Thursday 21st April

The lack of migrants remains a concern with just five Swallow through during the day, still no Reed Warbler and just the one Whitethroat on territory. Resident species are doing well though with five pairs of Stonechat and at least four singing Cirl Bunting.

Counts from the estuary included a flock of 62 Pale-bellied and two Dark-bellied Brent Geese arrived from the east and rest awhile in the Bight before continuing north over Exminster Marshes later in the day. Also present 26 Bar-tailed Godwit, 19 Turnstone, seven Whimbrel, four Sanderling and a Dunlin. 

both Sanderling - Dave Jewell

Elsewhere a Jay was in Dead Dolphin Wood, a Water Rail was at the Main Pond and offshore there were four Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver, 15 Sandwich Tern, eight Manx Shearwater and three Fulmar.

Wildlife News: The warm weather has brought an increasing range of species, if not numbers. First sighting of the year included the hoverflies Spring Epistrophe Epistrophe eligans and Smudge-veined Clubtail Neoascia podagrica, Orange-tailed Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa and new for the Recording Area, Sea Beet Weevil Lixus scabricollis just the third Devon record.