Evening birding returns

The increased daylight meant a chance to go birding post-rugby. A further crake-hunt at Passage House returned the expected blank but a Shag on the river was a rare sight this far up the estuary. Also present an Avocet and at least six Common Sandpiper, an early Spring passage?

At the opposite end of the estuary three Great Northern Diver and 30 roosting Red-breasted Merganser were offshore from Teignmouth.

Another Firecrest

A check of Rackerhayes before work on Friday produced a Firecrest on the edge of the woods, the male Scaup still, 24 Tufted Ducks, a pair of displaying Great Crested Grebes, two Shovelers and two Roe Deer.

WeBS

A break in the weather this morning allowed for a thorough count of the estuary between Passage House and Salcombe Dip, though there was nothing unusual of note. Totals included 232 Oystercatchers, 81 Curlew, 30+ Redshanks, six Ringed Plovers, three Greenshanks, two Common Sandpipers, 54 Shelducks (including 50 together on Flow Point), 27+ Red-breasted Mergansers, nine Mute Swans, two Little Grebes, 14 Cormorants, six Little Egrets and singles of Grey Heron and Kingfisher.

The calm before the storm

In sharp contrast to today, Saturday morning was sunny and calm and there was a notable increase in birdsong locally, including two Skylarks high above the racecourse and three Reed Buntings at Hackney Marshes.

On Friday the Scaup was still on Rackerhayes with 29 Tufted Ducks, and a Firecrest was around the Hackney Marshes car park.

Scaup relocated

A male Scaup - presumably the Decoy bird - was present on Rackerhayes first thing on Monday morning alongside 30 Tufted Ducks, enjoying the peace and quiet and lack of watercraft. No sign of the Goldeneye but Shoveler numbers had increased to eight, and there were three Great Crested Grebes.

Around patch

Five Great Northern Divers were offshore at Teignmouth this morning with two Great Crested Grebes, 30+ Common Scoter and six Razorbill. Five Red-throated Divers also flew south.

At flow point, a pair of Teal flew up on arrival and eight Ringed Plover roosted with the Oystercatchers.

No sign of the Scaup on Decoy now, where Tufted Ducks numbered just nine; likely as a consequence of the boating that was taking place on the lake.