Lockdown birding

I have now been placed on furlough leave, but intend to use my 'one form of exercise a day' to walk from my home in Kingsteignton down to Hackney Marshes, out to Passage House and back via the racecourse (with my binoculars of course) and will continue to post sightings here. The highlight of today's circuit was a Dunlin at Passage House; they have been scarce on the estuary so far this year. Also noted were 31 Curlew, 14 Redshanks, one Common Sandpiper, two Red-breasted Mergansers, three Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, two Reed Buntings, seven Chiffchaffs and two Blackcaps. Back at home there was a steady northbound trickle of Meadow Pipits and a couple of Lesser Black-back Gulls and Ravens overhead late morning.

Late news: on Sunday a pair of Stonechats and three Pheasants were on the racecourse.