Alexander's Band

No birding for me today, just lots of lovely housework! While toiling away I inadvertently looked out of the window just in time to see a perfect textbook rainbow. It spanned the river but I could only get part of it in a photo.

A nice distraction from the housework, let's face it what wouldn't be!

It shows features galore! Primary bow, secondary bow, supernumeraries (if you look very closely) and best of all Alexander's dark band, the first time I've captured this feature on a photo. Cool! I wont be explaining how it's all formed because it's a bit complicated, well to me it is!

Rex Gets a Bit Wet

This morning I was supposed to be joining the AERG at Colyford Common. I hadn't had any notification that the ringing was off but it was throwing it down, so using my immense intellect I figured it was... I then texted Steve to make sure!! I'd had my regulation gallon of tea and was rarin' to go and wasn't going to let a teensy bit of rain stop me. In my wisdom I decided on a gentle amble along the banks of the River Axe towards Colyton. My departure was slightly delayed as I agonized over what to wear, I toyed with the sparkly pink catsuit, but in the end decided on the simply gorgeous slate grey binbagesque two piece which doesn't clash with my wellies so badly and is supposed to be weatherproof too.

The going underfoot was a bit on the damp and squidgy side, like so:

"Come on mum, it not too deep"

It was though, right up to my knees some of the time:

The elegant binbag suit comes into its own. I'm glad I didn't opt for the catsuit now!

The rain was at times torrential and the wind very strong indeed, birds were a bit thin on the ground but I did see some Redwings and Rex managed to flush ten Common Snipe. A Jack Snipe would have been a nice reward for my efforts, I'll console myself in believing it's way too early for them yet.... It is, isn't it..... way too early!

When I saw the eveidence of last Tuesday's floods on the fences, I began to think it was perhaps a bit foolish to be here when the river was very near to bursting its banks again! Look how high the river had been, the debris on the fence was over waist height on me:

Evidence of last week's floods.
Looking north towards Nunsford Dairy, Colyton

When Rex started trembling I figured he was wet enough, (he's allergic to shampoo, so a good drenching in rain's the only bath he gets, and boy was he ready for one!!) so it was time to go home. Here's a pic of Rex in the car, dripping on my Collins and spare hat and gloves! (stupid place to leave them I know)

What a big drip!

Actually what you can't see from this picture is that he was shivering most pathetically. Being a heartless beast I decided to take a bit of video footage of his wimpiness. Take a look at this, I reckon I could donate it to the Dog's Trust as a fundraising video, poor wretch!! ( I must point out it isn't actually out of being cold, he often does it after any long walk, it's a nervous excitment thing)

No dogs were harmed in the making of this video!

The rain had slowed somewhat by lunchtime I couldn't resist a quick look at the sea, I'd had my quota of getting wet so decided to watch from in the car. I parked on the yacht club carpark and in my wing mirror I could just make out a figure standing next to the 'Spot On' kiosk. I've no idea who it could be. Have you? I took this photo, can you see him? No probably not...

View in my wing mirror. I wonder who that lonely figure at the 'Spot On' is....

I didn't see anything passing, just two Common Scoters sat on the sea, after ten minutes I was just about to leave when Gav arrived, I decided to join him because I figured if anything was out there he'd see it for sure. I wasn't wrong, within minutes he was showing off, calling Gannets left right and centre, I felt woefully inadequate :( . About an hour later we had seen a few Kittiwakes too.

I had to pop over to Colyton later in the afternoon and stopped by Bridge Marsh for a look at the assembled throngs. All common stuff but pleasant to look at non the less. I tried a bit of digiscoping even though it was almost dark. The results were predictably awful, like so:

Teal and Wigeon trying to be colourful.

