Sightings Diary
December 2011
Winter Oak Leaf
Dartmoor - Steps Bridge, Dunsford, Fingle, Fingle Bridge
04.12.11 - 10 degrees, cloudy/sunny, light wind, 10am to 4pm
Birds - Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker, Buzzards, Raven, Crows, Jay, Magpies, Pheasants, Woodpigeon, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Wren, Robin, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Nuthatch
Nuthatch
Blue Tit
Other - Many different types of fungi - 25+ including Trooping Funnel, Honey Fungi Species, Chicken Run Funnel, Other Funnel Species, Fly Agarics, Wood Blewit, Milk Cap Species, Boletes Species, Birch Polypores, Yellow Stereum, Migrating Fish (Salmon?) Leaping Waterfalls
Fly Agaric
Lichen
Fungi
Exe Estuary
09.12.11 - 6 degrees, sun/cloud, light wind, 9am to 2pm. Low Tide 1pm
Birds - Red-breasted Mergansers, Slavonian Grebes, Green Woodpeckers, Pintail, Greenshank, Siskin, Linnets, Bar-tailed Godwits, Little Grebe, Kestrel, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Pheasants, Long-tailed Tits, Wood Pigeons, Raven, Dunnocks, Robins, Song Thrush, Rooks, Jackdaws, Redshank, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Curlew, Oystercatchers, Cormorants, Little Egrets, Heron, Mute Swans, Herring Gulls, Mallard Ducks, Black-headed Gulls, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Greenshank, Dunlin, Blackbirds, Brent Geese, Canada Geese, Coot, Moorhen, Magpies, Starlings, Greenfinches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wigeon.
Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Wigeon
Brent Goose
Curlew
Mute Swan
Siskin
Red-breasted Merganser
Greater Black-backed Gull
Mute Swan
Other - Fallow Deer, Bramble blossom, Ragwort, Cats Ears, Gorse Blossom, Rose Hips, Hawthorn Berries, Armillaria Fungi species, Funnel Fungi species, Evening Primrose, Dumpy Centaury
Fallow Stag
Fallow Doe
Evening Primrose
Exeter Canal and Exminster Marsh
10.12.11, 11.12.11 - 6 degrees, sun/showers, light wind, 11am to 4pm. Low Tide 1.30pm
Birds - Female Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Goldcrest, Little Grebe, Peregrine Falcons, Bullfinches, Jack Snipe, Snipe , Fieldfares, Black-headed Gull in Summer plumage, Coots, Long-tailed Tits, Black-tailed Godwits, Linnets, Stonechats, Avocets, Reshank, Grey Plovers, Curlew, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Goldfinches, Crows, Cormorants, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Blackbirds, Herons, Mallard Duck, Wrens, Redwings, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Dunnocks, Robins, Pied Wagtails, Jackdaws, Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Shoveler, Blue Tits, Song Thrush, Buzzards, Moorhen, Pheasants, Jays, Great Tits, Little Egret, Lapwings, Starlings, Wigeon, Chaffinches, House Sparrows, Black Swan, Greylag Geese.
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Canada Goose
Heron
Pied Wagtail
Pair of Mute Swans
Carrion Crow B&W
Lapwings
Mute Swan
Black-tailed Godwits
Other - Robust Bracket (Oak), Bush Vetch, Himalayan Balsam, Bramble Blossom, Rose Hips, Hawthorn Berries, Yarrow, Hogweed, Large Bind Weed, Tansy, Creeping Thistle, Dandelions, Red Campion, Rabbits.
Robust Bracket Fungi ?
Cloudscape
Hound Tor.. not a sighting, but I thought I'd add this and below just because..
And while I'm about this type of thing
Topsham Bowling Green Hide
16.12.11 - 5 degrees, sun/showers, light wind, 9am to 12.30pm. High Tide 10am
Birds - Avocets 250+, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, Fox, Wigeon, Redshank, Little Egrets, Chaffinches, Robins, Redwings, Wrens, House Sparrows, Goldfinches, Dunnocks, Canada Geese, Brent Geese, Teal, Mallard Ducks, Moorhen, Black-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Shoveler, Shelduck, Heron, Greylags, Coots, Curlew, Kingfisher, Pied Wagtails, Fieldfares, Song Thrush.
Avocet Flock
Black-tailed Godwits
Wigeon
Redshank
Haytor, Yarner, Hound Tor - Dartmoor
18.12.11 - 4 degrees, sun/showers, light wind, 9am to 3pm.
