Cuckoo

Sedge Warbler - Orcombe Point.

My first Cuckoo was singing in the Bystock reserve this morning. A very welcome sound! Also - a few Willow Warblers and Blackcaps on territory up there, as well as a Firecrest, though I didn't search the areas where I normally see them. A Tree Pipit singing just outside the reserve, on the edge of East Budleigh Common, was unexpected as they're no longer a regular fixture on the pebbled heaths.

Earlier, I'd spent the first couple hours of daylight covering Orcombe Point. Totals included 2 reeling Grasshopper Warblers, at least 1 Sedge Warbler, 6+ Blackcaps, 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Swallows, 5 Whitethroats, 8+ Chiffchaffs and 9+ Willow Warblers. Also noted - 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Fulmar, 1 Common Gull and 2 Red-legged Partridges.

Mudbank counts on the dropping tide, around midday - 72 Whimbrel, 16 Bar-tailed Godwits, 30+ Sandwich Terns, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Swallows and 1 Redshank. A male Whitethroat was back on territory a little further upriver and a Reed Warbler was singing from the West Lodge reedbed. It was in exactly the same spot as one a couple days ago so is presumably the same bird. Fingers crossed it stays to breed.

Whitethroat.

Green Long-horn Adela reaumurella - Bystock.

Chiffchaff - Bystock.