Catch-up

Mediterranean Gull - Mudbank.

Extremely quiet of late, as to be expected in the run up to Christmas. A Snipe, 2 Stonechats and a Chiffchaff were in the top fields this afternoon. The Whimbrel is still showing brilliantly in Duckpond and off Mudbank - a Mediterranean Gull with at least 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests and a Firecrest in scrub there.

20/12 - 31 Great Crested Grebes off Mudbank and 1+ Firecrest along Madeira Walk.

16/12 - 1 Siberian Chiffchaff still along Madeira Walk, behind the Pavillions.

The 'Duckpond' Whimbrel continues its winter residence.

Casp Gull

A distant first-winter Caspian Gull present on Cockle Sands for well over an hour this morning before flying towards the town at 1040. Quite possibly the bird seen at the Warren yesterday.  Also 7 Greenshank, 3 Teal and 2 Kingfishers.

LCT

Field sketches of the Lesser Crested Tern sat on Cockle Sands this morning. Now firmly in Exmouth waters. I picked it up flying over the sands at around 1035 and then roosting alongside a Common Gull a few minutes later. Also on Cockle Sands - 25 Sanderling and 17 Bar-tailed Godwits. An earlier look at the top fields on Orcombe produced c20 Skylarks, 10+ Meadow Pipits and 1 Snipe.

Yesterday off Shelly Beach - the Lesser Crested Tern (over towards Cockwood corner when not at the Warren) and 4 Red-breasted Mergansers along with two Kingfishers. The Whimbrel was again in the Duckpond.

Lesser Crested Tern!

The bird seemed to like this distant buoy. In all the time I was scoping it, it left once and did two laps of the 'bite', catching a fish on it's second round  but too distant and often out of sight to be sure of the rump colour.

Returned home from work, late afternoon, to messages about a Royal/West African Crested Tern off Cockwood. Initially seen from the Stuart Line boat and almost certainly the bird that was on the Axe a couple days ago. I shot down to Shelly Beach and soon picked it up, sat on a buoy, way off somewhere between Cockwood and the Warren. The light wasn't great but it didn't look too much like the chunky Royals I was watching in the summer. It wasn't too big a surprise then (though I'm certainly not suggesting I could have positively id'd it from that distance) to see that it's been reidentified as Lesser Crested Tern - a brand new bird for me! Hope it sticks around...

Sketch of the bird sat on it's chosen buoy. Remarkably this is the second record for the lower Exe. The first was before I did my very first twitch (the 1986 Berry Head Gyr) in 1985 I believe.

Purple Sands

Male Cirl Bunting - Imperial recreation ground.

Two Purple Sandpipers with four Turnstones on Maer Rocks first thing this morning. A Red-throated Diver and 3 Shelduck headed into the bay.

Mudbank - 5 Greenshank, 12 Great Crested Grebes, 3+ Chiffchaffs and 2 or 3 Firecrests. Nearby the Whimbrel still in the Duckpond and the pair of Cirl Buntings on the Imperial recreation ground with at least 2 Meadow Pipits.

West Lodge - c5+ Redwings, c30+ Siskins, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Stonechat and 1 Sparrowhawk.

30/11 - Madeira Walk - 2 Firecrests and 2 Chiffchaffs. Mudbank - 1 Cetti's Warbler, 4+ Chiffchaffs and 2 Firecrests.

Stonechat - West Lodge.

 The Whimbrel continues to show well in the Duckpond.

Reed Bunt, Sibe Chiff

This fine male Reed Bunting was with a pair of Cirl Buntings on the Imperial rec this morning. Also there - 1 Meadow Pipit and 1 Chiffchaff. A Firecrest was again in willows at West Lodge.

The presumed Wigeon x Gadwall hybrid was in Duckpond this morning.

Siberian Chiffchaff - Mudbank. With 4 Chiffchaffs in the big willow this morning. The classic weak 'fee' call heard just once.

 Adult and juvenile Dark-bellied Brent Geese - the 'Gut'.

Sibe Chiff

A Siberian Chiffchaff was along Madeira walk today. Also along there - several Goldcrests, at least 2 Firecrests and 4+ Chiffchaffs. The wintering Whimbrel is still showing very well in Duckpond and a Cetti's Warbler was along the cycle path between Mudbank and West Lodge. A male Stonechat was the only bird of note in the West Lodge reedbed.

Firecrest - Madeira Walk.

The wintering Whimbrel.

Short Catch-up

Firecrest - West Lodge.

Very little to report. A short sea-watch from the raised beach huts, first thing, produced 3 Red-throated Divers, 5 Great Northern Divers, 4 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Common Scoters, 1 Great Crested Grebe and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Otherwise at least 1 Firecrest and 2 Chiffchaffs at West Lodge.

