Sunday, 26 March 2023

WW, Iceland Gull


 This Willow Warbler, my first of the year, was singing quietly as it moved through Blackthorn scrub on Orcombe Point this morning. 

Orcombe Point this morning - 4+ Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 6+ Meadow pipits, 1 Stonechat, 6 Shelducks, 3 Sandwich Terns, 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, the 2 immature drake Eiders and 2 Red-legged Partridges.
Thanks to some very timely messages from Mark and Lee (thank you both), I was able to see the Warren's juvenile Iceland Gull as it circled with a large gull flock, disturbed from Finger Point. I watched it from the seafront before it flew off out to sea. It appeared to be of the lovely 'café au lait' variety - my first Exmouth record since December 13th 2021. See here.
Off Mudbank today - 22 Sandwich Terns, just 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 18 Turnstones, 55 Curlew, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 3 Teal, 20+ Common Gulls and at least 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
The only morsels of interest from yesterday included the female Cirl Bunting again at West Lodge, and an adult Kittiwake off Mudbank. I was chuffed to see 2 Moorhens back on Bystock Pool, after a complete absence last year.


Meadow Pipit.

First seen yesterday, this pair of Red-legged Partridges are frequenting the top fields of Orcombe.


Another chunk of cliff has slipped on Orcombe Point.

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