WeBS

Nothing outstanding to report on the estuary on Monday morning, though there were some good counts with 109 Redshanks and 74 Great Black-backed Gulls being most notable. Other totals between Passage House and Salcombe Dip included 320 Oystercatchers, 62 Curlew, 14 Dunlin, seven Greenshanks, seven Lapwings, six Ringed Plovers, four Common Sandpipers, two Turnstones, two Snipe, 21 Shelducks, 15 Red-breasted Mergansers, 10 Mute Swans, four Little Grebes, 12 Shags, eight Cormorants and singles of Kingfisher and Water Rail. A further 11 Turnstones were at Teignmouth on Sunday.

A check of other sites around the patch turned up a few bits and pieces. Off Teignmouth a Brent Goose on the sea towards Holcombe was a belated first for the year; also present four Common Scoters, a Red-throated Diver and a Mediterranean Gull. A vocal Firecrest was in the woods at Decoy Country Park, with 16 Tufted Ducks on the lake. Finally two Green Sandpipers were still hanging about at Teigngrace along with eight Lapwings.

Spoonbill

First reported yesterday, this Spoonbill was on the estuary a few hundred metres east of Passage House first thing this morning, although it wasn't seen during the afternoon. Yesterday while scanning for the Spoonbill Kev had a Firecrest opposite the Salcombe Dip layby.

Green Sandpipers

Three Green Sandpipers were in one of the flooded fields at Teigngrace this afternoon; this is my first record of multiple individuals of this species on patch. Also noted were six Little Egrets, three Lapwings, two Mute Swans, two Grey Wagtails and a Stonechat. Earlier a walk around the edges of Teignmouth port failed to produce any Black Redstarts but a Firecrest was heard calling from vegetation on the opposite side of the railway.