Yesterday - the Whimbrel still in Duckpond and a Stonechat still on the Imperial recreation ground. Three Chiffchaffs were in scrub along Mudbank and a Firecrest was at West Lodge.

18/11 - Orcombe - 1 Golden Plover, c350 Woodpigeons, 14+ Skylarks, 1 Turnstone, 8 Goldcrests, 5 Chiffchaffs, 16+ Chaffinches and a pair of Cirl Buntings.

Little Egret - Maer Rocks 18/11/25.

Goosanders

Goosanders - Mudbank. Barely annual in Exmouth but this trio follows a single bird west past Orcombe on October 5th.

A little bit of movement on Orcombe this morning with c700+ Woodpigeons east, 10 Chaffinches, 1 Little Egret and 1 Lapwing logged. Also - c35 Pied Wagtails, 215+ Starlings, 5 Chiffchaffs, 10 Goldcrests, 2 Stock Doves, 1+ Stonechat, 1 Snipe, 4 Song Thrushes and c10+ Meadow Pipits.

The Yellow-browed Warbler called just once but clearly in scrub at Mudbank and also seen - c6+ Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest, several Goldcrests and 1 Blackcap. Off there - 3 Goosanders (two females and an immature male), 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, c20 Ringed Plovers, 20 Grey Plovers, 22 Bar-tailed Godwits, 22 Great Crested Grebes and c150 Redshank.

A lone Lapwing heading over Orcombe this morning.

A flock of Starlings heading towards a cattle herd below Bond's Farm. I counted 215 in five flocks in total but estimate c300+ were present in the final gathering.

Spot Red

Orcombe from dawn - 1 Snipe, 2 Cirl Buntings, 1 Firecrest, 16 Blackbirds, 5 Song Thrushes, c55 Chaffinches, 7 Goldcrests, 11+ Greenfinches, 1 Rock Pipit, c10/20+ Meadow Pipits, c55 Starlings, 1+ Siskin, 6 Chiffchaffs and 2 Curlew.

Mudbank - 1 Yellow-browed Warbler still, 6+ Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 25 Knot, 1 Shoveler,  33+ Great Crested Grebes, 1 Spotted Redshank, c120 Redshank, 8 Greenshank, 9+ Grey Plover and 11 Teal. Nearby - 1 Cirl Bunting and 1 Stonechat on the Imperial rec, the Whimbrel in Duckpond and a Black Redstart in the 'Gut'. A Firecrest was along Madeira Walk.

Spotted Redshank - Mudbank.

Whimbrel - Duckpond.

Blackbird - Imperal rec.

YBW

This morning's Yellow-browed Warbler.

Orcombe in wet weather was a bit better than expected - 1 Golden Plover, 1+ Brambling, 1+ Redpoll, 25 Stock Doves, 3 Rock Pipits, 1 Moorhen, 1 Cirl Bunting, 13 Skylarks, 3+ Chiffchaffs and c40 Starlings. Nearby - 1 Firecrest in Maer Lane and a big flock of c300+ Starling out across the bay. A further 2 Firecrests were in the Maer long-stay carpark.

Mudbank - 3 Shoveler, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers and 10 Greenshank. In scrub between the top and bottom benches - 1 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Firecrest and 3+ Chiffchaffs.

Shelly Beach - 1 Cattle Egret (Cockle Sands) and 1 Mediterranean Gull on Bull Hill.

Drake Shovelers - Mudbank.

Barnacle, Black Reds

Whimbrel - Duckpond. This long-staying bird looks set to winter...

The Barnacle Goose was scoped from Shelly Beach this afternoon - well off towards Cockwood Corner but standing out like a sore thumb amongst the Brents. I'm pretty sure it was the 'goose sp'  I saw from the car a couple days ago as it flew towards the Warren. Nearby - 3 Black Redstarts in the 'Gut' and a Whimbrel in Duckpond.

Off Mudbank - 47+ Great Crested Grebes, 140+ Shelduck, c30 Sanderling, 12+ Bar-tailed Godwits and 6+ Grey Plovers. Five Avocets flew downriver at 1520 and continued towards Cockwood.

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - Duckpond.

Some of the 47+ Great Crested Grebes off Mudbank. The highest count for a while.

At least three Black Redstarts (2 female types and a male) were in the 'Gut' around the Camperdown long-stay carpark and the new scout building this afternoon.

Poss grey goose sp?

Dawn yesterday.

Orcombe /Maer Lane - not much moving in breezy conditions but managed to dig out 3 Firecrests, 1 Black Redstart, 7+ Goldcrests, 1 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 10 Stock Doves, 13+ Meadow Pipits, 15+ Skylarks, 18 Starlings and 1+ Chiffchaff.

