GWOs

Very little to report on the migrant front. A lone Swallow on Orcombe after work this evening the best of it. Happy to report the first flowering Green-winged Orchids though.

Yesterday - Mudbank - 8 Sandwich Terns, just 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Mallard, 9 Redshank, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 50 Curlew, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Peregrine and a Buzzard east and low across the river. Lu and I had a stroll around the Otter estuary with a Red Kite east over at 1350, 13 Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and 1 Greenshank.

30/3 - Orcombe Point  - 10 Chiffchaffs, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Yellowhammer and 5 Gannets close off Orcombe Point.

29/3 - Orcombe Point - 3 Blackcaps, 10 Chiffchaffs, 5 Common Scoters, 1 Razorbill, 13 Shags, 1 Sandwich Tern and 1 Red-throated Diver. Mudbank - 6 Sandwich Terns, 9 Grey Plovers and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers.

28/3 - Orcombe Point - 5 Blackcaps, 13 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 6+ Meadow Pipits and 1 Redwing. Mudbank - 15 Wigeon and 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese.

Close views of 5 Gannets feeding just off Orcombe Point on 30/3.

Willow Warblers

Best of a quick whiz round Orcombe top fields after work was 2 Willow Warblers feeding quietly in a sunlit stretch of hedgerow. Seven Brent Geese headed high east and my first two Swallows of the year hawked over the far edge of Maer valley. Otherwise about half a dozen Meadow Pipits and 2 Stock Doves were noted.

BTD

Thanks to messages from Kev and Mark I managed to scope a Black-throated Diver off the seafront this evening. It was a little distant but continues a good little run of this species for me in Exmouth, with recent birds on January 28th this year and November 29th last year. Also off there four Eider.

Otherwise quiet today with 50+ Cattle Egrets on wrecks across the river first thing and 20 Wigeon along with 19 Redshank, c90 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Sandwich Tern and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers off Mudbank.

Hoopoe

 Hoopoe - one of very few migrants on Orcombe Point this morning.

An atypically productive spell of birding this mornning in Exmouth. A thirty-five minute sea-watch from the raised beach huts from 0620 produced 7 Sandwich Terns, 4 Red-throated Divers, 10 Common Scoters,  7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and an 'in off' Kestrel. 

Orcombe Point - 1 Hoopoe, 6 Chiffchaffs, 15+ Meadow Pipits, 20 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Chaffinches, 2 Blackcaps and 1 male Cirl Bunting.

Maer Valley - 2 Black Redstarts (male and female), 1 Redwing, 2 Little Egrets and 8 Ring-necked Parakeets.

Mudbank was  inexplicably good too with a flock of 23 Sandwich Terns, 11 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Red Kite and a singing Willow Warbler. Also off there - 121 Curlew, 1 Knot, 2 Grey Plovers, 14+ Redshank, 22 Wigeon,  4 Canada Geese, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Peregrine. A steady procession of Lesser Black-backed Gulls headed upriver. I really wish I'd counted them!

This is only the second one I've seen in Exmouth. The first turned up in John and Marie Wilson's garden in Foxholes back in August 2017. It's also only the second one I've found, the first being way back in April 2001 on the Teign estuary. 

Migrants

Sandwich Tern - one of three off Mudbank today. Six birds were off Orcombe Point first thing.

Orcombe Point early doors - 6 Sandwich Terns, 1 Wheatear, 5 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 13 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 30+ Meadow Pipits and 1 Stock Dove. Nearby in Maer Valley - c130 Jackdaws, 1 Wheatear, 1 Black Redstart and 2 Little Egrets.

At a local site just outside the Exmouth boundary - 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Little Grebes and 1 Black Redstart.

Mudbank - 3 Sandwich Terns, c250 Dark-bellied Brent Geese,  5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 16 Wigeon and 1 Greenshank.

Male Wheatear - Orcombe Point.

Rock Pipit.

Female Wheatear - Maer Valley.

Male Black Redstart - Maer Valley. The second of two individuals discovered today.

Orcombe Gos

A post work, late afternoon whiz round Orcombe revealed just 4 Meadow Pipits and 2 Chiffchaffs on the migrant front but a Goshawk was a real surprise, presumably drawn into the area by numbers of corvids and pigeons. This is my first ever record on Orcombe Point.

