July 2004
Saturday 31st:
Today one Roseate Tern was again present
with eight Common and 100+ Sandwich Tern. In the evening, 100+ Kittiwake were
feeding offshore with the terns. Mediterranean
Gulls were much in evidence today, with at least six birds present [3+
juvenile, a second-summer and 2 adults].
Good numbers of waders [200 Dunlin, 50+ Ringed Plover and 81 Sanderling] were
present although largely dispersed around site. In the bushes, two Garden Warbler were the only signs of
migration, although 60+ Linnet indicate a good breeding season.
Friday 30th:
No Roseates were seen but there were still c10 Common
and 100+ Sandwich Tern present, also at the high tide 150 Dunlin
and 70 Ringed Plover. Other birds of interest included a Red-breasted
Merganser offshore and a Sedge Warbler in the Dune Pond.
Thursday 29th:
Two Roseate Tern were present with seven Common
and 100+ Sandwich Tern, also at the high tide, a juvenile Little
Ringed Plover still and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Other sightings included: along the back
path two Lesser Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler.
Wednesday 28th:
There was no further sign of the Caspian Tern,
but a single Roseate Tern was again present today along with at least
one Little Ringed Plover. Overhead there was a noticeable
exodus of Whimbrel, small parties often leave south at this time of
year, but the count of 60 today is the highest autumn count for the reserve.
Little
Ringed Plover adult (left) and juvenile (right) 27/07/04
Images © Dave Stone
Tuesday 27th:
Caspian Tern Photos © Mike Langman
The undoubted highlight of the year so far was
discovered today - by a visiting birdwatcher looking for Roseate Terns! An
adult CASPIAN TERN, the first reserve record, was present in
front of the hide from 12.20 to 14.10. Despite its brief stay over 30 people
were able to catch up with this bird, only the second for Devon, the previous
record being 38 years ago. The bird appeared on the rising tide and eventually
flew off southwest along the spit. Although there were still good numbers of Sandwich
and Common Tern, no Roseates were reported today. Earlier in the
morning, nine Arctic Tern were still present feeding offshore,
two Arctic Skua presumably attracted by the tern flocks, were
also present. At the high tide several Dunlin and Whimbrel were
largely ignored in the excitement, but a small increase in Ringed Plover
numbers also included at least six (4 ad, 2 juv) Little Ringed Plover,
the highest ever reserve count for this scarce migrant.
Monday 26th:
Two Roseate Tern were present
today with 10 Common and 250 Sandwich Tern. With them were
17 Arctic Tern; this is the second highest autumn count on the
reserve, in what is already a record year for the species.
Sunday 25th:
Three Roseate Tern were present
today, distantly offshore around high tide, but coming close in front of the
hide after 14.45. As well as the
Roseates the 300 strong Sandwich Tern flock also held 11 Common
and 2 Arctic Tern and the juvenile Mediterranean Gull. The
monthly BTO count recorded 560 Curlew, 20 Whimbrel, a Greenshank,
67 Dunlin and 22 Sanderling amongst the waders. 10 Grey Heron
were in the railway saltmarsh with seven Little Egret, two others were
seen, a juvenile in front of the hide and another bird recorded flying in off
the sea. Away from the estuary a Wheatear and a Lesser Whitethroat remained
with at least eight Willow Warbler and good numbers of young Reed
Warbler.
Saturday 24th:
Highlight today was an Osprey flying
North over the spit in the morning, this is the earliest autumn record for the
reserve and the first in July. At the
high tide 80 Dunlin and two Whimbrel with 10 Common Tern,
but no Roseates. There was some
evidence of passerine migration with good numbers of Blackcap and Reed
Warbler around the entrance bushes.
With them, two Lesser Whitethroat, a Garden Warbler and a
reported Hippolais warbler. Also
on site four Sand Martin and a Wheatear.
Friday 23rd:
Two Roseate Tern were again present. A
juvenile Mediterranean Gull and eight Little Egret were also
onsite.
Thursday 22nd:
At least one Roseate Tern was again
present amongst 100 Sandwich and 10 Common Tern, also
onsite 30 Sanderling and 8 Little Egret.
Wednesday 21st:
No news has been received for today.