Birds - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinches, Goldcrests, Ravens, Nuthatches, Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Dunnocks, Wrens, Robins, Redwings, Long-tailed Tits, Jays, Magpies, Woodpigeons, Crows, House Sparrows, Blackbirds, Meadow Pipits.
Wild Flowers - Red Campion, Herb Robert, Dandelions
Others - Fox, Many different types of Fungi - 20+ including Sulphur Top, Bitter Oysterling, Yellow Stagshorn, Polypores, Common Eyelash, Yellow Brain, Hairy Curtain Crust. Hawthorn and Holly Berries though some trees are now stripped.
Yellow Stagshorn
Hairy Curtain Crust
Starcrosss, Powderham, Exminster Marsh, Matford Marsh, Topsham Bowling Green Marsh - Exe Estuary
22.12.11 - 13 degrees, grey, light wind, 9am to 4pm, high tide 4:30pm
Birds - Red-breasted Mergansers, Slavonian Grebes, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Bullfinches, Linnets, Greenshank, Turnstone, Lapwings 2 large flocks each 200+, Kingfisher, Avocet 300+, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Stonechat, Fieldfares, Redwings, Spotted Redshank, Grey Plover, Snipe, Shelduck, Buzzards, Long-tailed Tits, Song Thrush, Blue Tits, Greylag Geese, Great Tits, Moorhens, Coots, Canada Geese, Starlings, Pied Wagtails, Magpies, Cormorants, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Bar-tailed Godwits, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Mute Swans, Goldfinches, Dunnocks, Magpies, Jackdaws, Brent Geese, Oystercatchers, Little Egrets, Wigeon, Teal, Wrens, Robins, Herons, Blackbirds, Pheasants, Rooks, Crows, Mallard Duck, Shoveler, Redshank, Curlew, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Rock Pipit, Chaffinches
Lapwings - ISO 1250, Canon 7D!
Avocets - ISO 1250, Canon 7D!
Carrion Crow
Shoveler
Redshank
Greenshank
Great Tit
Wigeon - ISO 1250, Canon 7D!
Teal - ISO 1250, Canon 7D!
Black-tailed Godwits - ISO 1250, Canon 7D!
Turnstone
Other - Dandelion, Red Campion, Herb Robert, Fallow Deer, Fox, Rabbits
Fallow Stag B&W
Duryard and Belvidere Meadows - Exeter
24.12.11 - 8 degrees, cloudy, light wind, 9 to 11am
Birds - Nuthatches, Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, Goldcrests, Bullfinches, Crows, Magpies, Jackdaws, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Robins, Woodpigeons, Coal Tits, Blackbirds, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Dunnocks, Wrens, Chaffinches, Redwings, Fieldfares, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard.
Nuthatch
Other - Badger Tracks, Fox Stink, Bumblebee, Lots Holly Berries, Herb Robert, Yarrow, Bramble Blossom, Squirrels.
Donkey Sanctuary, Salcombe Regis - East Devon
26.12.11 - 1 degrees, cloudy, light wind, 11am to 2.30pm, low tide during walk
Birds - Ravens, Nuthatches, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Common Scoters 200+, Robins, Blackbirds, Redwings, Wrens, Crows, Woodpigeons, Jackdaws, Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Goldfinches, Buzzards, Pheasants, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Oystercatchers, Cormorants, Rock Pipits, Chaffinches, House Sparrows
Oystercatchers
Wren
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Rock Pipit
Other - Hogweed, Cow Parsley, Red Campion, Herb Robert, Gorse Blossom, Bramble Blossom, Meadow Buttercup, Chamomile, Ground Ivy, Wild Carrot, Dandelion, Wood Avens, Winter Heliotrope, Great Mullein, Green Alkanet, Sow-thistle, Primrose (possible garden hybrid!), Fossils, Orange Iron Stained Quartz.
Primroses
Green Alkanet
Fossil Sea Urchin
Fingle Bridge Area - Dartmoor
27.12.11 - 11 degrees, cloudy, light wind, 11am to 2.30pm
Birds - Nuthatches, Goldcrests, , Song Thrush, Chaffinches, Blackbird, Great Tits, Crows, Robins, Blue Tits, Magpie.
Other - Weasel, Squirrels, 22 different types of fungi including Fly Agarics, Polypores, Blewits, Boletus, Yellow Brain, Milk Caps, Armillaria. 9 types of Lichen and 4 different Mosses.
