Exminster Marsh and a Plymouth Black Guillemot

Thursday 12th May and it was off to the River Exe for the day with my mate Mavis on what was an overcast morning with occasional sunny spells although it did feel quite cool in the breeze. We arrived at the RSPB car park at Exminster Marsh at around 10am and after a cup of tea and a slice of cake from the Hope Coffee Van we began our walk along the back path. 

House Martins, Swallows and first for the year Swifts were noted overhead while Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Cettis Warblers, Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers were all heard singing away. We eventually managed to get some very good views of both Reed and Sedge Warblers which were surprisingly showy for a change.

Sedge Warbler

A male Kestrel was hovering overhead and after a brief flyover view we eventually had good views of a Peregrine devouring its prey while perched up on one of the electricity pylons.

A big surprise was a Pink-footed Goose out on the marsh with the Canada Geese, presumably the wintering bird I saw in January making a reappearance. The long staying Snow Goose was found on Powderham Marsh and 2 Black Swan were out on the River Exe off Turf.

Pink-footed Goose with Canada Geese

Pink-footed Goose

Black Swans

Large Red Damselfly, a Blue-tailed Damselfly, Blue Damselfly, a Scarce Chaser and a Broad-bodied Chaser were seen in sheltered spots and a few Orange-tip and Green-veined White were flitting about despite the cool conditions.

Large Red Damselfly

Scarce Chaser

Broad-bodied Chaser 

Broad-bodied Chaser close-up

Wasp Beetle

Small Yellow-girdled Tenthredo

A very enjoyable day out again, no Hobby sightings and the reported Cattle Egret and male Garganey were a no show for us but some great wildlife sightings were had anyway.

Friday 13th May was another cool and mostly overcast day and I headed off for a River Plym and Saltram walk, my first of this month. Despite the cool weather conditions I saw at least 30 Common Blue flitting about, all males except for 1 lone female, and I also saw 2 Small Heath.

Common Blue

Small Heath

It was good to see breeding activity amongst the birds - a fledgling Grey Wagtail was being fed by its parents along the River Plym at Longbridge, a Moorhen was escorting 2 chicks around the pond where the white Mallard duck still has 3 ducklings, a Nuthatch was seen removing a faecal sac from a nest hole and a mini creche of 14 Canada Goose goslings were being guarded by 4 adults by the railway bridge.

Grey Wagtail fledgling

Female Grey Wagtail

Ducklings

Canada Goose Creche

Mandarin close-up

Overhead 3 Swift and 4 House Martin were seen amongst the Swallows, both new for the year on The Plym. Chiffchaff and Blackcap were heard singing away, Ring-necked Parakeets were noisy and mobile around the estate and I was pleased to find a female Wheatear, only my second one here this year.

Wheatear

Despite enjoying my walk it feels like Spring has now totally sprung and so I headed home earlier than planned and walked up to Plymouth Hoe for a look off Rusty Anchor for a reported Black Guillemot. It was originally found on the 6th May but I was unable to go and have a look for it and after no further reports were forthcoming I totally forgot about it. However it was reported again on the 12th May and then also while I was on my Plym walk and so I headed off with my scope and my fingers crossed. Luckily there were birders on site and they quickly put me onto the bird but it was distant and my scope was definently needed. It did eventually fly a little nearer before continually diving for food and I managed some good views of it between dives, my first sighting of one in Plymouth.