Back to the South West

I was back down in the south west for much of w/c 14/09 - this time with Em, for a few days in our favourite stomping ground of Topsham, on the Exe Estuary.

While not a birding break, we spent a lot of time walking and outdoors and so had plenty of opportunities to see some birds.

We had a day down in west Cornwall on 14/09 and spent some time in the Hayle area.

I was hoping the recent Semipalmated Sandpiper would be knocking about the estuary as it would be a lifer for me. While there was no sign, on our walk around Carnsew Basin, I was treated to an excellent 'consolation prize', with amazing views of another nearctic wanderer - a very confiding juvenile Baird's Sandpiper. The poor little thing was flushed by dog walkers a couple of times, but did resolutely return, calling it's head off!

It also shared the rocky shoreline with a couple of equally showy Wheatear and a Rock Pipit too. Quite a few Med Gulls were around, as well as a lone Pale-Bellied Brent Goose, several Sandwich Tern, a couple of Barwits, Knot, several other common wader species, Peregrine and a couple of Kingfisher. A good visit!

We were staying only a short walk from Bowling Green Marsh, Clyst & Exe Estuaries, so it would've been rude not to have a look! It was stunning, calm weather throughout the week and so an early walk along here, with the sounds of waders ringing out across the estuary, was absolute bliss!

A flock of 12 Cattle Egret were certainly a highlight on the morning of 15/09 (which I initially, rather inexplicably dismissed as Little Egrets!). There were also up to 5 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers around and particularly big numbers of Black-Tailed Godwit and Redshank.

Other notables included a returning flock of 14 Avocet, an impressive count of 33 Greenshank, a couple of flyover Tree Pipits, singles of Whimbrel, Knot, Barwit & Ruff, a flock of 9 Grey Plover, an adult Med Gull and a flock of 13 Dark-Bellied Brent Geese.

We spent a day exploring Dartmoor and also spent some time in Beer. Beer was a new place for me and was super nice, even more so as it was such a beaut of a day. We took a picnic and had a wander around Beer Head which I have to say looked like a great place for migrants. A Couple of Spotted Flys were about, as well as a flyover Yellow Wag, 4 Wheatear, Peregrine, Willow Warbler and a trickle of migrant Swallows overhead. A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was a welcome surprise while walking along the high street!

On our last morning in Topsham, we took one more early morning walk along the estuary. Luckily for me, an Osprey was on show off the goat walk and we sat and watched it flying around for a good 20 minutes, once also having a failed attempt at catching a fish. A great way to end the week!