It's been many years since there was last a double-figure fall of Wheatears on patch, so today's arrival of at least 11 on the racecourse was most welcome. The majority of birds were on the northern side (visible from Leisure Lounge cafe), wisely avoiding the area being used by model aeroplane enthusiasts. Unsurprisingly not a lot else noted there but two Whimbrels and five Common Sandpipers were at Passage House later in the afternoon.
After a promising start to spring it's been a poor month so far for migrants, and it was left to three male Mandarins looking somewhat out of place on the Teigngrace pools to provide some value this morning. Reed Warblers are now back at Hackney Marshes and Jetty Marsh, with a male Reed Bunting at the former and a couple of Willow Warblers singing at the latter.
Last week Robin had a Barnacle Goose among Canada Geese on the clay pit between Rackerhayes and the Stover Canal, but there was no sign of it today.
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| Reed Bunting |
Sunday's count provided a couple of spring migrant year ticks with two Whimbrels on Flow Point (later at Passage House) and two Sandwich Terns, but there wasn't a lot else about, perhaps due to the preceding long spell of settled sunny weather. Totals included 40 Turnstones, 25 Oystercatchers, four Greenshanks, two Common Sandpipers, 12 Little Egrets, four Grey Herons, seven Cormorants, four Shags, 18 Shelducks, six Mute Swans, two Teal and a lone Red-breasted Merganser.
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| Distant Whimbrels |
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| Wren (6 April) |
