepers, House Sparrows, Pied Wagtails, Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Woodpigeons, Goldfinches, Dunnocks, Jackdaws, Crows, Rooks, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wrens, Redwings, Mallard Ducks, Buzzards, Raven, Long-tailed Tits, Moorhens, Magpies, evidence of Dippers.
Others - 2 Roe Deer, many Badger tracks, Snowdrops, Celandines, Blackthorn Blossom, Wood Mouse,, Squirrels, Red Dead Nettle, Field Speedwell, Germander Speedwell, Hazel Catkins, breaking Goat Willow flower buds.
Snow Drops
Bowling Green Marsh Hide - Topsham, Exe Estuary and then Topsham to Exeter Along the Canal
25.02.1012 - 12 degrees, cloud, drizzle, still, 8:30am to 11:30am, high tide 8:30am
Birds - Pintails, Gadwall, Snipe, Avocets (500+), Tufted Duck, 2 Pairs Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Female Reed Buntings, Knot (single), Siskins, Coots, Redshank, Wigeon, Shoveler, Black-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwits, Shelduck, Crows, Chaffinches, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Great Tits, Teal, Mallard Ducks, Black-headed Gulls, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Greylag Geese, Moorhens, Curlew, Dunlin, Magpies, Blackbirds, Herring Gulls, Pied Wagtails, Woodpigeons, Cormorants, Lapwing (single!), Heron, Goldfinches, Little Egret, Mute Swans, Collard Doves, Redwings, Song Thrush, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Nuthatch, Jackdaws, Coal Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Canada Goose.
Male Red-breasted Merganser
Mute Swans
Siskin
Canada Goose
Chaffinch
Others - Common Stork's-bill, Yarrow, Alexanders, Celandines, Common Dog-violet, Wood Spurge, Rabbits, Squirrel, Groundsel, Bumble Bees, Daisies, Red Dead Nettle, Goat Willow.
Celandine
Red Dead-nettle
Dog Violet
Bowling Green Marsh Hide - Topsham, Exe Estuary
26.02.1012 - 5 degrees, sunny, still, 6:30am to 10:30am, high tide 9:00am
Birds - All above waterfwol plus Cetti's Warbler and a Fox
Canada Geese
Black-tailed Godwits
Coot
Bar-tailed Godwits
Avocets
Greylag Geese
Pintail
04.02.12 - -1 to 4 degrees, cloudy/sleet/snow, light wind, 10am to 2pm
Birds - Snipe (4), Bullfinches (8), Kestrel, Goldcrest, Buzzards, Goldfinches, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Dunnocks, Wren, Blackbirds, Redwings, Song Thrush, Chaffinches, Crows, Rooks, Jackdaws, Ravens, Woodpigeons, Collard Doves, House Sparrows, Black-headed Gulls, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Mute Swans, Heron, Moorhen.
Other - Fox, no wild flowers except Gorse Blossom (much frost damage)!
Black-headed Gull
Dunnock
Mute Swan
My Patch - Exeter and Private Estate - Dorset
10.02.2012 - 2 degrees, rain/sleet, light wind, 9am to 2pm
Birds - Brambling, Siskins, 2 pairs of Treecreepers, 3 Bullfinches, Marsh Tits, Green Woodpecker, Goldcrests, Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Pheasants, Woodpigeons, Redwings, Blackbirds, Wrens, Heron, Rooks, Crows, Jackdaws, Song Thrush, Blue Tits, Mallard Ducks, Moorhens, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Jays, Buzzards, Cormorant, Magpies, Robins, House Sparrows, Mistle Thrush, Collard Doves, Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Other - Roe Buck, Snowdrops, Daffodils (roadside), signs of Otters and Badgers.
Brambling
Heron
Chaffinch
Siskin
Topsham Bowling Green Marsh - Exe Estuary
11.02.2012 - 2 degrees, sunny, light wind, 7:30am to 12:00pm. High tide 9am
Birds - Avocets 350+, Pintails, Water Pipit, Snipe, Tufted Duck, Ravens, Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Dunlin, Black and Bar Tailed Godwits, Redshank, Curlew, Shoveler, Brent Geese, Canada Geese, Coots, Magpies, Crows, Woodpigeons, Dunnocks, Wren, Robins, Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tit, Lapwings, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Mallard Ducks, Teal, Heron.
Other - 2 Foxes
Snipe
Lapwing
Shoveler
Redshank
Brent Geese
Wigeon
Brent Geese
Feeding Visit - My Patch and Topsham Bowling Green Marsh - Exe Estuary
17.02.1012 - 12 degrees, light cloud, light wind, 9am to 2:40pm. High tide 2pm (though a very low high tide)
Birds - Snipe, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Reed Bunting, Sparrowhawk, Ravens, Pied Wagtails, Meadow Pipits, Black Tailed Godwits, Redshank, Curlew, Shoveler, Brent Geese, Canada Geese, Coots, Magpies, Crows, Woodpigeons, Dunnocks, Wren, Robins, Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tit, Lapwings, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Mallard Ducks, Teal, Heron, Greylag Geese, Little Egret, Lomg-tailed Tits, Greenfinch, Blackbirds, Starlings, Coal Tits, Pheasants, Moorhen, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Buzzard, Siskins, Goldfinches.
