Melody at the Bill...

Thanks again to Dave Helliar (Dave, you're having a great Autumn already!) - this very obliging Melodious Warbler graced the Bill Quarry at Portland for the last couple of days, a little beaut and some great photos!

Melodious Warbler, Portland Bill: Dave Helliar

Melodious Warbler: Dave Helliar

Melodious Warbler: Dave Helliar

Bit of catch up...

Looks like everything kicked off as soon as I left the country!  Happened last year too, no sooner had I jumped on the plane to Canada, the short-billed dowitcher turned up at Lodmoor...at least that stuck around until I got back unlike many of these lovelies - thanks to Dave H. for the photos:

Little stint, Chard Res (I did get this one) 3rd record: D. Helliar

Lesser Yellowlegs, Exeter: D. Helliar

Lesser Yellowlegs: D. Helliar

Lesser Yellowlegs: D. Helliar

Osprey: D. Helliar

Crossbill, Chard Res: D. Helliar

Grey Phalarope, Chard Res: D. Helliar
Found by Kev Harris - 3rd record

Grey Phalarope: D. Helliar

Spotted Crake, Seaton: D. Helliar

I'm sure the local birders are hoping I'll go away more often!

Good day on the Exe

Dave and Andy headed off to Dawlish today to try and catch up with the young red-backed shrike that was reported early this morning. They not only managed to get that but saw an osprey further up the river too:

Red-backed shrike: Dave Helliar

Red-backed shrike: Andy Grinter

Osprey: Dave Helliar

Sparrowhawk: A. Grinter

Dunlin on close approach!: D. Helliar

Wall: D. Helliar

Fuligo septica: Andy Grinter
Striking colour but less than stricking English name
of 'dog vomit slime mold'

Knot the patch tick I was expecting...

A call from Dave Helliar on Friday night alerted local birders of a knot at Chard res, only the second record for the site. Very rare to see inland at any time, it is a particularly good record for Chard res LNR and a good find by Dave. The bird had gone by Saturday morning:

Knot: Dave Helliar

Knot: Dave Helliar

Around Beer Head...

Beer Head has been quite busy with migrants recently and on Monday Dave Helliar noted 30+ yellow wagtails, small flocks of meadow pipits, 2 wheatear, 5 whinchat and a couple of spotted flycatchers. There were a few other things of interest too:

Whinchat: D. Helliar

Whinchat and Wheatear: D. Helliar

Common lizard, Beer Head: D. Helliar

Jersey Tiger: D. Helliar

Hummingbird Hawkmoth: D. Helliar

Volucella zonaria - a true monster at 20mm in length!
D. Helliar

Wryneck...

I had a nice surprise today when Dave phoned to say a possible wryneck had been seen in a private garden at Chaffcombe and the couple concerned wanted someone to come and verify it. Luckily I'm in a position to down tools and dash off if required so I grabbed my gear and jumped in the car without hesitation. On arrival I was greeted by the owner of the garden, Mr David Bracher, who advised that the bird had last been seen about half-an-hour before. Photos were produced on the gentleman's pc and it was indeed a wryneck. I then noticed a short turfed paddock close to the house and went to have a look, just in case. And there it was, sunning itself in the grass. I just had time to race back, grab my video gear and get a few shots of it before it disappeared into the hedge, not to be seen again for another 5 hours. Photos to follow...

Wryneck: D. Helliar

Wryneck: A. Grinter

Wryneck: R. Harris

Wryneck: R. Harris

Wryneck: R. Harris

...and a bit more video: