2cy Gull sp

Interesting gull on Exmouth beach briefly this evening. Presumably just a 2cy Lesser Black-back (lots around today) but heavily-streaked head (probably not enough of a 'hood'), pale iris, dark body and 'shin pads' apparently rare in combination on this species? Stocky build got me thinking of 'Azorean' Yellow-legged Gull but not sure whether it's worth considering?

Another SEO

At least one, possibly two Short-eared Owls on Orcombe today.

Counts today included 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Brambling, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Snipe, 7 Stonechat, 3 Redpoll, 1 Swallow, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Mallard, 35+ Skylark, 4 Goldcrest, 4 Coal Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 17 Curlew, 1+ Jay, 6 Starling, 90+ Chaffinch, c30/40+ Pied Wagtail, 5 Blackbird, 7 Song Thrush, 4+ Siskin, 3 Grey Wagtail and numbers of Goldfinch and Meadow Pipit.

Coal Tit - Orcombe Point.

Mediterranean Gulls on the Imperial rugby pitch - Tuesday.

Chiffchaff - Orcombe Point.

Woodlark

This short-tailed 'blob' is a Woodlark heading south-east, over the water treatment works, towards Sandy Bay - my first in Exmouth since March 2nd 2018, when the big freeze dropped five on Exmouth beach.

Today's Orcombe totals, in a light easterly, included 1 male Cirl Bunting, 1 Woodlark, 5 Redwing, 115+ Jackdaw, 45+ Pied Wagtail, 15+ Blackbird, 14 Chiffchaff, 30+ Robin, c160 Linnet, 85+ Goldfinch, 35+ Chaffinch, 3 Song Thrush, 2 Redpoll, 15+ Siskin, 2+ Reed Bunting, 1 Curlew, 2 Little Egret, 4 Brent Goose, 7 Swallow, 1+ Bullfinch, 10+ Stock Dove, c20/30+ Woodpigeon, 25 Starling, 7 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4+ Stonechat, 2 Grey Wagtail, 3 Common Scoter, a few Skylark and several Meadow Pipits.

This male and a female Kestrel are regularly seen hunting Orcombe at the moment.

At least 30 Robins recorded on Orcombe this morning.

Wigeon. I didn't time the tides right today but c300 Pintail and a small number of Teal were with big numbers of Wigeon and Brent Geese this morning.

SEO

A busy week at work but good to get out this evening. A quick race around the usual spots produced Short-eared Owl, c10 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, 50/60+ Goldfinch, 40+ Linnet, c20+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush, 6 Stock Dove, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Blackbird and Robin and a fly-over Grey Heron.

Yesterday evening - 3 Stonechat, 15+ Greenfinch, 1 Blackcap, 1 Snipe and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

14/10 - Yellowhammer, 17 Starling and 1 Coal Tit.

Meadow Pipit

Several Blackbirds were quietly gorging on berries this evening. This one a first-winter male.

The farmer has smashed up the hedges with his flail but this Robin sang defiantly this evening.

Wednesday's Yellowhammer was mobile.

Pre-work

Reed Bunting - Orcombe Point.

A quick whiz round Orcombe, pre-work, produced a juvenile female Merlin, 3 Reed Bunting, 1 Snipe, 3 Song Thrush, 1 Redwing, 9 Chaffinch, 20+ Goldfinch, 2 Redpoll, 5 Goldcrest, 3 Siskin, 9+ Chiffchaff, 45+ Pied Wagtail, 1 Blackcap, 5 Stonechat and 1 Coal Tit. Plenty of Meadow Pipits too but I didn't count them.

Sandwich Tern - Mudbank. Pintail below.

Late Whinchat

Moody in Exmouth this evening. Cruise ships still moored up in the bay.

This Whinchat was with four Stonechat this evening - a new bird in and paler than the last one. Getting late for them now.

Odd to see Hawthorn flowering and fruiting at the same time, just like the Blackthorn I photographed the other day.

The Snow Goose was the closest it's been off Mudbank this evening, but not even the passing train would persuade it to raise its head.

Lap

A Mistle Thrush pauses in cliff-top bushes at dawn, before heading inland. A morning of clear skies, brief showers and a gentle north-westerly.

Quite good on Orcombe today - the highlight being a Lapland Bunting that flew low west at 0854. It gave the repeated 't t tuk tu' and was flying alongside what I assume was another Lap, but I can't be sure as only one bird called. Also today - Merlin, Firecrest, 15 Coal Tit (including a flock of 8 that 'exploded' out of the water treatment works), 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 65+ Pied Wagtail, 2 Reed Bunting, 45+ Goldfinch, 80+ Linnet, 15+ Siskin, 65+ Chaffinch, 10+ Chiffchaff, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4+ Goldcrest, 6 Swallow, 1 Starling, 2 Jay, 4 Stonechat, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Kestrel and 1 Stock Dove, along with several Meadow Pipits and Jackdaws. Numbers of Robin and Dunnock also appear to have increased.

Another Great Spotted Woodpecker - this one making its way westwards along the cliff-top.

This Meadow Pipit flew out of the turnip field and straight into a hedge which, of course, made me think it might be something rarer. Then I remembered I was on Orcombe Point, and correctly guessed its identity before clapping eyes on it.

An increase in Dunnock numbers with several birds feeding in the turnip field. Stonechat numbers are down from 17 to just 4.