A cycle down from Exeter to Turf, followed by a walk back along the canal bank.
At Turf the tide was dropping, so lots of birds. 750+ Blackwit, 390 Golden Plover, 450+ Dunlin, 228 Avocet, 64 Knot, 8 Barwit, 40+ Redshank and 4 Grey Plover. 4+ Common Gull and 140+ Brent Geese. Also Kingfisher and 8+ Linnet from there.
Behind Turf and over the railway line were 4+ Cattle Egret. Also a Goldcrest and 16+ House Sparrow in bushes near the Turf.
From the canal bank, 1st cy Marsh Harrier, putting up 170+ Lapwing. On the lagoon 5 Gadwall, 6 Tufted, 2 Little Grebe and 90+ Coot.
Across the marsh, including the lagoon were 700+ Teal, 550+ Wigeon, 52+ Shoveler, 12 Pintail, 6 Greylag, another 120 Brent Geese, 45+ Curlew, 350+ Lapwing and the 1st cy Marsh Harrier again.
Other birds included 2 Stonechat, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Snipe, Water Rail, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, 2 Cetti’s W, and 4+ Redwing.
Moving north of M5 another 3 Water Rail and Kingfisher.
Finally a Fox carrying a duck, probably Teal.
