Axe Estuary Birds No 167   October 31^st 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 27^th  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 20^th  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.

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.The Trivia

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)