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

With the departure of the Solitary Sandpiper on the evening of Friday 15^th, it was back to normality for the patch.

Unprecedented numbers of Lapland Buntings have invaded the UK this autumn – and they arrived much earlier than usual too. So on 24^th, two at Axe Cliff, and the following day, one or two on Beer Head weren’t much of a surprise – but they were much appreciated. All were hard to see and only showed briefly, except for one of the Axe Cliff birds that was ‘hunted down’ in the evening.

There were a couple more passerine highlights during this period too, with two Woodlark west over Beer on 22^nd, and two Hawfinch that flew off north from Axmouth on 27^th.

A couple of Black Redstarts have been seen, and Firecrest have been reported from Jubilee Gardens in Beer (two on 25^th) and another on Beer Head on 27^th. A Dartford Warbler on Beer Head on 25^th was the first record of the year for this species on patch. To complete the Beer Head sightings for this newsletter, a Merlin has been seen on two dates here.

Now to larger birds! Whooper Swans seem to be becoming a regular winter visitor to this Estuary now; an adult was found amongst the Mute Swans opposite Stedcombe Vale on 24^th and is still present at time of writing this.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull on the Estuary on 26^th arrived with a big influx of Great Black-backed Gulls; 385 were counted on one ‘sweep’ of the river and marshes. Three Mediterranean Gulls were noted on 29^th.

Photos: Lapland Bunting, Dartford Warbler and Yellow-legged Gull – Gavin Haig; Whooper Swan – Steve Waite.

Ringing

18^th October. A good morning’s effort with 36 birds as follows:
Robin 3; Reed Bunting 4; Dunnock 7(1); Blackbird 2; House Sparrow 2(1); Long-tailed Tit 13(1); Song Thrush 1; Goldcrest 1; Treecreeper 1; Blue Tit 1; and Wren 1.

News from the Reserves

Seaton Marshes is in the process of being flooded, it will probably take about a week. In the mean time the hide is still accessible.

Black Hole Marsh. The hide is now nearly finished, all it needs now is for the paint to dry, so it should be open by Monday Nov 1^st – and very good it is too, well worth a visit.

Colyford Common. The extension to the hide is now nearly complete, and so is the ramp. It feels more than twice the size of the original. It will be open to the public towards the end of the week. If you plan to go to the “Birds for Beginners” on Thursday 4^th November, please check with Countryside Service on 01395 517557, or James Chubb on 0773456 8985, in case the paint is not dry!

Holyford Woods. On the wonderful sunny and still days we have had recently, the Woods have been so peaceful and glowing with the autumn colours of the beech leaves. This morning there was a heavy frost, sparkling in the sun. There are places to sit other than on my seat, and from a log down in the valley I finally located the nest of the Hornets I have seen around over the last three months, hidden in a tangle of holly and bracken. Paco poking his nose in disturbed them, but they were not at all aggressive. Since the bracken was cut in the field at the Holyford end, the Green Woodpeckers are regularly feeding on the ants. From a tree stump on The Hangings I was able to do a proper count of 15 Long tailed Tits, as they flew from the valley up to the trees at the West end of the hill. Twice I have seen the Roe buck in a patch of sunlight feeding among the brambles at the West end of The Hangings, and also the white bottoms of two Roe does vanishing into the trees. It is still not wise for walkers to let dogs inspect the Badger setts, in case a mangy Fox is around, as the local population is infected, with one having been released from its agony. (Jean Kreiseler)

The Trivia

Peter Vernon thought we might like to see a couple of images of one of the ‘nicer’ (well he thinks it’s nice!) moths that are about at the moment, it is a Feathered Thorn Moth and gets it’s name from the males feathery antennae. He caught this one recently in his Moth trap.

These Long Tailed Tits, also by Peter qualify as “cute”!

And this spider’s web, by Sue Smith, is worth sharing too.

Lee Murley, sadly, found a dead Barn Owl on the A3052 near Boshill Cross on 29^th October. Possibly the one that has been seen frequently at Black Hole Marsh recently.

Diary Dates

Thursday 4^th November 10am to 12 Noon Meet the Birds at Colyford Common.
Please check before you go, see above.

Saturday 6^th November 9.00am Birds from the tram with Don Cotton.

