Meeting in the seaward car park (a break from tradition!) so that we could quickly get down to the far end of the beach and over the dunes to view the bight at high tide where there was the promise of a good wader congregation, the ten of us present set off at a fairly rapid pace! We did get a bit strung out on route as people were distracted by various small birds on the Warren, including Stonechat and Chiffchaff, or over the sea, including Gannet and terns. Pied Wagtails and Rock Pipit were on the beach, as were a small group of Sanderling, uncharacteristically standing very still, and a couple of Turnstone on one of the groynes.
Finally we reached the path up onto the dune ridge where we stopped for a coffee and to scan across the bight and up into the estuary. A good number of Oystercatcher were resting on the opposite sand spit with some Shelduck and a single medium-sized wader that had its back to us and its beak tucked away. Possible Whimbrel? Eventually it did wake up and become a bit more active, revealing itself to be a Bar-Tailed Godwit. Terns were resting on the posts in front the of the old hide, being mostly Sandwich Terns, but one with red legs was a Common Tern and a Little Tern was also seen briefly flying around, so much smaller than everything else, before flying out to sea. As the tide began to recede, flocks of small waders began moving around and landing on the newly exposed shoreline. Mostly Dunlin and Ringed Plover, with some Sanderling as well, but we didn’t manage to locate any Curlew Sandpiper at this point. Another Common Tern, this one with very orange legs, landed on the shore much closer to us, prompting some discussion on tern ID.
We spent quite some time within the dunes, with Stonechat, Wheatear, Greenfinch and Swallow, and then moved back to the beach to sit on some rocks while eating lunch. Becoming quite engrossed in our sandwiches and conversations, some of us almost missed a flock of nine Glossy Ibis which flew in and over the dunes, presumably landing somewhere behind. A few minutes later, they reappeared and flew across to Exmouth and disappeared behind the houses. (Apparently they were then seen a little while later dropping into the Otter estuary at Budleigh, before moving on again after a short while.) Feeling very pleased with this bonus sighting, we headed back along the beach, noting a seal bobbing its head out just offshore. The Bar-tailed Godwit (presumably the same one) was now on the beach, and a small group of Dunlin together with at least one (we think we convinced ourselves, although maybe not entirely!) Curlew Sandpiper.
The walk back across the Warren added very little, with very few birds showing other than a few Stonechat, Linnet and Greenfinch. Clouded Yellow butterflies were still around in good numbers. On passing the field centre, the warden mentioned that a Wryneck had been seen in the morning around the car park. We met a few others looking for it, but it wasn’t showing and we decided that would have to be one for another day!
A total of 50 species seen: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Mallard, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone. Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Sanderling, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Common Tern, Gannet, Cormorant, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Swallow, House Martin, Chiffchaff, Skylark, Rock Pipit, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Stonechat, Wheatear, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Linnet.
Report and photos by Tom Misselbrook
