June 2008

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Report sightings

 

 

 

Monday 30th:

 

A quiet end to the month with just one Common Tern offshore with 80 Kittiwake and the Cirl Bunting to report.

 

 

Sunday 29th:

 

Back to a typically quiet June day. In the estuary there were two Mediterranean Gull (adult and first summer) with 372 Curlew, five Whimbrel and four Dunlin. Elsewhere five Common Tern and a Great-crested Grebe were offshore, the pair of Little Grebe were feeding two young on the Main Pond and the Cirl Bunting still singing along the Back Path.

 

 

Saturday 28th:

 

Somewhat against the recent run there were three new species for the year today. Offshore there was a distant Storm Petrel south, Coal Tit was around Dead Dolphin Wood and a Barnacle Goose was in Shutterton Creek. Five Common Tern was the only other news reported.

 

 

Friday 27th:

 

A Roseate Tern was offshore with 12 Guillemot, 10 Common Tern and a first summer Red-throated Diver. The Cirl Bunting still singing along the Back Path was the only other news received.

 

 

Thursday 26th:

 

Very quiet with just four Common Scoter and two 10 Common Tern offshore and only two Dunlin over the high tide.

 

 

Wednesday 25th:

 

Offshore there were 10 Common Tern but no sign of any scoter. Elsewhere Little Grebe were feeding young on the Main Pond and the Slavonian Grebe and the first juvenile Black-headed Gull in the estuary.

 

 

Tuesday 24th:

 

A case of no change with the Surf Scoter distantly offshore with a female Common Scoter, the Cirl Bunting singing along the Back Path and the Slavonian Grebe in the estuary with three Redshank.

 

 

Monday 23rd:

 

The Surf Scoter was again offshore this morning and although closer in, it is still best described as distant. Also offshore a Great Northern Diver and 14 Common Tern with 21 Common Scoter heading south. Elsewhere the Cirl Bunting was singing along the Back Path, the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary, 176 Curlew were on the Railway Saltmarsh, with other waders limited to 340 Oystercatcher, eight Redshank and a Dunlin, and a Wheatear was in front of the hide.

 

 

Sunday 22nd:

 

The Surf Scoter was again present early morning although still very distant, it flew off east with a Common Scoter and there was no further sign. A Manx Shearwater south was the only other record of note offshore, although a Roseate Tern was off Dawlish later on. Elsewhere the Cirl Bunting was singing along the Back Path, the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary and the WeBS count produced 164 Curlew, 10 Grey Plover and a Whimbrel.

 

 

Saturday 21st:

 

The Surf Scoter, possibly a moulting adult, remained very distant offshore with a single Common Scoter and viewing was difficult in the choppy conditions. Feeding offshore there were 39+ Common and two Roseate Tern whilst 35 Manx Shearwater, 12 Common Scoter and a Pomarine Skua flew south. Elsewhere the site's 13th Wood Warbler was briefly in song in Dead Dolphin Wood early morning, an Arctic Skua flew south down the estuary, the Cirl Bunting was singing along the Back Path, the Slavonian Grebe and two Redshank were in the estuary,  and a Hobby flew over the Entrance Bushes.

 

 

Friday 20th:

 

An unexpected highlight was an immature male Surf Scoter offshore with a single Common Scoter. Both birds were however always very distant. Also offshore one Roseate, a Little and 14 Common Tern. Elsewhere the Cirl Bunting is still singing along the Back Path and the Slavonian Grebe was in the estuary with nine Grey Plover, a Dunlin and a Knot.

 

 

Thursday 19th:

 

Further signs of autumn with an influx of 90 Black-headed Gull replacing the Kittiwake offshore. With them were two Mediterranean Gull, an adult and a first summer, 50 Sandwich, eight Common and a Little Tern. Despite the overnight winds movement was limited to c40 Kittiwake south. In the estuary the summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe was off the railway, 154 Curlew were in the saltmarsh and 411 Oystercatcher, eight Grey Plover, a Dunlin and a Knot were in the Bight. Elsewhere the Cirl Bunting is still singing along the Back Path.

 

 

Wednesday 18th:

 

A brief Roseate Tern was offshore with 49 Sandwich and one Common Tern, 100+ Kittiwake and six Fulmar.

 

 

Tuesday 17th:

 

Autumn has arrived before midsummer with a count of 120 Curlew on the Railway Saltmarsh. The June peak has been increasing over the last 15 years, perhaps indicating an increasing nest failure rate. Also in the estuary 14 Dunlin, 10 Sanderling and a Bar-tailed Godwit with a male Peregrine on Bull Hill and three Common Tern offshore.

 

 

Monday 16th:

 

The Cirl Bunting continues to hold territory but other news was limited to 10 Common Tern offshore and seven Dunlin, six Sanderling and a Ringed Plover over the high tide.