Sunday 21^st November 9.00am Birds from the tram with Donald Campbell.

Thursday 27^th November 10am to 12 Noon Meet the Birds at Seaton Marshes.

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 us of any unusual, interesting or amusing sightings, and what is about locally, and send any photos you would like to share.

Steve, Mike, Jean and David. davidwalters@eclipse.co.uk. tel. 01297 552616 Mobile 0779 1541 744.

Axe Estuary Birds No 142 15^th October 2010

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

Well, one of those ‘once in a life time’ moments happened during this period on patch. Aside from that there was still plenty to keep the local birders busy!

Early evening on Sunday 10^th a Solitary Sandpiper was found on Black Hole Marsh. Much to the relief of twitchers, the bird stayed Sunday night and showed well all day Monday. In fact, it is still present when I write this (Thursday 14^th). Solitary Sandpiper is an American wading bird which breeds in central and southern Alaska and across Canada. It spends the winter in Central and Southern America.

This is the 39^th Solitary Sandpiper to be seen in Britain, the first one being pre-1869! The most recent records have been Cape Clear Island – Ireland – Aug 2008, Outer Hebrides in 2007 and 2003 and on the Isle of Scilly in 2003 and 2005. This one has proved very popular with UK twitchers as all of these records (as you can see) have been in far-flung places! Our bird also constitutes the first ever record of Solitary Sandpiper for Devon.

One of the birders who came to see the Solitary Sandpiper on 11^th then took a wander over Beer Head, and found our first (but hopefully not only!) Yellow-browed Warbler of 2010. There have been several in the UK this autumn so I am sure there will be at least one more.

Time to apologise now – as in the last newsletter I said about the departure of our Osprey and Wryneck – both of which hadn’t gone! The Osprey was last seen on 9^th, and the Wryneck the day before. It was fascinating to see how the fishing technique of the Osprey improved throughout its stay. Towards the end of its time with us it was catching some absolutely massive fish on its first attempt!

Aside from the American mega – there was still a nice selection of waders to be seen on patch. A Grey Phalarope graced Black Hole Marsh during the evening of 3^rd, the strong winds being the reason for its presence. At least one Little Stint continues to be seen daily on Black Hole Marsh, along with a Curlew Sandpiper (8^th-9^th) and a couple of Knot 10^th. A Ruff spent a few days on flood opposite Axmouth FC, along with a brief Lapland Bunting on 10^th, a Water Pipit from 11^th and up to 22 Lapwing. To wrap the waders up, on the Estuary two Grey Plovers were present on 4^th along with both Black and Bar-tailed Godwits still.

Some notable sightings from Seaton Marshes hide have included a Black Tern on 3^rd and a Short-eared Owl being chased by Crows over the Estuary and towards Axe Cliff on 9^th. Other odds and ends included a smart Firecrest seen by Axmouth Harbour and a Pochard at Lower Bruckland Ponds on 12^th, a Black Redstart at Colyford WTW on 13^th and at least one Ring Ouzel in Beer Quarry on 14^th. Two Barn Owls continued to show at Black Hole and Seaton Marshes throughout the last few weeks – let’s hope this species is going to start breeding here.

Winter is certainly nearly here, the first Redwing was heard during the night of 7^th, with the first ones seen on Beer Head on 13^th. Duck numbers are also on the up in the valley with 40 Wigeon and nearly 200 Teal counted during this period.

Photos: Solitary Sandpiper – Brett Spencer; Yellow-browed Warbler – Chris Gladman; Osprey – Sue Smith; Grey Phalarope (and Moorhens!) – Steve Waite.

News From The Reserves

Holyford Woods

The recent autumn storms have brought down two trees and ripped leaves off, so the paths are already strewn with the autumnal leaf fall. Everywhere has that musty damp leafy smell so typical of woods at this time of year. Paco tells me there are no Badgers or a Fox about at present. I have managed to linger along the path below The Hangings and pick some blackberries. Today a Blackbird, 2 Nuthatch and several Wrens were kicking up a great commotion around the glade near the fallen Oak, caused by the presence of 3 Squirrels in the trees. Unusual to see them together like that. Michael Jordan lead a Fungus Foray walk last week, attended by Marjorie Waters who reports on a very pleasant and instructive morning. A great find was a wonderful Beefsteak Fungus, the best anyone had ever seen. Other finds were various Honey Fungus, Turkey Tail, Jelly Babies, Russulas, Glistening Inkcap, the aptly named Buttercap, Weeping Mary or Widow fungus, and Puff and Earth Balls – Lycoperdon, the meaning of which Marjorie tells me, is too rude to disclose here. I will leave you to look it up for yourselves! Jean Kreiseler

Colyford Common. Work on the extension to the hide and the ramp is progressing very well, and should be finished before the end of the month.

