Wigeon

Sandwich Tern - Mudbank.

I was surprised to see 2 Wigeon on Cockle Sands this morning. Early returning birds or birds that have spent the summer somewhere a lot closer than Russia? Also off Mudbank - c145 Curlew, 21+ Whimbrel, 8 Sanderling, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, a handful of Sandwich Terns and 4 Mallard. Nearby, off Shelly Beach - 7 Mediterranean Gulls, c85 Sandwich Terns, 11 Mute Swans and 6 Eiders.

A short sea-watch earlier on produced 22 Common Scoters, 3+ Mediterranean Gulls and 8+ Sandwich Terns. Three distant skuas went south at around 0845 but they were way too distant and out in the murk. They looked chunky so were presumably Bonxies or Poms.

Yesterday - Maer Rocks - 2 juvenile Ringed Plovers, 15+ Sandwich Terns, 1 summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver and 4 Mediterranean Gulls.

Shelly Beach - a flock of 5 Common Sandpipers, 1 Turnstone, c70 Sandwich Terns and 3 Mediterranean Gulls. The six Eiders were off the seafront.

13/7 - Mudbank - 10 Mallard, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 10+ Sandwich Terns and 27 Little Egrets (flew out of roost on opposite side of the river).

Marbled White on Sea Holly - The Maer.

The six Eiders off the seafront yesterday. This morning they were roosting on Warren Point.

A feature of any look off the seafront at the moment is the arriving Mediterranean Gulls - each one heading purposefully towards the river mouth. The odd one lands on the beach or loafs for a while offshore.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull - Mudbank.

Second-summer Mediterranean Gull - Exmouth beach (yesterday).