Devon Visit 21/3/17 Slapton Sands - Terns, Gannets & Porpoise

A trip down to Devon and the beautiful area of Slapton Sands to hopefully get a sighting of the Humpback Whale that has been seen on numerous occasions in the area. 

A beautiful sunny day but with a very cold strong wind but at least we had brilliant visibility looking out to sea.  So good to see plenty of Gannets feeding out to sea, amazing watching them dive from a height into the sea like torpedos that beak must be lethal! Good views also of Porpoises as they fished below the Gannets. Great Crested Grebes, Cormorants and Herring Gulls also on the sea and to our delight our first Sandwich Terns of the year fishing along the sea edge for sand eels.

From the hide on the Ley side there wasn't too much on the lake apart from Coots, Tufted Ducks, Canada Geese, Great black backed Gulls, a Little Grebe and Sand Martins skimming across the water.

Along the Sandy rocky path we spotted 2 Wheatears another first for the year. We spent a good few hours sea watching and looking for the Humpback but alas the whale did not show. However we were highly entertained by the scanning and watching all the other wildlife, very relaxing and the time quickly passed.

Before the day was out we took a quick stop to Labrador Bay for the Cirl Buntings.  The skies quickly blackened but between two very heavy showers we were able to spot just 2 Cirls, a nice end to the day.  So tempted to return to Slapton again soon if the Whale is still around.

    Gannet flying across the sea with such ease

               

   Like a glider taking advantage of the air currents 

                

               

                  

             

               

    Porpoise, one of many seen today. Must be rich fishing grounds 

                

                   Where there is a Porpoise there are usually Gannets

               

   A tiny dorsal fin this is all you usually see of a Porpoise 

               

   Sandwich Tern so very elegant as it fishes over the waves

               

                

   Characteristic dive of the Tern

               

   Like a bullet into the waves - fishing for sand eels

                

   Great to see the return of these birds from South Africa

               

   Labrador Bay near Torquay just before the downpour 

               

   Cirl Bunting, only 2 seen between the very heavy showers!

               

Brownsea Island 21/4/16 Terns, Med Gulls & Reds

Our first ever visit to Brownsea Island.  We boarded the first ferry of the day and stayed on the lower deck for the 20 minute journey as there was a cold wind blowing.  Our aim of the day was to visit the Dorset Wildlife Trust bird hides and reserve and the time we had left we would explore more of the island.  We had a superb days birding from the hides and a walk round the reserve. So good to see and hear Sandwich Terns as well as see our first ever Mediterranean Gull and Spotted Redshanks.  The best view of Red Squirrels ever was around the Wildlife Trust info centre.  The area that we covered was alive with birds and bird song and lovely Spring flowers in a beautiful environment.  Guess what? All our time was spent on the reserve side with no time to explore the rest, we will have to return.

We saw a total of 34 birds including Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler, Shelduck, Brent Goose, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Avocet, Great Black Backed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Sandwich Tern, Buzzard, Little Egret, Chiffchaff.

Greenshank and Black tailed Godwit

               

                   Greenshank

   Preening Black tailed Godwit

               

                   Black tailed Godwit

   Whimbrel - fantastic to see this summer migrant

                

                   Springtime Red

   I can see you! This red had a deformed ear but seemed OK and active

               

         

   Promoting the wildlife

                

                   Mediterranean Gull 

   Striking bold colours on the Med Gull

                

                   Sandwich Tern - very elegant and agile in flight

   Tern bank

               

                   

  Black headed Gull - 

                

                   Spotted Redshank with Black tailed Godwits

                

                    Spotted Redshank in Summer plumage

    3 Spotted Redshanks - could not believe our luck

               

                   

   Redshank on a trot

               

                   Avocet - the graceful one

   Skimming the mud a feeding Avocet

               

   Bottoms up and crossed legged

             

                Black and white but striking to see in flight

   Shelducks