At Black Hole Marsh, the hide is very nearly finished, and has been opened on a daily basis while the Solitary Sandpiper has been around, a move that has been much appreciated by the many visitors from all over the country who have been to see it. It will have to be closed for a day or two to enable the painting to be finished – but it won’t be long now.

Seaton Marshes will be flooded for a while during October, as part of the annual management plan, but the access to the hide will not be affected

The Trivia

A man has been seen walking his dog round the Borrow Pit! Fortunately these occurrences are very rare, but if you do come across a case, please point out, politely, the notice at the entrance saying No Dogs – and please let Fraser or me know.

Peter Vernon writes “I catch lots of Caddis flies in my moth trap but I think that the one attached is probably the largest. I think it is a Cinnamon Caddis Fly, confirmation would be good.

Approx size is 40mm in length (without the antennae).”

Please let me know if you can confirm.

davidwalters@eclipse.co.uk. tel. 01297 552616

Mobile 0779 1541 744.

Diary Dates

Sunday 17^th October 9.00 am Birds from the tram with Don Cotton.

Saturday 23^rd October 9.00 am Birds from the Tram for Juniors with James Chubb.

Thursday 28^th October 10 am to 12 Noon Meet the Birds at Seaton Marshes.

Thursday 28^th October 7.30 pm at All Saints Church, Sidmouth. Illustrated talk “The Birds of Devon” by Mike Tyler, Chairman of Devon Birds, launching his new book.

Thursday 4^th November 10 am to 12 Noon Meet the Birds at Colyford Common.

Saturday 6^th November 9.00am Birds from the tram with Don Cotton.

——-

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 us of any unusual, interesting or amusing sightings, and what is about locally, and send any photos you would like to share.

Steve, Jean and David. davidwalters@eclipse.co.uk. tel. 01297 552616 Mobile 0779 1541 744.

Axe Estuary Birds No 141 30^th September 2010

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.

Photos: Osprey – John Crabb; Marsh Harrier – Steve Waite; Wryneck – Steve Waite; Corn Bunting – Gavin Haig; Barn Owl – Steve Waite. Barn Owl – Sue Smith, Kingfisher – Carol Lowe, Sparrowhawk (?) – Graham Stevens. Pied Headed Blackbird, Western Conifer Seed Bug – Peter Vernon

The Birds

The talk of the period has been the juvenile Osprey that has graced our Estuary. It was first spotted on 16^th and departed on the morning of 27^th. During its stay it could be seen to fish on the Estuary three or four times a day and it certainly attracted some visitors! Interestingly it was colour-ringed, and although full details on this bird haven’t been received yet it certainly isn’t a Scottish bird. There is a high chance it is in fact Norwegian.

A Marsh Harrier was a welcome sight over Colyford Marsh for a couple of days from 24^th, this was after one had flown high west over the Estuary on 22^nd – maybe the same bird?

A Wryneck on Seaton Marshes was very welcome indeed – though at times it could be very elusive. It was first seen on 24^th and the sighting of it on 28^th may well have been the last.

There is always an obvious shift in autumn migration at this time. Many of our ‘true’ summer migrants will not be seen again this year, and more northerly species are now migrating though – Meadow Pipits being the prime example. Over 1000 flew over Beer Head on 17^th, with very few noted in similar conditions a week earlier. Yellow Wagtails, Tree Pipits, Redstarts and Whinchats are still being recorded though – just less frequently and in much lower numbers now. A nice (well, not that nice maybe!) distraction for migrant hunters visiting Beer Head has been the Corn Bunting that continues to reside in a stubble field, although well off the beaten track.

