Axe Estuary Birds No 153 March 31^st 2011

NB: The following is reproduced by kind permission of Axe Estuary Birds. Full credit goes to the team that produces the newsletter (see the bottom of the post for specific details). Photographs are credited throughout the text although we are working to preserve the original layout wherever possible in the future.

The Birds

A Red Kite was seen over Black Hole Marsh on 24^th which was a pleasant surprise.  These magnificent birds seem to be expanding their territory, so may be we will see them more frequently.  Presumably the same bird was seen at Beer Head later in the day.  On the same day John Stentiman witnessed a Sparrow Hawk swoop down and take a Pigeon in his garden, carry it to some bushes and make a meal.  He then noticed a number of Gulls scatter in apparent panic, looked up and spotted an Osprey, the first reported this spring

There has been a Hoopoe on patch, which was snapped by Steve Waite in the Seaton area.

Steve also writes “A few hours at Colyford Common/Black Hole Marsh this morning was lightened up no end when a Red Kite came flying north over the reserves just before 9am….It was easily the lowest flying one I’ve ever seen on patch- passing just above tree top height!”. He later took this picture over the house.

And Karen Woolley writes “This morning saw me taking my seventh walk to Branscombe and back and this time I actually saw some nice migrants. On reaching Branscombe I noticed a couple of Wheatears down on the grass by the car park. I was just rushing down to get a closer view when a dog walker flushed them. They came towards me and the couple turned out to be 18! It’s always a real thrill to see your first Wheatear of the year.  I didn’t see any more birds on Beer Head at first, apart that is for a few small flocks of Meadow Pipits going over. I was just approaching The Dell, checking for Adders in the adjacent field when I spotted what looked like a male Ring Ouzel, it was a long way off but unmistakable, it was definitely a Ring Ouzel. My first spring one on Beer Head.”

Stop Press!  An Avocet on the River this afternoon – the 31^st – photographed by Sue Smith

Simon and Sue Wakely write: “A garden first today, and a First ever for us. 2 Marsh Tits in the Frame, just wish there was more light –  that’s Birding,  Hope you enjoy them, we were delighted.”

A new Backwater Birding Thread has been started on Bird Forum.  The address is below, and already it is well worth looking at – and indeed posting your comments and sightings.

http://tinyurl.com/5we9lyq

News from Holyford Woods

Instead of 1 Chiffchaff I have been hearing 6 both inside and outside the woods, together with (seen and/or heard) 3 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Greater Spotted Woodpeckers drumming, 6 Pheasants, 2 Jays, and 2 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushs and 1 Mistle Thrush singing, Rooks and Crows – inspecting the tops of the trees in Holyford Coppice, 5 Goldcrests in the willows around Top Pool, 3 Buzzards plus  numerous LBJ’s. On a perfect spring morning Mike Lock, AVDCS Chairman, led an interesting stroll looking at flowers and plants in detail. The floor of the wooded areas is becoming a glorious golden mat now that the Golden Saxifrage has joined the Primroses, Lesser Celandines and Moschatel. We found several spotted leaves of the Early Purple Orchid at the top of Holyford Coppice, and a few early Violets. Dog’s Mercury is prevalent here and lower down too, a clear indication of an ancient wood. The Gorse on the sunny slopes of The Hangings is in full flower. One occasion I was looking at the flowers when I realised the shrub was crowded with Ladybirds, probably emerged from hibernation in the bark of an Ash Tree alongside.  Several Buff-tailed Bumble-bees have been patrolling around. The Roe Deer now spend  more time out in the surrounding fields, enjoying the fresh grass.  The warm sunny newly-cleared bank beside Top Pool is regularly enjoyed by 1 Peacock, 1 Comma and 3 Brimstone butterflies. Now birds are beginning to nest, Squirrels have returned from the urban ‘feeding stations’ they have enjoyed all winter.

I think this has been the loveliest March I can remember.  Sitting on the log seat beside Top Pool has been a joy, especially as it is a favourite spot now for the butterflies. Jean Kreiseler. (There will be no report from Jean in the next issue, as she is off to the Okavango Delta.)

