Among the usual waterfowl and waders, this morning's Stuart Line cruise produced c15 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Little Egrets, excellent views of the Red-breasted Goose with Brents near Turf, Sparrowhawk, 500-550 Avocets, 500+ Black-tailed and several hundred Bar-tailed Godwits, 20+ Knot, c10 Sanderling (more than usual), 4 Greenshank and a Spotted Redshank (between the Kenn outlet and Starcross Sailing Club). Common Gulls numbers were good(c100?) and there were 6 adult Lesser Black-backs. The usual Harbour Seal was hauled out on Bull Hill sandbank. The exceptional numbers of Great Crests continues, but it would be nice to have a diver two in the estuary!
Over Exminster Marshes, a flock of Lapwings, Golden Plover and Dunlin circled for a while. Later, at the marshes in early afternoon, the American Wigeon was with Wigeon east of the railway, while on Powderham Marshes there were 4 Ruff with good numbers of Curlew, Black-tailed Gowits, Dunlin and Teal; a Barnacle Goose and 4 Greylags were with the Canadas.
