Common Tern Exodus

Ninety-five birds in the above flock. I was at Shelly beach shortly after dawn to watch the Common Terns fly out to see. The light was awful but I managed to photograph flocks totaling at least 280 birds. This afternoon at least 150 were  in the estuary by the time I left (at around 1725) along with 95+ Sandwich Terns. Initially this morning I could see hundreds of birds swirling around way upriver and then, flock by flock, they split into small noisy groups and passed high out of the estuary, towards the sea. Also - 8 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Mediterranean Gulls noted.

On Orcombe Point this morning - 3 Red-legged Partridges, 8 Chiffchaffs, 30+ Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whinchat, 3 'alba' wagtails, 2 Tree Pipits, c100+ House Martins,  and 3 Swifts.

Mudbank - 3 Whimbrel, 5 Redshank, 150 Common Tern, c2/300+ Wigeon at least 20 Pintail and, most notably, 400+ Teal. Also c100+ Mallard, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, c25 Knot and the Osprey hunting upriver around 1715.

Fifty in this flock plus 8 Black-tailed Godwits.

32 in this flock.

Flock of 50.

55 in this flock.

Believe it or not this is my first Whinchat on Orcombe this autumn.

One of three Swifts on Orcombe this morning.

A flock of 29 'alba' wagtails on the cricket pitch contained at least three smart juvenile White Wagtails.