Tuesday 20th:
At least one Roseate Tern was reported
today, but there was no other news.
Monday 19th:
No further sign today of either rare Sandpiper,
but good numbers of terns remain, with single Roseate and a Little
Tern remaining with 12+ Common Tern. Two Mediterranean Gulls
were again present, but today they were a juvenile and a second-summer.
Overnight at least six Common Sandpiper were heard overhead.
Sunday 18th:
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Images © Lee Collins |
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Roseate Tern pictured with Little and Sandwich Tern |
Moulting adult summer Mediterranean Gull |
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No sign today of the Broad-billed Sandpiper, but
compensation was afforded to some by the presence of a Pectoral Sandpiper,
the ninth site record and the first in July. This bird was only present briefly
with c100 Dunlin and was not seen after 9.30. Other waders onsite
included 315+ Curlew, 10+ Whimbrel, 60 Redshank and a Greenshank.
At least 14 Common Sandpipers were along the railway embankment,
the highest count here for several years. Good numbers of terns remain, with 3 Roseate,
Arctic and a Little Tern remaining as well as 2 adult Mediterranean
Gull.
Saturday 17th:
Images
© Lee Collins
The Broad-billed
Sandpiper [pictured above] remains on-site, being
present with Dunlin, in front of the hide and around the Bight from
6.15am at least. It was present throughout the high tide period and returned in
the evening being seen around 17.00, but it could not be relocated after 17.45.
Also present amongst the waders 9 Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper.
Amongst the feeding flocks of terns and gulls there were 4 adult Roseate,
a single Little Tern and an adult Mediterranean Gull (metal
ring on right leg). Other birds present on site today included 9 Little
Egret, Lesser Whitethroat, 40+ Swift, Red-breasted
Merganser and the autumn’s first Great-crested Grebe. (LC, JEF &
KR)
Friday 16th:
The Broad-billed
Sandpiper put in an
appearance at this end of the estuary this morning, after not being reported at
all yesterday. It was found (JEF) on the receding tide and remained on view
until 10.15 when it flew out of sight. The fourth record for the site and only
the fifth for Devon. Only c40 Dunlin, 13 Sanderling and 8 Ringed
Plover were present with the sandpiper.
Also in front of the hide this morning 3 Roseate, 25 Common,
320+ Sandwich Tern and an adult Mediterranean Gull.
Offshore there was a Little Tern and a first summer Little Gull,
probably Sunday’s bird. (DC, JEF & KR)
The Broad-billed Sandpiper reappeared
in the evening at 17.15.
Thursday 15th:
In front of the hide around high tide there were
3 Roseate, 3 Common and 220 Sandwich Terns; 55 Dunlin;
12 Ringed Plover and 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls. Offshore, 12 Common
Tern; 100 Gannet; 20 Guillemot and 2 Razorbill were
present. In the bushes both Redstarts are still present and a single Lesser
Whitethroat. (JEF) Late evening produced reports of 4 Roseate Tern,
Kingfisher and a Common Sandpiper.
Wednesday 14th:
A single Roseate Tern was present
again today, but the Broad-billed Sandpiper frustratingly remained at the north
end of the estuary. A Garden Warbler was the first of autumn and
at least one of the Redstarts is still present.
Tuesday 13th:
One Roseate Tern was still present
with 30 Common and 350 Sandwich Tern. A juvenile Little Ringed Plover and a
single Common Sandpiper were the pick of the waders. A Great Spotted
Woodpecker was the only notable bird on land. (DJ, NM & JEF)
Monday 12th:
Two
Roseate and a Little Tern were present with the Common
Tern, with 720 Curlew roosting on the railway saltmarsh over the high tide.
(JEF & BN)
Sunday 11th:
Early on a Little Tern fed offshore along
within a dozen Common Terns, whilst watching, 4 Whimbrel were
noted coming in off the sea, while Med Gull numbers continue to grow,
today 4, all adults were on site. Later in the day a flyover 1st yr Little
Gull & Stock Dove were nice, while one of the juvenile Redstarts
was refound. (LC & JEF)
Saturday 10th:
2 Juvenile Redstarts were seen today
along with nice views of a family party (4) of Lesser Whitethroats. Sandwich
Tern numbers continue to grow, a conservative figure of 300 must have been
present. Within these 16 plus Common Terns were found, although Roseate
Tern wasn't. Otherwise of interest a single adult Mediterranean Gull
continues to linger, with 7 Whimbrel & 53 Dunlin. (LC &
JEF)
Friday 9th:
A definite improvement today, with more signs of
autumn migration, especially over the high tide. 58 Dunlin were joined
by single Knot and Turnstone and yesterday’s Sanderling.
