Great very early morning visit with a friend who was doing his Webs count. Brent geese, Whimbrel and Common gull I noted at Penhill Marsh along with Curlew, Shellduck B.H gull. The creek held four Greenshank, two common Sandpiper, smaller numbers of Redshank, Teal and a good number of Little Egrets. From the quay we saw eleven Mute swan all of which appeared to be juvenile taking off they headed up river towards Barnstaple.
A visit to Home farm was a first for me but certainly not my last. Little Grebe, Coot, a pair of Mute swan. Female Mallard with eight ducklings a pair of Teal the male in stunning breeding condition and Herons on the nest site. The surrounding bushes and rushes were bursting with song. Cetti’s and sedge warbler and reed bunting were noted. In the field two cattle and one Little Egret. On the walk back to the quay. the trees were alive with song, Blackcap, Song Thrush, Great and Blue tit and a possible Tree Creeper amongst them.