Wader passage is certainly tailing off, though there is still time for some niceties. In the period Dunlin numbers didn’t get above 30, and a dozen Ringed Plovers was as good as it got. The 29^th did produce a little increase with a Little Stint and two Curlew Sandpipers on Black Hole Marsh. A lone Spotted Redshank as a nice highlight on 24^th.

A couple of seawatches have been attempted during this period. On 19^th two Sooty Shearwaters, nine Balearic Shearwaters, two Arctic Skuas and a Great Skua flew past during the afternoon. Then on 29th two Great Skuas and 98 Common Scoters flew past.

At least one Barn Owl is still showing well in the valley. Black Hole Marsh proving the best place to see it – sometimes in broad daylight!

Holyford Woods

Over the last month there have been more signs of autumn everywhere, most noticeable the bracken turning golden brown. I had a wonderful view of the Roe buck one morning, when Paco disturbed him in the gorse below The Hangings and he took a tremendous leap high over the path and down to the stream. Yesterday evening I was picking blackberries along the Hangings, when I heard a Roe deer barking on the hill above me. Looking up I got a brief view of a doe ‘pronging’ among the thick brambles. Was it her or was the buck nearby? Earlier in the month I was again blackberrying along The Hangings, when my attention was drawn to a nearby bramble patch where 2 Chiffchaffs were busy feeding and calling quietly. The young Buzzards are still very vocal, and one morning from the conifers there was an adult Raven croaking, accompanied by a youngster making a strange gargling call, begging to be fed. They both flew off, the youngster continuing to pester its parent. The Jays have been very active in the oaks, and among many birds seen and or heard are Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, a small flock of Gold Crest, 6+ Long Tailed Tits, several Wrens, back now in greater numbers. Jean Kreieler.

The Trivia

The ‘Inspirations’ 2011 calendar produced by the Seaton Visitor Centre Trust/KiSTA (Kick Start The Arts) is now on sale for £5.99 at Eve’s Gallery, Fore Street, Seaton, EX12 2LA or by post for £7.50 All the photographs are local scenes and wildlife and taken by locals. Readers of this newsletter will know several of them.

A lovely view of our Kingfisher by Carol Lowe, and an unusual conservatory visitor for Graham Stevens of Colyford.

Peter Vernon recently photographed a specimen of a new introduction of bug into the UK (first seen 2008) it is called Leptoglossus occidentalis Western Conifer Seed Bug He spotted this one on a pot of Pansies outside his front door. It has probably become fairly widespread now in the South West. Please see this link to the species. http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Coreidae/leptoglossus_occidentalis.html

Peter also took this image (the other day of the very rare Pied Headed Blackbird seen opposite his cottage. He believes this to be the first record of this species for Devon?!

Migrating Swallows provided an unusual spectacle over Colyton on Monday 21^st. The Midweek Herald reported that between 7 pm and 7.30 several thousand Swallows caused the sky to turn black for about 20 minutes. An unusual sight indeed.

Ringing

The demonstration on 18^th September went well with a few members of the public and a group of members from the RSPB Exeter branch. A total of 45 birds were caught as follows:
Greenfinch 18(1); Blue Tit 5(1); Sedge Warbler 4; Great Tit (1); Chaffinch 1; Wren 2; Chiffchaff 4; Robin 2(1); Dunnock 1; Kingfisher 4(3); Goldfinch 2; and Treecreeper 1. The last is an unusual species for the marsh believed to be the second to be ringed at the site. Mike Tyler.

Donald Campbell will be standing down from his webs counts at the end of the year and will be looking for a replacement. There will also be a note in the Harrier. “After many years involvement I am no longer doing it properly but switch into automatic gear making assumptions rather than doing accurate counting.  I cover Lower Bruckland separately from the estuary, but obviously it is the estuary that is vital and I am available to show any potential successor the ropes. Any one interested should contact me and Peter Reay. He is Devon Webs organiser email peter.p.j.reay@btinternet.com phone 01364 773293 address Crooked Fir, Moorland Park, South Brent, TQ10 9AS.

Diary Dates

Sunday 3^rd October 9.00 am Birds from the tram with Donald Campbell

Thursday 7^th October 10 am to 12 Noon Meet the Birds at Colyford Common

Sunday 17^th October 9.00 am Birds from the tram with Don Cotton

Saturday 23^rd October 9.00 am Birds from the Tram for Juniors with James Chubb

Thursday 28^th October 10 am to 12 Noon Meet the Birds at Seaton Marshes

Thursday 28^th October 7.30 pm Illustrated talk “The Birds of Devon” by Mike Tyler, Chairman of
DBWPS. At All Saints Church, Sidmouth.

