Patch mega...

 ...is sadly now the status of Cuckoo on patch, one calling at dusk from Broad Meadow, Teignmouth on 2 May was just the third record in the last ten years. 

Nocturnal wader migration was also notable on the 2nd with a Whimbrel calling over Teignmouth early morning and a Bar-tailed Godwit over late evening. On the dropping overnight tide both Whimbrel and Bar-tailed Godwit were vocal on or over The Salty with a couple of Dunlin and a Sanderling. The latter a scarce bird on the Teign, but the second this year after one at Passage House on 12 April. 

The bank holiday weather did not finish there, with the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year singing occasionally in Bitton Park, Teignmouth on the morning of the 3rd and the year's first Swift over the town

LRP, Red Kite

A couple of patch scarcities from the past few days: on Tuesday Kev had a Little Ringed Plover at Passage House, and yesterday a Red Kite went south over Kingsteignton at 10:35 in the company of four Buzzards.

House Martins are back over the centre of Kingsteignton but no sign of any Swifts yet this morning around the church. Greenfinch numbers seem to be up slightly this year; hopefully the start of a recovery from their recent decline.

A darker shade of pale

The Spotted Redshank remains on the estuary and is moulting rapidly into breeding plumage. Its favoured area has seemingly been finally pinned down with it feeding on the north shore between Loxton's Steps and Passage House. 

A Red-legged Partridge at Netherton was a scarce patch bird although no doubt released; at least the Golden & Lady Amhurst's Pheasants had the presence of mind to escape!

Elsewhere Whitethroat and House Martin were at Coombe Cellars and a Great Northern Diver was off Teignmouth with at least 48 Manx Shearwater. 

WeBS

Totals from Passage House, Flow Point and Teignmouth on a disturbance-affected Sunday morning count included 31 Turnstones, 12 Oystercatchers, five Greenshanks, four Redshanks, two Common Sandpipers, two Whimbrel, one Curlew, four Sandwich Terns, eight Little Egrets, 24 Shelducks, 24 Mute Swans and three Red-breasted Mergansers.

On Thursday a fine male Wheatear was around the car park at Passage House.

Grey Wagtail

Migrants and raptors

Early rain dropped a small selection of summer visitors into Rackerhayes on Friday morning, with eight Sand Martins, seven Swallows and a House Martin over the main lake, and four Willow Warblers singing in the bushes alongside several (presumably now territorial) Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.

Brighter weather on Tuesday saw birds of prey take to the wing, with two Peregrines, a Sparrowhawk and several Buzzards high over Kingsteignton.

Team Osprey

An Osprey put up all the gulls on The Salty as it flew up the estuary past Teignmouth mid morning, disrupting a Teams call, almost simultaneously a Black Redstart popped up on a neighbouring roof top.

On Saturday the first Sandwich Tern of the year was off the Back Beach, Teignmouth and last Tuesday a Coot was a scarce nocturnal migrant over Teignmouth.

White Wag

A smart White Wagtail was on Shaldon golf course this morning alongside two (presumably resident) Pied Wagtails. Under clear skies there was little at Bundle Head but singles of Stonechat, Kestrel, Mistle Thrush, Bullfinch and Chiffchaff were noted.

Spotted Redshank, WeBS

A Spotted Redshank at Passage House was the undoubted highlight of this morning's count, although unfortunately it remained quite distant. It wasn't seen during the middle part of the day but appeared again this evening as the tide rose. Other waders were quite well represented with 78 Oystercatchers, 43 Curlew, 31 Redshanks, four Greenshanks, two Black-tailed Godwits and a Bar-tailed Godwit between Passage House and Flow Point, and 33 Turnstones at Teignmouth. Other totals included 19 Canada Geese, 18 Shelducks, 16 Mute Swans, 10 Red-breasted Mergansers, 10 Little Egrets, 11 Cormorants and eight Shags.

On Friday five Mandarins were at Rackerhayes along with two Blackcaps.

Spotted Redshank

Cormorants

PFG pics

The Pink-footed Goose is still present at Teigngrace and yesterday morning I managed to get a few shots of it from beside the level crossing. Also a Crossbill flew over.

Wink-wink

A Pink-footed Goose was with 180 Canada Geese at Teigngrace this evening, a great find by Tony Blunden. Presumably the bird from Exminster Marshes.

Update on the Netherton pheasants, 12 Golden and a Lady Amherst's Pheasant escaped locally six weeks ago, a couple have since been recaptured.