We turned up to Topsham and walked down to the hide at Bowling Green Marsh at around 10:30 am.
A sunny with some cloud day but there were good numbers of Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper and a single Holly Blue seen along the lane as we approached the hide.
The RSPB has done a fantastic job of the hide and indeed the wildlife garden around it the plants and flowers encouraging both birds and insects as we were there.
As we opened the door to the hide we could not believe that it was full of fellow birders. We did however manage to get a seat and it wasn't long until we saw why there was so many people. It was approaching high tide on the Exe and hundreds of waders were flying into the reserve to rest and roost on the various islands of land.
We spent over 3 hours watching the comings and goings of various waders, it was simply amazing and mesmerising to watch them roost, preen, feed and fly and to see what would turn up. I don't think we have ever seen so many Curlews in one place and it was brilliant to see Whimbrel in with them.
Highlights of the day were Barnacle Goose, Little Egret, Curlew, Whimbrel, Buzzard, Dunlin, Redshank, Common Sanpiper, Green Sandpiper, Black tailed Godwit and Lapwing.
Can't wait to return during the winter months to see what Bowling Green has to offer.
Holly Blue on the road getting a little warmth
Speckled Wood
Gatekeeper, plenty in the hedgerow along the road
Curlew
Curlew flying in to the islands
Curlew with Whimbrel gathering on the islands to roost
It's all in the beak
Canada Geese, Blkwits, Gulls and a single Great Black Backed at the very back
Roosting at the very back of the reserve.
Watch out I'm coming in
Occasionally the Great Black Backed Gull would take to the skies and make the roosting birds restless
Wader island, mesmerising to see so many waders on one bit of land
Redshank, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew and Whimbrel
Beaks to the right, except for the rebels!
Curlew and Whimbrel
Curlew and a smart looking Black tailed Godwit
Redshank crashing in
I didn't realise that the Whimbrel was so much smaller than a Curlew
Black tailed Godwits
Green Sandpiper and Dunlin
Green and Common Sandpiper plus a Dunlin
Black tailed Godwits
Little Egret coming into land ballerina style
So very elegant
Lapwing probing the grass near the hide
Lucky to get great views of the Common Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper a lovely smart little bird
Lapwing
Roosting time
Somethings annoyed the Curlews, Dunlin and Godwits take flight
Spot the Barnacle Goose
Godwits busy feeding
Preening Curlew
Little Egret, love that yellow foot
Goose step, a Godwit strolls past a Canada Goose
Summer plumage starting to fade on this Godwit
We've never seen so many Curlews
Dunlin racing across the water
Some summer colour still showing on the Dunlin
We thought these cows might of swam across the channel. Put the waders up though!
Odd one out!
Dunlin and Redshank
One bit of land and so many birds
The beautiful and elegant Black tailed Godwit
