Blackcap

Not a great deal to report over the last week. Rackerhayes held a male Shoveler on the 19th, and a male Blackcap was by the entrance gates there this morning. The Bar-headed Goose continues to associate with the Canada Geese, but Tufted Duck numbers have declined with just six present today. Many of the resident woodland species are now approaching full song, with one Song Thrush doing an excellent impression of a Willow Tit as part of its repertoire (the latter's cousin the Marsh Tit continues to be conspicuous by its absence).

WeBS, Goosander

Another dull grey morning, this time with a cold easterly wind, but fortunately plenty of birds on the estuary including a few bits of quality. It was nice to catch up with the female Goosander which has been present in the Passage House area since late January, often showing just alongside the car park. The Spotted Redshank was on Flow Point at high tide, alongside a good count of 18 Teal. Other totals included 246 Oystercatchers, 67 Curlew (the best count this winter), 21 Turnstones, c.30 Redshanks, six Greenshanks, six Ringed Plovers, five Avocets, two Common Sandpipers, one Dunlin, 36 Shelducks, 25 Red-breasted Mergansers, 24 Mallards, seven Little Grebes, five Canada Geese, four Mute Swans, six Little Egrets, five Shags, four Cormorants and one Great Crested Grebe.  Not a great number of gulls but eight Common Gulls, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull provided some interest.

Elsewhere today 28 Mute Swans, 70 Canada Geese and the Bar-headed Goose were at Teigngrace, and six Fieldfares and two Lapwings were on the racecourse. A Black Redstart has been present in the Morrisons/Broadmeadow area of Teignmouth over the past week. 

Goosander

Common Sandpiper

Jetty Marsh

A trip to Newton Abbot hospital on Saturday afternoon was tied in with a rare visit to the adjacent northern fringes of Jetty Marsh. Four Teal, two Chiffchaffs, two Stonechats, a Grey Wagtail and a Jay were noted, with 22 Mute Swans and 28 Canada Geese present in nearby Teigngrace fields. 

This morning's very high tide pushed almost everything off Passage House but eight Avocets and 16 Redshanks were clinging on, and one of the Little Grebes has developed breeding plumage already. Two Lapwings and two Stonechats continue to winter on the racecourse.

Little Grebe