Monday 13 February 2023

Redpoll


Redpolls have been really thin on the ground in Exmouth this year. I was hoping to find some numbers in the Castle lane area but ended up with just this one - a typically ochre-washed Lesser Redpoll.

Off Sowden Lane first thing - the female Scaup, 2 Goldeneye, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers and at least 9 Great Crested Grebes. Mudbank counts included 20 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, c380 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 70 Wigeon, 150+ Grey Plovers, 80+ Knot, 55+ Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Mediterranean Gulls (adult and first-winter). The Cetti's Warbler was heard calling at dusk.
Otherwise, a flock of 53+ Pied Wagtails fed amongst cattle on Maer Lane, along with 4 Little Egrets. The only sightings of note on Orcome Point were 2 Chiffchaffs and a flock of 12 Lapwing. A Lesser Redpoll was in woodland along Castle Lane and c170 Carrion Crows were off Shelly Beach late afternoon. Really lovely to catch up with Sarah and Clare this afternoon.
The top end of Bystock was pretty busy with birds - the best being several Siskins, a couple Firecrests and a Peregrine.
Yesterday off Mudank - 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 52 Wigeon, 1 juvenile Spoonbill and c80 Bar-tailed Godwits.

An adult, summer-plumaged Mediterranean Gull was off Mudbank late this afternoon. Earlier, a first-winter bird was present - my first of this age group in 2023.

Hundreds of Dunlin were off Mudbank today. I just couldn't face counting them as the majority were feeding on Cockle Sands amongst Knot, Grey Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwits.

A single Pale-bellied Brent Goose was off Mudbank yesterday.

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