Avocets

A near-full day on patch on Monday failed to add anything new to the year list but neverthess provided a good mix of species. A thorough check of the River Lemon in Newton Abbot early doors produced four Grey Wagtails but unfortunately no Dippers. Fields east of Bishopsteignton held two Peregrines (later seen attempting to take what looked like a Great Crested Grebe at Flow Point), 15 Cirl Buntings and c.100 Skylarks. From Salcombe Dip 23 Red-breasted Mergansers and four Great Crested Grebes were on the estuary, and off Teignmouth four Great Northern Divers and 10 Guillemots. Another Great Northern Diver was well up the estuary off Passage House, where 10 Avocets were roosting and two Firecrests were below the sewage works. Finally a Green Sandpiper was on one of the pools at Teigngrace. 

Twenty Tufted Ducks, four Great Crested Grebes, two Firecrests and a/the Bar-headed Goose were at Rackerhayes last Thursday.

WeBS

Today's core count priority date was scheduled with high tide over two hours before sunrise, which probably contributed to some disappointing numbers recorded for certain species. Totals included 286 Oystercatchers, 57 Turnstones, c.50 Curlew, 35 Redshanks, nine Greenshanks, 10 Dunlin, three Common Sandpipers, 18 Shelducks, 17 Red-breasted Mergansers, eight Mute Swans, seven Little Grebes, two Wigeon, one Great Crested Grebe and one Great Northern Diver (below Salcombe Dip layby). Elsewhere a Black Redstart was by the New Quay Inn at Teignmouth, a Kestrel was at Netherton and two Lapwings were on the racecourse.

A few bits from last Monday included a Peregrine and a Firecrest in Kingsteignton and this adult Mediterranean Gull at Passage House. 

On Monday 16th, two Black Redstart were around Bitton Avenue, just above Teignmouth docks.