Not a lot to sea

Given the impressive numbers and variety of birds off Dawlish Warren at the moment, I was hoping there would be something interesting on the sea off Teignmouth on Saturday morning. In the end it turned out to be rather disappointing with a 30-minute watch from the yacht club producing just one Great Northern Diver, one Great Crested Grebe and a/the Razorbill - the latter was off Sprey Point again and diving frequently, suggesting any oiling effects were minimal.

Later on a scan from the Salcombe Dip viewpoint revealed a group of 40 Teal circling over the estuary - by far the highest number here this winter. The flock split in two with one party heading up towards Coombe Cellars and the other pitching down on the lagoons behind Flow Point. I drove to Jack's Patch nursery and climbed through a tangle of undergrowth to get some nice views of the Teal before they took flight again.