Sulphur Tuft
Fungi - Still working on the ID :-)
Exminster Marsh
27.12.11 - 8 degrees, cloudy, light wind, 3.00pm to 5pm
Birds - Short-eared Owls - 2, Long-eared Owl (sighting by others), Kestrel, Lapwings, Godwits, Herring Gulls, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Crows, Woodpigeons, Blackbird, Dunnock.
Greater Black-backed Gull
Otterton, Ladram Bay, Budleigh, River Otter - East Devon
28.12.11 - 8 degrees, cloudy, windy, 11am to 2:30pm
Birds - Kingfisher, Dipper, Kestrel, Little Grebes, Lapwing, Great Crested Grebes, Skylarks, Shags, Common Scoters 30+, Robins, Herring Gulls, Magpies, Jackdaws, Wrens, Crows, Dunnocks, Woodpigeons, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Mallard Ducks, Buzzards, Pied Wagtail, Moorhen, Chaffinches, Redwings, Mute Swans, Little Egrets, Long-tailed Tits, Teal, Black-headed Gulls, Shelduck, Redshank, Curlew, Wigeon, Canada Geese, Blackbirds, Brent Geese, Cormorants, Rock Pipits.
Dipper
Lapwings
Other - Pair of Roe Deer (male's antlers growing and in velvet), Lesser Celandines!, White Dead-nettle, Bramble Blossom, Yarrow, Hogweed, Almost Ripe Ivy Berries, Dandelions, Herb Robert, Cow Parsley.
Lesser Celandine
White Dead-nettle
Topsham Bowling Green Marsh - Exe Estuary, Devon
31.12.11 - 13 degrees, grey, high tide 10:40am, 10am to 12:30pm
Birds - Avocets (400+), Peregrine Falcon, Knot, Wigeon, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, Tufted Duck, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Lapwing, Canada Geese, Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Moorhen, Brent Geese, Woodpigeon, Magpies, Robins, Great Tits, Chaffinches, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Wren, Dunnocks, Redwings, Shovelers, Cormorant, Crows, Herring Gulls, Buzzards, Ravens, Pied Wagtails, Greenfinches, Starlings, Goldfinches.
Canada Geese (piling in!)
Avocets
Black-tailed Godwit
04.12.11 - 10 degrees, cloudy/sunny, light wind, 10am to 4pm
Birds - Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Green Woodpecker, Buzzards, Raven, Crows, Jay, Magpies, Pheasants, Woodpigeon, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Wren, Robin, Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Nuthatch
Nuthatch
Blue Tit
Other - Many different types of fungi - 25+ including Trooping Funnel, Honey Fungi Species, Chicken Run Funnel, Other Funnel Species, Fly Agarics, Wood Blewit, Milk Cap Species, Boletes Species, Birch Polypores, Yellow Stereum, Migrating Fish (Salmon?) Leaping Waterfalls
Fly Agaric
Lichen
Fungi
Exe Estuary
09.12.11 - 6 degrees, sun/cloud, light wind, 9am to 2pm. Low Tide 1pm
Birds - Red-breasted Mergansers, Slavonian Grebes, Green Woodpeckers, Pintail, Greenshank, Siskin, Linnets, Bar-tailed Godwits, Little Grebe, Kestrel, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Pheasants, Long-tailed Tits, Wood Pigeons, Raven, Dunnocks, Robins, Song Thrush, Rooks, Jackdaws, Redshank, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Curlew, Oystercatchers, Cormorants, Little Egrets, Heron, Mute Swans, Herring Gulls, Mallard Ducks, Black-headed Gulls, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Greenshank, Dunlin, Blackbirds, Brent Geese, Canada Geese, Coot, Moorhen, Magpies, Starlings, Greenfinches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wigeon.
Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Wigeon
Brent Goose
Curlew
Mute Swan
Siskin
Red-breasted Merganser
Greater Black-backed Gull
Mute Swan
Other - Fallow Deer, Bramble blossom, Ragwort, Cats Ears, Gorse Blossom, Rose Hips, Hawthorn Berries, Armillaria Fungi species, Funnel Fungi species, Evening Primrose, Dumpy Centaury
Fallow Stag
Fallow Doe
Evening Primrose
Exeter Canal and Exminster Marsh
10.12.11, 11.12.11 - 6 degrees, sun/showers, light wind, 11am to 4pm. Low Tide 1.30pm
Birds - Female Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Goldcrest, Little Grebe, Peregrine Falcons, Bullfinches, Jack Snipe, Snipe , Fieldfares, Black-headed Gull in Summer plumage, Coots, Long-tailed Tits, Black-tailed Godwits, Linnets, Stonechats, Avocets, Reshank, Grey Plovers, Curlew, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Goldfinches, Crows, Cormorants, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Blackbirds, Herons, Mallard Duck, Wrens, Redwings, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Dunnocks, Robins, Pied Wagtails, Jackdaws, Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Shoveler, Blue Tits, Song Thrush, Buzzards, Moorhen, Pheasants, Jays, Great Tits, Little Egret, Lapwings, Starlings, Wigeon, Chaffinches, House Sparrows, Black Swan, Greylag Geese.
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Canada Goose
Heron
Pied Wagtail
Pair of Mute Swans
Carrion Crow B&W
Lapwings
Mute Swan
Black-tailed Godwits
Other - Robust Bracket (Oak), Bush Vetch, Himalayan Balsam, Bramble Blossom, Rose Hips, Hawthorn Berries, Yarrow, Hogweed, Large Bind Weed, Tansy, Creeping Thistle, Dandelions, Red Campion, Rabbits.
Robust Bracket Fungi ?
Cloudscape
Hound Tor.. not a sighting, but I thought I'd add this and below just because..
And while I'm about this type of thing
Topsham Bowling Green Hide
16.12.11 - 5 degrees, sun/showers, light wind, 9am to 12.30pm. High Tide 10am
Birds - Avocets 250+, Tufted Duck, Sparrowhawk, Fox, Wigeon, Redshank, Little Egrets, Chaffinches, Robins, Redwings, Wrens, House Sparrows, Goldfinches, Dunnocks, Canada Geese, Brent Geese, Teal, Mallard Ducks, Moorhen, Black-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Shoveler, Shelduck, Heron, Greylags, Coots, Curlew, Kingfisher, Pied Wagtails, Fieldfares, Song Thrush.
Avocet Flock
Black-tailed Godwits
Wigeon
Redshank
Haytor, Yarner, Hound Tor - Dartmoor
18.12.11 - 4 degrees, sun/showers, light wind, 9am to 3pm.
Birds - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinches, Goldcrests, Ravens, Nuthatches, Chaffinches, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Dunnocks, Wrens, Robins, Redwings, Long-tailed Tits, Jays, Magpies, Woodpigeons, Crows, House Sparrows, Blackbirds, Meadow Pipits.
Wild Flowers - Red Campion, Herb Robert, Dandelions
Others - Fox, Many different types of Fungi - 20+ including Sulphur Top, Bitter Oysterling, Yellow Stagshorn, Polypores, Common Eyelash, Yellow Brain, Hairy Curtain Crust. Hawthorn and Holly Berries though some trees are now stripped.
Yellow Stagshorn
Hairy Curtain Crust
Starcrosss, Powderham, Exminster Marsh, Matford Marsh, Topsham Bowling Green Marsh - Exe Estuary
22.12.11 - 13 degrees, grey, light wind, 9am to 4pm, high tide 4:30pm
Birds - Red-breasted Mergansers, Slavonian Grebes, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Bullfinches, Linnets, Greenshank, Turnstone, Lapwings 2 large flocks each 200+, Kingfisher, Avocet 300+, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Stonechat, Fieldfares, Redwings, Spotted Redshank, Grey Plover, Snipe, Shelduck, Buzzards, Long-tailed Tits, Song Thrush, Blue Tits, Greylag Geese, Great Tits, Moorhens, Coots, Canada Geese, Starlings, Pied Wagtails, Magpies, Cormorants, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Bar-tailed Godwits, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Mute Swans, Goldfinches, Dunnocks, Magpies, Jackdaws, Brent Geese, Oystercatchers, Little Egrets, Wigeon, Teal, Wrens, Robins, Herons, Blackbirds, Pheasants, Rooks, Crows, Mallard Duck, Shoveler, Redshank, Curlew, Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Rock Pipit, Chaffinches
Lapwings - ISO 1250, Canon 7D!
Avocets - ISO 1250, Canon 7D!
Carrion Crow
Shoveler
Redshank
Greenshank
Great Tit
Wigeon - ISO 1250, Canon 7D!
Teal - ISO 1250, Canon 7D!
Black-tailed Godwits - ISO 1250, Canon 7D!
