Fantastic timing this afternoon, I stepped out of work for my lunch hour at 16:00 and about five seconds later a text came through from Dad about a (or should I say the) Marsh Harrier quartering over Colyford Marsh. Ten minutes later I was watching it from the farm gate at Axmouth - lovely bird, and it was amazing to see how many Snipe it was flushing!! It certainly looks like Karen's bird from yesterday, thanks to her superb pin-sharp photo of it on her blog!! ; )
Back to this morning, Karen joined me at Beer where we sheltered from the elements to watch the sea. It was quiet, though there was a hint of some Skua-action. Three Arctics flew west, and another Skua was most probably a dark(ish) juv Long-tailed. Hopefully the features we noted about it are enough to eliminate a small Arctic. Otherwise it was just a few Common Scoters, a couple of Guillemots and....um....well that was it!
After this we went to Colyford Common, and a scan over the scrape gave me a nice surprise. The RSPB 'bird' in all its glory, yes an Avocet! It's been a bumper year for this species on patch, this being our fourth - they are usually less than annual. Also on the scrape four Ringed Plovers, three Dunlins, one Ruff and 15 Black-tailed Godwits.
Sorry for no pics today, all my optics were rather sodden after this morning's seawatch! For a couple of pics of the Avocet have a look at Karen's blog (link to right).
Back to this morning, Karen joined me at Beer where we sheltered from the elements to watch the sea. It was quiet, though there was a hint of some Skua-action. Three Arctics flew west, and another Skua was most probably a dark(ish) juv Long-tailed. Hopefully the features we noted about it are enough to eliminate a small Arctic. Otherwise it was just a few Common Scoters, a couple of Guillemots and....um....well that was it!
After this we went to Colyford Common, and a scan over the scrape gave me a nice surprise. The RSPB 'bird' in all its glory, yes an Avocet! It's been a bumper year for this species on patch, this being our fourth - they are usually less than annual. Also on the scrape four Ringed Plovers, three Dunlins, one Ruff and 15 Black-tailed Godwits.
Sorry for no pics today, all my optics were rather sodden after this morning's seawatch! For a couple of pics of the Avocet have a look at Karen's blog (link to right).
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