Author Archives: Nature in Devon

Seaton Hide repaired, Black Hole Marsh water levels: Axe Estuary Birds 168

Thanks, as always, to the seemingly tireless team behind Axe Estuary Birds. Reproduced with permission and gratitude!

Seaton Marshes Hide and Black Hole Marsh

The hide has now been repaired, and was opened again on November 7th. Good speedy work by EDDC!

There have been several comments recently about the water levels at Black Hole Marsh, and Fraser writes “Now we’re into the winter, the levels on BHM will be kept higher for a while. This is for the sake of the mud and waders as you can’t have mud full of invertebrates all year round as it will simply dry out. I try to keep the wetting periods to a minimum and to time them to coincide with relatively wader-less times of the year but it’s not possible to keep all the waders happy all the time. From Christmas/New Year onwards I’ll lower the levels again slightly but I intend to keep the tidegate engaged so that it will flood for a few days every fortnight. Then in the spring we can have lower levels again for longer periods to provide mud for migrant waders.”

The Birds
Two lovely photos from Sue Smith. How often do we see the glorious plumage of the Lapwing? And the Curlew is great too.

Mike Lock writes: “Over the past week or two we have had a marked return of blackbirds here. They have been absent from the garden for the past 3-4 months. I had assumed this was due to the very dry summer making it difficult for them to find worms etc. Now, quite suddenly, they are back, with at least three disputing the section of hedge whence they can come and take the pyracantha berries from the front of the house. Are these just local birds coming back from damper places after the recent heavy rain, or are they immigrants from eastern England or even from Europe? Some have suggested the latter on account of their dark beaks.” Can anyone say why some have dark beaks? Are they immigrants?

Steve Waite got excited on Monday 7th and says “I ran from my car, and scoped it from the side of the Estuary just north of Coronation Corner. It was distant, but thankfully with a Dunlin. The different feeding action, shorter bill, and the whole shape of the bird prompted me to start making phone calls. This distance meant I could see very few plumage features – just that its mantle wasn’t plain and it looked overall darker than the Dunlin, with some facial markings. Although I’ve never seen White-rumped Sandpiper before, this is what it ‘felt like’ to me…” And it was! Photo Ian McLean

And Karen Woolley, on the beach near the Yacht Club came across a pair of Snow Buntings, gorgeous little birds, and took some lovely pictures, of which this is just one.
After the report by Ann Smith of a Short-eared Owl near Budleigh Salterton in the last newsletter, one has been seen at Black Hole Marsh, and photographed by Sue Smith .
There are still a few Swallows about, and bees have been seen collecting pollen. Will it be winter soon? By way of contrast, there have been several reports of winter visitors such as Redwing and Fieldfares
The Trivia
An item of jewelry has been found in the Seaton Marshes Hide. If you have lost something please contact David Walters in the first instance on 01297 552616 with the details.
Another Vandal ! Steve Waite had his car attacked by a Pied Wagtail who obviously took exception to his own image !

