January 2006

 

 

The Glaucous Gull was again present around Langstone Rock and the seawall and seawatching from here late morning produced eight Red-throated Diver south with two more on the sea. Also offshore in the strong southerly winds c40 auks, 30+ Kittiwake, 14 Eider, 12 Common Scoter, 10 Gannet, five Fulmar, an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Slavonian Grebe. In the estuary there were counts of 354 Wigeon, 201 Bar-tailed Godwit and 96 Knot with three Black-tailed Godwit and two Eider.

Glaucous Gull Jan © John Fortey

 

 

 

In calm conditions offshore there were at least seven Red-throated Diver, along with nine Slavonian Grebe, 20 Eider, 31 Common Scoter and two Mute Swan. Elsewhere the first winter Glaucous Gull was again present around Langstone Rock and the seawall, the first Buzzard of the year drifted over on the first thermals of the year, 53 Shelduck were in the estuary and two Water Rail were present at both the First and the Main Ponds.

 

 

 

Seawatching off the seawall, this morning, produced 13 Red-throated Diver south along with 20 Gannet, 19 Auk sp.,  four Fulmar, four Eider, three Red-breasted Merganser, three Kittiwake and three Common Scoter. 

 

 

 

Nine Red-throated Diver flew south offshore, but due to a combination of southerly winds and up to a dozen kite-surfers little else was seen, with only three Eider and five Great-crested Grebe on the sea. In the estuary there were at least 241 Wigeon and 45 Teal with 35 Shelduck, 24 Black-tailed Godwit, six Goldeneye, two Greenshank, an adult Mediterranean Gull and an Avocet.  Elsewhere a Peregrine again harassed the waders over high tide, a Grey Wagtail was on the beach at Langstone Rock, with 26 Turnstone and 27 Mallard were on the Main Pond.

 

 

 

Six Red-throated Diver were offshore with 14 Eider, four Great-crested and a single Slavonian Grebe, six Fulmar flew south. In the estuary 46 Great Black-backed Gull were on Finger Point, with 240 Black-headed and 40+ Common Gull in the Shutterton Creek area. Also here 41 Shelduck and a single Greenshank. Elsewhere a Peregrine was on Bull Hill, a flock of 50 Canada Geese held two Greylags and a Water Rail was calling from the Main Pond.

 

 

 

No news was received for today.

 

 

 

Two Red-throated Diver offshore was the only news received for today.

 

Glaucous Gull 8/1/06 © Lee Collins                    1/1/06 © Andrew Cunningham

 

 

 

The Glaucous Gull remains faithful to Langstone Rock, being present there throughout the day.  Offshore from the seawall there were three Slavonian Grebe, with four also seen off the Dune Ridge, also off the Dune Ridge, two Red-throated Diver and at least six Eider. In the estuary there were 15 Lapwing, two Black-tailed Godwit and a Little Grebe amongst the usual waders and wildfowl.

 

The Glaucous Gull was seen at Langstone Rock and flying along the beach near groyne 14. Offshore there were two Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver, 10 Eider, 20 Auk Sp. south, five Goldeneye and two Razorbill. Also present today single Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and Kestrel, three Chiffchaff, a Great-spotted Woodpecker in Dead Dolphin Wood with 21 Linnet, five Skylark and four Rock Pipit in the Bight.

The first winter Glaucous Gull was seen again, at Langstone Rock and on Warren Point (also viewable from Exmouth). Also present around the recording area at least three Eider and two Slavonian Grebe offshore, with a Water Rail and Chiffchaff at the First Pond.

Glaucous Gull 6/1/06 © Nick Potter                            © Dave Stone                          

 

In strong easterly winds the highlight was six Tufted Duck flying north offshore with four Goldeneye also seen heading south. Elsewhere the Glaucous Gull was at Langstone Rock, an Avocet roosted with Curlew on Finger Point, the Peregrine was again present and a Sparrowhawk was again on the beach.
 

Offshore two Gadwall east towards the estuary were a good record, also seen 11 Eider,  at least eight Great-crested and four Slavonian Grebe, two Red-throated Diver and a Kittiwake. Over the high tide counts included c2500 Oystercatcher, c2500 Dunlin, 265 Bar-tailed Godwit, 214 Grey Plover, 212 Wigeon, 125 Brent Geese, 82 Curlew, 77 Knot, 65 Turnstone, 65 Redshank, 49 Sanderling, 41 Shelduck, 39 Ringed Plover, 24 Teal, eight Goldeneye, seven Little Egret and three Black-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere nine Canada Geese were on the Main Pond, an adult Mediterranean Gull was in the estuary, a Peregrine flew over the hide and a Sparrowhawk was on groyne 10.

The first winter Glaucous Gull, the first twitchable one here since 1987, remained off Langstone Rock for it's fourth day.  A single Knot also remains there with the Turnstone flock and two Slavonian Grebe were offshore.
 

 
Knot 3/1/06 © Dave Stone

The Glaucous Gull remained off Langstone Rock most of the day, with 25 Turnstone and the Knot also still present. The flat conditions offshore revealed at least eight Red-throated and four Great Northern Diver, with 20+ Great-crested and five Slavonian Grebe, 20+ Eider and just two Common Scoter. The calmer weather also allowed for some wader counts with c2000 Dunlin, 265 Grey Plover and 35 Sanderling roosting on the beach. In the estuary there were again single Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit, with 423 Wigeon, 222 Brent Goose, 161 Teal, 81 Red-breasted Merganser, 28 Shelduck, eight Goldeneye, five Little Egret, four Grey Heron, a Kingfisher, a Peregrine feeding in front of the hide and an Avocet on the Railway Saltmarsh. Elsewhere a Cirl Bunting was a surprise, singing briefly near the car park, a Shoveler was again on the Main Pond with at least two Water Rail and a Great-spotted Woodpecker was in Dead Dolphin Wood.

 

With similar weather to Jan 1st last year, the increasing wind and choppy conditions offshore made viewing difficult but at least 18 Eider were counted along with single Great Northern and Red-throated Diver, three Slavonian Grebe with a few Guillemot and Razorbill. The highlight was the continued presence of the first winter Glaucous Gull, which spent most of the day around Langstone Rock.  In the estuary, alongside the more regular species, there were single Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Lapwing, with a female Goldeneye in Shutterton Creek and two drakes flying out to sea. Elsewhere on site the Tawny Owl was again by the First Pond, with three Chiffchaff, a Little Egret and Knot were at Langstone Rock with 27 Turnstone, a Little Grebe was in Shutterton Creek with two on the Main Pond, along with two Shoveler, and a Snipe was in Greenland Lake.

Glaucous Gull 1/1/06

 

In total 73 species were recorded on site today.

 

Red-throated Diver Great Northern Diver Slavonian Grebe Little Grebe Great-crested Grebe Gannet Cormorant Shag Little Egret Grey Heron Brent Goose Shelduck Mallard Shoveler Wigeon Teal Eider Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Kestrel Pheasant Moorhen Coot Oystercatcher Ringed Plover

Grey Plover Lapwing Knot Sanderling Turnstone Dunlin Redshank Greenshank Black-tailed Godwit Bar-tailed Godwit Curlew Snipe Black-headed Gull Common Gull Glaucous Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Kittiwake Guillemot Razorbill Feral Pigeon Wood Pigeon Tawny Owl Skylark Rock Pipit

Meadow Pipit Pied Wagtail Wren Dunnock Robin Stonechat Song Thrush Blackbird Chiffchaff Goldcrest Great Tit Blue Tit Long-tailed Tit Magpie Carrion Crow Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch Linnet Goldfinch Greenfinch Bullfinch Reed Bunting