WeBS

An adult Spoonbill east of Passage House was the highlight of this morning's count. This is now the second consecutive year that at least three birds have graced the estuary, following two in late December / early January and three last October. 

Totals from around the estuary this weekend included 285 Oystercatchers, c.30 Curlews (probably more but disturbance to roosts was high), 13 Greenshanks, nine Turnstones, five Common Sandpipers, four Dunlins, three Ringed Plovers, two Whimbrels, one Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Little Egrets, 20 Mallards, 19 Mute Swans, one Shelduck, 400 Black-headed Gulls, one Mediterranean Gull and one Kingfisher.

This evening Kev had a couple of Balearic Shearwaters south past Teignmouth.

Spoonbill

Mediterranean Gull

Shark!

A fairly run-of-the-mill morning in the Passage House area was interrupted by the wholly unexpected sighting of a shark swimming on the far side of the estuary! After sharing a short video via WhatsApp groups, thoughts on identification included a type of Smooth-Hound and even Basking Shark, but it seems most likely to have been a Tope Shark. What it was doing 5km up the estuary was a mystery, however it appeared to be swimming freely so perhaps it followed prey in. 

Birds were very much secondary but did include 11 Greenshanks and six Whimbrels.

Marsh Tit

Having drawn a blank on Marsh Tit at Rackerhayes over the past year, it was equally surprising and pleasing to hear one along the nearby section of the Stover Canal trail this morning. The adjacent clay pit held a/the Bar-headed Goose, c.300 Canada Geese, 10+ Mallards, a Cormorant, a Kingfisher, two Grey Herons, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Great Black-backed Gull. 

Late news for 30 July: 14 Dunlins at Passage House.