Evergestis limbata

 

Dark Bordered Pearl - Evergestis limbata - I've wanted to see this stunning species for a long time. Formerly a real rarity, it appears to be establishing itself in Devon, and presumably elsewhere along the south coast. According to Nick there were seven records in Devon last year, and Nick trapped this one in Budleigh, on his first trapping session at his new house! Many thanks Nick.

 

 

A quick stop off at the top fields revealed the continuing presence of the c50+ Yellow Wagtails that are commuting between cattle herds, either side of Gore Lane. Also at least 1 Tree Pipit buzzing around up there, but I didn't have time to cover it properly. A quick scan of the river from the garden, before work this morning, produced the Osprey but it was a bit murky to see much else. 

More Migrants

 

Juvenile Sedge Warbler - the feathers are just so fresh on this little beauty. Only my third in Exmouth this year.

 

On the face of it - very quiet today, but some searching eventually paid dividends with the following logged: 1+ Whitethroat, 2+ Chiffchaff, 1 Sand Martin, c15/20+ Swallow, 1+ Wheatear, c10+ House Martin, 1 Whinchat, c50+ Yellow Wagtail, 1 Dartford Warbler, 2+ Tree Pipit, 1 Starling, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 fw Mediterranean Gull and 2 Kestrel.

Off Mudbank - 1 Osprey (caught fish and headed upriver @ 0935), 3 Wigeon, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Redshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, c70+ Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern, 1 Greenshank and c10+ Ringed Plover.

 

Juvenile Whinchat

Juvenile Dartford Warbler - my earliest autumn Dartford on Orcombe. Previous records have been in March or late autumn.

Portland Ribbon Wave - Bristol Schools - beside a light. Other species found included Single-dotted Wave, Small Blood-vein, Light Emerald, Flounced Rustic, Common Wainscot, Common Carpet, Dingy Footman, Double-striped Pug, Lime-speck Pug and Chinese Character.

Juvenile Yellow Wagtail - c50+ birds moving between cattle either side of Gore Lane.

 

Juvenile Tree Pipit

 

Another angle on the pristine juvenile Sedge Warbler

Dartford Success

I'm pleased to report that Exmouth's Dartford Warblers appear to have had a successful breeding season. A close-knit party of four birds included this lovely peachy-toned juvenile.

Returning Ducks

 

Blackcap - Orcombe Point

 

Not so much happening on Orcombe today but I managed to record 45+ Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 4+ Meadow Pipit, 2+ Wheatear, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 6+ Tree Pipit, 1 Chiffchaff, 6+ phyllosc sp (probably all Chiffies), 1 Starling, 3 Blackcap, 1 Sand Martin, 2 Swift and small numbers of Swallow and House Martin.

It was good to see some Wigeon back today with 6 off Mudbank and 4, later on, at Bowling Green. Also off Mudbank - 135+ Mallard and 14 Teal.

I spent some time at Bowling Green over the high tide, having dropped Maisie off to work, and was chuffed to see 3 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Knot, 2 returning Pintail, 1+ Tufted Duck 2+ Gadwall, 1 Kingfisher, the highly suspect Snow Goose and decent numbers of Redshank amongst a few other bits and pieces.

Really nice to meet Richard Price and Isaac Firth, and it's always good to see Chris Lee who does a great job volunteering for the RSPB.

 

 

It's getting a little late for Swift but it's not 'Pallid late' yet!

The two Kestrels on Orcombe Point at the moment are incredibly approachable. It's an absolute pleasure to get such good views of this declining species.

Horse Chestnut - the best of a tiny selection of moths attracted to the Bristol Schools lights.

Wonderful to watch my first returning autumn Wigeon off Mudbank. There were 2 Pintail on Bowling Green and 14 Teal off Mudbank too.

Three adult males and 2 females or juveniles.

Avocet - Bowling Green

Pied Fly

One of c50+ Yellow Wagtails in with cattle below Maer Farm this afternoon. All 'flava' flocks are entertaining and this one was no different, with a huge amount of variation in plumage shown within just one small group, comprising both adults and juveniles. The above bird was white-naped and stood out like a sore thumb. They were really hard to photograph but I've posted a few more below. Calls were also very varied with several really rasping calls emanating from the flock, as well as the more standard calls.

