Brean Down Cove 13/12 - Black Redstart etc

A morning visit to Brean Down Cove brought mixed skies but no rain! We arrived at the cove at around 10am and an empty beach. No dog walkers, no people just the wildlife - heaven!

Walking towards the steep cliffs we quickly spotted the Black Redstart flying between the rocks.  What a fantastic little bird, a female but still striking with that lovely russet tail.  A very flighty bird not staying still for too long at any point especially when being mobbed by the Robins and Stonechats along the way. A Rock Pipit was seen further into the rocks and overhead the soaring and croaking of Ravens and Jackdaws. 

Leaving the cove behind we walked down the track towards the farm and the estuary. Along the way we saw Redwings, Song Thrush, House Sparrows, Goldcrest, Linnets, Goldfinch, Stonechat. From the wall overlooking the estuary good views of 1000's of Lapwing, good numbers of Shelduck and a few Redshank.  No sign of any Short Eared Owls but the coastal marshland here is often an area to spot them.

Not a bad couple of hours birding just down the road.

   Black Redstart 

                

   My good side!

                

               

   Tail view

               

              

   Speak up!

                

               

                   Look at me .... I can balance on one leg!

          

          

              Walking in the air

   Rock Pipit

                

                   Ready for take off

               

                             

   Stonechat                

    

Weston Prom - 8/12/16 Eider, Dunlin & Rock Pipit

It's just 2 minutes from where we live to Weston sea front and the word was out via Twitter that there was an Eider on Marine Lake, Weston Super Mare. We just had to go especially as it is one of our favourite duck species and it was in Weston.

Our walk along the prom to the lake is about a mile and a half so we were able to check the beach area and planted hedges for any birds. There was a good sizeable flock of Dunlin with a few Ringed Plover feeding and taking flight as dogs and walkers came too close. Every winter the Dunlin return and I am always transfixed by their superb flying formation skills, I could watch them for ages. 

Quite a few Pied Wagtail on the beach as well as Lesser Black Backed and Black headed Gulls plus a lone Curlew and a handful of Shelduck on the sea.

As we reached the lake there was the beautiful female Eider. We walked along the causeway for a closer look and the Eider seemed very unphased by our presence and so we were able to get great views. Interesting to watch the Gulls follow the Eider as it dived for food, a give away at where it would surface! Had great views of it fishing underwater as well, amazing to see.

Walking back along the edge of Knightstone Island we had a quick view of a Rock Pipit which took flight as people walked by. It always amazes us that people just don't see what we see! Plenty of House Sparrows in the shrubs we are now on the look out for a Black Redstart! 

A brilliant couple of hours birding and a gentle reminder of how good urban birding can be.

First Eider in Weston?

              

   Stunning duck, beautiful subtle shades and tones

                

    

               

                   Rock Pipit

    Dunlin flight formation

                

   Feeding at the waves edge

                

                

                   Dunlin skies

                

               

   Ducking and diving incredible twists and turns

                

               

               

   Off we go! 

Catcott Lows 7/12/16 - Return of the wildfowl

DVery pleased to see that the water levels at Catcott Lows are very much improved on this time last year. Water is now very close to the hide as are the waterfowl. We arrived to the hide at about mid morning and already the hide was full, word has got out that good birding is to be had!

A very pleasant couple of hours watching from the hide which included good views of Wigeon, Shoveler, Tufted, Pintail, Snipe, Black tailed Godwits, a single Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier, Greylag and Canada Geese, Ravens and Pied Wagtails. It is also worth noting that the lane to the hide also had a good selection of birds Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Jay etc. Always worth taking a look. 

We did take a visit to Catcott Heath and the tall hide but unfortunately there was only a few Gadwall and Teal on the lake. Plenty of smaller birds Long tailed tits, Chaffinch, Goldfinch etc in the woodlands though and it's a really nice walk along the lanes to this part of the reserve scanning the fields and trees as we go.

    Sleeping Wigeon

               

                   

   Preening time

               

               

               

                  He went that way! 

Marsh Harrier - often seen at Catcott but often distant

               

                   On the hunt - Marsh Harrier 

   Double act! - Snipe

                

   Sneaky look

               

                   'Swimming' Snipe              

   Flight shot! Wow those Snipe are fast!

              

               

                   Shoveler 

    Pied Wagtail

                

                   Swan family and 7 cygnets 

   Black tailed Godwits

                

                   Edgy Godwits

   Gadwall

               

                    Teal