Colyford Common Snippets
A Peregrine was seen over the reserve on the 5th and the 9th.
Of the waders, up to 120 Lapwing were present on the scrape and just one Dunlin there on 6th when two Snipe were also seen and a Green Sandpiper, but the ‘star’ of the week’s waders was the Spotted Redshank which although elusive was seen by several observers on the marsh or the scrapes and was still present on the 6th.
A Cetti’s Warbler was noted on the reserve reed bed on the 4th and a Jay near the entrance gate on the 6th presumably feeding on the acorns from several oak trees in the area – there has been a bumper crop this year.
Canada Goose numbers have increased to 66 (7th), there were 47 Shelduck present on the 12th and a small group of Dark-bellied Brent Geese have returned to the marsh where between 9 and 13 have been counted since the 9th
Grey Herons were still frequenting the area behind the scrape on the marsh with up to 9 (12th) present. Bob Olliver
News from Holyford Woods Fungus Foray, Thursday, 3rd November, 2011.
This morning was arranged by Meg Knowles of EDDC and led by Dr. David Allen, many thanks to both of them. We set off hopefully for Holyford Woods, about 12 of us ably escorted by several dogs. Vanilla, David’s yellow Labrador, wallowing in muddy puddles, couldn’t decide whether to be black, blond or piebald. Serrin was black already. Paco thought “What a daft pair of b****es.”
David started by explaining about the colour of spores going from dark to light and the fact that black and white paper could be used for determining spore colour. Also fungi on a fallen branch can re-orientate, so that the spores fall down, (geotropism).
First find – photogenic layers of Turkeytail, prettily arranged on a log. Next Birch Polypore, or Razor Strop Fungus. It can be used for sharpening blades but also for healing wounds. (So doubly useful in old Barber shops.) 5,300 years ago the ice mummy, Otzi, was carrying pieces of this Fungus. He may have used it as tinder in the Ray Mears fashion. Next, Clouded Agaric, edible, but causing gastric upsets in some people – so perhaps best avoided. Common Inkcap, edible, but causing alarming symptoms if taken with alcohol! ( Thus given, in medicine form, to alcoholics.) A useful ink was made from it in the past. A good patch of Earthballs and King Alfred’s Cakes were found and a pretty Bonnet Fungi but, as it did not exude blood red latex, we had to agree we had not found a Bleeding Bonnet! We did find the black “bootlaces”, the dreaded Honey Fungus. On the path back was a patch of Sulphur Tuft Fungus, always a good photo stop. We kept the best until last. Right at the gate and the piece de resistance was a magnificent Stinkhorn (aptly named by a Frenchman with a sense of humour, Phallus impudicus). It was complete with a disgusting fly revelling in the slimy top. A happy ending to a very enjoyable morning. Marjorie Waters.
Ringing
Despite the incorrect weather forecast for the 10th, the day was ideal and 33 birds were caught. These were: Robin (3); Blue Tit 7(6); Goldfinch 3(2); Chaffinch 1; Dunnock 2; Wren (1); Great Tit 1; Goldcreast 1(1); and Greenfinch 3 (2). A Greenfinch was probably a control, ringed by Steve Waite in his garden in Seaton, within the range to be a retrap.
This twice-monthly email newsletter is freely available to anyone who would like it, as is a periodic one about the activities of the East Devon Local Group of the Devon Wildlife Trust. Just send me an email with Axe Estuary Birds and/or East Devon DWT in the subject line. Also, for those without a computer, I will send a copy by post if you would like to send me some stamps.
Thanks to those who keep me informed. Please continue to tell me of any unusual, interesting or amusing sightings, and what is about locally, and send any photos you would like to share.
Mike, Marjorie and David. (and many others!) davidwalters@eclipse.co.uk. 7 Springfields, Colyford, EX24 6RE.
tel. 01297 552616 Mobile 0779 1541 744.

November 16, 2011Permalink Leave a comment

Bird Hide Damaged in Seaton and Greenland White-fronted Goose: AEB 167!

Axe Estuary Birds No 167   October 31st 2011  

Seaton Marshes Bird Hide

Sadly, this hide has been damaged by a deliberate fire, and the floor judged to be unsafe.  So the hide is closed to visitors, but it is hoped that repairs will enable it to be reopened before too long.

The Birds

Peter White, on his first visit to Colyford Common saw two Kingfishers, successfully catching fish.

There was a Ring Ouzel on the  path to Colyford Common on Thursday 27th  morning . Ian McLean only had my digi-scoping camera with him so did not manage a photo.  A Spotted Redshank was still present that morning.

Steve Waite writes “I came across a bird whilst scoping from the Farm Gate in Axmouth – a stonking Greenland White-fronted Goose!  I have seen and found several Eurasian White-fronted Geese from the very same place, and the first thing I noticed when I came across this bird was how dark it was. I knew it was going to be a Greenland even before I saw its bright orange hooter – which obviously clinched it! I sent the texts out, and I understand the bird is still with us so I hope everyone who wanted to see it did so.”

There was also a Spotted Redshank viewable from the Farm Gate, walking around and feeding in the small pools on Colyford Common.

Yawning (?) Kingfisher

Cattle Egret and Little Egret

 Cormorant taking off

Mute Swan in flight

 

Sue Smith has been busy with her camera again, and above are just a few of the photographs she has sent me, which I particularly like.