Also present were 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Lapwing, the first
this autumn. Offshore there were 268 Common
Scoter, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 300 Kittiwake and a Roseate
Tern amongst 15 Common Tern. Other species of interest
included 11 Sand Martin and a Tufted Duck in off the sea, an
unusual midsummer record. (JEF)
Thursday 8th:
The strong winds of yesterday failed to produce
anything in the way of rarer seabirds with a single Little Tern amongst
20 odd Common Tern the highlight. The high tide was not much better with
a single Sanderling, 4 Dunlin, 14 Redshank and 365+ Curlew.
Sandwich Tern numbers continue to increase with over 250 present today.
(JEF)
Wednesday 7th:
Today’s weather meant little to be seen in the
way of passerines, offshore a single Manx Shearwater and 50+ Gannet
passed through with 300 Kittiwake, Arctic Skua, 17 Common Tern
also present. At the high tide there were 6 Dunlin and 2 Ringed
Plover with 120 Sandwich Tern. (JEF)
Tuesday 6th:
A
single Little Tern joined 23 Common Tern feeding offshore, but
there was no sign of any Roseates today. A lingering Arctic Skua was
also present.115 Common Scoter was a noticeable increase on recent
numbers. There are still very few waders on the high tide with only 3 Dunlin
and 3 Ringed Plover. Counts of
58 Carrion Crow and 29 Greater Black backed Gull can be expected
to increase over the coming weeks. (DJ)
Monday
5th:
Offshore the feeding flocks of yesterday were
much reduced, but 18 Common Tern were present along with a new Roseate
Tern. As the tide dropped these
moved into the estuary to join the increasing numbers (100+) of Sandwich
Tern roosting on the mudflats. The only new waders were 2 Common
Sandpiper on the railway embankment. There was little change elsewhere with
425 Curlew, 3 Ringed Plover plus single Dunlin and Whimbrel
over the high tide and family groups of Lesser and Common Whitethroat
feeding in woodland around the first pond. (JEF)
Sunday 4th:
Despite the early date, there were continuing
signs of migration with 3 Mistle Thrush overhead first thing. Other
migrants included another juvenile Redstart, with yesterday’s bird still
present. Two Sand Martin were also the first for several weeks. Offshore
there was no sign of the Roseate Tern but there were 40+ Sandwich Tern
(including several juveniles), 16 Common Tern and an Arctic Tern
(probably a first summer). These terns
were feeding in with a large group of 100+ Shag, 25 Guillemot, 5 Razorbill,
290+ Kittiwake and 200+ Black-headed Gulls. 42 Common Scoter flew west but the
most interesting movement were 4 Shoveler, which flew in from the east,
circled the estuary and saltmarsh before heading back out to sea and continuing
west. The high tide produced 31 Redshank, 531 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel,
a summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Dunlin. A single Stock
Dove flushed from the saltmarsh was the first record for the year. (JEF,
AK, NM & KR)
Saturday 3rd:
A juvenile Redstart behind the visitor
centre was the earliest ever autumn record here, also seen were two fledged
broods of Lesser Whitethroat and a juvenile Great spotted Woodpecker,
which flew in from the mainland at 5.30pm. The high tide produced 438 Curlew,
130 Oystercatcher and a single Bar-tailed Godwit, no smaller
waders were present. Offshore the first returning Roseate Tern was
present with c.15 Common Tern. (PC, JEF & KR)
Friday 2nd:
No reports.
Thursday 1st:
Today’s highlight, a Nuthatch was only
the eighth record for the reserve and the first in July. It was seen flying from sallows by the main
pond towards Dead Dolphin Wood at 8.30am but there was no further sign. This
was the first year tick for the site since 18 May! Also still present today a
single Treecreeper and two singing Lesser Whitethroat. (JEF &
NM)