Monday 16 September 2019

Garganey Duck Fest


Part of a flock of at least 40 Pintail off Mudbank this evening.
 
Challenging but rewarding birding this evening, just before dark, off Mudbank. A flock of wildfowl was quite mobile and mostly in silhouette, but with a bit of patience I managed to count 360+ Wigeon, 40+ Pintail, 14 Teal, 3 Shoveler, c10/20+ Mallard, a Tufted Duck and best of all a juvenile Garganey - my first in Exmouth this year and by no means guaranteed in any given year. The Brent Goose flock numbered 45 birds and were presumably all Pale-bellied birds. Four Yellow Wagtails few over north and Ringed Plover, Whimbrel and Dunlin were all heard but not seen.


Garganey - I've lightened this photo considerably to show the pale supercilium and pale loral spot but The square-shaped head and relatively long bill were clues to its identity even before these features were seen.


This very fresh-looking Common or Lesser Common Rustic was a surprise in the trap this morning as I thought they'd been off the wing for a while now.

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