Devon Birders meeting at BGM

Yesterday about 17 of us attended the first East Devon Birders meeting of the year. It didn't start too well....

Goosemoor.....couldn't even see the water let alone any birds!

Still, we had a quick try!

Quickly moved on to the hide at BGM. It was a it of a squash & I felt sorry for the people who were in there already. So much for some quiet birding! At first we couldn't see a thing, but gradually the sun burnt off the fog & birds gradually emerged through the murk.

Very cosy

From this...

...to this

At one point there was a sudden emptying of the hide when a Brambling was spotted on the feeders outside the hide. It took a while, but we all eventually saw the female bird, my first for the year. On to the viewpoint where a Goldeneye was spotted in the distance, although it did fly slightly closer for us.

Viewing the Clyst

On to the Goatwalk & through Topsham checking the Exe as we went

Then some of us went on to Dart's Farm where hundreds of Brent Geese were feeding in the fields, along with quite a few Canadas. Surprisingly there were also 2 Bar-headed Geese, one of which had a nasty limp. The feeders were empty at first, although an RSPB man did appear before we left & topped up the sunflower seeds. It didn't take long for the finches to move in & start munching.

2 Bar-headed Geese

The limping Bar-headed Goose

There was only David & Wally & myself left when the Kingfisher appeared.

The full list for the day:

BGM/estuary: Wigeon, Teal, Canada Goose, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Avocet, Crow, Magpie, Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing, Shelduck, Dunlin, Pintail, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Great Tit, Dunnock, Robin, Tufted Duck, Moorehen, Pochard, Shoveler, Heron, Brambling, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Wren, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Snipe, Grey Plover, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Goldeneye, Brent Goose, (Bar-headed Goose), Greenshank, Cormorant, Turnstone, Collared Dove, Starling, Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail

Dart's farm: Chiffchaff, Stock Dove, Goldfinch, Mistle Thrush, Jackdaw, Kingfisher, Mute Swan