Ringing

There were six cannon-net catches this winter.  One other catch was aborted thanks to the activities of Mr. Reynard, the Fox. We caught and processed a total of 399 birds (including retraps/controls, but excluding one Pheasant duly released!) comprising of 341 duck, 54 waders, 2 Geese, 1 Corvid (Crow), and 1 Moorhen. There were no injuries during this period which was due to careful planning and to an excellent team effort. Colour-ringing of Shelduck took place during the winter as well as a few Black-tailed Godwits.
The catch on 26^th totalled 32 birds comprising of 3(1) Mallard and 29 (23) Shelduck.
Our short mist-netting session last Thursday comprised of 15 birds: Bullfinch 2; Long-tailed Tit 1; Dunnock 5(4); Chaffinch 1; Robin(2); Wren (3); and Reed Bunting 1.

The Trivia

Lynda Weare writes “Not a bird, but we saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth in the lane near Bruckland Lakes. Thought it a bit early, but then the weather has been so warm it’s enough to fool anyone!”

We have a pair of Mallard visiting our garden in Colyford – they wait outside the front door each morning waiting to be fed.  Probably the same pair as the last two years, with a good memory!

Now here is an interesting photo, taken by Peter Mason at Colyford Common.  He thinks it is of a mud slide created by an Otter – you can just see a paw print if you look carefully.

Garden Bird Watch

The most numerous were Goldfinch, but this was due to a roost in one garden with no less than 48 individuals out of the 167 recorded. The next most numerous bird was the House Sparrow, which seems surprising, with a tota1 of 152 birds seen in 28 of the 39 gardens surveyed.  Starlings, which can second in the RSPB report, did not feature in our top ten. (The RSPB results can be seen at http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/results.aspx.)

Once again, Blackbirds were seen in all but one garden, and this year so were Robins.  In terms of most seen, the top ten were Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Wren and Long-tailed Tit.  In all, some 67 species were seen, including Grey Heron, Tawny Owl, Snipe, Lesser Redpoll and Red-legged Partridge.

One interesting report from overseas, from Richard Staniforth in a snow covered Winnipeg. His list included Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downey Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker and Blue Jay.

If you would like more detailed results please let me know.

Black Hole Marsh

Work has now started on the Tower Hide at Black Hole Marsh. This is located at the southern end of the Marsh, quite close to the river. It is hoped it will be finished by Easter.  The ‘access for all’ path to it is already there, and the hide will be on stilts, with a few steps up to it affording great views of both the lake and the estuary.

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.   tel. 01297 552616  Mobile 0779 1541 744.

Axe Estuary Birds No 152 March 15th  2011

NB: The following is reproduced by kind permission of Axe Estuary Birds. Full credit goes to the team that produces the newsletter (see the bottom of the post for specific details). Photographs are credited throughout the text although we are working to preserve the original layout wherever possible in the future.

The Birds

Spring is with us at last!  Steve Waite was up near Beer Head  on March 8^th, and saw his first four Wheatear of the season, one of which obligingly posed for him.  Not only his first, but the earliest he has ever seen them.

Sue Smith..”What a difference a day makes!  BHM this morning – absolutely wonderful – Spring is on its way.  6/7 Sand Martins, a pair of Stonechats and Chiffchaffs everywhere.  Wonderfully warm too.  Hope that is not it for a few weeks.”

Bob Olliver writes “The new car park and access to Black Hole Marsh, etc. is proving popular already, very busy this afternoon!  I was surprised to find that there was only one page of records for the whole week (5 observers, 23 records, 16 species!) but the Bewick’s and Greylag continue to show well at times and were present on the 4^th when there were 33 Mute Swans in the usual Stedcombe flock.  A drake Pintail was present on the small scrape on the 6^th and 64 Teal were counted on and around the scrapes .  The highest Wigeon count was 40+ on the 2^nd and 38 on the 66^th. 2 Water Pipits and 10 ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipits were seen on the reserve on the 4^th.”

Ian McLean writes “ The over-wintering Pipits at Colyford Common have been very elusive of late so I was quite pleased this morning when two of the ‘Scandinavian’ Rock Pipits were close enough to attempt to digiscope.

