Walked home over the high tide period:

- in the estuary, eight R-b Mergansers off the Kenn outfall (my first of the Winter) and a G-c Grebe;

- in Powderham Park, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper;

- in the field just N. of Turf, two adult Med. Gulls with the B-h.;

- on Exminster Marshes, Lapwing and Meadow Pipit both into treble figures, and ten plus Greylags with the Canadas;

- on the canal bank and in the adjacent ditches, at least ten Water Rails squealing, presumably establishing Winter territories;

- in the trees near the Exeter Incinerator, single figures of Redwing and Fieldfare, both also my first for the Winter;

- negatively, no Coot at Powderham, Exminster, Matford or Exeter. A drought-driven breeding failure, or something sinister?

In total, seventy spp. for the day.

Belatedly from yesterday, on the reservoirs were nine Goosanders, a Tufted Duck and three Little Grebes, and in the surrounding woods, a flock of around twenty-five Mistle Thrushes, by far the biggest group I have seen, and perhaps twenty Crossbills, plus Marsh Tit, Treecreeper etc .