Sandwich Tern

A single Sandwich Tern off Maer Rocks first thing this morning, flying into a freezing cold south-easterly before swinging back towards the Warren. Also off there - a handful of Kittiwakes and Gannets plus a lonesome Guillemot. Just 4 Chiffchaffs on Orcombe Point and off Mudbank - 80+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 23 Wigeon, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Greenshank and 28 Redshank. Late yesterday afternoon off there - 14 Red-breasted Mergansers, 11 Wigeon and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose.

Moon Set Sun Rise

I missed the latter stages of this morning's lunar eclipse as it became veiled in light cloud.

Orcombe Point from first light - 10+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Firecrests and 11 Common Scoters past. Cold too.

Mudbank - 2 Pintail, 11 Wigeon, c15+ Sanderling, 18 Grey Plovers, 6 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Knot and 1 Greenshank. Nearby at West Lodge - 1 Firecrest, 2 Chiffchaffs and 3+ Redwing. The female Black Redstart was again in the brook, viewed from Park Road.

Redshank - Duckpond.

The female Black Redstart is still wintering in the brook.

Black Red

This Black Redstart is presumably a migrant as earlier winter searches of this site drew a blank.

Orcombe Point this morning - at least 10 Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest, 14 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Snipe, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 15+ Meadow Pipits and a flock of 100+ Linnets. A Black Redstart was below the firing range in Sandy Bay.

Mudbank - 12 Wigeon, 120+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, c45 Common Gulls, 12 Redshank and 1 Greenshank.

The Little Grebe is still on Bystock Pond.

9/3 - Orcombe Point - 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Redwing, 2 Firecrests, 7+ Stock Doves, 12+ Pied Wagtails and the resident Red-legged Partridge still. Off Mudbank - 7 Red-breasted Mergansers, 13 Wigeon, 48 Shelduck, 2 Greenshank, 130+ Curlew, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Peregrine and a female Goshawk across the other side of the river.

One of the Pale-bellied Brent Geese was with dwindling numbers of Dark-bellied birds on Sunday.

Nuthatch - Bystock.

Manxie

My first Manx Shearwater of the year was lingering off Orcombe Point first light this morning. Feeding in amongst some auks, it soon headed off east. Also seen during a very short watch - 1 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Red-throated Divers, 48 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Fulmar along with numbers of  auks, Kittiwakes and a couple Gannets. Orcombe Point was pretty much bird-less with just 1 Chiffchaff, 6 Snipe and c15 Meadow Pipits logged. A quick look off Mudbank mid-afternoon produced 40 Common Gulls. A male Blackcap was in scrub beside the railway line.

Yesterday - Orcombe Point - 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose with c50 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Also - 2 Canada Geese over and 3 Chiffchaffs. Off the seafront - 4 Eider, 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Great Northern Diver, 8+ Great Crested Grebes and a small group of Common Dolphins.

Mudbank counts - c370 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, c75 Turnstones, 9 Ringed Plovers, 4 Wigeon, 32 Redshank, c105 Curlew, 2 Greenshank, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, c55 Grey Plovers and c25 Knot. Nearby off Shelly Beach - 1 Great Northern Diver and 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Catch-up

Spotted Redshank - LORP

Lu and I had a walk around the Lower Otter this afternoon. The beautiful weather tempting us beyond Exmouth's confines and towards a change of scenery. Highlights were Spotted Redshank, Water Rail and Common Sandpiper. Withycombe Raleigh Common - 2 Dartford Warblers.

3/3 - Bystock - a pair of Moorhens and 1 Peregrine.

1/3 - Mudbank - 10 Red-breasted Mergansers, 22 Pintail and a Goshawk scoped across the other side of the river. Orcombe Point - 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Reed Buntings, c20+ Chaffinches, 1 Snipe and 1 Jay. Shelly Beach - 1 Great Northern Diver.

28/2 - 8 Ring-necked Parakeets beside the Maer carpark just after dawn. Mudbank - 1 fw Mediterranean Gull and 4 Red-breasted Mergansers. Orcombe Point - 6 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cirl Buntings, 4 Rock Pipits, c20/30 Chaffinches, 1+ Reed Bunting and c180 Kittiwakes on Straight Point ledges.

Water Rail

Common Sandpiper

Peregrine - Orcombe Point.

Male Cirl Bunting - Orcombe Point 28/2. Female below.