 

 

Tim Frost writes “It’s probably something you’ve seen often, but my wife and I were fascinated when sitting in the car park at Beer Head and were watching about 30 Pied Wagtails feeding on the ground, when a Sparrowhawk swept in amongst them. However, far from being intimidated, they en masse mobbed the predator until it flew off into a nearby tree. The Wagtails then departed in their own time. The Sparrowhawk did not follow, obviously seeking less stoical prey.”

Ann Smith tells of seeing a Short-eared Owl on the cliffs east of Budleigh Salterton.  Several others saw it too – she was glad to have confirmation!  She also saw an Avocet on the river from the Tower Hide at Black Hole Marsh.

The Trivia

Marjorie Waters has been having a clear out and found some prints of Thorburn paintings   10″ / 8″.  She was going to frame them at one time but didn’t get round to it.   “They could be  put on a block and varnished as a quick option I suppose but only Birders would want them.  Grey Phalarope.  Black Guillemot.  Grey Plover/ Kentish Plover/ Sabine’s Gull/  Ivory Gull.”  There are three copies of each  If you are interested please contact her at marjoriewaters@waitrose.com

News from Holyford Woods

Another spell of lovely weather, with one day of high winds to shake things up a bit.  It has been difficult to walk beneath the oaks without being ‘pinged’ with acorns, and walking on some paths it is ‘snap crackle and pop’ as one  scrunches on the thickly strewn beech mast,  ripe acorns and dry twigs. The holly trees which regularly have berries are smothered this year, and the masses of spindle capsules  are bursting open to reveal the bright orange seeds. Making my way across the field one time, I stopped to enjoy 5 Ravens over the hillside rising on the thermals,  then wheeling and swooping.  It was not long before a Crow joined them but was soon drawn away with the appearance of a Buzzard to hassle. One morning I was standing on the bottom path while Paco was thinking he had seen or heard something interesting, when a Sparrowhawk swept past us in pursuit of a small bird. They vanished round the corner, so there was no way of telling if the quarry escaped. Now leaves are turning colour on the saplings on The Hangings, it is easier to record those that are quite well grown. I have noted Beech, Oak, Willow, Birch, Ash, Hazel and Hawthorn. The evergreen Holly is also appearing. Among the many rabbits in the surrounding fields, sadly there are some suffering with myxomatosis. As always when numbers are high it appears again.  Hopefully it will not be enough to reduce significantly the main food supply of the 3 Buzzards. The local foxes look healthy now after suffering mange last year.

Jean Kreiseler.

 

Ringing

The catch on the 20th  included: Song Thrush 2; Dunnock 4; Reed Bunting 4; and White Wagtail 1. White Wagtails are now migrating from Scotland and further north and the occasional one is seen locally. Mike Tyler was lucky to catch one on Thursday at the Colyton STW, together with Pied Wagtails.

Steve Waite has been busy building a blog for the Group and it is now up and running. Please check it out at http://axeestuaryringinggroup.blogspot.com  Congratulations to Steve for his work.

 

Here is a reminder of other websites worth looking  at regularly.  If you know of others, please let me know

http://stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/              Steve Waite’s blog

http://karenwoolley.blogspot.com/                     Karen Woolley’s blog

http://timwhitewildlife.blogspot.com/                Tim White’s blog  – lots of photos

http://www.devonbirds.org/                                Devon Birds website

http://www.axevaleconservation.org.uk              Axe Vale and District Conservation Society’s web site

 

This twice-monthly email newsletter is freely available to anyone who would like it, as is a periodic one about the activities of the East Devon Local Group of the Devon Wildlife Trust.  Just send me an email with Axe Estuary Birds and/or East Devon DWT in the subject line.  Also, for those without a computer, I will send a copy by post if you would like to send me some stamps.

Thanks to those who keep me informed.  Please continue to tell me of any unusual, interesting or amusing sightings, and what is about locally, and send any photos you would like to share.

Mike, Jean, and David.  (and many others!) davidwalters@eclipse.co.uk.   7 Springfields, Colyford, EX24 6RE.

tel. 01297 552616  Mobile 0779 1541 744.

