Friday 4th September saw myself and Mavis heading out on a trip to Bowling Green Marsh at Topsham for a birdy day out. An early start for the high tide roost saw us arrive at the RSPB hide at just before 9am having been serenaded by a mournful sounding singing Chiffchaff as we walked down the lane to the hide.
The hide was busy but we managed to get a seat and we started scanning through the throng of noisy birds out on the Marsh.
Curlew, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin were seen in good numbers and amongst them we found a few Lapwing, a very smart looking juvenile Ruff and at least 6 even more smart looking juvenile Curlew Sandpipers. Unfortunately Psycho the adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was patrolling around and scattering the small waders at regular intervals (along with a flyover Sparrowhawk and a Spitfire airplane) so counting the Curlew Sandpipers present was difficult, 6 was the most counted at any one time but 16 had been counted the previous day.
Ruff with Redshank
Curlew Sandpipers with Redshank, Dunlin and Shoveler
Curlew Sandpipers, Redshank and Dunlin
Curlew Sandpipers and Redshank
The Curlew Sandpipers were stunning and gave some fantastic views, beautifully patterned with a lovely peachy wash across the chest and another of my favourite birds.
Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin and Redshank
Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
A very noisy and large gaggle of Canada Geese were spread across the Marsh and amongst them was the regular Snow Goose of unknown origin, present now for a couple of years and no longer with its companion in attendance, and also present was a strange looking Canada x Greylag hybrid bird.
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Snow Goose
Plenty of eclipsed plumaged ducks were present with a good number of whistling Wigeon seen and heard along with Shoveler, Gadwall, 4 Pochard, a juvenile Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Pintail and Teal but the highlight were 2 Garganey picked up by another birder swimming across the back of the Marsh before disappearing from view - brief and distant views but my first juveniles and my first at Bowling Green.
We moved on to the Viewing Platform where the small waders were arriving from the Marsh to feed on the rapidly appearing mudflats as the tide dropped. From here we enjoyed more good views of at least 8 Curlew Sandpipers amongst the Dunlin along with 3 Ringed Plover before most of the birds flew off upriver towards The Goat Walk.
Curlew Sandpiper with Dunlin, River Clyst Viewing Platform
We moved on again to The Goat Walk and sat on a bench enjoying the views and having a chin wag but I kept an eye on the lower estuary in the hope of finding an Osprey. We were eventually very lucky as I found one soaring over the water off Mudbank amongst a mellee of agitated gulls, it was distant and the scope views were hazy but it hovered a few times before I lost it amongst the swirling birds. I soon refound it heading towards Powderham Park where it disappeared into the trees with a fish in its talons, unfortunately we had missed it diving into the water but we were very pleased to have seen it albeit so distantly.
A very enjoyable day out and much needed by both of us following a few difficult weeks - some great birds and very nice to catch up with Mavis too.
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