A damp start and overcast day that yielded 88 species, the highlight of which was the year's first Nuthatch which was with a mixed flock just past the Dune Pond before circling over the Golf Course and landing in The Spinney.
Rivalling the Nuthatch, an adult and juvenile Roseate Tern flew out of estuary over The Bight early morning. They joined a mixed feeding flock close offshore, the adult feeding the juvenile a few times. Feeding flocks also contained 519 Black-headed and four Mediterranean Gull, 46 Sandwich and 16 Common Tern, with a raft of 78 Common Scoter, a substantial arrival, and a Great Northern Diver also offshore.
Wader counts over high tide included 294 Redshank, 103 Curlew, 56 Dunlin, 26 Sanderling, 18 Knot, 16 Ringed Plover, 13 Greenshank, six Whimbrel, three Bar and three Black-tailed Godwit, two Turnstone and the Spotted Redshank. Wildfowl included 17 Teal, six Wigeon, the six Eider, three Shoveler and 79 Mallard. Despite the large numbers present off Mudbank, Exmouth, Mallard are scarce in the estuary this side of the river. This unexpected flock roosted in the estuary corner and all flew W inland at dawn with most appearing to drop onto Hazelwood Park Lake.
Also in the estuary two Peregrine, an Osprey, a Kingfisher and the adult Spoonbill outside Cockwood Harbour at low tide, later offshore on Pole Sands. The Kingfisher flew E across estuary turning back after passing Bull Hill when chased by Peregrine, it avoided capture four times by hitting the water.
Migrants included two each of Rook, Grey and Yellow Wagtail overhead, with 12 Chiffchaff, four Wheatear, three Whitethroat, two Reed Warbler, two Meadow Pipit and two further Grey Wagtail, both juveniles, on site.
Elsewhere a Buzzard was perched up in the Entrance Bushes, a Treecreeper was behind the Main Pond, where a Kingfisher and a juvenile Little Grebe, the first since 20 Jul, were present.
Year list addition:
168. Nuthatch
Other Wildlife: A Grey Seal was off Langstone Rock and the wet sand revealed the continuing presence of Badger on site.
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