Probable Pallid Swifts

An immensely frustrating morning on Saturday. After reports of at least one unidentified swift between Shaldon and Labrador Bay, I headed up to the high ground above Coast View holiday park - the same place where at least one Alpine Swift gave great views two years ago - and picked up two swifts high above the village (looking back towards Teignmouth). They looked good for Pallid Swift - apparent stockier structure, more deliberate gliding flight, paler brown colour (although this may have been accentuated by the low sunlight) - but they were just too distant to be 100% sure. They disappeared from view after a couple of minutes; I put the news out and several other birders soon arrived to look, but there was no sign of any swifts for the rest of the day.

Today's WeBS count featured a very high tide, and several species (notably Curlew and Greenshank) were not present at their usual roosts. Totals included 326 Oystercatchers, 54 Turnstones, c.30 Dunlin, just 26 Curlew, five Ringed Plovers, three Common Sandpipers, 15 Little Egrets, five Little Grebes, 22 Mute Swans, six Teal, four Shelducks, one Wigeon, 14 Cormorants, six Shags and two Kingfishers. It was good to see the first six Red-breasted Mergansers of the winter off Arch Brook. An influx of gulls to the Passage House area included a high count of 63 Great Black-backed Gulls along with 12 Common Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls and an adult Mediterranean Gull. On the sea three Great Northern Divers, seven Razorbills and a male Common Scoter were off Teignmouth seafront (a Black-throated Diver was reported on Thursday).

Triple Spoon

There was little overhead movement at Bundle Head first thing on Monday morning, so I changed plan and headed down to the estuary where presumably the same Spoonbill from earlier this month had been joined by a further two birds - my first multiple count of this species on patch. Thirteen Greenshanks was the only other notable tally.

WeBS

A nice variety but a feeling of winter encroaching on the estuary this weekend. Totals included 326 Oystercatchers, 47+ Curlew (an undercount due to roost location), 39 Turnstones, 24 Redshanks, 17 Greenshanks, five Ringed Plovers, four Dunlin, three Common Sandpipers, one Spoonbill (still in the Passage House area), c.50 Little Egrets, nine Cormorants, seven Shags, 48 Mallards, 21 Mute Swans, six Teal, five Little Grebes, four Canada Geese, and two Kingfishers. Notable passerines included two Rock Pipits on Flow Point and at least one Redpoll over Bishopsteignton.

Cormorant

Spoonbill returns

The Spoonbill was back on the estuary yesterday lunchtime and showed really well in the channel right outside Passage House Inn. Hopefully it will now stick around for a few days at least.

Spoonbill & Cattle Egret

A Spoonbill reported at Passage House early afternoon remained until 2.30 when it, a juvenile, was seen flying over the marshes before heading NE towards Kingsteignton. A Cattle Egret amongst 16 Little Egret added to the southern feel despite the conditions.

Cattle Egret - Kevin Rylands

Also present 150+ Black-headed Gull, 51 Mallard and two Common Sandpiper. 

More Curlew Sands

A quick pre-work check of Passage House from the car park yesterday morning produced two Curlew Sandpipers, two Dunlins, three Greenshanks and a Common Sandpiper on the spit.

Dunlin and two Curlew Sandpipers

Curlew Sandpiper

On the falling tide this morning a Curlew Sandpiper dropped in to Passage House where it foraged for a short while before departing down the estuary with a Dunlin. It was also a rare double-godwit day for the Teign with individuals of both Black-tailed Godwit and Bar-tailed Godwit present amongst the Curlew flock. 

Curlew Sandpiper (c)

Caspian Gull

A 1cy Caspian Gull was on the The Salty this evening with at least 950 Herring and 25 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Good to join in with the recent influx on the Axe & Exe estuaries, now for a Glossy Ibis...

 Also present 275 Oystercatcher and two Curlew.

Red-necked Grebe

The surprise discovery of a Red-necked Grebe off Teignmouth early afternoon saved an otherwise disappointing seawatch. Frequenting an area between the yellow buoys north of the yacht club, it wasn't too far out but didn't show especially well due to the choppy conditions and frequent dives. It was possible to make out some faint stripes on the face, suggesting this was a first-winter bird.

Earlier at Passage House nine Greenshanks, four Redshanks, four Ringed Plovers, four Dunlins, a Kingfisher and a Common Gull were noted.

Red-necked Grebe

Common Gull

Yellow-legged Gulls

An effort to scan various gull flocks around the estuary this afternoon paid off with a couple of first-winter Yellow-legged Gulls; a fairly hefty bird on The Salty, and a somewhat smaller proportioned individual on the racecourse. Earlier in the day an adult Mediterranean Gull was off Passage House.