Monday 10th February

Offshore a Slavonian Grebe was a new arrival with 22 Red-throated Diver heading south; the six Velvet Scoter, two Eider and female Long-tailed Duck were still present and the Bonaparte's Gull was feeding distantly towards Orcombe. Outside the recording area an adult Glaucous Gull was viewable distantly on a sandbar in the estuary off Mudbank Lane, Exmouth before relocating to Oak Meadow, Starcross. It was later also reported off the Warren.

Sunday 9th February

A rare performance of blue sky and sunshine produced an enviable cast on site with most of the wintering rarities recorded. Offshore the Red-necked Grebe and female Long-tailed Duck were off John's Watch with five Great Northern Diver, whilt six Velvet Scoter were off the seawall. The Siberian Chiffchaff was in the Entrance Bushes with another possible in Dead Dolphin Wood and three Chiffchaff also on site. Off site a first winter Kumlien's Gull was viewable distantly on a sandbar off Mudbank Lane before flying over the estuary mouth towards Exmouth beach, the record for the Exe. Elsewhere the Black Brant was on the Golf Course with c180 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and the Bonaparte's Gull was in the estuary with the Slavonian Grebe, a drake Goldeneye and 21 Sanderling.

Saturday 8th February

The strong winds saw 180+ Kittiwake, 53 Fulmar and 40+ Gannet south during the morning with two female type Scaup, the first of the year, four Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. Also offshore there were four Velvet Scoter and another two Great Northern Diver on the sea. Elsewhere counts from the estuary included 217 Bar-tailed Godwit, 185 Grey Plover, 118 Brent Geese, 90+ Great Black-backed Gull, 47 Knot, 33 Sanderling, 19 Teal, 17 Wigeon, 14 Ringed Plover, two Mediterranean Gull and a Goldeneye.

Peregrine © Lee Collins

Friday 7th February

Taking advantage of a hiatus between storms a brief look from the seawall revealed five Velvet Scoter, two Little Gull (ad & fw) and three Great Northern Diver offshore. Also present for a second day c2000 Herring Gull on sandbars at the mouth of the estuary.

Thursday 6th February

Storm driven birds were limited to an adult Little Gull on flooded grassland near the Amusements, an oiled Guillemot picked up near the Visitor Centre and a dead Fulmar on the Golf Course. Elsewhere the only news was of an adult Mediterranean Gull offshore and the Slavonian Grebe in the estuary.

Little Gull © Lee Collins

Wednesday 5th February

Two brief visits in very poor weather failed to produce any notable records. There has been considerable damage to the groynes, with a lot of sand lost from the dunes and beach with reports of a breach in the sandspit. Please keep away from the beach and pay attention to the warning notices.

Tuesday 4th February

The weather continued to make birding challenging with the two Long-tailed Duck and a Great Northern Diver offshore and a Mediterranean Gull and several migrant Lesser Black-backed Gull amongst a large build up of gulls.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (from the Channel Islands) © Lee Collins

Monday 3rd February

The Bonaparte's Gull was again off Langstone Rock this morning, but apart from a Great Northern Diver heading south out of the estuary no other news was received today.

Sunday 2nd February

Blue skies and a lack of rain was the biggest surprise of the day and the springlike conditions encouraged the reappearance of the two Siberian Chffchaff with at least two Chiffchaff also present. Many of the resident species were in song and/or paired up including Little Grebe and Great-spotted Woodpecker. The Bonaparte's Gull showed on and off during the day, off the seawall first thing, then feeding distantly offshore late morning and in the estuary late afternoon. Also present offshore six Red-throated and three Great Northern Diver, the six Velvet Scoter, two Eider and two Long-tailed Duck, however numbers of the commoner species remain very low. Elsewhere the resident Slavonian Grebe remains in the estuary along with counts of 202 Grey Plover, 89 Knot, 42 Bar-tailed Godwit, 14 Ringed Plover and two Greenshank, a Water Pipit was briefly on the Golf Course and at least six Water Rail were present, including one in front of the hide.

Green Woodpecker © Lee Collins

Wildlife News: A Grey Seal was on Bull Hill and a couple of queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee were on the wing.

Saturday 1st February

The month started in a similar vein with the Bonaparte's Gull, six Velvet Scoter, two Long-tailed Duck and two Great Northern Diver offshore, although only a single Red-throated Diver was present.  Elsewhere the Water Pipit was on the Golf Course, with 77 Knot, five Goldeneye, a Greenshank and the Slavonian Grebe in the estuary.