February 2007

Wednesday 28th:

The quietest month of the year ended again with no news received.  Roll on spring!

Tuesday 27th:

At least one Slavonian Grebe was still offshore along with 10 Common Scoter and a female Eider. In the estuary there were 12+ Red-breasted Merganser with 50+ Knot in with the regular waders from the hide. The only other news received was of eight Raven overhead, a very good count for here, and fitting in with an pattern of early spring movement over the reserve.

Monday 26th:

No news was received for today.

Sunday 25th:

Offshore there were at least ten Red-throated Diver and three Slavonian Grebe with a Great Northern Diver and two Goldeneye in the estuary.

Saturday 24th:

Early morning, three Avocet were flying around offshore with three Fulmar and eight Red-throated Diver flying south. Ten Eider, another five Red-throated Diver and two Slavonian Grebe were on the sea.  In the Estuary, there were 200+ Brent Goose, a single Greenshank and a Great Northern Diver.  A count of  40+ Great Black-backed Gull, unusually consisted mainly of immature birds, perhaps indicating passage.  Elsewhere on site, two Mistle Thrush were again present around Dead Dolphin Wood, a Raven passed overhead and a Long-tailed Tit was seen collecting nesting material.

Friday 23rd:

Offshore there were two Slavonian Grebe, a Red-throated Diver, four Common Scoter and three Eider, elsewhere a Grey Heron was on the Main Pond. Just outside the recording area a first winter Laughing Gull was at Mudbank Lane, Exmouth.

Thursday 22nd:

No news was received for today.

Wednesday 21st:

Offshore there were two Slavonian and a Great-crested Grebe and a Red-throated Diver, with a Great Northern Diver south and a distant feeding flock of 50 Gannet. In the Bight there were 1400 Dunlin, 240 Grey Plover, 47 Bar-tailed Godwit, 16 Knot, 12 Turnstone and eight Sanderling, with a male Sparrowhawk flying through. On the Railway Saltmarsh held 53 Redshank and 97 Common Gull was a good count, indicating passage. Also in the estuary 36 Red-breasted Merganser. Elsewhere a Chiffchaff was by the Main Pond.

Tuesday 20th:

Finger Point and Woodhenge were almost totally covered by today's very high tide so as a result all the small waders were on the beach. Counts here included 1771 Dunlin, 234 Grey Plover, 45 Knot, 39 Ringed Plover, 26 Sanderling and 23 Turnstone.  Also on the beach nine Pied Wagtail, eight Linnet, three Rock and a Meadow Pipit feeding around the storm debris. As the tide dropped 73 Bar-tailed Godwit and six Curlew moved onto Finger Point, 72 Black-headed, 20 Common and six Herring Gull were in Shutterton Creek, with 250 Brent Goose, c50 Shag, 20 Red-breasted Merganser, 13 Shelduck and a Slavonian Grebe elsewhere in the Estuary. Offshore there were a further two Slavonian Grebe along with three Red-throated Diver, four Eider and five Great-crested Grebe. A single Fulmar flew south. Elsewhere two Mistle Thrush were seen on the Golf Course near the First Pond.
 

Monday 19th:

The only news received was of an oiled Guillemot rescued near groyne seven.

Sunday 18th:

At least 13 Red-throated Diver were offshore with four Slavonian Grebe were offshore with a fifth bird picked up on the tideline and taken into care.

Saturday 17th:

The only news received for today was of a Mistle Thrush, which flew over Greenland Lake towards the Golf Course, the first for the year, and offshore single Red-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe.

Friday 16th:

A Treecreeper with Long-tailed Tit by the First Pond was a surprise, the first record for several weeks.  Elsewhere three Slavonian and a Great-crested Grebe were offshore, 250+ Brent Goose and five Goldeneye were in the Estuary and a Sparrowhawk hunted along the Dune Ridge.

Thursday 15th:

No news was received for today.

Wednesday 14th:

In the estuary there were 260 Brent Geese and 15 Red-breasted Merganser with four Lesser Black-backed Gull on Bull Hill, perhaps the first spring migrants. Elsewhere the Dartford Warbler showed well on the east side of Greenland Lake, a Raven flew over and unusually two Lapwing were on the beach before flying off northeast. Offshore there was an unconfirmed report of three Red-necked Grebe and a Black-throated Diver.

 

Tuesday 13th:

Offshore there were 16 Red-throated and two Great Northern Diver, seven Eider, 10 Great-crested and three Slavonian Grebe with an adult Mediterranean Gull just off the beach. Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was again around Greenland Lake, a Greenshank was in Shutterton Creek and two Little Grebe were on the Main Pond.

