AXE ESTUARY BIRDS

Newsletter No 70 15th October 2007

Mid-October, lunch in the garden, Red Admirals all over the flowering Hebe, a Bird-of-Paradise (Strelitzia)and a Plumbago in flower in the greenhouse, and warm sunshine. This is what an Indian Summer is all about - is it any wonder that we Brits talk about the weather? Incidentally, my gardening "bible" says that Birds of Paradise flower in April/May!

At the same time, autumn is most decidedly with us, and our summer birds are leaving or have already left, and the winter visitors are arriving thick and fast. The first Redwings and Fieldfares have been seen, a Ring Ouzel at Beer Head and a Redpoll in the area. There was a Marsh Harrier over Colyford Common for half an hour, and Yellow-browed Warblers have been seen, and three Bearded Tits were recorded at Colyford Common, as was a flock of Long-tailed Tits.

Other species seen in the last couple of weeks include Golden Plover, Grey Plover and Lapwing (in the sunshine today demonstrating why they were once called Green Plover - glorious!), Wigeon, Teal and Pintail, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwit, Jack Snipe, Ruff, Little Stints, several Spotted Redshanks. On the Axe recently no less than 16 species of wader were seen in one day and Steve Waite tells us that by his reckoning, there have already been 201 species of bird recorded in our area this year - set to beat last year's 205. Stop Press - a Cattle Egret today at SM.

Spotted Redshank - Karen Woolley

There have been some remarkable sights of large flocks - this picture by Karen Woolley of 902 Linnets (yes - she counted them!) sets the scene, and Jean Kreiseler writes "On Sunday afternoon I was going to Axmouth from Rousdon along Stepps Lane when I came upon a wonderful sight. There were hundreds of swallows and martins lined up on what I measured later as 150 yards of wires between 3 poles, and more were swooping along up and down the lane and over the two stubble fields either side of the lane. Also they were circling over and around very close to an oak tree in the hedge. I could myself see the insects in the air. It seemed to be a very sheltered and warm stretch of the lane. It was a wonderful sight." And then again she says "Travelling back along the 3053 this week I had a similar experience to the swallows and martins last week - thousands (really!) of starlings flying around feeding on the ground and on the wires running across the fields to the left of the 3052 just before White Gate Lane." I wonder if we shall have the spectacle of thousands of Starlings roosting in Coly Marsh reed beds again this year.

The work on new scrapes at Colyford Common is complete. The one opposite the hide will fill up at the next Spring tides, while the one where the Green Patch was is already full and looking wonderful. The Mallards have found that already, and there was a Little Egret there today as well. The Picture by Roger Boswell shows Nigel Burnell hard at work.

While work was going on, and Fraser was engrossed in supervising he looked up and saw a bird! Not remarkable I suppose, but this was a Short-eared Owl flying with little apparent purpose high over Colyford Common at 12 Noon. It got higher and higher, and drifted off north.

At the same time, a number of nest boxes on old telegraph poles were erected. Or rather I should say a number of telegraph poles were erected, and Fraser went up them to install nest boxes. Fraser up the pole? No comment. Regrettably, I did not have my camera with me…

An Otter has been seen on the Axe! Lynda Weir tells me she was in a canoe near the A3052 bridge on October 3rd, and one was clearly seen among the reeds. It is well known that Otters are about, we see the signs frequently, but actual sightings are rare. I was lucky enough to see a Roe Deer with well developed antlers on Colyford Common. A Stoat was seen at Seaton Marshes, on the salt marsh near the hide, and Peter and Anna Mason saw a Buzzard attack a rabbit near the Borrow Pit - and the rabbit fought back, carrying the Buzzard on its back for some distance. They suggest we look out for a three-legged rabbit…they also saw the Kingfishers fighting on the Axe - the ones that Richard Austin photographed, and the image was reproduced not only in the WMN, but in The Times as well. According to the WMN, the Rive Axe is in South Devon! Young Moorhens were seen scoffing blackberries near Seaton Marshes lagoon. There is another report of a Buzzard with a Pigeon in the road. Ray Hollands saw one, and tried to shoo it to safety, but the bird was reluctant to give up its prey, which seemed too heavy to fly with. I suppose the reluctance is not surprising, as a lot of time and energy is invested in a meal.

There have been two ringing sessions and Mike Tyler reports on the October 4th session:-

"Another good session today with a record 51 birds of which only one was a retrap. Of that number 27 were netted on the edge of the quinoa field which is out of sight and bounds to the public. This was a last minute decision to test the site for best positioning for future netting sessions. These should begin at the end of this month as the usual sites begin to become less active.

"Anyway the tally was as follows: Robin 2, Chiffchaff 8, Wren 3(1), Long-tailed Tit 6, Blue Tit 4, Stonechat 3, House Sparrow 1, Goldfinch 12, Dunnock 2, Chaffinch 5, Kingfisher 1, Reed Bunting 1, Great Tit 1 and Goldcrest 1. (51)"

Fraser's favourite was the House Sparrow. As he says, look closely and you will see what delightful little birds they are. And then on October 12th:-

"Success at last. We caught 8 waders last evening not many, perhaps you may say, but definitely quality. 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Dunlin and 1 Little Stint. Apart from the Dunlins the other two were new for the Group at Colyford. The dark certainly helped. One Oystercatcher was already ringed, badly I am afraid, and one letter had worn away, but hopefully the BTO may be able to still inform us where and when it was ringed. Because the ring was badly overlapped and could have caused injury to the bird in the long term we removed it and replaced it properly with a new ring."

Oystercatcher and Admirer. Photo Gavin Haig

Meet the Birds at Colyford Common Local Nature Reserve * * NEW VENUE * * SY249922 Friday 26 October 09.00 - 12.00, and then again on Friday November 2nd at Seaton Marshes Bird Hide, from 9.00 a.m. There is very limited parking at Colyford Common, so best to park in the village, and walk down please.

The next Birdwatching Tram Trips are on October 20th and 27th, both starting at 5.00 p.m.

The next newsletters will take on a different form. Steve Waite will tell us about the birds that have been seen, Fraser will report on goings on on the reserves, and Mike Tyler will be writing about the local ringing sessions. I shall add my two-penny-worth, and continue to edit them and send them out. Should be good!

Moira Anderson has given us a timely warning "I had just read an article in the paper about Harlequin ladybirds having invaded our country and that they can give you a nasty nip and eat our own ladybirds, when what should we see in a friends house in Shooters Hill, South London, but a Harlequin ladybird! Have they reached this area? This one was all black with two big spots" It seems that they are spreading very rapidly, and have already reached the westcountry. We are urged to report sightings, and you can read more about them at www.harlequin-survey.org/

This (usually) twice-monthly email newsletter is freely available to anyone who would like it, as is a periodic one about the activities of the East Devon Local Group of the Devon Wildlife Trust. Just send me an email with Axe Estuary Birds and/or East Devon DWT in the subject line. Also, for those without a computer, I will send a copy by post if you like to send me some stamps. Thanks to those who have kept me informed - please continue to tell me of any unusual, interesting or amusing sightings, and what is about locally, and send any photos you would like to share.

David Walters.

7 Springfield, Colyford EX24 6RE

davidwalters@eclipse.co.uk     tel. 01297 552616.    Mobile 0779 1541 744