At Seaton Marshes, the first Wheatear was also reported, the Water Rail was showing well, as well as 50 Curlew, 40 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 30 Wigeon

Ringing

Just a note of today’s (5^th)catch that totalled 83 birds. 27 Shelduck, 8 Wigeon, 2 Canada Geese and 46 Black-tailed Godwits. The latter species caught me out, as there were more present than I thought and with a good number of duck escaping from the flying net, rather messed up our expected number of duck. Anyway it gave the trainees a field day.

News from Holyford Woods

Having been away for ten days I entered Holyford with anticipation. Immediately I was greeted by the sunny faces of a few Primroses and Lesser Celandines peeping up from the leaf litter. The mound of waste in front of a badger sett is covered with the dainty Wood-Sorrel in flower, and Wood Anemone leaves are showing there.  Flowers of the bright green Moschatel (the ‘town hall clock’) are about to open, and Dog’s Mercury is rapidly filling the spaces between the Bluebells which are at a standstill, likewise the Ramsons. The Hazel Catkins are dulling having shed their pollen, and now the Pussy Willows are opening and filling out. Everywhere there are birds calling but as yet no Chiffchaff. A Buzzard glided low over the lonely Raven perched in his tree, but he was too lazy to chase after it, and merely croaked furiously and flapped his wings. There were two Brimstone butterflies and a Peacock. The dry spell has drastically reduced the water in the frog pool, and no spawn is showing. Has it hatched or disappeared in to the mud?  Also there is none along the North edge of Top Pool. As I was searching, we disturbed  the 3 Mallard ducks and the drake’s  quacking excited Paco who took a flying leap onto the dead parrot feather weed, thinking it was firm, and went right under!  The ducks flew off as he surfaced, shocked, spluttering, and draped in weed. He did not smell very sweet and neither did I after he shook himself all over me.

Jean Kreiseler

The Trivia

Karen Woolley walked along the Coly a few days ago, and spring was much in evidence.

And Sue Smith took some “mundane” shots (I would love to see those she considers special!)

You probably know that the new Wetlands Car Park is now open, giving easy access to Black Hole Marsh and Colyford Common.  Drive into Seaton Cemetery and go through to the field the estuary side, and then walk down the much improved path.  Take care coming out, as the entrance is on a bend.

Garden Bird Watch

Black-capped Chickadee, Winnnipeg, Canada

Your Garden Bird watch sheets are still coming in, and although not all that many are very interesting.  Hopefully the results will be ready by April.  This picture of a Black-capped Chickadee was sent from a snow covered Winnipeg by Richard Staniforth, with a list of ‘Backyard Birds’ which was different, as you will see when the analysis is complete.

Birds for Beginners

For the new season’s Birds for Beginners sessions, it is planned to have a “Guide in the Hide” every Friday from 10.00 am. At the moment the sessions will start at either The Island Hide or Colyford Common Hide, and a notice will be posted to indicate which one.  Then from 12.30pm the guide will move to Seaton Marshes Hide.

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.   tel. 01297 552616  Mobile 0779 1541 744.

Axe Estuary Birds No 151 February 28^th 2011

NB: The following is reproduced by kind permission of Axe Estuary Birds. Full credit goes to the team that produces the newsletter (see the bottom of the post for specific details). Photographs are credited throughout the text although we are working to preserve the original layout wherever possible in the future.

The Birds

There have been 36 Mute Swans on the field near Stedcombe, together with a Bewick, and many Shelduck. Donald Campbell saw 145 Scoter and a couple of Fulmars from Haven Cliff while helping to clear the new path there, and later an Otter flushed a Woodcock in the Undercliff.

Alan Salter saw no less than 50 Snipe fly up from Colyford Marsh on 13^th March, possible put up by a Raptor, and Ian Waite reports 10 pairs of Fulmar off Seaton Hole on 23^rd and a male Black Redstart, a dozen Velvet Scoter and a Peregrine.

Grey Herons have returned to their now traditional heronry in a private garden in Axmouth, and this morning , 25^th, there were at least four pairs busy around the nests. The Little Egrets have not joined them yet, but hopefully will before long. Watch this space.

