The highlight of a delayed WeBS count yesterday morning was a Little Ringed Plover on the spit at Passage House, although three Great Crested Grebes off Flow Point was perhaps more unexpected for the time of year. Other totals included 13 Oystercatchers, seven Cormorants, four Sandwich Terns, 45 Mute Swans, 42 Canada Geese, 36 Shelducks (plus seven young with one pair), 10 Mallards and a/the Bar-headed Goose.
Today a Red Kite flew north over Kingsteignton just after 10:00.
During a two hour seawatch this morning between 09:30 and 11:30, a pale-morph Arctic Skua flew south along with 110+ Manx Shearwater, c.20 Kittiwake, c.20 Fulmar, 200+ Guillemots and three Common Scoter. Three Great Northern Diver (including two in summer-plumage) were on the sea a fair way out, and four others flew south.
Kev reported a flock of 12 Sanderling and five Dunlin on The Salty on Monday after a heavy rain shower. Also a first summer Mediterranean Gull there today with 725 Herring Gull.
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| Fulmar |
Quantity over quality was the order of this morning's seawatch (07:05 - 08:45). Guillemots were a major feature with numerous small groups and occasional parties of up to 20 loafing on the sea and flying south, with 200+ recorded in total. Kittiwakes (c.100) were also on the move, joined by smaller numbers of Gannets (including two very close in) and a handful of Fulmars. Also noted were a Great Skua (flew north then lingered off Holcombe), a Common Scoter, two Manx Shearwaters, three Dunlin, nine Swallows and three Swifts.
News filtering through from social media indicated that there was an arrival of passerine migrants elsewhere along the South Devon coast, and Laurie suggested that the racecourse might hold something interesting. This proved to be a great shout as a pair of cracking male Whinchats were discovered early afternoon along the southern side by the footpath. Also present were four Whimbrels foraging near the grandstand.
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| Gannet |
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| Whinchat |
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| Whinchats |
A short seawatch on Monday between 13:30 and 15:00 was quiet, with five Sandwich Terns, 22 Fulmars, one Curlew and approximately 80-90 Manx Shearwaters, many of which kept streaming back north in the direction of the wind.
