Photogenic Redwings

I've still not managed to get out specifically for birding due to work commitments but I came across a Thrush flock whilst working a job in Colyton. Yesterday there were 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Fieldfare and 9+ Redwing present but today this had changed to 2 Mistle Thrush, 5 Song Thrush and 12+ Redwing (plus some smaller birds including Coal Tit and Goldcrest).

Here's a couple pics of some of the Redwing (more to come when I can get to it)!

Flooding in the Axe Valley

It's been rather wet lately! Monday 21st saw some flooding locally with roads closed around Colyton and Colyford. The amount of water was pretty insignificant compared to the flood a few years ago but with the peak of that flood being 1am - 2am, most people would not have seen it! That was certainly a very impressive flood to witness (although the resulting damage was a shame of course).

I managed to get a few snaps of the flooded fields & roads in Colyton; there were some stranded cars (containing a lot of water) but thankfully damage caused seems relatively low this time.

View of Colyton Playing Fields

View near Umborne Bridge

View near Umborne Bridge

View from Chantry Bridge 

View from Chantry Bridge

View from Chantry Bridge

View from Chantry Bridge

I haven't been able to get out birding recently as work is occupying nearly all of my conscious time. Hopefully there'll be some more bird related posts soon...

Spoonbill on Patch

Another Spoonbill turned up on patch today - Ian Mc sent a message around 10am but I couldn't get down for a while. I set out early afternoon but others said there had been no sign so I thought the opportunity had gone. I figured Seaton Marshes is the place it's most likely to be able to hide from us so I waited there hoping it'd give itself up (assuming it was still around somewhere). Good decision! It was using small pools on the banks in front of Seaton Marshes Hide so it was out of sight for extended periods of time. I sent out messages to others who hadn't managed to find it but then the bird headed high and West over the town so it seemed as though it was moving on. Thankfully it returned 10 mins later and sat out on the Estuary until dusk.

Here's a few snaps, most of them fairly distant. Light was also at a premium as it was a dull & damp afternoon (photos were taken at ISO 4000 and the shutter speeds were still struggling).

Back out on Patch

It's been a while! I've been neglecting this blog and the patch lately due to an excessive combination of illness and work commitments, so it was good to be able to get out for a short while yesterday and today. In my absence there's been 2 goodies on patch with Ian Mc having a Spoonbill on the estuary and Steve finding a drake Pochard at Borrow Pit. The Spoonbill was the 2nd of the year after my one back on August 25th; this recent one was ringed so it'll be interesting to see if anyone can determine where it has come from. Both the Spooner and the Pochard have left us now - the latter would have been a first for me here so it's a shame to have had to miss it, especially with it being a drake. Perhaps there'll be another if the Winter has some decent freezes.

Whilst not seeing the Pochard yesterday morning, I did see 3 Tufted Duck at Borrow Pit. Bun and Sue Smith later arrived and said there had been 4 Tufties there yesterday; it's been a good year for them here with at least 8 Tufted Duck being seen (so far). Here's an Autumnal shot of the 3 remaining birds:

The best from this morning was singles of Grey Plover and Little Stint on Black Hole Marsh. Despite a lack of any new birds the weather was just perfect for a morning outside.