At Colyford Common, there were more of the same with dreary days of low cloud, mist and rain relieved by 2 gloriously sunny days, especially the 19^th but there were hardly any records that day. At the start of the half term week there were many visitors, 15 were counted in thirty minutes late Sunday afternoon (20^th).

Mute Swans, ALF and ALU continued to graze near the boardwalk at Colyford Common, unconcerned by passing visitors to the hide. The ‘Stedcombe’ Mute Swans peaked at 36 including three immature birds; the Bewick’s Swan and the Greylag Goose were with them on the 14^th. Canada Goose numbers were down from numbers in the thirties in previous weeks to a maximum of 16 on the marsh this week. Wigeon peaked at 200 (17^th and 20^th), the largest Teal count was 56 on the scrape on 14^th with 3 Shoveler there on the same day; the maximum Shelduck count was 12 on 20^th on the marsh. As so often happens, Mallard were hardly noticed! Little Egrets were again absent (in 2010, up to four were present throughout February) and only 2 Grey Herons were noted. There were several counts of 200 or more Lapwing on the marsh with 450 noted in flight on 19^th. 30 Black-tailed Godwits were seen on the marsh on 14^th, 200 Curlew were there on the same day and 10 Dunlin were seen in flight on 19^th. There were no records of Sandpipers. As usual at the moment, passerines were scarcely recorded so a count of 20 Linnets on the reserve on 14^th and 3 Rock Pipits there on 19^th were nice to see. The only Meadow Pipit was one on Stafford Marsh on 17^th.

Seaton Marshes log book shows a goodly array of ducks -17 Shelduck, 86 Wigeon, 24 Mallard, 22 Teal and four Shoveler. No less than 24 Pheasant were noted, and eight Heron, about 500 Lapwing and 44 Black-tailed Godwit.

Steve Waite had a few looks along the Estuary on Friday 25^th, the weather conditions had been pretty good for ‘gulling’. The best he could muster though (so far anyway!) were two Med Gulls, including presumably the same first-winter as the other day… Have also noted c200 Common and 26 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (one or two looking quite black-backed, but also one very pale second-winter bird).

Ringing

Neil Croton feels we may be interested in the history of a Black Tailed Godwit, ringed by the group. It was ringed by AERG on the 3^rd Oct 08 as a juvenile, and stayed on the estuary until 1^st March 09. It was then noted at Otterton on 29^th March that year, then returned to the Axe from the 30^th right through April. In May it was seen at Bowling Green Marsh, and on 14^th September that year was spotted at Penistin, France. It returned to the Axe in March 2010, and again in February 2011. It looks like this bird passes through and stops off on the Axe in the early spring and is wintering much further south.

The group took part in the Wild and Wet Weekend on Saturday at Colyford Common, in the morning it certainly was wet and wild! Nevertheless in between the heavy showers and windy gusts we did catch 11 birds, which were very much appreciated by the public who watched the activities from the new field centre. The children really did enjoy the opportunity to see the birds close up. The birds caught were Coal Tit 1, Dunnock (2), Long-tailed Tit 2, Goldcrest 2, Wren 1 and Robin 3 (1).

News from Holyford Woods

Signs of spring are developing with leaps and bounds, with many more bird calls. Now the ramsons are up. Walking on those on the path edge releases that loved or hated pungent smell of garlic. Beneath a tree root the first early purple orchid is peeping out, its juicy leaves already nibbled by some little creature. Several times over the last two months in various places I have caught the strong scent of a travelling dog fox, and today it came from around one of the badger setts which pleased Paco. Not only is there a frequently used badger latrine beside my seat, but there are 2 long tunnels into the bramble thicket nearby, also of interest to Paco, so maybe a badger rests there. Seated there, at still and quiet times I can often hear the waves crashing on Seaton beach. On the pond there are approximately 39 blobs of frog spawn, and now there is a lot of frog activity along the edge of Top Pool, so more to come there. Today, from the log seat I watched two Long Tailed Tits feeding through the willows, and two Goldcrests came down from the trees to drink. The two pairs of Moorhen and Mallard Duck are frequently seen dabbling in the patches of clear water among the temporarily dead parrot feather weed. Also today there were three Greater Spotted Woodpeckers calling and chasing around in the oak trees above me, then eventually two flew off, leaving the remaining one drumming furiously. Jean Kreiseler

The Trivia

Roger Boswll writes “I was very interested in Karen’s image of the yawning BTG. The reason being that I had photographed a Purple Sandpiper on the Cobb that I thought had a deformed bill. After I put it into Birdforum I got a reply saying it was probably an example of rhynchokinesis.”

