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Saturday 25 February 2012

'A Guide In The Hide'

I put my name forward to be a 'guide in a hide' this afternoon for the EDDC. They arranged that each hide had an 'on hand expert' throughout today, it was some kind of 'meet the birds' day.

I was in the Colyford Common hide 2-4pm, and within that time had just one punter!

At first it looked like it was going to be a quiet one bird wise too, but by the end of it I had notched 47 species - all from within the confines of the hide. Not bad really!

The highlights were two Ruff on the scrape with Lapwing, a Green Sandpiper on the small scrape in front of the hide, a Cetti's Warbler calling from scrub in front of the hide and three Rock Pipits on the Common (including one very pale breasted, grey headed littoralis-type). Also a single flock of 18 Buzzard circling high above the valley was rather impressive.

Green Sandpiper - the first one I've seen this year

Birds I could/should have seen, but didn't, included Little Grebe, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Med Gull, Kestrel, Song Thrush, Stock Dove, Great Tit, oh and Caspian Gull!!!

Within the last two nights I've seen three Barn Owls on patch, which is pretty good going! One last night on the old Sidmouth road just west of Colyton, and two tonight, one between Colyton and Southleigh, and another over the pig fields by the A3052 just west of the Esso garage.

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