The hot, calm and sunny weather drew the tourists to the sea and beaches in droves with some commenting on the day as the busiest in many years. A combination of a high tide, season and seemingly profusions of marine and aerial food, the site was also packed with birds and played host to 1135+ Black-headed Gull, by far the highest count here ever in Aug; 1096 Oystercatcher, 381 Curlew, 235 Canada Goose departed the estuary roost early morning; 226 Redshank, 203 Dunlin, 120 Ringed Plover, 102 Sandwich Tern, 46 Great Black-backed Gull, 34 Turnstone, 31 Common Tern, 26 Cormorant, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12+ Mediterranean Gull, eight Little Egret, six Sanderling, six Greenshank, four Black-tailed Godwit, three Grey Heron, three juv Little Ringed Plover, three Whimbrel, a Common Snipe flew over and a juv Little Tern.
The Little Tern sported a green Darvic ring, early indications are that it came from a colony in Co. Wicklow, Ireland, interestingly from where Dawlish Warren has hosted birds before.
Clouds of gulls anting were joined by 85+ Swallow and seven Swift. Overhead passage included c.10 Yellow Wagtail, four Sand Martin, three Tree Pipit, two Meadow Pipit, and single Grey Wagtail and Chaffinch.
Quieter than yesterday in the bushes, counts were 11 Chiffchaff, nine Whitethroat, four Blackcap and singles of Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting and Great Spotted Woodpecker. In open areas, 25 Goldfinch, six Greenfinch and four Wheatear.
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