Teign Birds
Monday, 11 August 2025
WeBS
Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Goosanders
A group of eight juvenile Goosanders on the estuary just east of Passage House this afternoon was unexpected and by far the largest number I've recorded on patch. Perhaps they are all siblings that fledged on the upper reaches of the Teign this summer. Also in the Passage House area 10 Greenshanks, nine Whimbrels, four Common Sandpipers, two Green Sandpipers (flushed below the car park), two juvenile Shelducks and an adult Mediterranean Gull.
Goosanders |
Monday, 14 July 2025
WeBS
A pair of Black Swans at Passage House added a touch of antipodean exoticism to yesterday's count, which was otherwise unremarkable. Totals included 74 Oystercatchers, 41 Curlew, eight Greenshanks, six Common Sandpipers, one Whimbrel, one Black-tailed Godwit, 23 Little Egrets, 221 Canada Geese, 60 Mute Swans, 40 Mallards, two Shags, two Mediterranean Gulls (juveniles), one Sandwich Tern and one Kingfisher.
Black Swans |
Sunday, 6 July 2025
Manxies, YLG
A loose flock of c.200 Manx Shearwaters was circling back and forth off Teignmouth between 07:45 and 08:15 this morning, frequently alighting on the sea and then taking flight en masse. Also four adult Mediterranean Gulls flew south, and two Arctic Skuas were together harassing an unfortunate Kittiwake. Yesterday Kev had at least one juvenile Yellow-legged Gull on the Salty.
Monday, 30 June 2025
Passage House waders
Signs of return wader migration getting underway this morning at Passage House. It was good to see an adult and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, indicating successful breeding nearby, but a summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwit also stood out; most godwits that appear the Teign are in non-breeding dress. Also present three Common Sandpipers, two Redshanks, 16 Curlew and a Whimbrel.
Black-tailed Godwit |
Little Ringed Plover (adult) |
Sunday, 15 June 2025
WeBS
June is usually the dullest month in the WeBS calendar and this morning's count proved no exception, with 208 Canada Geese (including a pair with three young), 47 Mute Swans, 20 Mallards, eight Shelducks (plus two young), 14 Oystercatchers, one Curlew, 14 Little Egrets, three Grey Herons, 22 Black-headed Gulls, four Cormorants and one Shag noted. A Firecrest was heard singing in a new location, further highlighting this species' change in fortune locally.
Monday, 26 May 2025
WeBS
Oystercatcher |
Monday, 5 May 2025
Cattle Egret, Pale-bellied Brent
Whitethroat |
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Early Purple Orchid |
Saturday, 26 April 2025
Wheatear-fest
It's been many years since there was last a double-figure fall of Wheatears on patch, so today's arrival of at least 11 on the racecourse was most welcome. The majority of birds were on the northern side (visible from Leisure Lounge cafe), wisely avoiding the area being used by model aeroplane enthusiasts. Unsurprisingly not a lot else noted there but two Whimbrels and five Common Sandpipers were at Passage House later in the afternoon.
Sunday, 20 April 2025
Mandarins, Barnacle Goose
After a promising start to spring it's been a poor month so far for migrants, and it was left to three male Mandarins looking somewhat out of place on the Teigngrace pools to provide some value this morning. Reed Warblers are now back at Hackney Marshes and Jetty Marsh, with a male Reed Bunting at the former and a couple of Willow Warblers singing at the latter.
Last week Robin had a Barnacle Goose among Canada Geese on the clay pit between Rackerhayes and the Stover Canal, but there was no sign of it today.
Reed Bunting |