Purple Sandpiper

I'm still waiting to see a Wheatear in Sidmouth. Nothing so far up on Salcombe Hill, well a single Chiffchaff this morning and that's it. I can't imagine why there hasn't been a Wheatear. Clive saw three on the rock armour off the beach, and then on the beach on Tuesday but by the time I got down there all that was on the beach were about a million dogs! It was lovely and warm and dog-walkers were out in droves. I tried the beach again this morning and it was a lot colder and therefore much quieter. Still no Wheatears though. The Turnstones and a single Purple Sandpiper were showing really well feeding on Chit Rocks at low tide and I was able to walk out and sit among the rocks and wait for them to approach for a photo or two.

Purple Sandpiper 

One of my favourite waders

 This Turnstone kept coming too close to fit in the frame.

 So obliging it would be rude not to take its photo too.

Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrest at Branscombe Sewage Works

This morning was the first chance that I have had to go and look for the Yellow-browed Warbler that Phil found at Branscombe sewage works on Saturday morning. Unfortunately the weather wasn't ideal being overcast and drizzly at times but I had some superb views and even managed some photos and despite the poor conditions for photography they are definitely the best ones I've ever taken of Yellow-browed Warbler and Firecrest too. When I arrived I looked from the footpath along the side of the sewage works and could see the YBW feeding on the filter beds along with at least a dozen Chiffchaffs. All the birds seemed to be on the far side from where I was so I made my way around to the wooded area on the other side. The National Trust have been thinning out the pine trees in this area and I was able to get right down to the perimeter fence from where I had some great views of the YBW. The Firecrest was showing very well on some branches of felled pine trees and really showing off its crest too. Sue and a friend arrived to see the YBW and while I was trying to get them onto it a male Sparrowhawk flew in and landed on the perimeter fence. Fortunately the birds soon reappeared once he'd left and although he had to leave 'empty taloned' he did gave us a nice photo opportunity.

I like the way the colours really stand out against the dark background of the filter bed in this one.

It was certainly easy to spot amongst the Chiffchaffs.

Yellow-browed Warbler

Firecrest

Sparrowhawk

Salcombe Hill

I've decided that Salcombe Hill is where I'm going to go birding in the coming months and hopefully I'll be able to see a few migrants if not something rare. It certainly isn't a well known birding spot but I don't see any particular reason why it shouldn't get it's fair share of spring and autumn migrants. When I looked it up it has only had one notable rare bird and that was a Black-headed Bunting (adult male) in 1951! I'm hoping the reason there are no reports of anything more recently is that nobody does any birding there. I went up there a couple of weeks back to take some photos of the habitat and I think it looks quite promising, only time will tell though.

When I first arrived I could see a snow shower approaching and took a few shots before taking cover in some holly trees.

It was pretty heavy too!

The snow shower moving off...

...towards Beer Head. The Cliffs in the foreground are at Weston.

 There's plenty of gorse and bracken.

Some pasture..

Some nice grassy slopes similar to the ones at Branscombe Mouth.

And for the days when I'm feeling energetic. I nice walk down to Salcombe Mouth.

This prominent rock is known as the 'frog stone' for obvious reasons.

There are also some nice wooded areas.

View over Sidmouth

Nice view of my house too.

There were lots of these in the gorse bushes.

All in all what's not to like, there's some great habbo, let's just hope I see some good birds. Fingers crossed!

We've been at our new home four just over four months now and although we haven't got our own garden my 'garden bird list' isn't too shabby at 35 species. Considering I can't put any feeders out I've been amazed at the amount of birds just feeding on naturally occurring seeds in the shrubs outside the flat.

The gardens out front. The buddleias are especially popular with Goldfinches in particular but just last week I was thrilled to see this feeding on them....

A gorgeous male Siskin.