Running Around After Birds

Right then; the second and third of the month and year.

[ This is that distant time Before back to work and indeed back to Lockdown III The Revenge's Revenge ]

Both days had a similar structure; starting near then heading off further afield, chasing things I'd seen before, mostly very recently, but hey, that's what the first few days of January are all about, right? :D

Having to ration photos [at least until I get to erasing photos from old blog posts; there's a lot of awful blobs totally un-needed on here, to be fair...], means I shall try to keep this brief.

Day 1;

Started at Goodrington and Clennon - walking from former to latter, thank you - where I met both that Scaup and The Artist. It was a bit icy first thing and interesting underfoot, but even better on water as I found a colour-ringed Block'ead..! Notably present included a lovely Muscovy Duck at Clennon ;) and absent were both Kingfisher and Snipe!

 

Having lugged the Big Scope around, I couldn't not have a look at the sea, and was jammy enough to get eye on the lurking BT Diver - if you look at MB's twitter from I think the same or next day, you'll see a pic [top right] which was pretty much my view! - but not the wintering Pom Skua.

Scaup, 2cy

Black-headed Gull with bling

Also while we're on the c/r bandwagon..

C/R Blackwit 1

C/R Blackwit 2

[note slipped white ring on right leg]

These two being present while I was cooing over this feller;

Green-winged Teal

Showing very well at Matford Pools while I munched christmas cake [whatta lunch :) ] and ignored the slight case of rain.

There then ensued more rain and another go at the Wild Goose Chase. This went better than last time;

Nine [that's NINE] Barnacle Geese

Not eleven. Nine. Definitely just nine.

Ahem.

Having found the Barnies at Exminster, I worked onwards down the Exe and environs, seeing This and That, as you do. Wound up at Cockwood Crossing, watching Herbert the Slav. :)

 

Slavonian Grebe

 

Day 2;

Started at Brixham harbour, where the Iceland Gull was asleep exactly where it had been on the 25th - so see that post for a picture - and the Tystie was being naughty amongst the yachts again. However, this time I got a better photo. Slightly.

Black Guillemot, 2cy

After running into The Teacher [yup, new nickname] and having a socially-distanced natter while waiting fruitlessly for the Iceland to do something interesting, I then shamelessly relocated south, hitting Slapton Ley at both ends - with Beesands in the middle! - in search of more duckies.

The birds were hiding on the seaward side of the Ley, in and out of the reed fringe, and so views, let alone photos, were a challenge. Patience and the Big Scope eventually let me find the male Ring-necked Duck - though I couldn't pick the reported female - and at least 9 Goldeneye. 

Beesands was very quiet [I checked in case the other RND was there, {or even a Bittern??} ], and became totally birdless when a frelling kitesurfer decided to use it! He met the side near the hide at speed, which shows karma can be very swift sometimes, and had to pull his kite out of the willows, then swim it back. [[If anyone in authority is interested in prosecuting him, I have photos]]

 

 

Back north, Ireland Bay had more ducks at slightly better range, as well as the usual Firecrest in the usual place :D No Black-necked Grebes at all, though.

 

Token picture;

  

Spot the Goldeneye!

[female, btw]

 

Nice close views, right?

 

In lieu of photos from there, here's the star of Clennon ;)

 

"Is that The Artist?

Here's my good side!"

Muscovy Duck

 

All fun and games. :)

Be Seeing You...