Surf Scoter

I went out birding late morning hoping to see some scarce or indeed rare ducks. First stop was Lower Brucklands again where the only ducks on the limited area of water were the usual Mallards. The Tufties still haven't returned. I was just getting out of the car at my second stop (Seaton Marshes) when I got Bun's text, he'd spotted a Surf Scoter off Beer Beach. I rushed over there for a look naturally, Gav joined us later too. The duck was quite distant but eventually it took off and flew a bit closer to the shore giving some excellent views, which showed it to be a young male. It had a prominent white nape and quite a lot of yellow in the bill. It was always a bit too distant for digiscoping, aren't they always! That didn't stop Gav and me having a crack at it though. I got some variously coloured blurry pixels in very vague duck shapes like so:

Going Away

Right Hand Side (you CAN see the yellow bill and white nape if you open it)

Left Hand Side

A brilliant bonus for me came when Gav spotted a Harbour Porpoise which I eventually got onto too. Believe it or not, my FIRST EVER live, wild cetacean!! I've led a sheltered, land bound kind of life. Shows I don't go out on our boat very often! So thanks for that Gav and a big thanks and 'well done' to Bun. Also on Beer Beach a female type Black Redstart put in a brief appearance.

The Big Freeze

For the first time in ages I got up early and ventured forth into the field. It was freezing, so much so in fact, that when I arrived at Lower Bruckland Ponds they were almost totally frozen!! I've never before seen any ice on them. Here's what one of the ponds looked like:

The swans in the centre were hogging what bit of water was available.

I was hoping to see some of the scarce ducks which have been all over the patch over the last few days, but all that was on offer here were the two usual Tufted Ducks. After leaving here I had a look at Black Hole Marsh, this too was frozen solid and the only birds I saw were a few Crows walking about on the ice and a pair of Shelduck which looked like they were only there because they'd been welded into the ice!

I soon gave up and went home for breakfast and then into Exeter with Martha. Once here I got a text from Steve" Pochard Lower Brucklands" it said. Typical! Some people are just charmed! When I got home I rushed back there to see it, do you think I did? Of course I didn't! The Tufties had gone too!

Apparently there's this bloke at the Yacht Club who has been keeping meticulous weather records in Seaton since 1962, He says that this recent cold weather is the longest run of days of sub-zero temperatures since he started keeping his records i.e. 47 years. No wonder it's bringing the ducks in, just a shame I can't seem to see any of them!

Finally, in case anyone's remotely interested in my patch yearlist total I've recounted it several times to make sure and it's 188, not gargantuan at all in fact, that was a little fib. It doesn't include the arguable Great Shearwater, but could do if needs be ;-). I'm pretty sure I was worried for nothing and wont in fact win the prized second hand golf balls, because looking at the patch list I'm sure Ian M has at least four birds I don't. Enjoy the golf balls Ian! If Gav doesn't have enough I know where I can lay my hands on some!

Left at the Start

Well it's 2009 I see. May I take this opportunity to (rather belatedly) wish my reader/s a very Happy New Year. I'm afraid I've slept through most of the last week and haven't gotten out into the field until today. In fact I tell a lie coz all I did today was have a quick gander at the Golden Plovers on Bridge Marsh from the confines of the car! There were LOADS of them and to think I risked life and limb last month trying to get a close look at some on patch. I've also seen a Black Redstart this year already, only because there's still one on next doors roof periodically. I've been struggling into work but because this is tantamount to standing in a fridge for several hours it hasn't been doing my health a lot of good. I'm certainly hoping to be back in action soon...I can't keep feeling ill for much longer, surely!?

I feel the need to say a few words about 2008, but won't be saying much (honest) because most of the year's highlights have already been mentioned on Gav's and Steve's blogs. The main highlights for me were the Woodlarks last January (22 of them in one field), my first ever Hen Harrier (a male) hunting over Colyford Marsh. The FIRST couple of Cattle Egrets, the Sabine's Gull circling just feet over my head, the Grey Phalarope, the two Avocets (in off). My first Long-tailed Skua -In fact ALL the seawatching, and of course our long staying juvenile Osprey. That's all I can think of off the top of my head but there's probably loads more. Oh yes, I know 100 Wheatears one morning on Beer Head was awesome!

One of the year's highlights- 'Woodlark Wonderland' An awestruck Steve watches 14 of the 22 Woodlarks.

Another couple of notable sightings for me were of two species usually only seen on our patch as passage migrants, namely Redstart and Grasshopper Warbler. I found at least two males of the former singing and appearing to be holding territories at Blackbury Castle. Also a single male Grasshopper Warbler reeling on and off for a couple of weeks at Trinity Hill.

Redstart at Blackbury Camp, probably a new breeding bird on patch, unfortunately no confirmation of breeding was evident, hopefully they'll return this year.

A reeling Gropper, one of my favourite photos of 2008. I'd never had a good view of a Gropper before, so was thrilled to get this image.

My most favourite-ist photo of 2008 is already adorning my Blog, see bottom of page :-)

What about last years patch yearlist competition? Well it certainly caused a good few mood swings! On the whole however I thoroughly enjoyed it, and eventually amassed a gargantuan total. I see from Gav's latest Blog entry that the coveted prize of a half-empty bottle of disgusting red wine has mysteriously changed to 25 second hand golf balls! Please don't think me ungrateful, but I will NOT be revealing my patchlist total anytime soon for fear of winning them!