 

Cirl Bunting 15/06/08 © John Fortey 

 

 

Sunday 15th:

 

Large numbers of Herring Gull were still feeding offshore along with 17 Common Tern, 40+ Kittiwake, 30 Guillemot and 20 Gannet. Elsewhere the Cirl Bunting was still singing along the Back Path, a flock of c20 Long-tailed Tit were mobile around the reserve and 15 Swift flew low into an oncoming rain front.

 

 

Saturday 14th:

 

Numbers of feeding seabirds offshore increased during the day with late afternoon counts including a Roseate, two Little, 16+ Common and c50 Sandwich Tern, along with 120 Kittiwake, 100+ Shag, 30+ Gannet , 20+ Guillemot and an Arctic Skua. Also offshore 50+ Common Scoter and a Great Northern Diver. Elsewhere the Cirl Bunting was still singing along the Back Path, a juvenile Great-spotted Woodpecker was in Dead Dolphin Wood, a sinensis Cormorant was in the Bight and over the high tide there were 23 Sanderling and six Dunlin.

 

Cirl Bunting 14/06/08

 

 

Friday 13th:

 

At least one Balearic Shearwater remained offshore with seven Common Tern. Elsewhere just 10 Dunlin were present over the high tide and a Brent Goose was in the estuary.

 

 

Thursday 12th:

 

More of the same with two Balearic Shearwater, a first summer Little Gull and two Common Tern offshore with 100+ Kittiwake. 31 Dunlin and 11 Sanderling were present over the high tide. Two Buzzard were overhead with a single Collared Dove and 10 Swift.

 

 

Wednesday 11th:

 

Two unseasonal drake Shoveler on sandbars offshore was the only news received for today.

 

 

Tuesday 10th:

 

The midsummer doldrums have arrived early with the only news to report a Cuckoo in Greenland Lake and 14 Dunlin, three Sanderling and two Grey Plover over the high tide. elsewhere Reed Warbler have fledged young at the Main Pond and a Little Owl feather was found near the First Pond. This species has not been recorded on site since 2004.

 

 

Monday 9th:

 

No news was received for today.

 

 

Sunday 8th:

 

At least one Balearic Shearwater was again offshore with 120 Kittiwake, 110 Shag, 50 Gannet, 20 Sandwich Tern and two Great-crested Grebe. Also offshore two Great Northern Diver circled high and eventually headed inland east of Orcombe Point and a pair of Shelduck were leading at least 10 chicks across the bay whilst attempting to dodge the jet skis. The Slavonian Grebe was again in the estuary with a Red-breasted Merganser, c70 Curlew, 38 Sanderling, 13 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, eight Grey Plover and a Whimbrel. Elsewhere the first Stock Dove of the year and a late Yellow Wagtail flew east, a Garden Warbler along the Back Path was the first ever early June record, a Peregrine was present early morning and the Cirl Bunting was still singing along the Back Path.

 

 

Saturday 7th:

 

At least one Balearic Shearwater and a single Common Tern were offshore. The Slavonian Grebe was again in the estuary with 28 Sanderling, 10 Dunlin and just three Ringed Plover. Elsewhere a Cuckoo was again around the reserve and a Collared Dove passed south.

 

 

Friday 6th:

 

Two Balearic Shearwater remained offshore with at least one Arctic Skua. Elsewhere a Cuckoo was in the Bight and later over the Dune Ridge, only the second record of the year.

 

 

Thursday 5th:

 

This morning two Little Tern were offshore along with 20 Manx Shearwater, 16 Common Tern and an Arctic Skua. Elsewhere the male Cirl Bunting was still holding territory and 10 Grey Plover and five Dunlin were in the estuary.

 

 

Wednesday 4th:

 

A feeding flock offshore mid evening included three Balearic Shearwater, a first summer Little Gull, two dark phase Arctic Skua, 200+ Kittiwake, 40 Gannet, 30 Sandwich and 20 Common Tern and six Guillemot. Also offshore 25 Common Scoter flew south. Over the high tide there were 70 Curlew, 20 Dunlin, 18 Sanderling, 13 Ringed and 10 Grey Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel.  Elsewhere the male Cirl Bunting was again singing along the back path near the Back Meadow and the summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe was in Shutterton Creek, the first June record for the reserve.
 

 

Tuesday 3rd:

 

The undoubted highlight was the first record of Red-footed Falcon for the reserve. A first-summer male  flew in from the south before circling over the reserve briefly and headed off high back  to the south. Incredibly several hours later presumably the same bird was seen to arrive low over the sea before heading north past Exmouth. The only other news received was of two Balearic Shearwater still offshore.

 

 

Monday 2nd:

 

No news was received for today.

 

 

Sunday 1st:

 

Two Roseate Tern were offshore with two Balearic Shearwater, a Pomarine and two Arctic Skua. Elsewhere the Cirl Bunting was again present, a Raven flew over and two Bar-headed Geese were in Shutterton Creek.

 

 

 

 

 

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