A bit Of Local Movement

There have been a few decent birds since my last posting as well as plenty of the usual predictable ones such as this meadow pipit on Seaton Marshes

and the hundreds of starlings that were passing through last week

This avocet was present on BHM on the 25th October though never came particularly near.  Interesting that it occupied exactly the same area of mud as the last one that was here.

Last thursday Ian M had a spoonbill on BHM.   Having not seen one for a while I thought it worth braving the rain to have a look.  It spent all the time I was there in the far corner so pictures are pretty dire through heavy rain.  Unbelievably it actually stayed awake and was feeding continuously so it was actually worth getting wet through to watch it.  It had gone the next morning which was a shame.

Heavily ringed!

Yesterday Steves tufted duck on the Borrow Pit had become 4

and the pochard was still present though appears to have moved on today

There seem to be teal everywhere

and I nearly rode over this frog which was on the cycle path behind the old tip site.  I can't actually believe I got close enough to photograph it.  People always tell me that they are more scared of me than I am of them but somehow I don't think thats true.   I believe its a marsh frog.  I'm sure someone will correct me if it is not.

Finally off patch a bit in Lyme and thanks to Pam Parsons I was fortunate enough to spend a good 20 minutes watching a couple of dippers.  Wonderful.