The Beast From The East

We may not have had any significant snow fall here in East Devon yet (that is about to change!) but like elsewhere we have had freezing temperatures and that bitter east wind. It's been seriously cold...

Black Hole Marsh pre-dawn on Tuesday

A 100% frozen Black Hole Marsh on Tuesday

Even the Estuary has had icy edges this week

More Estuary ice

Lower Bruckland Ponds today

Bird-wise we have seen the expected increase in wildfowl and wader numbers, which I will summarise below, but my highlight of the week so far is a passerine. I haven't seen Bearded Tit on patch since Oct '13, so a series of 'pings' emanating from the vast Axe Reedbed this morning, followed by brief flight views of one bird, was a real treat. Only the third time I've ever seen this species here, they are less than annual and often not twitchable.

I haven't seen as many different ducks as I was hoping, for example no diving ducks. But following on from Mike's flock of 20 Pintail (mostly males) that flew in off the sea late on Monday, on Tuesday morning at least three were still on the river. Pity the whole flock didn't stay though - would have been a great sight!

Today the two Ringed Plover and Greenshank were still present, joined by ten Dunlin and later in the day, an impressive flock of 184 Golden Plover feeding with Lapwing opposite Stedcombe Vale.  Jack Snipe and Grey Plover have also been seen on the Axe today, and am sure there's more out there to find. The Marsh Harrier is also still around.

Golden Plover and Lapwing

Ditto

Back to passerines and although there have been more Redwing, Fieldfare and Meadow Pipits about, I've not noticed any major movements yet like the 2010 cold snap.

I'll finish this post with a snap I took this morning of a Fox at Lower Bruckland Ponds. It had curled itself up on the sheltered side of a small mound, with the sun shining upon it. He/she looked absolutely gorgeous and in really good condition...

Fox

A Frosty Morning and Another Patch Hawfinch

What a stunningly beautiful morning, with the temperature gauge showing -4 when I stepped out the front door pre-sunrise. I've been feeling left out with all the snow photos coming in from north and east of us, but this morning helped quash some of this jealousy...

I saw quite a few bits and bobs too, including this Mink. This species always makes me feel a bit odd when I see it. I don't see many, but when I do I feel like I should be excited, but then remember the havoc they cause...

On the bird front, just by where the Mink was a flighty Water Pipit proved a bit of a surprise, as they have become a real scarce winter visitor here in most of the recent years. On the Estuary, four Shoveler were resting with Mallards...

There were plenty of Redwing and a few Fieldfare scattered about all over the place, along with a few more Skylark than usual. At Stafford Cross a brief look showed at least ten Brambling, but the main prize came during my journey back through Colyton.

Driving along Burnards Field Road (our Hawfinch hotspot) I caught a glimpse of the unique shape of a flying Hawfinch, heading low south parallel with the road. Thankfully it did the right thing and pitch down in a Field Maple (I think), which it fed in for the next ten minutes before I had to leave...

Hopefully this one will stick around!?

It's Cold!

Nice to be in another spell of cold weather. Not had enough of it this winter in my opinion (am sure many people would disagree with me though!).

Teal on ice

Saturday could have gone a bit better, although we still had a lovely day.  Jess is an Owl lover, and there's one UK Owl that I've yet to show her; Short-eared Owl.  So on Saturday afternoon me made the hour and a half drive to the Wiltshire/Dorset border where up to five Short-eareds have been showing exceptionally well (mostly!). 

It was cold. Very cold....

(as you can see from how Jess is dressed!)

The cold wind was probably the reason that despite spending over two hours here, we saw precisely no Short-eared Owls.  Not a whiff.  Did see a few nice birds though, best being a cracking male Hen Harrier that showed twice during the two hours, with the second view being of it hunting over a field right next to the road for a good five minutes.  Stunning.  Other raptors included a few Buzzard, three Kestrel and two Peregrine.  There were also a few passerines about with a single Corn Bunting being my highlight, along with 15+ Reed Bunting and a few Linnet and Skylark.

Such a pity we didn't see the Owls though, they were there both days either side of Saturday! Bloody typical.  I can see us going back again soon when it's less windy...

Happy New Year

Like the Christmas post, it's going to be a short one I'm afraid, but Happy New Year one and all.  I do hope 2015 is a healthy one for everyone, and bird filled of course.  Here's a few pics of a frosty Axe, we've had some cracking crisp mornings during the last week...

Lower Bruckland Ponds

Seaton seafront looking towards Beer/Seaton Hole

The Estuary looking north from Coronation Corner

Looking towards Colyford Marsh from Axmouth

A thistle

Some grass!

Sadly the cold weather didn't bring us any birds.  And now the cold has gone, I reckon this winter is going to be a long and slow one....