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 us of any unusual, interesting or amusing sightings, and what is about locally, and send any photos you would like to share.

Steve, Mike, Jean and David. davidwalters@eclipse.co.uk. tel. 01297 552616 Mobile 0779 1541 744.

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.

Axe Estuary Birds No 140 15^th September 2010

Photos: Glossy Ibis – Gavin Haig; Dotterel – Steve Waite; Corn Bunting – Gavin Haig; Spoonbill – Steve Waite; Wryneck – Karen Woolley; Marsh Harrier – Gavin Haig; Little Egret at Black Hole Marsh and Water Vole at The Borrow Pit – Sue Smith

The Birds

Well the summer has certainly passed us, anyone else notice it? I didn’t!!! September is probably the best month of the year for migration and passage – and this year did not disappoint. We’ve had some nice rares too..

The River Otter was graced by a stunning flock of 20 Glossy Ibis for about a week from 6^th. But at 07:22 on 13^th, 18 of them flew east over Beer Head and up the river valley. Unfortunately they didn’t stop – and incredibly by 3.00 pm the same day, they were seen at Dungeness in Kent! Quite why two have decided to stay on the Otter I don’t know, you would assume the flock would have stuck together. There was an earlier report of a Glossy Ibis too for the patch, with one noted in the log book at Seaton Marshes on the same day the twenty appeared on the Otter.

Next best bird goes to an approachable Dotterel that was discovered at Axe Cliff on 5^th, and remained ’til 7^th at least. It spent its time in the first field east of the golf course, one field in from the cliff-edge. This is the third record for the patch of this northern breeder.

Yet another rare bird, on a County scale anyhow, was a Corn Bunting on Beer Head. It was first seen on the evening of 12^th, and was showing again on 15^th with a small flock of Yellowhammers. This species used to be common in the southwest, but is now extinct from Devon and Somerset, with only a few left in Cornwall and Dorset. Quite why they are faring so poorly is unknown – must be mostly down to the change in farming practices.

On 7^th a Spoonbill was a rather brief visitor to the Estuary. It spent its time here feeding at the mouth of the channel of water that runs out from Seaton Marshes Hide.

Last of the ‘goodies’, and this one slightly north of the usual area covered by this newsletter, was a Wryneck at Waggs Plot (just north of Axminster). It was first found on 12^th and present until the 14^th at least. There have been good numbers of Wrynecks about this autumn, and they are a bird that could turn up on any lawn in any garden, so please keep your eyes peeled for one!

So that’s the ‘rares’ dealt with, time to get in with the more usual bits and bobs….

As it is getting to the winter, I shall mention the wildfowl. Numbers of Teal have been good, with 132 counted on 10^th, along with nine Wigeon. Unusual wildfowl have included three Pintail on 31^st Aug, and a female Goosander on the Estuary on 2^nd.

Wading bird numbers have been varied on the Estuary and Black Hole Marsh. Little Stints peaked at seven on 7^th (a very good count!), Curlew Sandpipers peaked at three on 2^nd, and other interesting bits and bobs included a Knot from 7^th – which increased to two on 11^th, and a Bar-tailed Godwit on 2^nd which increased to a notable six by the 14^th. A Ruff was seen at Colyford Marsh on 8^th and 10^th.

Notable raptors have included the now expected Osprey, on 11^th, although it didn’t stay long at all and soon headed south out to sea. Less expected were two Marsh Harriers. Single ‘cream-crowned’ birds were over Colyford Marsh on 30^th August and 13^th.

Barn Owls have been pleasingly regular over the last few weeks, with Black Hole and Seaton Marshes both proving good sites. As expected with this species, dusk is best, but one has been seen hunting over Black Hole Marshes mid morning on a couple of occasions!

The Trivia

According to the RSPB, in 2010 the Bittern enjoyed its most successful breeding season ever, since its recolonisation of the UK in 1911. This success is even more remarkable considering the long spell of cold weather earlier in the year, which was known to have adversely affected Bitterns at many sites.

