Wednesday 15th May 2013

Wader passage was a feature of the day with a Curlew Sandpiper on the morning tide the highlight. Counts from the estuary included 393 Oystercatcher, 326 Dunlin, 102 Sanderling, 42 Ringed Plover, 22 Whimbrel, three Turnstone and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere 17 Sandwich, 12 Common, three Roseate and an Arctic Tern were feeding offshore with 18 Manx Shearwater, 11 Great Northern and two Red-throated Diver heading south. New migrants on site were limited to the first Cuckoo of the year, three Spotted Flycatcher and a Sedge Warbler.



Little Grebe 15/05/2013 © Andy Stuthridge

Tuesday 14th May 2013

Strong southerly gales and heavy rain signalled the arrival of summer and led to some extended seawatching. The first four Pomarine Skua of the year were offshore in the evening, but the highlight was the continuing presence of 20 Roseate Tern in the morning with at 13 heading south in the evening. Also offshore during the day two Storm Petrel, four Great and an Arctic Skua, 321 Manx Shearwater, 119 Kittiwake, 53 Common, eight Little and three Arctic Tern, 27 Fulmar, 14 Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver. Elsewhere a Spotted Flycatcher was in Dead Dolphin Wood, 107 Swift passed through in the evening and wader counts included 28 Sanderling, 14 Dunlin, three Turnstone and a Grey Plover. 

Monday 13th May 2013

Another site and Devon record today with an incredible 20 Roseate Tern offshore mid morning with at least 16 still present in the evening. Also offshore the first Storm Petrel of the year, a pale phase Arctic Skua, 28 Common and a Little Tern, two Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. The Bonaparte's and Little Gull again roosted offshore in the evening. Elsewhere 40+ Whimbrel were in the estuary.

Sunday 12th May 2013

A site record 14 Roseate Tern were offshore late afternoon, this equals the previous record from May 1958. Also offshore c30 Common, five Little and four Arctic Tern, eight Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver, a Great Skua south early morning and the BONAPARTE'S and Little Gull roosting offshore in the evening. Elsewhere 62 Dunlin, 50 Whimbrel, 15 Sanderling and five Ringed Plover were present over the evening tide with two Sedge Warbler and two Wheatear on site.

 

Arctic Tern 12/05/13 © Lee Collins

Saturday 11th May 2013

The adult BONAPARTE'S GULL again roosted offshore with a first summer Little Gull and c200 Black-headed Gull. Also offshore at least 10 Roseate, four Arctic and 30+ Common Tern, 76+ Manx Shearwater, 50+ Common Scoter, six Great Northern and a Red-throated Diver.  Elsewhere a Redshank was a very rare visitor to the Main Pond, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Willow Warbler were on site and waders were on the move with 120+ Whimbrel, 60+ Dunlin, 20+ Sanderling, a Ringed Plover and single Bar and Black-tailed Godwit.

Whitethroat 06/05/13 © Colin Scott

Wildlife News - The first Wall Brown of the year was along the Dune Ridge.