More of the Bonaparte's Gull

I had planned to visit Wembury for a walk on Tuesday 10th March but with the Bonaparte's Gull still present and showing well on The Plym I decided to go and have another look.

I caught the bus to Marsh Mills and headed straight down to the hide at Blaxton Meadow where a bunch of birders were watching the Bonaparte's Gull roosting out on the mud amongst the Black-headed Gulls. It was closer than on Saturday and I had some excellent views of it although it frequently flew over to the river before returning to the meadow until the tide had dropped enough and it didn't return.

Bonaparte's Gull

Bonaparte's and Black-headed Gull

Common and Bonaparte's Gull 

Bonaparte's Gull

Other sightings of note were 8 Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Dunlin, 2 singing Chiffchaffs and my first Peacock butterfly of the year. There were also a pair of Mandarin Ducks on the duck pond but the female Red-crested Pochard had done a bunk again along with a male bird that had turned up on Saturday and which presumably is the same male that appeared this time last year.

Greenshank

Peacock

Robin

I caught the bus out to Yelverton on Wednesday 11th March to meet up with my mate Mavis. Before meeting Mavis I checked out the toilet block at Yelverton Roundabout for moths and was pleased to find an Oak Beauty and a Mottled Grey resting on the walls near the outside lights.

Oak Beauty

Mottled Grey

After some lunch and a catch up with Mike we headed out to Burrator Reservoir for a walk. It was sunny but breezy and cool and again it was fairly quiet on the bird front but we enjoyed views of a Grey Wagtail, 2 Coal Tits, a pair of displaying Great Crested Grebes, 8 Cormorants, 2 Muscovy Ducks and 2 White Farmyard Geese.

Muscovy Duck

Violet Oil Beetle

Despite the strong winds and mizzle on Thursday 12th March we headed out to Saltram for a quick walk and look about, we parked at Sainsbury's and walked up to Saltram House where we enjoyed a cup of tea and a scone before heading back to the car. The Bonaparte's Gull was reported as still present that morning but on very quick looks at Blaxton Meadow and the nearby River Plym there was no sign of it in the grotty conditions.

Both the male and female Red-crested Pochards were present on the duck pond this time but there were no Mandarin Ducks to be seen. The male Red-crested Pochard was being very attentive to the female again but she really didn't seem very impressed with him and constantly kept swimming away when he came too close. A Grey Wagtail was also present along the pond side and took regular sorties into the air to catch passing insects.

Red-crested Pochard

Also of note were 4 Roe Deer feeding together in the field near Blaxton Meadow, they were close to the footpath but looked quite wary as people passed nearby and they eventually moved off into cover.

Roe Deer