At 16:08 I was just settling down with a nice cuppa when Steve rang, we'd got a patch 'biggy' at last, "Surf Scoter, Seaton Hole" he enthused. I gave my customary little excited shriek in reply, grabbed my carkeys and was, remarkably for me, first on the scene. The bird was quite distant but easily recognisable in a flock of Common Scoter, the light was fading fast though and I found it more and more difficult to pick out as time wore on. There were NINE local birders on site at one stage, easily the most I've seen at a bird for ages. Here's a really awful photo I took in the near darkness with my phone. I am only publishing it because I'm quite pleased with the way I managed to conceal the face of that mystery bloke in the yellow coat, (you know the one who objects to having his picture on my blog) with a strategically placed plank!! Although I think his identity may be revealed on Gav's blog.

Right to left: Ian W, John, Phil, Ian M and some bloke.

In The Doldrums

If by some chance anyone out there is eagerly waiting for me to post something, I will. There wont be much bird news coz I just ain't seen much since the White-fronted Geese on Tuesday. I suppose my best bird sighting would have to be on Thursday morning when I had superb views of seven Crossbills feeding in a pine tree in Morganhayes. I'm not seeing them that regularly now, this sighting being the first in five visits.

Friday morning I joined Steve up on Axe Cliff for some vis-migging, there was one small catch though.... nothing was migging at all!!! "Worst vis-migging ever" Steve was heard to say.

This morning I figured the strong southwesterly wind would lure some local patchers out seawatching, me included! When I finally got out of the house I could see Phil and Bun were already hard at it, so decided to leave all the goodies to them and venture up the valley for a look around first. Total waste of time though because there were several 'sportsmen' hidden in the reed beds just to the north of Coronation Corner, trying to blast the Teal and Wigeon to bits no doubt. A few brave Curlews and Blackwits were on show at Bridge Marsh along with a handful of pretty hard/stupid Wigeon, strangely Colyford Marsh, Common and Black Hole Marsh were deserted. It really is laughable that on one side of the river is a small but soon to be expanding nature reserve while on the other side lies the domain of the wildfowler!

I was soon back at the yacht club with Phil, Bun and Ian M, they hadn't seen much though and before long we all made our way to the field opposite Colyton Sewage Works where we stomped around for a bit in the stubble and manure, and we saw.... you guessed it....nowt! Well that's probably a bit unfair, there were birds, but just Skylarks, Mipits, Pied Wags, Stonechats etc. A massive highlight was a single Chiffchaff, yes CHIFFCHAFF!

Almost forgot, there was a single female type Black Redstart on rooftops at the seaward end of Trevelyan Road this morning and later in the day among boats in the yacht club. Here's another stunning effort from the S3.

Easily the bird of the day ( it wasn't a difficult choice)

Later in the morning I took the dog for his walk at Morganhayes but it was short lived because the local hunt, The Axe Vale Harriers were in there!! I decided to try Axe Cliff instead but on my way there got stuck behind a slow moving tractor and trailer, the trailer being full of beaters!! Crikey not more shooting!! No innocent creature was going to be safe today!! I gave up...

A bit of gardening is on the cards for me, why? Because I have too much of this for a start:

Ivy-leaved Toadflax

Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Linaria Cymbalaria) also know as: Ivywort, Aaron's Beard, Climbing Sailor, Creeping Jenny, Mother of Millions, Mother of Thousands, Thousand Flower, Oxford-weed, Pedlar's Basket, Pennywort, Rabbits, (I like that one best) Roving Jenny or Wandering Jew is a lovely plant, if not, as these names suggest a teensy bit rampant. I let it grow umchecked because it's certainly more attractive than slabs and gravel. As can be seen in this picture however, it's been getting very close to the bottom of the French doors of late. Not to worry though it wont get in through them. Not much it wont!! Look at this:

Unwelcome-ish Guest

I spotted this intruder last week but I left it growing just to see if it would continue to thrive, obviously it did, it's flowered! The incredible thing is that it's worked its way in not between the door and the frame but underneath the door frame and the carpet. It is actually growing out of the carpet!! Perhaps I shouldn't have published this picture because it does rather show up my woefully inadequate housekeeping skills!! I only learned today that a friend who stayed with us this summer described the house as 'Bohemian'! I'd like to think he didn't mean messy!! Doesn't everyone have small piles of books everywhere?

Tomorrow's inshore waters forecast says SW Gale 8 - going severe gale 9! Leach's Petrel then!?