January 2nd 2017 - Topsham
OK, it's been a while. Several reasons come to mind but mostly it's just idleness and bloody-mindedness. Early in the autumn I decided the theme for the season was going to be 'patch loyalty'. I'd turn my nose up at all the fancy vagrating exotica turning up elsewhere and spend my time in and around Topsham; yeah, I know I twitched the LG Shrike in September but that was only 40 miles away and it was a shrike, plus my plan hadn't fully developed by then. So I daily scanned The Rec for rare gulls, stood by suitable bushes at BGM and Highfield Farm listening for the calls of lost Siberian passerines, and checked the pools for transatlantic waders. The result - zero. Nothing to trouble the BBRC (or even the DBRC for that matter). I could have become discouraged; maybe it was the patch, maybe it was me. But The Rec has had some great birds in the past and I've even found some of them myself. This is where bloody-mindedness comes in to its own, persistence in the absence of encouragement or, no birds yet - keep plugging away. At this point I should be able to report a major rarity find but as you'll know that hasn't happened just yet. Still, a new year and all that; January and February to come and still the chance of a decent gull, we've turned the corner on winter and spring's now in sight. I decided to refresh my birding batteries, join the crowd for a day and spend a few hours just pottering around Topsham on my bike for some New Year's Day birding - I know it was the 2nd but the 1st was a shocker so I postponed. Maybe it was the weather, sunny though not warm, maybe it was bumping in to old birding mates, but more than anything it was the birds - nothing rare, just variety, a bit of spectacle and some real quality. I had a really great day; I also took a few photos.
First the Yellow-browed Warbler found by The Rec's other regular 'patcher' Martin Elcoate. Always a pleasure to spend time with one of these, I just wish they'd sit still a bit more often.
 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler - Topsham Rec 2/1/2017 |
|
Tracking the bird and focusing through the branches was a little difficult at times.
 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler - Topsham Rec 2/1/2017 |
 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler - Topsham Rec 2/1/2017 |
Showing the faint pale crown stripe.
 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler - Topsham Rec 2/1/2017 |
The tail feathers appear to be worn and pointed indicating, not surprisingly, a 1st winter bird.
 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler - Topsham Rec 2/1/2017 |
Constantly searching for, and finding, food - overwintering caterpillars presumably.
Bowling Green Marsh and the VP were, as expected, heaving with people, Avocets and ducks so after an hour scanning the estuary for a few year ticks I went on to Goosemoor. The long-staying Spotted Redshank gave its usual close views as it swam and probed for worms (ragworm?) as soon as the falling tide allowed.
 |
| Spotted Redshank - Topsham Goosemoor 2/1/2017 |
 |
| Spotted Redshank - Topsham Goosemoor 2/1/2017 |
 |
| Spotted Redshank - Topsham Goosemoor 2/1/2017 |
 |
| Spotted Redshank - Topsham Goosemoor 2/1/2017 | | | | | | |
And possibly even more elegant, a fine Greenshank.
 |
| Greenshank - Topsham Goosemoor 2/1/2017 |
 |
| Greenshank - Topsham Goosemoor 2/1/2017 |
 |
| Greenshank - Topsham Goosemoor 2/1/2017 |
I dropped back in on The Rec later for the low tide gulls and another seesion with the Yellow-browed Warbler. The gulls failed to deliver but the YBW continued to perform and our wintering Goldeneye and Long-tailed Duck looked good enough to photograph, so I did.
 |
| Goldeneye - Topsham Rec 2/1/2017 |
 |
| Long-tailed Duck - Topsham Rec 2/1/2017 |
 |
| Long-tailed Duck - Topsham Rec 2/1/2017 |
 |
| Long-tailed Duck - Topsham Rec 2/1/2017 |
A few final thoughts: is Topsham really the best place in the world? Why does birding these days feel like an episode of 'Last of the Summer Wine', and why is every other birder I know called Dave?
Beautiful shots Tim. I struggle like mad to photograph YBWs. What's the secret? All the best. Matt
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt. I struggle too; no secret of course - just blast away, take hundreds if you can and hope for a few keepers. Though I could do with a lens that autofocuses on the bird and not the branches around it. What surprised me was Dave Boult getting useable stills with his digiscoping kit - he really knows how to use it.
ReplyDeleteLove the blog post Tim or should I say Dave! I nearly spat my tea out when I read your last comments! Is Topsham the best place in the world? No, Budleigh is sorry! As for the Last of the Summer Wine comment, I know where you are coming from - the question is who are Compo, Foggy and Clegg?
ReplyDeleteIn all seriousness, I really enjoy your blog so please keep it going.
Cheers Chris, appreciate it. As for who's who, I'll leave that to others, I couldn't possibly comment...
ReplyDeleteHi Tim, just shows those old Nikons work a treat - great shots. Really looking forward to seeing some of your seabird artwork again if there is anything in the pipeline (being worked on)!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark, the old 300mm ED-AF still going - takes too long to focus but I'm used to that. More tubenose work finished before too long I hope; meanwhile working on a revised edition of 'Shrikes of the World'.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTerrific blog!
ReplyDeleteMy Bro-in-Law used to be headteacher of a private school in Topsham: my wife and I stayed there every year on our way down to the Scillonian pelagics and Sidmouth Astronomy Festival (You'll know it: it's a big white Georgian monolith overlooking the valley!) Over these 25+ years we've loved using Topsham as a base to catch up with the Devon / Dorset bird and insect life and yes: Topsham is IMHO one of the nicest places in the UK! (Particular e4njoy the breakfast at Dart's Farm!)
As to Last of the Summer Wine: that's the name generally given to my Norfolk 'posse' by most of the the other East Anglian geriatrics! And yes, I have the obligatory christian name!
Hi David, thanks for commenting and thanks for your kind words. Think I know the building you mean - just at top of hill near Bridge Inn? Glad you like Topsham, though Norfolk's pretty splendid - haven't been for years sadly - such a long drive from the south west. All the best, Tim.
ReplyDelete