Swifts

The Kingsteignton Swifts have arrived back early this year, with the first bird reported at the church on 18th April, nine days earlier than last year. On Saturday up to 10 House Martins over the town were hopefully a sign that the small local breeding population has returned once more.

WeBS

A variety of waders on the estuary on Saturday morning comprised three Little Ringed Plovers, four Common Sandpipers, 25 Turnstones, 66 Oystercatchers, three Curlew, two Whimbrel and one Redshank. Other totals included four Sandwich Terns, 15 Shelducks, 14 Mute Swans, 13 Little Egrets, eight Cormorants and one Common Gull. A female Wheatear and a singing Sedge Warbler were on the racecourse.

Warblers, LRPs

Three singing Reed Warblers were back on territory at Hackney Marshes this morning, but there was not a lot else of note there and nothing on the adjacent racecourse. Rackerhayes was also pretty quiet except for three migrant Willow Warblers. A Little Ringed Plover was off Passage House car park, with three present there yesterday. 

Little Ringed Plover

Coot

Sparrowhawk (4-Apr)