Monday 12th:

No news was received for today.

Sunday 11th:

A Great Northern Diver was in the estuary with 10 Great-crested Grebe, seven Little Egret, two Goldeneye and an adult Mediterranean Gull, also from the hide 78 Brent Geese on the Golf Course, 50 Ringed Plover and 21 Sanderling, the highest count this winter, in the Bight. The only other news was of two Slavonian Grebe and four Eider offshore.

Saturday 10th:

After high tide there were 151 Bar-tailed Godwit, 52 Knot, 47 Ringed Plover and 25 Turnstone in the Bight with 51 Teal, 20 Wigeon, two Goldeneye and an adult Mediterranean Gull in Shutterton Creek, also in the estuary 30+ Red-breasted Merganser, two Razorbill and a Little Grebe. Elsewhere seven Red-throated Diver, five Slavonian Grebe and two Eider were offshore with the Dartford Warbler showing well in Greenland Lake.

Friday 9th:

Heavy rain all day meant the only news received was from a short watch off Langstone late afternoon when there were 30+ Gannet in the bay along with four Eider and a Red-throated Diver.

Thursday 8th:

This morning in the estuary there were 300+ Brent Geese, 50+ Knot, 33 Shelduck, 30+ Red-breasted Merganser, six Little Egret, two Lapwing, two Great-crested Grebe, a pair of Goldeneye, a Razorbill and a Red-throated Diver. Also on site today three Slavonian Grebe were offshore and a Peregrine took a Dunlin in the Bight.

Wednesday 7th:

No news was received for today.

Tuesday 6th:

Wader counts from the hide included 958 Oystercatcher, 226 Grey Plover, 154 Curlew, 130 Bar-tailed Godwit, 68 Knot, 31 Ringed Plover and 21 Turnstone. Also in the estuary there were 38+ Common Gull, 20 Lapwing, 14 Shelduck and two adult Mediterranean Gull on the Railway Saltmarsh. Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was again around Greenland Lake, a drake Shoveler, ten Mallard and a Little Grebe were on the Main Pond with 112 Razorbill offshore.

Monday 5th:

The first Shoveler of the year, two drakes, were reported on the Main Pond, but the wildfowl highlight was without a doubt the site's first ever Muscovy Duck in the Railway Saltmarsh! Elsewhere six Slavonian Grebe, five Red-throated Diver and 40 Razorbill were offshore.

Sunday 4th:

The Cetti's Warbler was still present around Greenland Lake, but no other news was received.

Saturday 3rd:

Wildfowl and wader counts from the estuary this morning included 384 Brent Geese, 285 Curlew, 193 Grey Plover, 184 Bar-tailed Godwit, 114 Redshank, 80 Teal, 44 Wigeon, 34 Lapwing and 31 Shelduck. Also in the estuary 11 Black-tailed Godwit, single Whimbrel, Greenshank and Little Grebe, a pair of Goldeneye and a female Goosander was reported. Elsewhere the Cetti's Warbler was again on the north side of Greenland Lake, the Dartford Warbler was around the Wryneck Path, four Slavonian Grebe and two Eider were offshore, a Water Rail was at the First Pond and a mobile flock of 19 Goldfinch was only the second record of the year. Bird of the day however was a grey goose, probably Pink-footed, which was heard calling just after 10am, however it could not be located and a potential first for the recording area slipped through the net.

Cetti's Warbler 03/02/07 © John Lee

Friday 2nd:

On the falling tide 1000+ Dunlin, 300+ Grey Plover and 54 Ringed Plover were in the Bight with three Kittiwake. Also in the estuary an oiled Red-throated Diver was on Bull Hill and 84 Redshank were in Shutterton Creek along with 30 Black-tailed Godwit, a Whimbrel and an Avocet. The Cetti's Warbler was again by the Dune Pond with the Dartford Warbler and two Stonechat along the Wryneck Path. Elsewhere a Great-spotted Woodpecker was in the entrance bushes, four Long-tailed Tit were feeding on one of the signs by the entrance, four Canada Geese were on the Main Pond with two Little Grebe and an oiled Black-headed Gull was by groyne 13.

Little Grebe 02/02/2007 © Darren Maynard

Thursday 1st:

 A three warbler day with the Cetti's Warbler showing briefly along the eastern side of Greenland Lake, a Dartford Warbler showed well by the Dune Pond and a Chiffchaff in the sycamores on the Dune Ridge. Elsewhere 10 Slavonian Grebe were offshore, this represents the best count this winter so far, 18 Mallard were on the Main Pond and a adult Mediterranean Gull was in Shutterton Creek.

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