Roe Deer - Orcombe Point.

Yellowhammers

Yellowhammers are back and singing on their Exmouth territories after a long winter absence.

Pochard pair - Bowling Green. Drake Scaup below.

More RTDs

Another blowy morning so another dawn look at the sea. A seventy minute vigil produced 60 Red-throated Divers (all west), a probable Black-throated Diver, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Shelduck, 2 Fulmars east, at least 14 Common Scoters (14 west, 4 east) 45 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and at least 1 Great Crested Grebe. 

Off Mudbank - a Red-throated Diver was only my second record off there. Additionally - c375 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, a 2w Mediterranean Gull, 2 Knot and 10 Wigeon.     

RTDs

Great Crested Grebe - Mudbank.

A bit windy this morning. A thirty minute look off Maer Rocks produced 31 Red-throated Divers west along with a single Common Scoter. Otherwise a few Kittiwakes Gannets and auks.

19/2 - a single female Cirl Bunting on the Imperial recreation ground and 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls off Mudbank.

18/2 - Mudbank - 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Greenshank and 1 Mediterranean Gull. On Orcombe Point - a brief afternoon look revealed c3/400+ Jackdaws and a Chiffchaff. A party of four Stonechats were presumably early migrants unless they've been keeping their heads down all winter.

17/2 - 14+ Red-throated Divers west past Orcombe Point early on and c200+ Dunlin east. On farmland near the sewage works - 3 Reed Buntings, c20/30+ Chaffinches and c25+ Stock Doves.

A Great Northern Diver and single Pale-bellied Brent Goose were off Shelly Beach and off Mudbank - c40 Wigeon, c70 Redshank, c50 Turnstones, 19 Ringed Plovers, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Mediterranean Gull and the Cetti's Warbler.

Mediterranean Gull (top left) with Black-headed Gulls - Mudbank.

18/2 - The Russian White-fronted Goose just about showed, albeit briefly and very distantly. A walk from Countess Wear produced the usual assortment of stuff including 9+ Cetti's Warblers, c20 Coot, 5+ Tufted Ducks, 1 Rock Pipit (Turf), 1 female Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebes and at least 1 Marsh Harrier. The tide was high so no LBD though no doubt it would have returned on the receding tide.

Velvet Scoters

Reed Bunting - one of at least three in the field next to the sewage treatment works, recently vacated (and rather messed up) by South West Water. With them a flock of c40/50+ Chaffinches and c30/40+ Linnets. 

A very brief look at the sea this morning was rewarded with 2 Velvet Scoters and 5 Common Scoters. The Velvets were picked up on the sea off Orcombe Point shortly after 8am, just before they took off heading east. A mid-afternoon stroll around Orcombe farmland produced c40/50+ Chaffinches, 30/40+ Linnets, 3+ Reed Buntings and 1 Chiffchaff. A raft of c120 Kittiwakes was off Straight Point.

Yesterday - at least 8 Red-throated Divers past Orcombe Point early on and the 4 Eiders off the seafront. One Great Northern Diver off  Shelly Beach. 

Common Gulls, Goldeneyes

A sense of relief to see the male and female Goldeneye off Mudbank late this afternoon. Sadly my first sighting this year. They drifted this side of Cockle Sands but were never close.

Yesterday I counted 350+ Common Gulls before dark, the majority roosting off West Lodge. With them - 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls. Mudbank counts included c400 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 13 Red-breasted Mergansers, 20 Great Crested Grebes, c60 Redshank, 12 Pintail, 16 Bar-tailed Godwits, 49 Grey Plovers, 2 Ringed Plovers, c35 Knot, 16 Wigeon and 3 Greenshank.

Off the seafront - 23+ Great Crested Grebes and 4 Eider.

Turf

Always good to see Avocets. They're so infrequent in Exmouth but I occasionally scope them further upriver and the odd one or two do show up off Mudbank from time to time. It was really quite unpleasantly cold today but Lu and I enjoyed a walk along the canal and ended up at the Double Locks for lunch.

Stonechat pair - a little bit of colour on an otherwise grey day.

Drake Pochard - nice to see but sadly not a species I'm likely to see in Exmouth these days.

This is the first time I've seen the Long-billed Dowitcher since it was in Exmouth, way back in September. Its grey winter plumage tones nicely mirroring the cold, grey February gloom.