The UK monitoring programme for Bitterns revealed the presence of 87 males, delighting those who have worked so hard to prevent this bird from becoming extinct in Britain for a second time. The programme recorded 82 males last year, the previous record year.

Black Hole Marsh hide is progressing well, and may be open by the end of the month. The birds do not seem fazed by all the activity, and on the 14^th we saw Green Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Swan, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler and Little Egret.

The British Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee (BOURC) has accepted the following to Category A of the British List:- Amur Falcon, Tufted Puffin, Eastern Crowned Warbler, ‘Siberian’ Pied Flycatcher, and Citril Finch. This brings the total on the British List to 592 species – a bit more than most of our Lifetime Lists. Ah well, let’s just enjoy all those we do see!

The first Meet the Birds session of the season was in wonderful weather, and we were entertained by a very active Kingfisher, many Canada Geese and Curlews, one solitary Wigeon, half a dozen Grey Herons, four Little Egrets, Mallards, Swans, Crows, Green Sandpiper, Shelduck, Cormorants, Greenfinch – and probably others which I have forgotten. Bodes well for the autumn and winter.

Maggie & Ray Dilley write “Still enjoying the newsletter, thanks to all involved. Can anyone give us some advice please……………..
Every year we have slow worms in our compost bins.  A couple of months ago we had a medium size grass snake curled up under the carpet in one bin.  Then yesterday we had a young grass snake with the slow worms. Question is………..  will they all want to hibernate in the compost? So when can we safely move it onto our veg plot?”

Any ideas, anyone? Please let me know at davidwalters@eclipse.co.uk

Diary Dates

Saturday 18^th September 8am – Noon Ringing Breakfast at Colyford Common.
Approx (If weather is very wet, this will be cancelled)

Saturday 18^th September 5pm-7pm Birds from the Tram, with Ian Waite.

Sunday 19^th September 10am – Noon Seaton Beach clean. Meet Fisherman’s Gap. Wear gloves
and bring a pencil.

Thursday 23^rd September 10am – Noon Meet the Birds, Seaton Marshes Hide. Everyone welcome.

Saturday 25^th September 9am to 1pm Bird Watch at Dawlish Warren with Ian Waite. Meet at
Dawlish Warren Car Park.

Saturday 25^th September 2.30pm onwards Goose Fair, Colyford.

Thursday 28^th October 7.30 pm Illustrated talk “The Birds of Devon” by Mike Tyler, Chairman of
DBWPS. At All Saints Church, Sidmouth.

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Biodiversity Exhibition at the old TIC in Seaton’s Underfleet Carpark, with various informal walks and talks – more details at the Exhibition or phone 01395 517557.

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 us of any unusual, interesting or amusing sightings, and what is about locally, and send any photos you would like to share.

Steve, and David. davidwalters@eclipse.co.uk. tel. 01297 552616 Mobile 0779 1541 744.

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.

Photos: Cattle Egret, Ruff and Redstart – Karen Woolley; Turnstone and Curlew Sandpipers – Sue Smith;
Little Stint and Pied Flycatcher – Steve Waite. Bank Vole at Black Hole Marsh – Sue Smith Curious Cormorant – Sue Smith

The Birds

The Axe birders have enjoyed a good few weeks, with a rarity and a few scarcities, along with a good variety of waders, some decent falls of passerines on Beer Head and a couple of days of sea watching.

The rarity was our first Cattle Egret of 2010, a species which a few years ago invaded the UK en masse, but since have become somewhat scarce! Mid morning on 28^th one flew southwest over Black Hole Marsh then spent the rest of the day with cattle near Seaton Marshes.

Black Hole Marsh has been superb, despite the fact the construction of the walk way and main hide has begun. The flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover (numbering on average 40 of the latter, and 40 of the former) have included two Little Stints (15^th – 24^th), a Turnstone (21^st), a Sanderling (26^th) and three Curlew Sandpipers (29^th onwards). Other waders on the marsh have included two Ruff, up to four Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank (27^th) and up to ten Green Sandpipers. On the other side of the tram way, two Wood Sandpipers have been present on Colyford Marsh for a week or so, but are very elusive as they feed in small pools near to the main scrape.

