Topsham and Bowling Green Marsh 6th March 2017
With heavy rain forecast throughout the day 6 intrepid birders met started at Holman Way car park SX968881 for what they hoped would be a day’s birding without getting too wet. In the event the weather was kind and a good birding was achieved.
We started at the Key at Topsham Quay car park before walking along the road towards the Marsh. First stop was the viewing platform overlooking the river at SX 97284 87296 where we had very good views of a Common Seal eating a large Mullet. Moving on to the Bowling Green Marsh hide for an hour either side of high water before walking to the NCN Goosemoor & River Clyst Bridge path for views across the moor.
Bird list
- Wood pigeon
- Collared dove
- Carrion crow
- Canada goose
- Robin
- House sparrow
- Dunnock
- Starling
- Blue tit
- Great tit
- Goldfinch
- Blackbird
- Blackheaded Gull
- Herring Gull
- Red-breasted Merganser – 6
- Teal
- Feral pigeon
- Redshank
- Avocet
- Blacktailed Godwit
- Cormorant
- Pied Wagtail
- Dunlin
- Golden Plover – 500 to 1000
- Curlew
- Mute swan
- Shelduck
- Mallard
- Grey plover – 10+
- Song Thrush – 1
- Common Gull – 2
- Magpie
- Jay
- Wigeon
- Moorhen
- Bartailed Godwit
- Shoveler
- Goldcrest
- Snipe
- Pintail
- Lapwing
- Coot
- Tufted duck – c. 5
- Little Grebe – 3
- Little Egret – 1 or 2
- Buzzard – 3
- Sand Martin – 2
- Greenfinch
- Chaffinch
- Grey heron
- Greenshank – c.7
- Spotted Redshank – 1
- Water Rail – 1 heard
Mammals
Red fox – 1
Common Seal – 1 Medium sized; eating a Thick-lipped grey Mullet.
John O’Connell-Davidson
