Life on Seaton Wetlands

Hard to believe my last post was end of August.  I now have faster broadband so will try and get back into the habit of posting more often.  I do post on twitter most days for those interested.  Today Ian M found 2 sleeping golden plovers on Black Hole Marsh which was different and both remained asleep until being spooked and landing further away where they then promptly went back to sleep!

On a flat calm sea this afternoon was a lone great crested grebe close in until chased out by a dog.  Not much of a picture as only had smaller camera with a wide angle lens attached but shows how calm the sea was

Locally we have regularly been enjoying the large numbers of hawfinches present in Shute churchyard.  Up to 25 have been seen though I personally have only seen a maximum of 6 

Kingfishers continue to show well occasionally though as usual a matter of being in the right place at the right time

Water rails are also showing well in various areas

Buzzards are regular of course

 and also plenty of stonechats particularly on Colyford Common

A few trips to Radipole Lake Weymouth produced many bearded tit sightings this autumn 

Seaton Marshes has had plenty of meadow pipits

And finally taken last March from a Stuart Line winter birdwatching cruise.  Love the lone dunlin.  A great 3 hours on the River Exe if any of you have never been.  I'm certainly looking forward to this winters trip.

A Long Awaited Update

Its been a while since I posted here but have still been out and about and mostly with the Olympus.  Have been posting regularly to twitter but as some of you have asked and don't follow twitter I thought I'd put a few photos taken since the last posting on here.

A wheatear today on Seaton Wetlands

There have been quite a few snipe on Black Hole Marsh lately

and plenty of yellow wagtails too

A redstart at Lamberts Hill Castle

as well as some spotted flycatchers

A few sedge warblers have been passing through recently

and the little grebes appear to have been successful this year on the reserve.  Only the smallest chick appears to still be dependent on its parents.

There have been a few little ring plovers  

and this is one of the cattle egrets that hung around for a while.

There have been plenty of common sandpipers

and green sandpipers.

This white buzzard is regularly present over the marshes

and we are doing quite well for greenshanks at the moment. 

Finally the ruff thats been present of late but always distant.

Something Different With The EM1 Mark 2

I have really been enjoying using the new Olympus EM-1 Mark 2 so the last few days I've been trying something different by taking dragonflies and moths etc. over at Lower Bruckland Ponds and on Seaton Wetlands.  

Red Eyed Damselfly

Scarce Chaser

Banded Damselfly

Female Emperor

Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars

Cinnabar Moth

Burnet Moth

Ringlet Butterfly

Meadow Brown Butterfly

Sand Martins Galore

Several hundred sand martins have been coming into feed on Black Hole Marsh during the day over this last week.  There have been a couple of house martins with them but otherwise the rest have all been sand martins.  It has been quite a sight to see so many.

 Both lots of kestrel chicks appear to be doing well and are growing fast now.  Here is one five days ago.

And here is one taken yesterday.  Quite a transformation.

And here's the hard working Mum

The swallows seem to be doing well and posing for cameras

and there are plenty of reed warblers letting their presence be known amongst the reeds.

This young little grebe was on Black Hole Marsh yesterday.  Unfortunately taken into the sun this was the only chance I got as it dived immediately and I couldn't locate it again.

And finally a few more sand martins.  They really have put on a good show.