Exminster marshes

A walk around the perimeter of the marsh at lunch time revealed a dramatic decline in the number of ducks. I failed to see a wigeon and recorded about 12 pairs of teal, a few shoveller and even fewer pintail. A male (jack) merlin was sitting near the lagoon, probably also wondering where all the birds had gone. A singing chiffchaff and one pair of lapwings were the only sign of spring.