Clifden Nonpareil

I've seen Clifden Nonpareils before but never trapped one myself, so this individual was a most welcome sight, clinging to the side of the trap this morning. A chunk of its forewing is missing revealing the blue on the hindwing, which is otherwise tricky to photograph. Good numbers of common stuff was also trapped but perhaps worth a mention were 3 Silver Y, 3 Turnip Moth, Marbled Green, Dark Spectacle, Pale Mottled Willow and a Rusty Dot Pearl.

A quick look on Orcombe revealed just 30+ Swallows and 25 Yellow Wagtails so I wasn't expecting any migrants on this afternoon's dog walk, along the cycle path to West Lodge. A small stretch of hedgerow held 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Redstart.
Off Mudbank - 4 Yellow Wagtails, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 5 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 14 Teal, 7 Shelduck, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Dunlin and 16 Pintail.

One of three Turnip Moths trapped last night.

Spotted Flycatcher - one of two at West Lodge, seen whilst walking the dog with Lu this afternoon. Both birds were in a hedgerow with a Redstart (below). Spot Flys have been conspicuous by their complete absence on Orcombe this autumn so these certainly weren't expected.

Marbled Green.

Tree Pipit

One of two Tree Pipits on Orcombe this afternoon. Also 10+ Wheatears, 8+ Yellow Wagtails and 7 Starlings on a short visit. Off Mudbank - c400 Wigeon, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Dunlin and c20/30+ Common Terns.

Small Copper on Common Fleabane.

Coot!!!(and Black Tern)

My first ever Coot in Exmouth was a sight for sore eyes in the early morning gloom. So chuffed! To put it in some sort of context I've seen Northern Mockingbird, Collared Flycatcher, 2 Caspian Terns, Ross's Gull, 2 Laughing Gulls, 3 Bonaparte's Gulls, Tawny Pipit, 2 Red-throated Pipits, Falcated Duck, Gull-billed Tern and Sardinian Warbler in Exmouth, all before Coot!

The quality birding in Exmouth continues - today's star bird a Coot, closely followed by my first Black Tern (a juvenile) since August 2019, 85+ Common Terns, 200+ Wigeon, 65 Pintail, 13 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3+ Sandwich Tern, 1 Snow Goose, 3 Teal, 4 Redshank, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 6 Ringed Plovers, 2 Greenshank, 3 Whimbrel, 3 Grey Heron and an Osprey that flew upriver at 0955. Nearby on Orcombe Point - 3+ Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 or 2 Redstarts, 6+ Wheatear, 35+ Yellow Wagtails, 3 Whitethroats, 1+ Tree Pipit, 3 Blackcaps, 4 Whinchats, c15 House Martins, c40/50+ Swallows, a late Swift and a Willow Warbler.

One of four Whinchats in the turnip field on Orcombe today.

At last a Tree Pipit that posed for a photo! Most others have been fly-overs this autumn.

There are still at least 35 Yellow Wagtails on Orcombe - this particularly pale one was very smart.

Snow Goose - Mudbank.

Spotshank!

Willow Warbler - 2 juveniles recorded on Orcombe this morning. The first I've seen for a while.

A fly-over Spotted Redshank was the clear highlight on Orcombe this morning. A loud 'chew-it' stopped me in my tracks as a presumed juvenile (it had that lovely smoky look) flew overhead at speed, calling repeatedly as it headed towards the river mouth at 0737. Spotted Redshank is unbelievably rare in Exmouth. Years ago a bird used to winter off Mudbank but that was going back probably nearly twenty years. Since then I've had a 'heard only' record off West Lodge but that's it. Patch gold as they say! Also on Orcombe this morning - c30/40+ Yellow Wagtails commuting between the top fields and cattle, just up from the Geoneedle, 1 Wheatear, 2 Tree Pipits, 6+ Grey Wagtails, 5+ Whitethroats, 2 Willow Warblers, 6+ Chiffchaffs, 1 Greenshank, 1 or 2 Kestrels and the three Red-legged Partridges.

