Balearic, Great Skua, Med Gulls

A short pre-work seawatch with Laurie and Adam this morning from 06:50 - 08:00 produced singles of Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Common Scoter, Whimbrel, Balearic Shearwater and Manx Shearwater all heading south, with a further 30-40 shearwaters much further out are likely to have been a mix of the latter two. Also noted were at least 14 Mediterranean Gulls (mostly juveniles), two distant skua sp. (probable Greats), 20+ Fulmars, 30+ Kittiwakes and four Sandwich Terns.

Arctic Skuas

Seawatching from the yacht club from 15:50 - 17:20 was pretty dire (as was the case at other sites nearby) but did produce two dark phase Arctic Skuas, one of which lingered and harassed a couple of Herring Gulls. Several loose groups of small shearwaters were moving back and forth on the horizon; those close enough to identify were all Manx Shearwaters. An adult Mediterranean Gull flew south; heading in the opposite direction were two Fulmars and a commic tern.

Belated WeBS

An adult Black-tailed Godwit at Passage House was the pick of the waders on the estuary this weekend. Other totals included 107 Oystercatchers, 54 Curlew, nine Greenshanks, eight Whimbrels, five Common Sandpipers, 30 Little Egrets, 12 Cormorants, 57 Canada Geese, 38 Mute Swans, 600+ Black-headed Gulls, a Sandwich Tern and two pairs of Shelducks with three and five young,

Gadwalls, Med Gull, WeBS

A better than average June survey today, undertaken during the evening for a change. A pair of Gadwalls that flew down the estuary and landed close to Flow Point was a surprise for mid-summer; somewhat more seasonal was a first-summer Mediterranean Gull in with about 30 Black-headed Gulls at Passage House. Curlew numbers have begun to increase with nine at Flow Point, surely failed breeders this early. Three pairs of Shelducks were seen with two, eight and 14 young, with a further ten adults noted at Flow Point. Other totals included 29 Oystercatchers, 15 Little Egrets, 27 Mute Swans, 51 Canada Geese and three Cormorants.

A brief look off Teignmouth seafront revealed little other than a close-in Grey Seal and a few distant Gannets.

WeBS

A Whimbrel and five Ringed Plovers between Flow Point and Salcombe Dip hinted at some ongoing wader passage on the estuary this morning. Other counts included 31 Oystercatchers, one Curlew, 24 Shelducks, 21 Mute Swans, 14 Little Egrets, two Grey Herons, three Shags, 50 Herring Gulls and one Black-headed Gull.

Reed Warbler influx

At least 10 Reed Warblers were scattered about Hackney Marshes this morning; several were foraging in scrub away from wetland areas, suggesting they were probable migrants rather than local breeders. Just one Sedge Warbler was noted with them. Overhead a Whimbrel flew north and small numbers of Swifts and House Martins were foraging over the racecourse.

Swifts but no hirundines

On the last evening of the month two Swifts were back in Kingsteignton, circling over the church, but still no sign of any House Martins around their usual haunts. Also in Kingsteignton but just outside the patch, three Crossbills flew north over Tarrs Avenue on Sunday.

Whimbrels and WeBS

A flock of nine Whimbrels on Flow Point yesterday morning was a good spring count on an otherwise quiet morning around the estuary. Other totals included 42 Oystercatchers, four Common Sandpipers, three Curlew, 19 Shelducks, 15 Mute Swans, 10 Mallards, two Teal, nine Little Egrets and two Sandwich Terns. On Friday Alan Ford counted 10 Turnstones still present on the quay at Teignmouth port.

Wheatears at last

After several fruitless checks of the racecourse over the past few weeks, today finally paid of with a couple of smart male Wheatears together on the northern side; also present were two Sand Martins and a Swallow. A probable Reed Warbler gave a burst of song on the other side of the railway but couldn't be confirmed in the brisk, cold easterly wind.

Firecrest

Bundle Head looked glorious in the sunshine on Thursday morning, though the clear skies meant a drop-off in the number of migrants, with just one Willow Warbler and a handful of territorial Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. A surprise came in the form of a Firecrest creeping around some ivy in a hedgerow, rare in spring here. A female Kestrel was hunting the rough grassland by the cliff edge.