Red Kite

A Red Kite was picked up circling to the north of Newton Abbot late this morning before gaining height and heading off to the west.

Bundle Head

Very quiet along the coast yesterday morning - just a handful of Linnets and Whitethroats, the resident raptors overhead and a Shelduck that flew into the estuary from the direction of Torbay. So quiet that I took to photographing the scenery and botany with this Early Purple Orchid (left) the highlight.

Warblers and WeBS

Plenty of birdsong at Hackney Marshes this morning including ten Reed Warblers, three Sedge Warblers, five Chiffchaffs, four Blackcaps and two Reed Buntings; futher Sedge Warblers were singing on the racecourse and at Passage House. On the estuary between here and Flow Point there was little to get excited about: 46 Oystercatchers, three Whimbrel, one Curlew, five Sandwich Terns, 11 Little Egrets, 17 Shelducks, 24 Mute Swans and a female Mallard with five young.

Sandwich Terns

At least ten Sandwich Terns were between Passage House and Flow Point this afternoon. Waders included two Whimbrel, two Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank and nine Oystercatcher.