Jack Snipe

This is the only wintering Stonechat I've managed to find in Exmouth so far this year - the West Lodge male that's been around for some time.

Today's highlight was a stunning little Jack Snipe, flushed from a traditional Exmouth heathland site along with 3 Snipe. Both Moorhen and Little Grebe were on Bystock Pool along with a Kingfisher. Nearby - a Dartford Warbler on Withycombe Raleigh Common.

Off Mudbank today - c70 Knot, c40 Grey Plovers, c200 Wigeon, c70 Pintail, c145 Mallard, 11 Great Crested Grebes, 35+ Redshank and 3 Greenshank.

West Lodge - 1 Stonechat and 1 Firecrest.

Shelly Beach - the 2 Great Northern Divers and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers. 

Duckpond - c120 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and the Pale-bellied Brent Goose.

Collared Dove - Camperdown. A lovely species that rarely features on the blog.

Black Red

Black Redstart - Withycombe Brook.

No sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler today. The plummeting temperature may have moved it on. A Black Redstart, 2 Chiffchaffs and the female Blackcap were seen. 

Other sightings included 2 Great Northern Divers off Shelly Beach, a Ring-necked Parakeet behind Maer Farm, 2 Mistle Thrushes and 20+ Meadow Pipits on Orcombe Point and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose with c120 Dark-bellied Brent Geese on the  Imperial rugby ground.

An hour spent mooching around  some woodland along Castle Lane produced 1 Firecrest, 8+ Lesser Redpolls, 3+ Siskins and 2 Treecreepers.

One of at least 8 Lesser Redpolls along Castle Lane this afternoon.

Red-necked Grebe

 The Siberian Chiffchaff is still frequenting hedges along Gore Lane.

Withycombe brook from Highland Cars - the Yellow-browed Warbler briefly at 0850. Also - the female Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Redshank and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Orcombe Point - 1 Siberian Chiffchaff, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Siskin over, 1 Jay, 1 Little Egret, 16+ Skylarks, 6+ Meadow Pipits, c30 Pied Wagtails and the Red-legged Partridge.

A late afternoon trip out on the bike was rewarded with a Red-necked Grebe off Shelly Beach. It was never close and I only had my bins with me. I'm hoping it'll stick around. The last one I had off there turned up on the 27/1/20. The only other snippet today - 95+ Shelduck off Mudbank.

Exmouth's only Red-legged Partridge scuttles up the side of its favourite field.

Spot the YBW! Back in its Laurel briefly this morning but saying it didn't show very well is a massive understatement!

Red-necked Grebe - Shelly Beach. Unfortunately always distant and harsh lighting. Not much joy with photography today!

NYD

Ringed Plover - Duckpond.

A horribly wet and windy start to the new year. The Yellow-browed Warbler was keeping its head down, feeding at ground level in the front garden of 1 Belle Vue Road shortly after midday, and showing down to 10 ft.

An earlier sea-watch from the raised beach huts (from 0805am to 0905am) produced 220+ Gannets, 65+ Kittiwakes, 2 Fulmars, 2 Great Northern Divers, 13 auk sp and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers. Off the seafront a little later in the day - 3 Eiders.

I missed the best time for Mudbank today but managed to log c50 Wigeon, c30 Pintail, 1 Teal and 1 Chiffchaff. In Duckpond - 2 Ringed Plovers and 39 Mallard.

Other bits and bobs today included 1+ Firecrest in Phear Park, 3 Goldcrests and 1 Stock Dove at West Lodge, 1 Bullfinch on Warren View playing fields, 12 Shags, c50 Carrion Crows, 1 Raven and 30+ Great Black-backed Gulls off Shelly Beach and the Little Grebe still on Bystock Pool.