Turnstone
Other - Dandelion, Red Campion, Herb Robert, Fallow Deer, Fox, Rabbits
Fallow Stag B&W
Duryard and Belvidere Meadows - Exeter
24.12.11 - 8 degrees, cloudy, light wind, 9 to 11am
Birds - Nuthatches, Greater Spotted Woodpeckers, Goldcrests, Bullfinches, Crows, Magpies, Jackdaws, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Robins, Woodpigeons, Coal Tits, Blackbirds, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Dunnocks, Wrens, Chaffinches, Redwings, Fieldfares, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard.
Nuthatch
Other - Badger Tracks, Fox Stink, Bumblebee, Lots Holly Berries, Herb Robert, Yarrow, Bramble Blossom, Squirrels.
Donkey Sanctuary, Salcombe Regis - East Devon
26.12.11 - 1 degrees, cloudy, light wind, 11am to 2.30pm, low tide during walk
Birds - Ravens, Nuthatches, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Common Scoters 200+, Robins, Blackbirds, Redwings, Wrens, Crows, Woodpigeons, Jackdaws, Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Goldfinches, Buzzards, Pheasants, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Oystercatchers, Cormorants, Rock Pipits, Chaffinches, House Sparrows
Oystercatchers
Wren
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Rock Pipit
Other - Hogweed, Cow Parsley, Red Campion, Herb Robert, Gorse Blossom, Bramble Blossom, Meadow Buttercup, Chamomile, Ground Ivy, Wild Carrot, Dandelion, Wood Avens, Winter Heliotrope, Great Mullein, Green Alkanet, Sow-thistle, Primrose (possible garden hybrid!), Fossils, Orange Iron Stained Quartz.
Primroses
Green Alkanet
Fossil Sea Urchin
Fingle Bridge Area - Dartmoor
27.12.11 - 11 degrees, cloudy, light wind, 11am to 2.30pm
Birds - Nuthatches, Goldcrests, , Song Thrush, Chaffinches, Blackbird, Great Tits, Crows, Robins, Blue Tits, Magpie.
Other - Weasel, Squirrels, 22 different types of fungi including Fly Agarics, Polypores, Blewits, Boletus, Yellow Brain, Milk Caps, Armillaria. 9 types of Lichen and 4 different Mosses.
Sulphur Tuft
Fungi - Still working on the ID :-)
Exminster Marsh
27.12.11 - 8 degrees, cloudy, light wind, 3.00pm to 5pm
Birds - Short-eared Owls - 2, Long-eared Owl (sighting by others), Kestrel, Lapwings, Godwits, Herring Gulls, Greater Black-backed Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Crows, Woodpigeons, Blackbird, Dunnock.
Greater Black-backed Gull
Otterton, Ladram Bay, Budleigh, River Otter - East Devon
28.12.11 - 8 degrees, cloudy, windy, 11am to 2:30pm
Birds - Kingfisher, Dipper, Kestrel, Little Grebes, Lapwing, Great Crested Grebes, Skylarks, Shags, Common Scoters 30+, Robins, Herring Gulls, Magpies, Jackdaws, Wrens, Crows, Dunnocks, Woodpigeons, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Mallard Ducks, Buzzards, Pied Wagtail, Moorhen, Chaffinches, Redwings, Mute Swans, Little Egrets, Long-tailed Tits, Teal, Black-headed Gulls, Shelduck, Redshank, Curlew, Wigeon, Canada Geese, Blackbirds, Brent Geese, Cormorants, Rock Pipits.
Dipper
Lapwings
Other - Pair of Roe Deer (male's antlers growing and in velvet), Lesser Celandines!, White Dead-nettle, Bramble Blossom, Yarrow, Hogweed, Almost Ripe Ivy Berries, Dandelions, Herb Robert, Cow Parsley.
Lesser Celandine
White Dead-nettle
Topsham Bowling Green Marsh - Exe Estuary, Devon
31.12.11 - 13 degrees, grey, high tide 10:40am, 10am to 12:30pm
Birds - Avocets (400+), Peregrine Falcon, Knot, Wigeon, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, Tufted Duck, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Lapwing, Canada Geese, Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Moorhen, Brent Geese, Woodpigeon, Magpies, Robins, Great Tits, Chaffinches, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Wren, Dunnocks, Redwings, Shovelers, Cormorant, Crows, Herring Gulls, Buzzards, Ravens, Pied Wagtails, Greenfinches, Starlings, Goldfinches.
Canada Geese (piling in!)
Avocets
Black-tailed Godwit