YLGs

Two First-summer (2cy) Yellow-legged Gulls off Mudbank on this afternoon's high tide. Also 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 25+ Whimbrel.

An early morning circular walk of Exminster Marshes produced 1 Lesser Whitethroat (Turf), 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Gadwall, 4 Spoonbills, at least 5 Red Kites, 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 5+ Tufted Ducks, 19+ Coots, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Whimbrel, 5 Lapwings, 15+ Swifts, 22+ Reed Warblers, 8 Sedge Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 4+ Blackcaps, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and at least 6 Cetti's Warblers.

Yesterday off Mudbank - 13+ Whimbrel, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Sanderling, 8 Curlew and 1 Red Kite. Later, off the seafront - 3 Sandwich Terns.

First-summer Yellow-legged Gull. One of two present. The second one pictured below.

This is the second bird - a heftier, larger-billed bird.

At least 5 Red Kites were lazily wheeling around over Exminster village and the marshes early on.

Sedge Warbler - Exminster Marshes. I've yet to record this species in Exmouth this year.

Mochas, Spot Fly

Blair's Mocha. Other species trapped last night included Mocha, Portland Ribbon Wave, Streamer, Ruddy Carpet, Garden Carpet, Least Black Arches, Buff-tip, Oak-tree Pug, Mottled Pug, Foxglove Pug, Rusty Dot Pearl, Treble Lines, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Pale-shouldered Brocade and Silver Y (x5).

Very poor on the bird front. Off the seafront first thing - c25 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Sandwich Terns, the female Eider, 1+ Whimbrel, 2 Shelduck, 1 Great Northern Diver, c30+ auk sp and small numbers of Gannets and Kittiwakes. The Reed Warbler is still singing from the West Lodge reedbed and the male Stonechat is still there, along with the singing Whitethroat.

Mocha.

Red Kite - one of three seen this morning during a walk round the Pebbled Heaths. A Cuckoo was again heard on Woodbury Common.

I've been struggling, or rather failing, to find Spotted Flycatchers on traditional breeding sites. This was my first this spring.

Hobbies

A quick look at Woodbury Common this morning produced 2 Hobby, 2 Red Kites and a singing Cuckoo. Nearby on Bicton Common - 1 singing Cuckoo and 2+ Crossbills. Off the seafront first thing - 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Whimbrel, c10 Black-headed Gulls and a fs Mediterranean Gull. Off Mudbank - 20 Whimbrel, 45+ Black-headed Gulls and 4 Common Gulls. Four Stock Doves were on Warren View playing fields.

Yesterday afternoon on Bicton Common - 8 Crossbills, 1 Cuckoo and 1 Yellowhammer.

4/5 - an early look off the seafront produced c55+ Guillemots, 2+ Great Northern Divers, 1 Sandwich Tern, 1 Fulmar, the female Eider and 3 scoter sp. Off Mudbank - c125 Carrion Crows, 2 Mallard and 40+ Whimbrel. A Reed Warbler was still singing in the West Lodge reedbed.

Hobby - one of two together high over Woodbury Fort. 

Heath Spotted Orchids.

Yarner

A local (outside Exmouth boundary) Barn Owl peers out of its nest box early morning. At least one good-sized chick occasionally popped its head up too.

Exmouth seafront early on - 1 summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver and the female Eider.

Stock Dove.

Lu and I had a good yomp round Yarner Woods today. Pied Fly is a species I rarely see in Exmouth so it was lovely to spend some time watching and listening to them this morning.

Cuckoo

Cuckoo - Blackhill Quarry.

Highlight today was a Cuckoo up at Blackhill Quarry - my first this year. Also 4 Tufted Ducks (there were 14 up there yesterday) and 1 Coot. Otherwise today - a Reed Warbler singing in the West Lodge reedbed with a female Reed Bunting, male Stonechat and singing male Whitethroat also noted.

Mudbank counts included 25+ Whimbrel (with 40+ in the Duckpond), 20 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Common Gull, c20+ Dunlin, c10+ Sanderling, 8 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Sandwich Terns, 5 Swifts and 4+ Great Crested Grebes. An earlier look on Orcombe Point produced just 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Cirl Buntings (pair) and 10+ Swallows.

Skylark - dung heap.

Blackcap vs Greenfinch.

Just 6 species in the trap last night - this Brindled Beauty, Puss Moth, Blair's Mocha, Muslin Moth, Garden Carpet and Eudonia angustea (Narrow-winged Grey).

Puss Moth.

Blair's Mocha.

Painted Ladies, Waders

Masses of these around today, seemingly everywhere!

Mudbank - 7 Grey Plovers, 1 Knot, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 5+ Dunlin, 18 Sanderling, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Black-headed Gulls, 9 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Black Swan.

Mudbank late afternoon yesterday - 80 Whimbrel, 1 Redshank, 1 Black-headed Gull, 4 Mallard  and 9 Great Crested Grebes.

Mudbank 28/4 - 83 Whimbrel, 5+ Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin and 1 Grey Plover. Orcombe Point - 10 Whitethroats, 3 Sandwich Terns, 5 Whimbrel, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Chiffchaffs, 4 House Martins, 1 Shelduck, 10+ Swallows and 2 Blackcaps. A male Reed Bunting was in song at West Lodge and 3 Swifts went over.

Lesser Whitethroat

This morning's Lesser Whitethroat, a singing male, was uncharacteristically showy!

Orcombe first thing - up to 7 Swallows, 1 Whimbrel, 11+ Whitethroats, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 female Cirl Bunting, 5 Mallard, 1 Stock Dove and 1 Grey Wagtail. The female Eider was off the seafront and a spell of birding from the back garden produced 1 Red Kite, 2 Spoonbills (well upriver) and my first 2 Swifts of the year. Off Mudbank - 71 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Sandwich Terns and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Common Whitethroat.

My first 2 Swifts of the year were over our house this morning.

Singing Lesser Whitethroat.