Thursday 11 April 2024

Bits and Bobs

Little Egret - Mudbank.

Mudbank today, on the dropping tide - c70 Sandwich Terns, 7 or 8 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 14 Shelduck, 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Knot, 2 Redshank, 6 Whimbrel, 1 Black-headed Gull, 14+ Common Gulls, 1 Blackcap and 1 Willow Warbler. On Orcombe Point - just 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Swallows, 5 Blackcaps, 9 Chiffchaffs and a pair of Cirl Buntings.
A few Willow Warblers were singing along the cycle track to Topsham and in Topsham - the Black-throated Diver and a Marsh Harrier. Both Willow Warbler and Reed Warbler were in song there. I spent this afternoon with Chris on the Lower Otter Restoration Project. Wonderful to catch up as always but not too much about. Little Ringed Plover, Goosander, Greenshank, Redshank, Willow Warbler and a handful of House Martins the highlights.

Whimbrel - Mudbank. One of six off there today.

LRP - LORP.


Drake Goosander - river Otter.

Orange-tip. Saw Holly Blues today too.


I cycled to Topsham this morning for this Black-throated Diver that is currently languishing off the recreation ground. An odd record anywhere on the river but particularly strange this far upstream.

2 comments:

  1. Hope the diver is not sick? All our divers have gone now from Staines.

    Nice to see the Whimbrel in flight. I was pleased to see several at Pagham Harbour last Sunday

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  2. Hi Neil - it seemed to be diving frequently so would hope it's ok. Peculiar record though. We haven't had decent Whimbrel numbers here yet but remain hopeful the numbers will build. Used to getting 90+ off Mudbank at the end of April but didn't get those numbers last year and I'm a bit worried the numbers are slowly dropping like the majority of other species. All the best. Matt.

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