Sunday 27th January 2013

Still sunny but the wind was quite strong. 

 

 Sanderlings were seen again on the edge of Exmouth beach which was particularly busy. They must be finding a good supply of food there.

 

 

The Common Seal was on Bull Hill with Cormorants stretching their wings and displaying their white breeding patches.

 

 

 

Two Little Grebes and one Slavonian Grebe were seen near the wreck and one male Goldeneye near Cockwood.

 

On the way back several Goldeneye were sighted including five flying over the boat.

 

Near River Kenn the Spotted Redshank was standing very close to a Greenshank with the difference in leg colouring very apparent.

 

 

 

 

 

I saw at least one Heron in the Heronry but none seen on the river, or Little Egrets. Both these species were probably feeding in

clearer waters on the adjacent marshes.

 

At least 300 Brent Geese were at Turf chatting away as we passed. Good views of waders, especially Avocets, but they are

definitely more scattered than in the past.

 

As Dave mentioned earlier, this winter all the flooding we have had has probably spread the food supplies to other areas.

 

No Long-tailed Duck today but the handsome Red-breasted Mergansers were a regular sight.  

 

Ian Waite