Sunday 10 April 2022

Actual Migrants!

Linnet with nest material - Orcombe Point.

The wind has switched to the east and, almost immediately, Exmouth gets a few migrants! Pale-bellied Brent Geese featured today with 4 in to the bay shortly after dawn, a flock of 11 off Mudbank a little while later, which then grew to c80+ late morning, with a further 18+ arriving around midday. In total then, c100+ on the Exe today, that I saw. Watching from the garden also produced my first Swallow and House Martin of the year. Only singles though. Also from the garden - c80+ Curlew, 30+ Sandwich Tern, 1 Sparrowhawk and 8+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading east, along with a couple Black-headed Gulls.
Otherwise today - my first Whimbrel and 2 Ringed Plovers of the year off Mudbank, a singing Willow Warbler moving quickly along the hedgerow between Mudbank and West Lodge, 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a first-summer Mediterranean Gull off Mudbank, and single Wheatear and Swallow on Orcombe Point.
On the 8/4 the drake Ring-necked Duck was still on Blackhill Quarry and yesterday, one or two Firecrests were singing up at Bystock, where there was lots of Siskin activity. Otherwise just a female Teal and 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese off Mudbank.

Wood Anemones and Lesser Celandines are carpeting the floor at Veiges Plantation. A few Early Purple Orchids found but none in flower yet...

My first Whimbrel this year - Mudbank.


No comments:

Post a Comment