Sunday 23 October 2016

Black Brant and Firecrest


Black Brant with Dark-bellied Brents. I've 'found' this presumed returning adult Black Brant three autumns on the trot, but it's still not on my self-found list. I'll probably do a post on my fussy personal self-found rules at some point. Ivan Lakin first had it at the Warren four years ago. It's a very smart bird but a complete pain to pick out amongst c900+ Brents. I suspect it has been around a while as last year I first had it on October 4th.

Nick and I did Orcombe from first light. It was a bit too windy but we did dig out 1 Redwing, 5+ Song Thrushes, 1 hirundine sp, 2 Fieldfares, 1 House Martin, 1+ Siskin, 2 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Grey Wagtail, c50+ Starlings, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel and small numbers of Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Woodpigeon and Goldfinch.
A couple minutes of 'pishing' the sallows bordering the Maer Long Stay carpark enticed the autumn's first Firecrest out in to the open.
Mudbank was heaving on the incoming tide. I counted the easy stuff but couldn't even contemplate counting the Wigeon. Fantastic numbers and some great news with regards to all the wildfowl in Exmouth. Apparently we have 2 wardens who will be employed to minimise disturbance in this busy and highly important corner of the Exe. A HUGE well done to Rupert Ormerod and Derek Carter who have played no small part in making this happen.
Species noted included 23+ Redshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Lapwing, 16+ Knot, 165+ Turnstones, 13 Teal, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose and the Black Brant amongst c900+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

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