15th February 2015

We headed down towards the Exe Estuary today to try and get some good birds, as January was very slow for birding. Tried for a second time at Dart's farm to try and find the penduline tits without any luck.

Headed to Dawlish Warren next, and for the first time this year, it actually started to feel like summer. When I arrived, a large mass of black-headed gulls were circling. I checked through for the bonaparte's gull and momentarily get excited about a gull with a pale underwing, but it was just a mediterranean gull. As I approached the hide, a found a water pipit feeding close by with a couple of rock pipits.

From the hide, a scan produced the expected selection of waders plus a 'continental' cormorant, a few red-breasted mergansers and some grey plovers. I did locate a possible adult Caspian Gull - the bird showed the typical upright stance, full chest, long legs and primaries and a clean white head. The unseasonal heat haze made it difficult to pick out specific features though, I would have been much more confident of caspian if I could see that the bird had a dark eye.

Some other birders later joined me next to the hide, and one found a Dartford Warbler in the scrub that I probably would have missed!

Spot the Dartford!

Eventually, the same birder picked up the BONAPARTE'S GULL flying past and heading out towards Exmouth before Disappearing.

This blown-up shot shows the white underwing and black trailing edge to the primaries which seperate it from black-headed gull.

A caspian gull? (Bird on the Right)

Next stop was Powderham Marsh. After having many linnets and yellowhammers, I picked up a single male Cirl Bunting which showed very openly on the side of some bushes in low light. Of course, it disappeared as soon as another birder showed up, so pointed him in the right direction, wished him luck and headed off.

Also had a barnicle goose on the saltmarsh. Headed back to Dart's Farm to see if the pedulines had shown today, but unfortunatly, they hadn't.