 

Good by Orcombe standards today - 5 Little Egret, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 3 Wheatear, 20+ Yellow Wagtail, 11 Tree Pipit, 1 Whinchat, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 5 'alba' wagtail, 1+ Meadow Pipit, 3 Grey Wagtail, 3+ Willow Warbler, 1+ Chiffchaff, 3+ Whitethroat, c25+ House Martin, c20+ Swallow and 1 Blackcap.

Nearby, in Maer Valley, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet, c50+ Yellow Wagtail and 1 Willow Warbler.

Exmouth beach was way better than usual with 114+ Ringed Plover, 118+ Dunlin and 2 White Wagtail.

Mudbank was the poor relation today with just 3 Whimbrel, 1 Turnstone, 40+ Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 1+ Yellow Wagtail and c80+ Mallard.

I was particularly pleased with the Pied Flycatcher today. It's always a tough bird to get in Exmouth and I kind of thought I'd missed the boat with earlier south coast influxes. It was hyper-active around the triangular copse in the corner of the field above the orchid field, and just wouldn't settle. I think it moved through pretty quickly as there was no sign after my initial sighting and it wasn't there when I checked again this afternoon. As well as the Pied Fly, both Meadow Pipit and Whinchat were autumn 'firsts' today.
An early evening trip over to Budleigh, to meet up with Chris, was rewarded with great views of the Spotted Crake feeding brazenly out in the open with two juvenile Water Rails.

Juvenile/fw White Wagtail - one of two White Wags on Exmouth beach this morning, along with 114+ Ringed Plover and 118+ Dunlin.

Whinchat - Gore Lane - Dave found this one on the dung heap this morning. My first of the autumn.

 

Ring-necked Parakeet - Maer Valley - typically mobile and noisy.

 

 

Tree Pipit - Gore Lane - 28/8

Ringos, Green Sands and YLG

Ringed Plover and Dunlin - 26 of the former and 13 of the latter were on Exmouth beach early this morning.

 

Very little on Orcombe today but 2 Yellow Wagtails, c40+ Swallow, 2 Wheatear and a Sedge Warbler made it into the notebook. Best however was 2 Green Sandpipers, and it was great to see not one, but two Kestrels hunting fields at the top of Gore Lane. On Exmouth beach were 8 Pied Wagtails, 26 Ringed Plover and 13 Dunlin.

A half-hour spell looking off Mudbank, on the dropping tide this morning, produced 1 Osprey, 2+ Sand Martin (upriver), 1+ Mediterranean Gull, 1 juv Peregrine and a Yellow-legged Gull. Also 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Knot and 2 Whimbrel.

 

 

It would be so easy to go a year without seeing a Green Sandpiper in Exmouth so I was pleased to see these two today.

A flock of c40+ Swallows on Orcombe this morning consisted largely of juveniles. Exquisite birds but poor light meant less than exquisite photos.

Juvenile/first-winter Yellow-legged Gull - Mudbank. From this angle/distance it looks as though it hasn't replaced any juvenile scapulars but see below.....

Distinctive in flight (top bird) especially when seen alongside juvenile Herring Gull.

Plenty of renewed scaps but a very plain and pale set of greater coverts.

A big bird - presumably a male. I will never tire of seeing this species - my 11th photographed this summer means it's been about an average year for me here in Exmouth.

Velvet Scoter

Black-tailed Godwit - Leisure Centre

 

Joel's birthday today so managed just two short trips out. This morning, before it got really wet, I popped up to Orcombe where a Velvet Scoter was a surprise 'fly-by'. It went past at around 8am and was picked up a short while later from the Warren. Five Common Scoter were the only other birds of note. It felt like there should have been more moving, but with birthday duties to attend to I was kind of glad it wasn't any better!

A quick look at the estuary from the Imperial/Leisure Centre late this afternoon, as the tide crept in, produced 2 Little Tern, c20+ Sandwich Tern, 4/5+ Common Tern, 2 Knot, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone, 8 Whimbrel, c50/60+ Dunlin (downriver towards the Warren) and a couple Ringed Plover.