Sunday 20 August 2017

Bowling Green Marsh, Devon 14th August - Sandpipers, Whimbrel and Curlews etc

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