Other - Still no wild flowers, but saw Dung Flies and a Bumble Bee
Canada Goose
Black-tailed Godwit
Pied Wagtail
Goldfinch
18.02.1012 - 11 degrees, light cloud/sun/showers. windy, 10am to 3pm
Birds - Lapwings, Nuthatches, Greenfinches, Yellow Hammer, Linnets, Buzzards, Woodpigeons, Great Tits, Song Thrush, Herring Gulls, Wrens, Crows, Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Blackbirds, Goldfinches, Robins, Long-tailed Tits, Coat Tit, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Redwings, Fieldfares
Yellow Hammer
Topsham - Exe Estuary
19.02.1012 - 3 degrees, sunny, still, 7:00am to 9am
Birds - Female Hen Harrier, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Buntings, Little Grebe, Mediterranean Gull, Goldfinches, Herring Gulls, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Mallard Ducks, Woodpigeons, Crows, Robins, Teal, Curlew, Redshank, Blue Tits, Dunnock, Blackbird, Cormorant.
Female Hen Harrier - Apologies for the heavily cropped image, but better than no image :-)
Moonlight Gulls
Black-headed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Goldfinch
Bickleigh to Tiverton Following the River Exe
19.02.1012 - 8 degrees, sunny, light wind, 11am to 3pm
Birds - Many Nuthatches (6), Goosanders (5), Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper, Stock Doves, Rooks Building Nests, March Tit, Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Jackdaws, Wrens, Great Tits, Robins, Crows, Woodpigeons, Mallard Ducks, Buzzards, Redwings, Heron, Cormorant, Song Thrush, Magpies, Dunnock, Pheasants, Starlings
Nuthatch
Cormorant
Other - Roe Deer prints, Celandines, Dandelions, Dogs Mercury, Snowdrops, Squirrels,Primroses
Private Estate - Dorset
24.02.1012 - 13 degrees, cloud, some sun, light wind, 11am to 3pm
Birds - Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatches, Bullfinches, Gold Crests, Green Woodpeckers, Kingfishers, Tawny Owl, Treecreepers, House Sparrows, Pied Wagtails, Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Woodpigeons, Goldfinches, Dunnocks, Jackdaws, Crows, Rooks, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wrens, Redwings, Mallard Ducks, Buzzards, Raven, Long-tailed Tits, Moorhens, Magpies, evidence of Dippers.
Others - 2 Roe Deer, many Badger tracks, Snowdrops, Celandines, Blackthorn Blossom, Wood Mouse,, Squirrels, Red Dead Nettle, Field Speedwell, Germander Speedwell, Hazel Catkins, breaking Goat Willow flower buds.
Snow Drops
Bowling Green Marsh Hide - Topsham, Exe Estuary and then Topsham to Exeter Along the Canal
25.02.1012 - 12 degrees, cloud, drizzle, still, 8:30am to 11:30am, high tide 8:30am
Birds - Pintails, Gadwall, Snipe, Avocets (500+), Tufted Duck, 2 Pairs Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Female Reed Buntings, Knot (single), Siskins, Coots, Redshank, Wigeon, Shoveler, Black-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwits, Shelduck, Crows, Chaffinches, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Great Tits, Teal, Mallard Ducks, Black-headed Gulls, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Greylag Geese, Moorhens, Curlew, Dunlin, Magpies, Blackbirds, Herring Gulls, Pied Wagtails, Woodpigeons, Cormorants, Lapwing (single!), Heron, Goldfinches, Little Egret, Mute Swans, Collard Doves, Redwings, Song Thrush, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Nuthatch, Jackdaws, Coal Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Canada Goose.
Male Red-breasted Merganser
Mute Swans
Siskin
Canada Goose
Chaffinch
Others - Common Stork's-bill, Yarrow, Alexanders, Celandines, Common Dog-violet, Wood Spurge, Rabbits, Squirrel, Groundsel, Bumble Bees, Daisies, Red Dead Nettle, Goat Willow.
Celandine
Red Dead-nettle
Dog Violet
Bowling Green Marsh Hide - Topsham, Exe Estuary
26.02.1012 - 5 degrees, sunny, still, 6:30am to 10:30am, high tide 9:00am
Birds - All above waterfwol plus Cetti's Warbler and a Fox
Canada Geese
Black-tailed Godwits
Coot
Bar-tailed Godwits
Avocets
Greylag Geese
Pintail