Sunday, 31 March 2024

Sandwich Terns, Manxies


Sandwich Tern off Mudbank (looking north towards Exeter). One of at least 32 off there today.

Pretty quiet in this neck of the woods still. Orcombe Point first thing - My first 6 Manx Shearwaters of the year (east), 3 Sandwich Terns, 11+ Common Scoters, 1 Blackcap, 5+ Chiffchaffs, 5 Mallard and 2 Shelduck. Off Mudbank - 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 7 Pale-Bellied Brent Geese, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, c30 Black-headed Gulls (east), 3 Great Crested Grebes and 32+ Sandwich Terns. A Willow Warbler was singing at the back of our garden throughout the morning..
30/3 - Orcombe Point - 10+ Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 3 Curlew (high east), 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Little Egret (east), 1 Cirl Bunting (high west), 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Mallards, 2 Shelducks and 2 Peregrines.
29/3 - Orcombe Point - 6 Common Scoters, 1 Sandwich Tern, 11 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, c25 Linnets and 1 Siskin.


Sandwich Tern off the Imperial rec - 28/3.


Willow Warbler - Orcombe Point 29/3.

2 comments:

  1. Nice Willow Warbler shot amongst the Alexanders. Haven't seen/heard one yet, though quite a few reported in recent days around London. Maybe I'll connect today at the London Wetland Centre as a couple reported there yesterday.

    Did manage a Little Gull at Staines yesterday (there had been 5 previous 2 days) & 2 gorgeous breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebes right next to the causeway. Surprisingly no hirundines but quite a few chironomids flying about.

    Guess I'll have to visit the coast to see some Sandwich Terns.

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  2. Hi Neil - just one Swallow for me so far this spring. It has been terribly slow-paced so far. Envious of your Black-necked Grebes - they've become very scarce down this way. Got my first Common Terns this morning and have fingers crossed for a better tern year than last year's disastrous one! Hope you get some more good stuff over the coming weeks. Good to hear from you as always. Matt.

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