Wildfowl interest peaked with an unseasonal record of seven Pochard in off the sea on 25^th, they landed briefly on the Estuary north of Coronation Corner. As I predicted in the last newsletter when I said “the first Wigeon is probably only days away”, a lone Wigeon first seen on 16^th remained throughout. Up to 30 Teal have been noted, and the Red-crested Pochard was last seen on The Estuary on 19^th.

There were two good sea watching days. The 20^th offered the main highlight, when a juvenile Black Tern flew west offshore in company with a Common Tern just after 8am. The first record of the year. The 26^th was the other good day for ‘wave watching’, with totals from morning sea watches being: one Great Crested Grebe, four Balearic Shearwaters, two Great Skuas, three Arctic Skuas and one Pomarine Skua.

Now to Beer Head – where two days have stood out in particular. On 16^th, a nice selection of Flycatchers in one hedgerow included three Pied and six Spotted! Another Pied and three more Spotted were in the fields above Beer Cemetery on the same morning. Three Tree Pipits were also noted. The 28^th was the best day of the autumn up here so far with totals of: 71+ Yellow Wags, 12 Tree Pipits, one Redstart, two Whinchat, 50 Wheatears, three Garden Warblers, eight Blackcap, one Sedge Warbler, one Lesser Whitethroat, four Whitethroat, 40 Willow Warblers, 20 Chiffchaffs, one Pied Fly and four Spotted Flies.

The Trivia

Kate Tobin has moved on from EDDC, and has joined “Making it Local”, a charitable organization that aims to make the most of local resources, not least in the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Kate has made a tremendous difference to our local scene since she has been with The Countryside Service of EDDC, helping to move forward many of the improvements we are now seeing coming to fruition on the reserves, and will be sadly missed. Thank you Kate, we all wish you well, and hope that you will be seen on our patch in your new role.

The Wet and Wild Weekend lived up to its name, but was nevertheless well attended, with pond dipping particularly popular.

News from Holyford Woods

The Woods are very quiet now. Apart from the wind in the trees, bird calls are dominated by those of the Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, the young Buzzards, Jay and the croaking of Ravens, none of them very tuneful! Twice I have enjoyed watching a flock of 6+ Long Tailed Tits. More blackberries are ripe now, and the hazel nuts are turning brown. I am now looking out for Fungi. The recent heavy rain and wind brought down a dead tree trunk and two big branches on the paths, so I decided to check the North boundary fence against Pratt’s Hill. I came across pretty young Roe deer twins on the track. They boldly walked towards us out of curiosity but Paco’s excited panting brought the doe who took them off into the gorse. For once he was no help.

Ringing

The public session over the Wet and Wild Weekend, although short, went down well with the public, with good numbers in attendance, several from previous sessions. The tally of birds caught was 15 as follows:

Chiffchaff 3; Robin 1; Black-headed Gull 1; Kingfisher 1; Dunnock 3(1); Great Tit 2; Blackbird 2; Wren (1); and Sedge Warbler 1.

Diary Dates

Thursday 2^nd September 10am – Noon Meet the Birds, Colyford Common Hide. Everyone welcome.

Sunday 5^th September 5pm-7pm Birds from the Tram, with Don Cotton.

Saturday 18th September 8am – Noon Ringing Breakfast at Colyford Common.
Approx (If weather is very wet, this will be cancelled)

Saturday 18th September 5pm-7pm Birds from the Tram, with Ian Waite.

Sunday 19^th September 10am – Noon Seaton Beach clean. Meet Fisherman’s Gap. Wear gloves
and bring a pencil.

Thursday 23^rd September 10am – Noon Meet the Birds, Seaton Marshes Hide. Everyone welcome.

Saturday 25^th September 9am to 1pm Bird Watch at Dawlish Warren with Ian Waite. Meet at
Dawlish Warren Car Park.

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Biodiversity Exhibition at the old TIC in Seaton’s Underfleet Carpark, with various informal walks and talks – more details at the Exhibition or phone 01395 517557.

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 us of any unusual, interesting or amusing sightings, and what is about locally, and send any photos you would like to share.

Steve, Mike, Jean and David.

davidwalters@eclipse.co.uk. tel. 01297 552616 Mobile 0779 1541 744.

7 Springfields, Colyford, Colyton, EX24 6RE