Monday 25th July

A morning visit saw a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull in the estuary with 194 Sandwich, three Common and an Arctic Tern. Wader counts included 48 Dunlin, 24 Sanderling and 10 Ringed Plover. Elsewhere the first Sedge Warbler of the autumn was on the Dune Ridge and two Stock Dove were in the saltmarsh.

Sunday 24th July

Counts from the estuary included 358 Curlew, 166 Sandwich and six Common Tern, 103 Redshank, 46 Sanderling, 26 Dunlin, 13 Whimbrel, eight Ringed Plover, five Greenshank, four Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Offshore 93 Shag, 90 Gannet, 59 Manx Shearwater and 24 Common Scoter. Elsewhere a Buzzard was in Dead Dolphin Wood, two juvenile Green Woodpecker were by the Railway Station, a Grey Wagtail was on the seawall and a juvenile Wheatear was in Greenland Lake.

Saturday 23rd July

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover at dusk was the highlight with other wader counts including 461 Oystercatcher, 421 Curlew, 96 Redshank, 37 Dunlin (inc first juv), 29 Sanderling, 22 Whimbrel, six Ringed Plover, three Common Sandpiper and two Greenshank. Also in the estuary 129 Sandwich and two Common Tern, six Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe. Elsewhere seawatching early morning saw 266 Manx Shearwater and 108 Gannet lingering offshore before heading south, 100+ Shag and 24 Common Scoter were on the sea and 29 Swallow, seven Swift, three Sand and a House Martin flew through.

 Dunlin

 Greenshank

Sanderling

 all taken by Dave Boult

Ringing News: A Belgian Mediterranean Gull was on the beach with Polish & German ringed Black-headed Gull.

Friday 22nd July

Sightings included an juvenile Black Tern over Finger Point and an adult Mediterranean Gull on the beach, a dead male Sand Lizard on the Dune Ridge and Small Skipper, Red Admiral, Common Darter, Emperor Dragonfly and several Six-spot Burnet Moth in Greenland Lake.

Thursday 21st July

A sub-adult Pomarine Skua offshore during the morning was the highlight with 42 Manx Shearwater also heading south and 36 Common Scoter and 35 Shag on the sea. Records from the estuary included the first two Kingfisher of the autumn, 167 Sandwich Tern (59 juveniles), nine Mediterranean Gull and the Slavonian Grebe, with wader counts included 489 Oystercatcher, 333 Curlew, 128 Redshank, 52 Dunlin, 28 Sanderling, 15 Whimbrel, two Greenshank and single Bar and Black-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere a Yellow Wagtail was on Wryneck Plain briefly early morning.

Wednesday 20th July

Another juvenile Yellow-legged Gull was in the estuary today with nine Mediterranean Gull, 109 Sandwich and two Common Tern. Wader counts included 400 Oystercatcher, 372 Curlew, 108 Redshank, 50 Dunlin, 21 Sanderling, 17 Whimbrel, three Ringed Plover and a Greenshank. Also in the estuary a juvenile Great-crested Grebe, the Slavonian Grebe and lone Brent Geese.

Tuesday 19th July

The adult Little Gull was again on Finger Point whilst gull numbers increased to 407 Black-headed and 20 Mediterranean Gull. Also in the estuary 455 Oystercatcher, 387 Curlew, 141 Sandwich Tern, 68 Dunlin, 13 Whimbrel, four Ringed Plover, three Greenshank, two Black and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Elsewhere the Slavonian Grebe was off Cockwood, a Yellow Wagtail was overhead and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull offshore was the first addition to the year list since May.

Little Gull

Monday 18th July

An adult summer Little Gull on Finger Point early morning was the highlight with 182 Black-headed and 12 Mediterranean Gull. Other counts from the estuary included 153 Sandwich and a Common Tern,  63 Dunlin, 53 Redshank, 16  Whimbrel, 15 Sanderling, three Common Sandpiper and single Greenshank, Bar and Black-tailed Godwit. Other records included the continued presence of the Brent Goose and Slavonian Grebe, 11 Shelduck that flew in off mid morning and a juvenile Wheatear in front of the hide.

Sunday 17th July

Counts from the estuary included 300+ Oystercatcher & Curlew, 225 Black-headed Gull, 134 Sandwich Tern, 63 Dunlin, 58 Redshank, 13 Sanderling, 13 Whimbrel, six Ringed Plover, four Mediterranean Gull and a Bar-tailed Godwit, with the Slavonian Grebe and Brent Goose still present. Elsewhere two Shoveler flew in off the sea during the evening, a Stock Dove was in the Railway Saltmarsh, two Sand Martin flew through and two Treecreeper were on site.  

Ringing News: Amongst the Sandwich Tern were at least four colour-ringed birds, a returning individual from Holland and birds from Belgium, the Farne Islands and Wales.  The Welsh bird below was seen in Namibia in December 2015.

Saturday 16th July

A Dark-bellied Brent Goose in the Bight was the biggest surprise of the day, especially as none have been noted on the Exe this summer; the resident Slavonian Grebe was also in the estuary. Wader counts included 412 Curlew, 233 Oystercatcher, 54 Redshank, 54 Dunlin, 25 Sanderling and 11 Whimbrel. Terns continue to arrive with 137 Sandwich (25 juvs) and six Common Tern also present. Elsewhere 42 Common Scoter and five Great-crested Grebe were offshore with two Willow Warbler and a Treecreeper on site.