Three Alpine Swifts remain offsite, visible over Easton Ridge before being lost to view just after 9am, when they headed S just before a heavy shower. They roosted again in Teignmouth, so may return tomorrow.
On site, a Firecrest singing behind the Main Pond was the highlight with five Chiffchaff and single Goldcrest and Wheatear also present and two Stock Dove overhead. In the estuary counts included 365 Oystercatcher, 81 Curlew, 58 Turnstone, 45 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 27 Redshank, 22 Teal, 21 Grey Plover, eight Greenshank and a first winter Kittiwake that flew off inland.
Offshore 70 Gannet, 15 Kittiwake, 11 Sandwich Tern, three Red-throated Diver, three Red-breasted Merganser and two Common Scoter.
Wildlife News: The sunny morning and above average temperature heralded the first flowering of the Warren Crocus Romulea columnae as well as the discovery of a new population on the Golf Course. Increased mowing of a targeted south facing bank clearly benefiting the species with at least 113 flowering plants, a sight to behold. The count gives some indication of numbers, but there are probably many more plants, either missed or yet to flower.
Sand Crocus - Alan Keatley
The weather also saw the emergence of a few male Sandpit Mining Bee Andrena barbilabris, a queen German Wasp Vespula germanica, and a hoverfly, Dull-bellied Blacklet Cheilosia proxima. A single Peacock was the only butterfly noted. King Alfred's Cakes Daldinia concentrica was a surprise find emerging from a strandline Ash log.
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German Wasp - Alan Keatley
King Alfred's Cakes - Alan Keatley
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