Tuesday 24th May 2023- Seaton and Beer

 

Another week and no 3 Amigos but this week Bryan and Tony plus our wives Yvonne and Mary had an awayday to Seaton and Beer. The day was a mixture of birding and a coastal visit. Setting off at 8.45 our first stop was Cartgate picnic area where we had a coffee break, and after it was off to Seaton while driving obviously we were spotting and the following were seen, Starling, Swift, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Great White Egret, (unusual to see this species from a moving car) Blackbird, Swallow, Buzzard, Rook, Kestrel and Goldfinch. Seaton Wetlands was our next stop and here we started the visit with Blackcap and Great Tit and also a lovely singing Whitethroat.  From the viewing platform which had a Robin on the ground, we overlooked an open body of water where we noted Shelduck, Great Black Back Gull, and Herring Gull. Walking towards the visitors center a Dunnock was on the footpath and a Moorhen was on another small pond. We then stopped for coffee and were able to take the coffee into a hide overlooking mainly reeds here a Grey Heron and Reed Warbler were seen plus flyby Little Egrets, Black Headed Gull and Oystercatchers. Walking around the reserve we added Blue Tit, Chiffchaff and Mallard. From another hide close to the Tram Line we watched Canada Geese and a few Mute Swans. A small bird flew past and landed on a patch of dried mud a Linnet the only one of the day. A Pheasant was in a field and a Green Woodpecker flew across the same field and landed on a fence post but to far away for a picture. From the Island Hide we added Black Tailed Godwits but nothing that we had already seen.

Black Tailed Godwit - Seaton Wetlands (Bath Birdwatcher)

Back at the viewing platform a Chaffinch sang from a tree above our head and Bryan spotted a Sedge Warbler that was singing from the top of the reeds in front of us. We went into Seaton where we had a fish and chip lunch sat in a local park and when we had finished we drove to Beer. We parked in the car park and walked to the beach where we had tea and cake sat on the benches on the pebbles. While we were there we found lots of Shags nesting on the cliffs with a smaller quantity of Cormorants. A few Fulmar were circulating overhead and a Wren flew along the cliffs. I managed to find a single Gannet way in the distance towards Portland, our final sighting on the return trip was a Collared Dove. Great day lovely weather, what more do you want.

Shelduck and Ducklings (Bath Birdwatcher)

Grey Heron - Seaton Wetlands (Bath Birdwatcher)


 

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