goosanders in the mist

After work was going to go over exminster marshes but with the thick mist decided to do double locks wetland and the river valley park on the exe and a very productive afternoon it turned out to be.

Walking down the canal path from the swing bridge at countess wear a chiffchaff was near the viewing point on the the first pool with 2 buzzards in trees and a snipe at back of the pool. On the second pool 10 teal and 2 more snipe, 2 reed buntings, and a fight between 2 water rails was a surprise. The walk around to the path on the riverside of the pools produced another reed bunting(m) , 5 bullfinch(2m,3f) , 2 chiffchaff, on the next pool 8 wigeon, 3 snipe, 1 shoveler but no sign of the green sandpipers, 3 great spotted woodpeckers, 15+ meadow pipits and another chiffchaff.

Then looked along the river and appearing in the mist were 3 Goosanders (2m,1f)

they were very flighty and lost them a couple of times but were always in the area of the double locks pub on the river. Also along the river to the quay produced 3 little egrets, 1 kingfisher, 1 treecreeper, and 1 more chiffchaff.

A very good afternoon along the river.