Off Mudbank - adult and juvenile Spoonbill (all day 'til 315pm), 11 Common Terns, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 15 Little Egrets, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 6 Whimbrel and the long-staying first-winter Yellow-legged Gull.

Brown Argus - my first record on Orcombe.

I've never known a Yellow-legged Gull stay this long. Still present this morning.

A stroll on Woodbury Common produced this Redstart, 2 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat and 9 Dartford Warblers along with a few other bits a pieces. I still haven't seen a Redstart on Orcombe this autumn...

I've been totally spoiled with Spoonbills the last couple of days. Today an adult and juvenile were present. I was even able to watch them from the house. I think today was the first time I've ever heard Spoonbills too. The juvenile was making begging calls to the adult - a rippling gull-like sound.

Mudbank Magic

More scarce species off Mudbank than I've seen in ages - immature Spoonbill present from 11am to 230pm at least, Marsh Harrier, a brief juvenile Little Stint (way less than annual in Exmouth), Osprey, 2 Greenshank, 4 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 4+ Whimbrel, 1 Teal and a Mediterranean Gull.

On Orcombe first thing - a noticeable reduction in hirundine numbers, presumably thanks to clearer skies, plus 30+ Yellow Wagtail still, 1 Swift, 6 Sand Martins, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Tree Pipit and 1 Grey Wagtail.

The Osprey was fishing off Mudbank from 155 - 2pm.

This juvenile Marsh Harrier was off Mudbank shortly before 115pm, before heading upriver. Marsh Harrier is a really scarce bird in Exmouth, being less than annual.

Common Tern Exodus

Ninety-five birds in the above flock. I was at Shelly beach shortly after dawn to watch the Common Terns fly out to see. The light was awful but I managed to photograph flocks totaling at least 280 birds. This afternoon at least 150 were  in the estuary by the time I left (at around 1725) along with 95+ Sandwich Terns. Initially this morning I could see hundreds of birds swirling around way upriver and then, flock by flock, they split into small noisy groups and passed high out of the estuary, towards the sea. Also - 8 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Mediterranean Gulls noted.

On Orcombe Point this morning - 3 Red-legged Partridges, 8 Chiffchaffs, 30+ Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whinchat, 3 'alba' wagtails, 2 Tree Pipits, c100+ House Martins,  and 3 Swifts.

Mudbank - 3 Whimbrel, 5 Redshank, 150 Common Tern, c2/300+ Wigeon at least 20 Pintail and, most notably, 400+ Teal. Also c100+ Mallard, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, c25 Knot and the Osprey hunting upriver around 1715.

Fifty in this flock plus 8 Black-tailed Godwits.

32 in this flock.

Flock of 50.

55 in this flock.

Believe it or not this is my first Whinchat on Orcombe this autumn.

One of three Swifts on Orcombe this morning.

A flock of 29 'alba' wagtails on the cricket pitch contained at least three smart juvenile White Wagtails.

Influxes

Yellow Wagtail - still at least 20 birds knocking around the top fields today.

Influxes of Wigeon and Common Tern today. Was pleased with c60 Common Terns off Mudbank this afternoon until Kev texted with news of 140 off the Warren. The Wigeon count off Mudbank was 245 which is a big increase, and Pintails numbered 57 which is one short of what I counted a few days ago. Also off Mudbank today - the juvenile Yellow-legged Gull still, 1 Osprey, 12 Teal, 5 Redshank, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Turnstone, 22 Little Egrets, 3 Great Crested Grebes and 18 Knot.
On Orcombe - 14 Linnet, 3 Wheatear, c200+ House Martin, 20+ Yellow Wagtail, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Blackcap and 2 Whitethroat.

A big jump in Wigeon numbers with 245 counted today.

Osprey - upriver from Mudbank today.

The potential Blue-headed Wagtail still present today.