Osprey

An early Osprey at Passage House this evening was very welcome after a somewhat slow start to spring. It hovered a few times over the channels before drifting down the estuary, mobbed by gulls. 

Osprey

Curlew ring recovery

In the absence of anything else interesting to report, the WWT have provided background details of a ringed Curlew at Passage House on Sunday morning. '2J' was a headstarted bird released on Dartmoor in 2024 and subsequently seen around the Tamar Estuary last year.

Late news from Teignmouth; two Red Kite N on 20th with one N next day and three Sandwich Tern offshore on 25th. 

WeBS

The wintering Spotted Redshank made an appearance at Passage House on Sunday morning, roosting with 41 Redshanks. Also at Passage House at least 61 Common Gulls was a good total for this stage in March. Other totals from around the estuary reflected departure to breeding grounds but included 40 Oystercatchers, 36 Turnstones, 14 Curlew, two Common Sandpipers, 20 Mute Swans,16 Shelducks, 10 Red-breasted Mergansers, 18 Little Egrets, five Cormorants and three Shags.

I somehow missed any Red Kites but good numbers of Common Buzzards and a couple of Sparrowhawks put on a good show overhead in the warm and sunny conditions.

Sand Martins

Great to see a dozen or so Sand Martins at Rackerhayes on Saturday morning, about a week earlier than normal. On the estuary still 16 Red-breasted Mergansers and another Goosander, with singles of Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe and Razorbill off Teignmouth seafront.

Goosanders

Despite the apparent suitability of the habitat, Goosanders are highly infrequent at Rackerhayes so the presence of three redheads this morning was noteworthy. Other waterfowl included 17 Tufted Ducks, six Great Crested Grebes, three Mandarins, one Shoveler and the usual Bar-headed Goose. 

Goosander

Egyptian Geese on the move

Three Egyptian Geese, the first on patch since February 2024, flew south past Teignmouth early morning, around 10-12 minutes after they had flown past Dawlish Warren from further east. Also offshore still at least two 2CY Little Gull and a Great Northern Diver.

Signs of spring over recent nights with Little Grebe and Moorhen calling over Teignmouth. 

Cattle Egret, Little Gulls

Not a bad end to the month, with the first Cattle Egret of the year at Teigngrace and as many as 15 Little Gulls (a mix of adults and first-winter birds) scattered along the seafront between Teignmouth pier and Sprey Point. At least 12 Great Northern Divers were also in the Teignmouth area. 

Little Gulls

Cattle Egret

Marsh Harrier

My long-overdue first patch Marsh Harrier, a 2cy, drifted over Passage House car park late this afternoon then proceeded to quarter the reedbed near Town Quay Bridge. One imagines if it wasn't for the A380 spanning the upper estuary this species would be a more regular visitor to the area...

Marsh Harrier

WeBS

Lower than expected numbers of birds on the estuary for this morning's count (postponed from last weekend when both high tides fell during hours of darkness), likely due to the recent turbulent conditions. Totals included 280 Oystercatchers, 49 Turnstones, 20 Snipe, 25 Redshanks, four Greenshanks, nine Avocets, six Ringed Plovers, two Common Sandpipers, 16 Shelducks, seven Mute Swans, five Little Grebes, three Great Northern Divers (two at Teignmouth and one at Flow Point) and one Great Crested Grebe.

Teigngrace, by contrast, was a hive of activity with the flooded fields holding a further two Greenshanks, a Green Sandpiper, six Mandarins, six Teal, two Shovelers, 100+ Mallards, 18 Mute Swans and a Bar-headed Goose with numerous Canada Geese. On the racecourse were two Lapwings (perhaps last winter's pair) and two Stonechats. At Teignmouth two Little Gulls continued to show around what's left of the pier.

Great Northern Diver

Little Gulls

One of the few upsides to this week's relentlessly wet and windy weather has been an arrival of Little Gulls to the region. Yesterday two appeared off Teignmouth seafront, and this morning up to four were present, so another lunch break dash was on the cards. I bumped into David Cope and we picked up several birds north of the yacht club; upon closer inspection there were seven adults getting blown about. I had to leave soon after arrival but David had another five adults and two first-winters at Sprey Point to go with the adult by the pier, so at least 15 Little Gulls were present along the stretch of coast for a time. Later Kev had an adult on the Salty with a remarkable 2250+ Herring Gulls.

Unusually, the wind has been blasting from a south-easterly direction for several days and is set to continue until at least tomorrow afternoon, so who knows what might turn up over the weekend.