November 2, 2011Permalink Leave a comment

Axe Estuary Birds #166 – birding newsletter

Thanks to Axe Estuary Birds for letting us publish their birding newsletter on the web.

Axe Estuary Birds 166

The Birds

Lesley Clarke tells me “A friend of ours who made her first ever visit to Black Hole Marsh was very impressed and sent us this rather lovely photo of  a Little Egret.”

And Sue Smith saw the first two Whooper Swans of the season on 6th October, and let Steve Waite know, who hurried there, having left a steaming cup of coffee!

Of course, Sue had her camera ready too, and also caught this Arctic Tern.

The Semi-palmated Sandpiper stayed for a while, and Karen Woolley got this great picture on the beach. And then she went to Exmouth and caught a Grey Phalarope “doing what they do  best !”

From the Tower Hide Sue had great views of a Sparrow Hawk devouring its prey, and also a Peregrine Falcon.peregrine falconThe Trivia

 

painted lady Nick Yool saw this Painted Lady at Membury on September 23rd . I have only seen one other this year, have they been scarce?At about 6pmon 9th October, Kathy Hackman “was down by the Axe beyond Cloakham Lawns, and a skein (unruly, not v-shaped) of very vocal geese flew overhead, heading north. What a thrill. For a moment I thought I was back inScotland. They didn’t go out of vision, but swirled around and then flew back overhead, maybe to the Axe estuary. I couldn’t tell what kind they were, but they had pale underbellies! A wonderful sight and sound. Their flight and grouping was definitely more purposeful when heading south/seaward.”  Later Moira Anderson saw presumably the same flock over Colyford.

A super sequence by Sue Smith !  (The eel lost !)

News from Holyford Woods

In spite of the lovely un-seasonal weather we have been enjoying, it has not stopped Autumn progressing.  Bracken is turning that warm rusty red, and many of the  groundcover plants under the trees have  died down.  Leaves on the  ash and birch are changing colour and  falling, so on some paths one is scrunching those as well  as the amazing amount of acorns and beech mast strewn everywhere. Also ripe hazel nuts which probably account for  sightings of squirrels on 3 occasions, which pleases Paco. He and I were resting on my seat one day, and every time the wind shook the oak branches we were pelted with acorns! At the beginning of the month, on an early misty morning walk I found the gorse bushes, brambles and saplings on The Hangings magically festooned with a variety of cobwebs sparkling with dew drops. The Roe buck was among the gorse there, and later I heard a deer ‘barking’. Many of the holly trees which usually bear fruit are loaded with  berries, but the blackberries which I have been picking since the end of July are just about finished. Thanks to Dave Palmer trimming back the paths there are only the odd determined bramble to be pruned back.  Every where is dry, so as yet  few fungi to enjoy.  The number  of Wrens has increased this year and their calls are heard everywhere,  in fact there is a lot of activity among all the birds. I do hope they are not beginning to think its Spring!   Jean Kreiseler On Saturday 1st October, the East Devon Branch of Devon Birds had a field trip to the Axe Wetlands, led by Bob Lugg.  They saw the Semi-palmated Sandpiper, and Ringed Plover, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwit, Mediterranean Gulls and a Wheatear.  They were impressed by  the reserves and particularly liked the Tower Hide.

Ringing

A smaller catch on the 8th with eight birds: Chaffinch 1; Greenfinch 2; Wren (1); Blue Tit 2; Blackbird (1); Kingfisher (1).This twice-monthly email newsletter is freely available to anyone who would like it, as is a periodic one about the activities of the East Devon Local Group of the Devon Wildlife Trust.  Just send me an email with Axe Estuary Birds and/or East Devon DWT in the subject line.  Also, for those without a computer, I will send a copy by post if you would like to send me some stamps. Thanks to those who keep me informed.  Please continue to tell me of any unusual, interesting or amusing sightings, and what is about locally, and send any photos you would like to share. Mike, Jean, and David.  (and many others!) davidwalters@eclipse.co.uk.   7 Springfields,Colyford,EX24 6RE. tel. 01297 552616 Mobile0779 1541 744.

Eek !!  (As taken and titled by Karen Woolley)

October 16, 2011Permalink Leave a comment