Monday 27 August 2018

Ringos, Green Sands and YLG


Ringed Plover and Dunlin - 26 of the former and 13 of the latter were on Exmouth beach early this morning.
 
Very little on Orcombe today but 2 Yellow Wagtails, c40+ Swallow, 2 Wheatear and a Sedge Warbler made it into the notebook. Best however was 2 Green Sandpipers, and it was great to see not one, but two Kestrels hunting fields at the top of Gore Lane. On Exmouth beach were 8 Pied Wagtails, 26 Ringed Plover and 13 Dunlin.
A half-hour spell looking off Mudbank, on the dropping tide this morning, produced 1 Osprey, 2+ Sand Martin (upriver), 1+ Mediterranean Gull, 1 juv Peregrine and a Yellow-legged Gull. Also 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Knot and 2 Whimbrel.
 
 
It would be so easy to go a year without seeing a Green Sandpiper in Exmouth so I was pleased to see these two today.


A flock of c40+ Swallows on Orcombe this morning consisted largely of juveniles. Exquisite birds but poor light meant less than exquisite photos.



Juvenile/first-winter Yellow-legged Gull - Mudbank. From this angle/distance it looks as though it hasn't replaced any juvenile scapulars but see below.....


Distinctive in flight (top bird) especially when seen alongside juvenile Herring Gull.




Plenty of renewed scaps but a very plain and pale set of greater coverts.


A big bird - presumably a male. I will never tire of seeing this species - my 11th photographed this summer means it's been about an average year for me here in Exmouth.

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