Water water everywhere

(Update: News from Kev this afternoon of a 1st winter Iceland Gull briefly on The Salty. This, along with the Glaucous Gull still reported off Netherton means it was a double white winged gull day on patch!!! Laurie)

Parts of the cycle path and most of the meadows at Hackney Marshes were under water this morning, the first time I've seen it like this. The flooded pools on the racecourse were attracting an interesting mix of birds, including 22 Lapwing, a Grey Heron, a Water Rail and a Common Gull, with eight Mistle Thrush and a Kingfisher on nearby fenceposts and two Kestrel overhead. Hackney Marshes held two, possibly three vocal Cetti's Warbler, two Reed Bunting, two more Water Rail and singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Siskin in the wooded area near the road.

Wellies required

After a successful trip to Brixham Harbour which yielded White-billed, Black-throated and numerous Great Northern Divers, Red-necked Grebe, Black Guillemot and Purple Sandpipers, I stopped off at Teignmouth where four Great Northern Divers were on the sea north of the pier; this would be a decent count if it weren't for the exceptional numbers currently residing in Torbay!