Karen Woolley says “ The Godwit in my photo is indeed showing rhynchokinesis, apparently it’s most prevalent in waders such as godwits/dowitchers. It isn’t an affliction just the ability to flex the end of the bill. Amazing what photos can show up isn’t it?” Makes me wonder if it is recent evolution in action – or a past ability fading?

Simon Wakely took this picture of a male Blackbird with a peanut, surely not their usual choice of food , and a Robin making a good imitation of a shuttle cock! He also says “Whitford has come alive, Bumble, & Honey bees on our crocus. Loads of Ladybirds, our birds are showing signs of pairing up, Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming, Green Woodpeckers calling in our Apple trees, and plenty of Jays.

Garden Bird Watch

No doubt many of you took part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch again this year, and you may remember that we have done something similar, on a much smaller scale, for the last few years. And we plan to do it again this year over the weekend of 5^th and 6^th March. There is a suitable form attached to this email. It doesn’t matter how far away from the Axe Valley you are – entries from Colyford or California, Botswana or Brisbane all equally welcome. There was not a huge response last year – lets hope for more this year.

Birds for Beginners

For the new season’s Birds for Beginners sessions, it is planned to have a “Guide in the Hide” every Friday from 10.00 am. At the moment the sessions will start at either The Island Hide or Colyford Common Hide, and a notice will be posted to indicate which one. Then from 12.30pm the guide will move to Seaton Marshes Hide.

.

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. tel. 01297 552616 Mobile 0779 1541 744.

Axe Estuary Birds No 150 February 15th 2011

NB: The following is reproduced by kind permission of Axe Estuary Birds. Full credit goes to the team that produces the newsletter (see the bottom of the post for specific details). Photographs are credited throughout the text although we are working to preserve the original layout wherever possible in the future.

The Birds

On the whole it has been a fairly quiet week. As I write this 150^th edition of Axe Estuary News, it is St.Valentine’s Day, the first day of National Nest Box Week, the day traditionally that birds think about choosing a mate. Certainly in our garden some seem to have jumped the gun – Robins are pairing up, Dunnocks singing and of course the Pigeons, who have been at it all year! Unusually we have had a pair of Reed Buntings in our garden at Colyford; I think that is the first time in 11 years.

Karen Woolley saw a pair of Great Bustards in Dorset – wonderful for her, but not on our patch. Closer to home she saw this Black-tailed Godwit, apparently yawning, and this lovely Black Redstart which she thinks is her best photograph of it yet.

Simon Wakely got this stunning photograph of a Great Tit in his garden, and another of a Robin doing battle with a huge earth worm. I suspect the Robin won!

Colyford Common.

Interestingly two pairs of Mute Swans were noted on the reserve on the 6^th; ALF and ALU continued to graze close to the boardwalk but a new pair seem to have taken over their breeding ‘patch’ in the southern corner of the reserve used by them last year. Typically, c20 Mute Swans are to be seen on the fields below Stedcombe and the Bewick’s was again with them on 1^st and 6^th as was the Greylag Goose on the 6^th; the flock of Canada Geese frequenting the marsh and the fields below Stedcombe remained at 32-33. About 900 Wigeon were noted on the 1^st and 95 Teal were flushed from the scrape area by a passing Sparrowhawk. These diminutive ducks are notoriously difficult to count as they ‘hide’ in the narrow channels and behind grass tussocks of the marsh. A single Shoveler was seen on the scrape on 1^st and a single Peregrine was noted over the marsh on 3^rd. Lapwing flocks are quite mobile within the valley but c900 were present on the marsh late afternoon on the 6^th. Some remarkable counts of gulls were made on the marsh on 5^th when 1250 Black-headed, 85 Common, 35 Herring, 14 Lesser Black-backed and 4 Great Black-backed Gulls were present. 10 Rock Pipits, possibly of the Scandinavian ‘littoralis’ type were on the reserve on 1^st. Corvids seem to be forming quite mixed flocks, about 200 strong, at times on the reserve and marsh with a count of 40 Jackdaws, 80 Rooks and 100 Carrion Crows on the 1^st (when a Raven flew over the reserve), being typical.

