Weekend of the 20th, 21st & 22nd January

Friday 20^th January

Goldeneye

All the usual birds today but two sightings of male Goldeneye were a first for my trips this winter, the mild weather delaying their appearance.   
Shag numbers were down and only three Great Crested Grebes were seen but 13 Sanderling is a good number.

Razorbills

In the Harbour area were two Razorbills and a Guillemot.  The appearance of the sun was once again well timed illuminating large numbers of waders at Topsham.

Saturday 21^st January

The large flock of Black tailed Godwits were missing today.  Could it be that they don’t like strong winds?  On two previous occasions with the same weather conditions we experienced the same situation.   At least there were a few to compare with the Bar-tailed Godwits.   
Flocks of 40 Grey Plovers and 60 to 70 Knot gave us some good views and the sun was on time again.

Redbreated Merganser

Common Gull numbers approximately 250 today.

Brief glimpse of Green Sandpiper flying up from mouth of River Kenn into the grounds of Powderham.

Sunday 22^nd January

My theory of high winds affecting Black-tailed Godwit numbers was obviously wrong because we had both today.  The large flock of Bar-tailed Godwits was not in the usual place but these birds were seen in smaller groups in various points along the river.

Redshank

Shag

Grey Plover flock was up to approximately 90 showing ‘black armpits’ as they flew close to the boat.

Large numbers of Brent Geese provided aerial displays and the Common Seal put in an appearance.

These last three trips have found the Sanderling on the edge of sandbanks mid-river and three Lesser Black-backed Gulls showing as well as the two Razorbills and a Guillemot.

Sanderling

Ian Waite

7th & 8th January

 

Top of the bill (excuse the pun) on both days were waders in the sunshine.  Wonderful displays with headlines going to the Avocets, but good supporting cast of ‘Flings’ of Dunlin with flocks of Bar-tailed Godwits.

 

On Sunday the Black-tailed Godwits returned to the river to join in the display.  They have been spending most of their time recently on Exminster Marshes.  We only saw one on Saturday. Other waders seen were Turnstones, Grey Plovers, Redshanks, a few Knot and of course Oystercatchers and Curlews. Only one Greenshank seen on Saturday but six on Sunday at usual Powderham location.  Sanderling revealed themselves on returning journeys feeding on the edge of the sand bars.

As expected at this time of year Common Gull numbers are up.  Approximately 100 showing mainly towards Topsham.  We should see larger numbers as winter progresses.   One Lesser Black Backed Gull was spotted both days (this species prefers reservoirs to rivers)

 

Slavonian Grebe and Little Grebe were very distant, not easily seen but a couple of Great Crested Grebes were closer.  Red-breasted Merganser seem to get closer to the boat as their numbers increase.

On Sunday large numbers of Pintail were seen (not a usual sight as they prefer the margins of the river) and Heron numbers were up, particularly in the area of the Heronry. We should see activity round the nests on next trips.  Sunday also saw the appearance of the resident Common Seal very close to the boat.

 

I must mention that one of the Black-tailed Godwits was a bird I knew from its colour rings.  It was ringed on the River Axe, Seaton,  March 2011, seen en route to Iceland April 2011, then spotted on the Exe October 2011 where it appears to have stayed.

Ian Waite

All photographs by Sue Smith