A Redwing was in the Maer long-stay carpark and 8 juvenile Dark-bellied Brent Geese were in Duckpond. What looked to be a 'grey' goose sp flew parallel to the seafront and dropped down from height over the Warren, but I was driving so couldn't really get anything on it.

Mudbank - 22+ Sanderling, 10 Ringed Plovers, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Knot, 19+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Grey Plovers, 1 Firecrest and 1 Chiffchaff. 

Yesterday on Orcombe - 17000+ Woodpigeons, 1 Moorhen (slurry pit), 5+ Cirl Buntings, 1 Redwing, 3 Reed Buntings, 1 Blackcap, c160+ Chaffinches, 11+ Blackbirds, 7+ Song Thrushes, 5+ Goldcrests, 7+ Chiffchaffs, c20 Meadow Pipits, c50 Goldfinches, 16+ Stock Doves, 8+ Linnets, c80 Starlings and just 1 Siskin. 

A Firecrest was at Prattshayes Farm and off Mudbank - 32 Sanderling, 28 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers.

Black Redstart - Maer farm. Possibly the same as the bird seen on the 7th, a few hundred yards away.

Meadow Pipit.

A slightly closer look at the presumed Gadwall x Wigeon hybrid off Mudbank.

Black Red, Mergs

Black Redstart - Maer Lane.

Orcombe/Maer Valley combined - 15+ Goldcrests, 1 Black Redstart, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Curlew, 6 Chiffchaffs, c180 Stock Doves, 2+ Cirl Buntings, 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet (Bristol Schools), 33+ Chaffinches, 1 Brambling, c300 Woodpigeons, 2 Firecrests, 1+ Redwing and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Mudbank - 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 6 Knot, 8 Grey Plovers, 27 Great Crested Grebes, 1 drake Shoveler and c200 Pintail.

Mixed flock of Stock Doves and Woodpigeons.

Green Sand

My first Green Sandpiper of the year was briefly on the slurry pit this morning. Always a tricky species in Exmouth and usually a late summer/early autumn migrant.

Busier than expected on Orcombe this morning. Overcast with a bit of drizzle and virtually no wind. Counts included 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Yellowhammer, 8+ Brambling, 7 Fieldfares, c40 Redwing, c330 Starlings (all west), 4 Reed Buntings, 2 Cirl Buntings, 1 Rock Pipit, 14+ Blackbirds, 62+ Stock Doves, c300 Woodpigeons, c115 Chaffinches, 1 Firecrest, 1 Coal Tit, 6+ Goldcrests, 4 Song Thrushes, c30 Goldfinches, 11+ Greenfinches, 3+ Siskins, 5 Chiffchaffs, c20 Meadow Pipits and c30 Skylarks.

Nearby in Maer Valley - 6 Chiffchaffs, 4 Goldcrests, 1 Blackcap, 5 Ring-necked Parakeets (Green Farm), 2 Coal Tits and 2 Skylarks. 

Sooty Shearwater, Gannets

An overwhelming and truly spectacular volume of seabirds south past Orcombe Point, between 0705 and 0815, included thousands of auks and Kittiwakes along with 2350+ Gannets, a nice 'close' Sooty Shearwater, 7 Common Scoters, 2 Red-throated Divers, 4 Great Northern Divers, 2 diver sp, 1 Shearwater sp (probably another Sooty) and 3 skua sp (probably Arctics). Dread to think what I might have missed in all the chaos!

A sea-watch yesterday, from the raised beach huts, from 0705 'til 0815 produced 1550+ Gannets south along with 4 Great Northern Divers, 5+ Common Scoters and 2 Shelduck. A Firecrest was at Maer Farm and Mudbank counts included 126 Redshank, 90+ Turnstones, 11 Knot, 22 Great Crested Grebes, 160 Shelduck and 6 Greenshank.

2/11 - Orcombe from 0650 - c8000+ Woodpigeons, 6+ Blackbirds, 2+ Bramblings, 3+ Cirl Buntings, 3 Song Thrushes, 7+ Goldcrests, 30+ Siskins, c50+ Starlings, 3+ Redpolls, c160+ Chaffinches, 1 Reed Bunting, 3 Stonechats, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1+ Snipe, 3 Coal Tits, 1 Chiffchaff and 30+ Stock Doves.

Mudbank - limited counts included 200+ Dunlin, c120 Redshank, 1 Knot and 8 Greenshank. The Whimbrel was again in Duckpond.

Coal Tit - Orcombe Point (slurry pit).

View from Mudbank 1/11.