A Stoat was seen running along the boardwalk parallel to the ditch near the hide on 1^st. Photo Sue Smith.

Ian McLean’s seawatching produced Velvet and Common Scoter, Red-throated Diver, Razor Bill and 230 Gannet.

There are several Blogs of interest – well worth looking at once a week or so, for both local bird news and wonderful photographs:

http://karenwoolley.blogspot.com/

http://stevesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/

http://notquitescilly.blogspot.com/

http://www.timwhitewildlife.blogspot.com/

http://devonbirdnews.blogspot.com/

You might also like to look at this website, which details a walk at the end of May that celebrates the Tree of Life http://ancestorstrail.net/.

Ringing

A tremendous turnout this morning (12^th ) with 25 volunteers, but only 27 birds comprising of 26 (18) Shelduck and one Crow! Only a few Shelduck were bearing colour-rings from previous catches so although only a few birds it was a useful catch for colour-ringing. Many thanks to you all for coming along especially those of you who travelled from so far.

The next session is a public demonstration, part of the Wet and Wild Weekend, on Saturday 26^th February at which Mike Hounsome has agreed to be ringer-in-charge as per our new programme. This will be at the new Field Centre at Black Hole Marsh, approached from Colyford Common.

News from Holyford Woods

Spring is advancing rapidly now. On the first of February there were 3 blobs of frogspawn in the pool, the first bluebells had broken through the leaf litter, celandines and primroses were showing in lots of places, red campion shoots were up and foxglove plants growing. The catkins are at their golden best now. Now there are 30 blobs of frogspawn, the bluebells are up everywhere, and all the other ground cover plants are growing rapidly. The birds are more vocal and today I have seen and heard a Song Thrush, and a Mistle Thrush, the 3 Buzzards cruising over Seaton Down, and the Raven in its usual tree. Over the last two weeks I have twice heard a Tawny Owl calling in the day. A big thank you is due to members of the AVDCS together with some locals who have made a wonderful job of clearing the undergrowth and willows from the bank on the North side of Top Pool. It was always smothered with primroses, so we hope they will come through for this year. Together with some clearing of the glade through the conifers, there is now a view right across to the top of The Hangings. Jean Kreiseler.

The Trivia

Signs of spring are everywhere, from Snowdrops to Catkins, Daffodils. and Snowdrops by Peter Vernon.

Blackcap by Stuart Olliver, of Elizabeth Road, Seaton, taken through his kitchen window. It’s been around since December, and his father, Bob, has had a female Brambling in his Colyton garden.

Garden Bird Watch

No doubt many of you took part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch again this year, and you may remember that we have done something similar, on a much smaller scale, for the last few years. And we plan to do it again this year over the weekend of 5^th and 6^th March. There is a suitable form attached to this email. It doesn’t matter how far away from the Axe Valley you are – entries from Colyford or California, Botswana or Brisbane all equally welcome. There was not a huge response last year – lets hope for more this year.

Wet and Wild Weekend 26^th and 27^th February and Birds for Beginners

Numerous events on both the Saturday and Sunday, including Bird Ringing, Guided Walks, Tram Trips etc. If you feel like helping, you would be welcome. All the Wet and Wild guided events start at the Field Studies Base and all the tram trips start at Seaton Terminus.

Birds for Beginners this Friday 18 Feb with a morning session (10am – 12 noon) in one of the hides on the northern end of the Wetlands (so either Colyford Common or Island Hide).  The ranger for the day will be Jim Hunter and he will decide which hide to use and will put a notice at the Colyford Common and BHM entrances.  In the afternoon he will move down to Seaton Marshes for 12.30 until 2.30pm

For full details contact Diane Berry 01395 517557 or go to www.eastdevon.gov.uk/countryside.

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. tel. 01297 552616 Mobile 0779 1541 744.